Help choosing new practice amp

[ihocky2]

I am a fairly basic beginner when it comes to palying guitar. I can fumble through some songs, but not very well. I don't practice a lot and I know part of the reason is that nothing sounds like the songs I am playing. I like to listen to power and progressive metal and those are the types of songs I am trying to play. I currently am running through a Fender Frontman 15 watt. The wattage isn't a huge deal, but I just am not getting the sound I am looking for. My problem is that I can't play enough of any songs to go into a store and play several amps to find the sound I want. I have looked into the Line 6 Spider II 112 and the comparable Roland and like the idea of both of them but don't know which is better for the type of music I want to play. My other option is to get a POD of some type and run that either through my computer or stereo, but not sure if the small speakers of either would give me the good low end tones that the 10" I am pushing now doesn't do. I am looking to spend between $200 and $300 and get the most versatility I can. Thanks.

[Mordor]

Pod xt is a nice choice, it will help you to understand the kind of tone you're lookin for and which amp has it, and in anycase it's a kick ass practice and recording instrument. Just my 2 cents.

[bonghits]

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.

[Spivonious]

Vox AD__VT line (30,50,100). Models very well, built-in power attenuator on the back, so it stays sounding good at quiet volumes as well as loud.

The only downside is that you can only save two channels. But in my case at least, once you find the sound, two channels is enough.

Here's the amps it models (of the top of my head, I don't have it with me):
Clean channel in Dumble Overdrive Special (Boutique CL)
Blackface (Black 2x12)
Fender Twin (Tweed 4x10)
Vox AC15 (AC15)
Vox AC30 TopBoost(AC30TB)
Marshall JTM45(UK 70s)
Marshall JCM800 (UK 80s)
Marshall JCM900/2000 (UK Modern)
Mesa Triple Rec (US Modern)
Mesa Mark IV (US Hi-Gain)
A 100W Dumble amp, but not the OD Special (Boutique OD)

The models all exhibit characteristics of the amps they're modeled off of and should give you a wide variety to play with. My personal favorite right now is the US Hi-Gain, but depending on my mood I'll use the US Modern, UK Modern, UK 80s, and AC30.

[cbope]

I recently got back to playing guitar after, well... way too long. I was in a similar position when I recently bought my DK2, but completely without any amp for practice. A guitar playing friend loaned me his Behringer V-amp 2 to practice with. It's similar to a POD, you can just plug in a set of headphones. The modeling is very good, imho, and you can also use the line-outs into your stereo. I believe it's a better value than the POD's... at least compared to POD 2.0 and XT. Price should be about $120/100€, and it comes with a foot pedal for bank preset switching. I'm planning to buy one for myself. Also, you might look into the Roland Micro Cube practice amp. I just got one last week and I'm really happy with it. I use it at home for practice, plus it's very portable and can run on batteries. You can also use it as a headphone amp and practice without annoying your neighbors or significant other. The modeling in it is very good, probably better than the V-amp, although more limited in actual number of models. It's also got a few usable effects built-in. The red version rocks!

[greenskeeper]

Spivo, i have one of the AD30VT and your post is the first time I've seen what amps are being modeled. I do know the various amps that are modeled are very different from each other. I also think it does a good job with the effects department with about 10-12 different effects. For a small amp at the house, I can say it has done the job for me. Again, thanks for identifying the amps and their real name, I guess they were afraid of being taken to court if they named them.

[SouthPlatteDemon]

A few posts ago, people were raving about the Peavey Bandit.

I say to heck with the dudes in the guitar store. If they can't handle the beginners then they aren't expanding their customer base. Take you fiddle in and start wailing. They might laugh, but they were that good at one point too.

[UFORocks]

I just picked up one of these. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Amp?sku=487825

Its right in your price range at $275 and its a great sounding little tube amp. The amp doesnt have any effects what so ever, but I honestly think thats a good thing because it sounds great with every pedal I've thrown at it, which is definitely not the case with a lot of the modeling and FX loaded amps in the same price range. I do wish it had reverb, but I dont really use a lot of reverb anyway, so I've gotten used to not having it.

My vote, go for the crate, and if you hate it you can always return it.

My $0.02

[Spivonious]

Spivo, i have one of the AD30VT and your post is the first time I've seen what amps are being modeled. I do know the various amps that are modeled are very different from each other. I also think it does a good job with the effects department with about 10-12 different effects. For a small amp at the house, I can say it has done the job for me. Again, thanks for identifying the amps and their real name, I guess they were afraid of being taken to court if they named them.

The actual amps are never mentioned, but they are strongly hinted at:
NUMETAL:
This model is based on the “Modern High Gain” channel of a brutal, 100 Watt,
armour-plated beast. Its deep, loose low-end, some-what “fizzy” top and Monsterlike
gain has made this amp a mainstay for many modern, metal acts who either
tune their guitars down low, or wield 7 -string axes.
At low GAIN settings, RECTO produces a distinctive, bright clean sound bolstered
by some rich, upper harmonics that add fullness and dimension. But, if you play
slamming, “nu-metal” that’s tuned low, then RECTO could well be the only way to go!
Original’s tube compliment: 5 x 12AX7s in preamp, 2 x 5U4G rectifier tubes, 4
x 6L6s in power amp.

Obviously a Triple Rec.

For what it's worth, I remembered what the Boutique amp is: Dumble Overdrive Special.

The effects are also modeled after specific boxes and rack units, but since I know next to nothing about effects, I don't know which ones.
For example:
PHASER
A model of a much respected and popular analogue phaser, housed in a banana yellow
box!

maybe an MXR Phase 100?

[Dreamland_Rebel]

roland micro cube.
thats all you need. i play mine more than my live rig. its loud enough for everything but playing with a drummer. and it sounds great! mine sits by the couch and is played daily.

[brent]

roland micro cube.
thats all you need. i play mine more than my live rig. its loud enough for everything but playing with a drummer. and it sounds great! mine sits by the couch and is played daily.

+1, see the thread about this, may be the best $100 I spent on guitar gear

[micha]

I'd go with a V-Amp. it offers a lot of sound, is great for the money and so far it made any little practise amp I've had sound HUGE, so you could keep your current amp for that reason.
it's easy to use, sounds great... what else do you want?

but you can't go wrong with a micro cube either. great little amp.

[Racerx2k]

Peavey Valvking 112 combo. Great amps. So are the Vox combos.

[Bryan]

I gotta +1 on the Peavey. But it's a little out of the $200-$300 price range.

But in your price range..... Roland Vube all the way!!

[jgcable]

I just picked up one of these. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Amp?sku=487825

Its right in your price range at $275 and its a great sounding little tube amp. The amp doesnt have any effects what so ever, but I honestly think thats a good thing because it sounds great with every pedal I've thrown at it, which is definitely not the case with a lot of the modeling and FX loaded amps in the same price range. I do wish it had reverb, but I dont really use a lot of reverb anyway, so I've gotten used to not having it.

My vote, go for the crate, and if you hate it you can always return it.

My $0.02

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.