Help choosing new practice amp

[CharvelRocker]

While I would highly recommend the Roland Mini Cub, Give a Peavey Bandit a try. Same goes for a Marshall MG15DFX, I had one and liked it a lot despite it being WAY over priced. Might also want to give a Fender G-DEC a look or a Vox AD30VT. You could also buy an Epiphone Valve Junior Combo and run a distortion pedal into for distortion (as while it has 5W of tube power, it has no overdrive channel.)

[guitarsjb]

I've always been happy with my little Crate GFX-120. I've had it for about 7 years now and it's still going strong as my practice amp. In fact I use it about 90% of the time. I rarely fire up the 100 watters. I try to be kind to my neighbors.

I've had mine for about 4 years now. I use it all the time for practice. Great amp for the buck.

[UFORocks]

This amp will not do it for progressive and power metal. No way.. no how.
You will have to add a bunch of pedals and for a new guitar player... simpler is better. Grab a Micro Cube and get to practicing and learning instead of trying to figure out what pedals to get to find the sound you are looking for.
IMHO.... a single channel 5w tube amp with no reverb or any type of effects will NOT inspire a new player who is into progressive and power medal to practice. Why???? Because the amp will not give him the tone he is looking for. Not even close. This is why many of the beginner guitarists gave it up back in the old days. For a new player, having tone that sounds like the record even though you can't hardly play, is very important to keep the interest going.

Eh, I suppose you're right, I didnt really think of it that way. Simple and compact is probably best.

With that said. IMO most of these modeling/FX amps are too sterile, and the metal settings just sound like pissed off beehives, especially on the smaller amps like the cubes and micro cubes.

You're right in saying that he v8 wont get a metal tone on its own, but throw $30 worth of pedals in front of it and you're pretty much there.

Point being that no matter what practice amp you've got you're not gonna sound like Shadows Fall or BLS right out of box, it just wont happen, regardless of what the little FX knob says.

Versatility? I've put many different pedals and boards in front of that V8 and gotten tones from Kansas to Pantera with ease, and very little tweaking.

I guess it just depends on how you look at it.

[ewright]

If you can spend $200+, skip the Micro-Cube and get a Cube 30 ($225 last time I looked). They even make a new one (Cube 30X) with onboard tuner. You won't be disappointed, especially if you're a beginner.

[Shawn Lutz]

+ a billion on a PODxt or the likes..

[TommyD]

Help choosing new practice amp

> When Line 6 upgraded to the Spider III,they apparently got back all the Spider II amps from their dealers,and you can buy them straight off their site. I think the 15 watt version was like 119.00,and the 30 was 149.00. At that price,there might not be anything better. Tommy D.

[ihocky2]

Well since Christmas is a few weeks away and I am expecting several paychecks in early January I have to time get good enough at playing something that I can go into a store and get a feel for what I am looking for. I have to admit that all of the options on the Spider III is very intriguing, but is it just a bunch of extra's thrown in there that I won't use and would be better buying the Spider II. I will have to try out the Crate's and the Vox's. Hopefully, I can put something together that will let me play well enough to get an idea of the sound I want.

And I absolutely agree that for a beginner, getting the sound close to that of your favorite bands is a big help. The little Fender Frontman won't get anywhere near power or prog. metal and it is frustrating to try and play something and have it be no where close to what you want to hear. It sounds great if I am trying to play something a little more bluesy, but it just can't get that crunch that I want to hear.

[scaristei]

I picked up a used Marshall Valve-state VS-15 last year on Ebay for $60. (including shipping) and love it as a practice amp. Its as loud as I need it. I have even used it to practice w/ base and drums and we "held our own" ! !!
A lot of "bang for your buck" ! ! !

[lynchfan6]

Of all the little practice, solid state bedroom amps I've ever tried, I still gotta give it up for my little Crate G60 xl. I got it when I was 16, gave it away to my brother for years, and finally took it back again. I just love it at quiet, in the living room volumes. So much gain and violin like sustain, and the overdrive is awesome.....but as soon as you turn it up too much, it sounds pretty awful. But that's what my Soldano SLO100 is for.

[scotty]

I really like the Roland Cude but for the price the Line6 Spider are nice amps. I am not a Line6 fan but I do own a Spider amp practice amp and for the price you can't beat it. They sound really good and easy to work with.

[horns666]

Just for "practice"..

The 30 wt. Line 6 Syper II w/ 1-12....it does everthing I nee it to do for "practice"..

Bought it for the boy last Christmas..between the Boy and I..there'at least 2000 hours on that thing problem free..

The Cube is cool, but costly new for what it is, unless you score one used..IMO

But for PRACTICE.. for a $99 you could get the 15 wt SpyderII or the 30 wt for $149 new, I've still seen them in stock..you can't beat that with a stick..I don't care where you got that stick..

They're cool enough to cover all styles..I shred balls with it about every night..

[El_Kabong]

The Spyder is cool if you are young and like new metal tones. Otherwise, the best sounding all around practice amp is the Tech 21 trademark 10. It does Fender, Marshall and Boogie tones that sound better than average.

[Sinistas]

You can get far more than "new" metal tones out of the Spyder.

[horns666]

You can get far more than "new" metal tones out of the Spyder.

yeah..