What guitar amp
Discussion
I've been playing guitar for a while now, and been using a borrowed 20W bass amp. I'm having to give the amp back, which isn't a big deal as I don't like the sound of it at all, but now I'm faced with having to buy my own. Finding an amp that will suit me seems to be a minefield of options and brands so if anyone can lend a hand, has some advice or knows where to look, it would all be very much appreciated.
I play an Ibanez S470 with a preference for rock/metal styles but sometimes more easygoing stuff too, pretty much always playing at home. My dad's been playing for years and has a classic Fender Twin and Mesa Boogie combo, both valve amps, an I love that valve sound. But of course this comes with two problems, the first is cost, the second the fact that you have to drive a tube amp hard to get the best out of them and that means (assuming no attenuator) either bleeding ears and an ASBO or a low powered amp with great distorted sound, but near impossible to play clean at decent volume.
I've set a budget of about £300 and while I play at home, I'm tempted to get more serious and might like some more versatility. While I love the valve sound, I might be swayed to a solid state amp if the sound is right, although I'd prefer to steer clear of modeling amps as I always find the DSP sounds very flat.
Two amps I've concidered seriously so far are the Blackstar HT-5 which I've tried in the shop and liked, although I'm slightly concerned about it's versitility. The other is the Blackstar Series 1 45w combo, which has the great feature of a built in attenuator to make it go down all the way to 4.5W, but does cost 3 times the budget I'd initialy set. Also looked at the Fender Pro Junior and Marshall Class 5.
Am I on the right track or am I going completely the wrong way? I'm really not sure.
I play an Ibanez S470 with a preference for rock/metal styles but sometimes more easygoing stuff too, pretty much always playing at home. My dad's been playing for years and has a classic Fender Twin and Mesa Boogie combo, both valve amps, an I love that valve sound. But of course this comes with two problems, the first is cost, the second the fact that you have to drive a tube amp hard to get the best out of them and that means (assuming no attenuator) either bleeding ears and an ASBO or a low powered amp with great distorted sound, but near impossible to play clean at decent volume.
I've set a budget of about £300 and while I play at home, I'm tempted to get more serious and might like some more versatility. While I love the valve sound, I might be swayed to a solid state amp if the sound is right, although I'd prefer to steer clear of modeling amps as I always find the DSP sounds very flat.
Two amps I've concidered seriously so far are the Blackstar HT-5 which I've tried in the shop and liked, although I'm slightly concerned about it's versitility. The other is the Blackstar Series 1 45w combo, which has the great feature of a built in attenuator to make it go down all the way to 4.5W, but does cost 3 times the budget I'd initialy set. Also looked at the Fender Pro Junior and Marshall Class 5.
Am I on the right track or am I going completely the wrong way? I'm really not sure.
You're about right with looking for a small valve amp.
go for a Fender Blues Junior, it's plenty of Amp (I know someone who gigged in front of several thousand people with one) but the volume is quite manageable. Get yourself a Ibanez Tube Screamer overdrive pedal if you want to drive the amp at lower volumes.
go for a Fender Blues Junior, it's plenty of Amp (I know someone who gigged in front of several thousand people with one) but the volume is quite manageable. Get yourself a Ibanez Tube Screamer overdrive pedal if you want to drive the amp at lower volumes.
Marshal Class 5?
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/82784
I'm thinking on this one.
Or VOX AC15?
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/85283
I'm also thinking of this.
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/82784
I'm thinking on this one.
Or VOX AC15?
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/85283
I'm also thinking of this.
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