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**lerxstcat** · 06-25-2003, 05:04 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

The SX50 is a 50-watt 1x12 combo, the SX100 is a 100-watt 1x12 and the SX200 is
100-watt 2x12. They're all solidstate
and have builtin digital effects. The SX
line has been around for many years, like
the Peavey Bandit, and early models just had a reverb, then models with effects came out. Except for newer SX200s, NONE have external speaker outs so you can't add a sealed-back cabinet for tight bass.
I think that's a big drawback for any metal player, much as I do love Carvins.
You can get an SX200 HEAD though, that'll
push 2 4x12 cabs.

Also, does Carvin even have a distributor
in the UK? Seems they'd be rather uncommon there, especially compared to Peavey. I just looked in the catalog and
it says "No Foreign Orders", so unless they have a store over there I doubt you'll find any used ones. Since they don't sell through retail stores it'd likely be a b!tch getting them serviced
too. Getting a Peavey worked on, if needed, is a no-brainer; they probably have authorized service centers in China!

**Mr White** · 06-25-2003, 05:17 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Cool.
I might also look into one of them if I see one. However I looked on both Ebeast and Loot (a large very popular 'free ads' newspaper in Britain that has a website) and none of them had any Carvin amps on at all...
Hmm..
Although I have spotted a Bandit for £65 (about $100 ish), but its halfway across the country away from me. Hmm, I feel a drunken teenage roadtrip coming on.... [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Jamesy

**toejam** · 06-25-2003, 06:07 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Hmm, not sure if Carvin's got a distributor in the UK, but they might. I know Snoogans (board memeber here and on the Carvin board) is in the UK and may be able to help you. There's people on the Carvin board from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and other places that have Carvin gear, so I do know some other countries have distributors for them.

I've actually been thinking of eventually getting an SX300. The SX amps have gotten great reviews about being able to emulate the tube sound, kinda like a Marshall Valvestate.

**lerxstcat** · 06-25-2003, 06:36 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Yeah, the SX300H head looks very interesting! Only $375 brand new too! I
have tried the SX amps of a couple years ago at the Carvin Hollywood store, when I
lived in LA. The drive channel did sound very good for modern metal, so imagine the 3-channel version would be even better. Again, the lack of a speaker output on the models at that time was a dealbreaker for me, which is why I'm glad they'd addressed that issue!

They also have Smart Effects now, where you can program and save up to 4 effects to each channel, and the amp will remember to use those settings each time you switch to that channel. You can shut
off the effects with another button on the 4-button switch, and also have a regular reverb switch as well, so it looks like a pretty versatile package.
I wish they'd make a 3-channel tube head though! Oh well, my SD-1 makes my VM100
a pseudo-3-channel head anyway so I'm a
happy guy anyway!

**deviltronix** · 06-25-2003, 09:02 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

I don't know if they are available in UK, but I have a 1x12 Ampeg Reverberocket. It is a phenomal amp and cost a little over $500 new. It is all tube and boy does it sound it. Running straight into it, you can get pretty much any rock tone conceivable and it is overflowing with tube harmonics and warmth. If I am in the mood to play something heavier, I run a Zoom Tri Metal directly into the effects loop on it (bypassing the preamp of the amp) and I can get killer Metal sounds. (The zoom tri-metal is one of the best sounding distortion pedals made. IT has a mid-scoop and you can get a wide range of sounds from Soldano To Rectifier with it. I know that is a bold statement, especially about a Zoom pedal, but the Tri-Metal is just that good)

Either way, I think every guitarist should treat himself to a tube amp. There is just no Solid State sound to compare to it. With secondary gain, most tube amps sound decent at low volume levels and you can always invest in an attenuator.

Rich

**lerxstcat** · 06-25-2003, 09:36 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Not disagreeing with you about tubes, but having followed Jamesy's odyssey I know it's taken him many months to save $320,
and if the Reverbrocket is available in the UK it's probably more like $750-$800
there, or more than twice his budget. He
is pretty much looking for a thrash sound
which solid state amps can deliver well.
Jamesy is pretty much trying to move up to an amp he can gig with, period, so he can get in a band. Can't do that with a
10 watt Squier. So a Transtube Bandit is
certainly not as nice as a Reverbrocket,
but to save more for that might represent another 6-9 months of not being able to try out for bands. He could buy a Bandit 112 tomorrow and jam tomorrow night, and hey! maybe get some gigs, make some $ and improve his gear that way. AS a source of bang for the buck they are great, and you can play clubs with a miked or lined-in 1x12 combo alone.

