Help Deciding Which Amp To Buy?

**Rick5150** · 09.22.06, 09:50 AM

I will be in the market for a new amp soon. I thought I had purchased my last one a year and a half ago when I bought a Marshall MG30DFX. I never really cared for it for many reasons, but the last straw was when I shut it off and the power switch fell off! I hardly even use the damn amp and have just decided to start playing again. I did not even switch it hard and the amp is on a shelf. Never been dropped or even jostled. What a piece of shit!!

The compact size attracted me as it was the "biggest" small amp at the store. The fact that the 4 effects cannot be used in any combination sucks too, but as stated, the selection was slim and the price was right.

Previously, I have been using (and still prefer) the Galleon Krueger 250 ML that I have had since the early 80's. I will never play out, I am not particularly good and my repetoire consists of Van Halen, Benatar, Cars, Kinks, etc. I have an early 80's Kramer Baretta, a Gibson Les Paul Studio and a Epiphone 335.

Thanks in advance...

**againstthewind** · 09.22.06, 03:26 PM

Have you tried the line6 spider II?? Great lil' amp, and the price is reasonable. Versatile as can be. Check it out, I have one and love it, I think most people find them to be certainly worthy of the price.

**cav** · 09.22.06, 04:14 PM

Hey - try a bunch of amps and take your time. Be picky
For my money, I have always love my Peavey Classic 50
Great Tube amp with warm tones and overdrive. Very reasonbly
priced too. The Classic 50 is as reliable as any peice of equipment
I've owned and I've had my 50 for 9 yrs now w/ zero issues.
A few of my friends liked it so much, they went out and got them too.
The Classic 50 is a workhorse that sounds great. Whatever you choose ,
good luck !! CV

**Mikey Metalhead** · 09.22.06, 04:32 PM

I am not a fan of solid state, but if you need to save the money, the line 6 is the best solid state I have heard.

if money is no object.. my fav is the carvin legacy, shreadders hate it because it does not make for super gain styles, but for wide variety of playing, I think it is the best sounding tube amp.

I wish I could afford to keep both a legacy and a 5150II, for the mega gain.

**Ted Van Halen** · 09.23.06, 07:44 AM

I've got a Crate BV-6212 I've had for 7 or 8 years, re-tubed it once. I'm becoming less enamored w/ it's tone & am considering trading it for someting else. I also have a small Crate VC-20-R that kills. I wish the VC had the 60 watts the BV does.

Ted

**tommywho5150** · 09.23.06, 09:44 AM

i always had trouble with marshalls too, their build quality and after sales sucks. i have a jcm 900 which not long after i got started to "whistle" quite loudly when ever it was turned on so i tried to get marshall to repair it under its 3yr warrantee they were having none of it they said the amp was older than 3yrs, so i had to get the store i bought it from to back me up (i even produced 3 proof of purchase items that stated the amp was only 6mnths old and that i bought it new from the store) anyway after a long battle they eventually fixed it and wouldnt u know it the same thing started after another 3mnths or so. so i bought a peavey5150 and thats been wonderfull its only ever needed valves. i also use a laney 30 combo and a line6 spider2 75w head which was an absolute bargain so i would suggest any of the above 3 amps as pretty ideal but stay away from marshall unless u like headaches

i have a funny story about jim marshall i will have to post it soon (he nearly had me arrested)

anyway trust your ears above all else mate

**Rockguitarstar** · 09.23.06, 11:33 AM

dude for the cost of a new marshall head you should head over to splawnguitars.com and get one of thier heads. The Quickrod which is what I have is based off of a hotrodded Marshall circut and it absolutely kills everything else on the market. Scott is a great guy to deal with and thier company makes some serious tanks of an amp.