Some background - my son has been playing electric guitar for about a year and a half. He's been using a small 15-watt practice amp, a Line6. He has since joined a band and played a few venues. He had to borrow an amp for these. Given this and the fact that he has stuck with it, its probably time to buy him a better amp. We've done our homework, went to guitar center a couple times with his guitar to try different ones and he seems to gravitate to Line6 (Spider IV) and Vox (VT Valvetronix). We are looking at the all-in-one units, not the head+cabinent. Some other factors. I'd like to stay in the $300-$400 range (new) and expect him to use it to practice as well as the occasional gig. A few questions. First, any preferences between these two manufacturers? Second, any others I should consider? Third, I'm looking at 50 watt amps - should I be looking at more, like 75 or 100?

I know there are quite a few guitar players out there and look forward to the response. Thanks.

 

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/revie...ar_amplifiers/

i have a crate combo and *love* it.

i recommend you ask unkie T

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=744847

 

Line6 is great for what it is. It gives you a lot of different amps and effects all in one package. It does everything ok, and nothing great.

In a solid state amp, knowing that he would want to play some gigs and be able to keep up with a drummer, then yes, I would go with 75 watts or 100 watts.

The Spider IV amps are pretty decent actually. I use a Line6 POD for recording, but now use Line6 PODFARM mostly instead. It's still modeling, but I like the software better.

I'd go with the Line6 over the vox, though if he was looking for a stomp box, the VOX is better...but he's not.

If he is really serious, and playing more then heavy metal. Things like classic rock, jazz, some of this new type of hit music then I'd suggest a tube amp instead.

Something like the Fender Blues Jr. It's 15 watts, all tube ( and tube watts are a lot more then solid state ) so this will give him the volume he needs, as well as that touch sensitivity you get from a real amp.

Ie. rolling down the guitar volume cleans up the sound, note articulation is much better, etc.

With that, a good distortion pedal, even a cheap one like a Boss DS-1 for about 50 bucks would be a great combo that covers alot of ground.

It's also future proof. You can add pedals as you need them, chorus, delay, flanger, etc... all things that are built into a Line6 product, but of much higher sonic quality.

Another great amp, despite it's name is the Crate V32, or palamino from Guitar center. Plenty of power, and sounds very Marshall esq

 

^ What Mindcore said.

 

For a beginner, I would seek out another modeling amp like your son's existing Line 6, but you'll need more power to stand up to a drummer.

If you are looking at tube amps, 50 watts is way more than enough. A 15w tube amp can keep up with a drummer. Be warned that in order to sound decent, tube amps HAVE to be played at reasonably high volume, period.

If you're looking at solid state modeling amps (which I would suggest for your son) you'll probably want 60W or more. Line 6 has long been the market leader in modeling amplifiers, but I've heard very good things about the new Peavey Vypyr (horrible name..).

I'd skip the pedals altogether and try to find an amp that has a footswitch. If you get a decent amp, the distortion tones you get out of that will be so much better than what you'd get out of even the best pedal. What your son probably needs is an amp that can switch channels or patches, so he can go from clean to distorted, to lead, and lots of amps have optional footswitches for doing just this.

I would suggest you look at the Peavey Vypyr 75w (the solid state one). They currently have a promotion where you get a free foot switch with it, and the amp is only about $300. Great bang for the buck.

(My background: 15 years playing, own 12 electric guitars, 4 acoustic, 4 amplifiers, and have burned WAAAAAAAY too much money on guitar gear)

 

I can't argue with that either, only to say that you don't always get better distortion tone from an amp then a pedal.. though that is ideal the amp you have makes all the difference.

Every try to get a good distortion from a Fender Twin? I'm pretty sure I've ruined my foundation trying.

Your back ground is similar to mine.. 22 years playing, 16 electrics, 4 acoustics, 3 basses, 6 amplifiers.