The backstory is that James got the 8080 from his cousin many months ago and could never afford to have a real tech look at it. I'm guessing he's declared it dead because he's had friends with "some" tech
knowledge try to fix it without success.
He's going to university soon, where money will continue to be tight since school ain't cheap, and if he couldn't afford $100 for a tech to look at the Valvestate he probably can't afford $100
tube changes very often either. This would make a solid state amp better for him for that reason too, until he's got a
job or a gigging band. Strings and picks
are costly enough when you're paying tuition and buying books too, more so in the UK than even here in the USA.

Tube amps are the best, but they're not best for every situation.

**Doc Dryer** · 06-25-2003, 10:23 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Jamesy, look for a used Peavey Bandit 112
Transtube Series model. Chuckracer has one and really likes it, and that coming from a Soldano owner is a "buy it" endorsement!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY !!!

I own 2 Peavey Bandit 65's as well...BUT...SEE if you can find a Peavey ENCORE 65 ...The Bandit 65 is solid-state, where the ENCORE 65 is ALL TUBES, BAY-BEE !!!..TWO 6L6s in the power stage, and the SAME Scorpion 12" speaker...{I just replaced the one in my latest Encore 65 with a Celestion G12-75}

I paid $100.00 for one of my Encore 65's and $75.00 + $20.00 on this recent one...

[ June 25, 2003, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: Doc Dryer ]

**deviltronix** · 06-25-2003, 11:36 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

lex,

Thanks for the full story. Whatever happens, I wish him the best.

Rich

**Mr White** · 06-26-2003, 06:39 AM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Thanks lads, thanks to all of you [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] especially Rich.
I actually took my Marshall to a tech, which I conveniently forgot to tell you about once Id got it back lol, most likely cos I wasnt a happy chappy.
The power amp in it has blown, and sent a f*ckload of current into places where it shouldnt be, and blown the speaker. Its gonna cost £70 to replace to speaker, about £15 to fit it, and then at least £40 to take a look at the power amp, and even then, it still might not work [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] So Im pretty ecstatic about that [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]
But yeah, life goes on.
Yeah, next year, moneys gonna be tight. Im getting a job this summer (going into town to apply for some this afternoon) not that Ive got no schoolin till like October. But Ive also gotta fund driving lessons and a car and insurance. Or I might just give that idea a miss.... I dunno. I know its gonna be pretty degrading getting driving lessons after university when Im like 22/23 having lessons just after the 17 year olds lol [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Doc, can you run that all tube Peavey at lower volumes? Ive always been under the impression that you have to really drive the tubes of a valves amp to get it to sound any good? Which would mean large volumes would it not?
Thanks lads, you all fukkin rule

Jamesy

**VitaminG** · 06-26-2003, 08:18 AM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

hey Jamesy, given that your in the UK and all that, what's the secondhand market like there for Laneys? They make all tube, tube hybrid (current Tube Fusion series) or solidstate amps. And I just thought being local, they might be a bit more economical then those imported Peaveys [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

ps. I believe there is a UK branch office for Carvin. I seem to remember seeing them advertise in Guitar, or Guitar Techniques, one of the Brit mags. They may even have their own website [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

**Mr White** · 06-26-2003, 04:06 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Thanks Matt, but most likely the shipping will make it crazy expensive. I do have a way to get around that (different branches of an international company my father works for, sending weekly shipments to the head office about 20 miles from me [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )
How much is it Matt? Cos theres one in a shop near me and its about £150 ($230) and thats a bit pricey at the moment.
Gary - about those Laneys, I looked at a few on Ebay, and what put me off is that apparently they dont do the very heavy tones very well. But then again Opeth endorse (or did endorse) Laney...
But they do have two guitarists and a bass player...
Hopefully looking at a Peavey Bandit soon... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Jamesy

**OnlineStageGear** · 06-27-2003, 12:03 AM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

I have a Marshall 80/80 but shipping to the UK might make it not worth the while.

Matt

**lerxstcat** · 06-27-2003, 08:14 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Jamesy,

Didn't you say your budget was $320 at the start of this thread? How then would
$230 be too pricey? I'm sure it'd cost more than that to ship Matt's from the USA is why I ask. Just curious!

Rich

**Newc** · 06-27-2003, 10:13 PM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Tony Iommi has used Laney for years, and he's the Father of Heavy Metal.
Besides, the Laney will have better distortion than the Peavey.
Thirdly, neither of those, nor a Triple Rec, are gonna make you sound just like your favorite CD.

Newc

**toejam** · 06-28-2003, 12:32 AM

Re: Cheap decent amp read inside for unrealistic requests

Originally posted by lerxstcat:
Jamesy,

Didn't you say your budget was $320 at the start of this thread? How then would
$230 be too pricey?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">$230, $320... maybe he's dyslexic. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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