new amp

[Xaaron1377]

Right now I have an old Peavey Rage 158 amp that I've been stuck with for quite a while. I'm looking at getting a new amp, possibly the "Fender 25R Frontman II 25W 1x10 Combo" amp. It seems like a pretty good deal to me, and I like the built in reverb knob. I play mostly folk-rock, blues, and things along those lines. Would the Fender be a good choice for an amp?

[ocnor]

Would the Fender be a good choice for an amp?

That depends....Are you a 12 year old kid that's just learning how to play?

[Xaaron1377]

I've been playing for about 6 years

[Greg_L]

I've been playing for about 6 years

Get a real amp. Something with tubes.

[Lt. Bob]

Get a real amp. Something with tubes.

^ this ^^

I'm no gear snob but I do think you won't be making much of an upgrade if you get the Frontman. Yeah ..... it'll be a little louder (not much though) and you'll get a bit fuller sound outta that 10" speaker but I'd just save a bit more and get something a bit better.

You want, Ideally, a tube amp with tubes in the preamp section AND tubes in the power amp section.

Those Behringer Bugera amps do pretty good for a relatively modest price or you could go used.

But I do think the Frontman will just be more of what you have now.

[Xaaron1377]

I was just looking at some tube amps and I'll probably just save up for some time and get something more worthwhile. My grandfather has an old Gibson "Falcon" tube amp from the 60's that I love to use, so I'll probably just play that for a while until I can afford something. Thanks for the advice.

[ecc83]

Buy an amp on sound and what suits you in terms of money and such things as luggerbility. Don't get too hung up about valves.
It is largely true that valves are best for power stages but a mix of valve and silicon in a pre amp stage can deliver superb results.

You would also be suprised at how many "famous name" amps have chips and/or transistors somewhere in the signal path! In any event I believe the valve to be doomed for affordable amps in a decade or so's time, fortunately some excellent solid state answers are on their way!

Dave.

[Lt. Bob]

Buy an amp on sound and what suits you in terms of money and such things as luggerbility. Don't get too hung up about valves.
It is largely true that valves are best for power stages but a mix of valve and silicon in a pre amp stage can deliver superb results.

You would also be suprised at how many "famous name" amps have chips and/or transistors somewhere in the signal path! In any event I believe the valve to be doomed for affordable amps in a decade or so's time, fortunately some excellent solid state answers are on their way!

Dave.

lol ... the valve has been 'doomed' for the last 30 years ..... they're more plentiful and cheaper than ever except for during the time when there was nothing else.

Same thing with vinyl which was 'doomed' 30 years ago when CDs came out and is now the only material music media that has had increased sales for the last 6 or 7 years.

Tubes will be around as long as anyone wants them ..... China and Russia will keep churning them out.

I've has a couple of SS amps that were decent but I can't really think of one right now that really sounds that good. Maybe Quilter's amps though I've not had a chance to try one.

[Greg_L]

Tube amps will always be around. It's funny how we still foam at the mouth for century old technology. You can't say that for any other sector of the consumer marketplace. As modelling gets better though I can see tube amps maybe becoming less ideal. Things like the AxeFX and Kemper profiling amp can be scary good. I'd love to take a Kemper into GC and go to town.

[ocnor]

I'd love to take a Kemper into GC and go to town.

No shit! Those things are sweet.