What's your main amp? I just traded my Orange Rockerverb 100 for an Engl Powerball, for me it was an upgrade, but I'm really realllllly considering scrapping all my amps for an AXE FX

back on topic.. How old is your son? what kind of guitar does he have? what kind of music does he like? that would definitely sway my recommendations.

 

Thanks for all the quick insight. The boy is 14 going on 15, started on acoustic when he was 12 and we got him an electric a year later. It's a stock Epiphone Explorer and he & his possie primarily play classic rock - all names you would expect - AC/DC, Stones, Aerosmith, Boston, etc. At their practices, he's fine as they have a semi-permenant place already stocked w/amps. But the half-dozen gigs have been a bit of an issue, as we've had to beg/borrow amps and he had trouble dailing them in.

I get the tube vs solid state difference and don't think he's ready for a tube amp yet. My plan is get something to get him to the next level and, if he is still at it in a couple years, then we think about a tube amp (or better yet, have him buy whatever he wants, as he will be earning his keep by then).

Again, I appreciate all the insight and links, good stuff.

 

Well based on guitar and music choice, I still think tube is the way to go.

They'll also hold their value. But that said, I'd go with the Line6 and be done with it.

Typically I'd say craigslist is your friend. I buy EVERYTHING from there, but I just checked Cleavland for some links for you and that is the lamest selection I've ever seen.

 

Ooh, Engl Powerball is a nice amp.

I'm a little too "tube purist" to get rid of the amps altogether, but it's probably inevitable that tube amps will cease to be made in ~20 years.. My main amp is probably my Mesa/Boogie Mark IV or my Rivera TBR-1SL. Both are loud enough to make you not have babies, and since I moved to a condo I don't really get to play them anymore I mostly play with a Line6 Pod and a $50 Peavey practice amp these days.

8 ball, honestly modeling amps are getting darned good. These days they're still the "bang for your buck" amp that can't quite match the warmth and feel of a tube amp, but I doubt that'll be the case that far off...

If he has amps that he can use at the venues but he just doesn't like the tone, he could even get a modeler like a Line 6 POD or something similar to use in front of the amp as a preamp and just use the amp on a clean channel. I used to do this when I played more. I sat in with a 40 piece big band and a heavy rock quartet and literally used the exact same gear, it was kinda comical.

Epiphone Explorer is also a good bang for your buck guitar and is worth the money to modify the guitar if he decides that he likes it but wants better sound. If it plays well but he wants a different sound, it would be a relatively cheap investment to replace the pickups (which makes a HUGE difference). I have a very modded old Epiphone Les Paul somewhere that probably cost me $400 incl mods and can stack up to any of my $3000+ guitars because I put a lot of time and effort into setting it up just right.

 

The Mark IV's are kick ass too. We played a show a couple months back and these kids opened for us. One had a IV and the thing slayed.

I too use my pod all the time, so it's not like I'm saying they don't have their place. They are in fact quite good, and so convenient. Hell I'll flick it on, play during a commercial break, then turn it off. I wouldn't do that with my big amps.

Not to mention, I'm thinking of scrapping it all for a modeler (axefx) and a Mesa 50 50 or the like.

Hmm which makes me think.. especially so we can keep this on topic for 8 Ball...

I think the modeler appeals to me because I do a lot of writing with it. I'll have 10 different amp sounds on one song, then when it comes time to play it live, it's one amp, and a couple sounds. Never really lives up to my "vision" of the song.

If you're son is into writing music as well, a modeler amp will give him so many options at his disposal, his creativity will be limitless. Then again he may forget to write good songs and just make a big mess like there were 20 guitar players on stage.

I like the idea of a floor pod if he's playing live and there is already a PA ready for him. One small effects unit under his arm, and plug right in. You can't beat that, because lets face it, lugging your crap around gets old quick, and despite our dreams and aspirations not many of us have roadies to do the grunt work.

Maybe Unkie, but he's a legend