Best amp for practice/recording under $300?

[cindyp16]

Hey there,

I'm looking to get an amp, mainly for practice, but may in the future want to mic it up for recording. I play a variety of stuff from blues to metal so was looking at maybe getting a modeling amp like the Vox Valvetronics. Or should I go with a Marshal AdT20 or say a Fender Princeton. I'm basically looking for opinions/exeriences to help guide me.

Thanks everyone

cindyp16

[Dr_simon]

You could try a Marshall microstack MG15MSII. I have one and it is nice. The direct out is not so hot however I have recorded it using a large diaphragm condenser and it sounds nice.

It also looks really cute next to my half stack !!!

[Lambo]

Roland Cube 30.

[sile2001]

Tech21 Trademark 10.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TCHTM10

It's small in size, but it has guts and has better tone and more versatility than most other practice sized amps. Instead of trying to emulate amp sounds, Tech21 decided to emulate tube circuitry and ended up getting better "amp sim" sounds than companies that make amp sims. It really does have the dynamic sensitivity of a tube amp, not the deadness of a lot of its solid-state brothers.

If you ever choose to use it live, it has a SansAmp direct XLR out which is amazingly accurate. I use the direct out on my Trademark 60 every Sunday and it's dead-on every time.

It's also freaking light, at 14 lbs. See if you can find a store that sells Tech21 in your area and play with one for a while. You might be surprised...

[Aaron Cheney]

Ditto the Tech 21 Trademark 10.

I just picked one up on EBay for $150.

A

[Fletch-X]

+1 for the Roland Cube 30. Versitile, very loud for it's size, priced right. I love everything I've ever used by Tech 21 but they tend to be a bit pricey.

[spoonie g]

A silverface Fender Champ.

[apl]

I used a Digitech RP50 recorded direct for my music. I bought a little Yamaha MG10 mixer so I can mix a drum machine, CD player, and RP50 through headphones for practice.

[manning1]

one of the best guitar sounds i ever heard was when i was in a big studio once and heard an ace guitar player (this guy made his living as a pro studio player working as a session man) . all he brought in was a pignose amp (the one up from smallest) and some guitar pedals. totally blew me away re his guitar sounds. playback was stunning.
he could do anything with that pignose plus pedals. blues, rock, jazz,punk etc. a true professional. he was also a very kind warm person and shared a lot with me. i learnt from him various factors contributed towards tone.
strings, pickups, the hands and the way they work the strings etc

[Mr. Moon]

Originally Posted by sile2001

Tech21 Trademark 10.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TCHTM10

It's small in size, but it has guts and has better tone and more versatility than most other practice sized amps. Instead of trying to emulate amp sounds, Tech21 decided to emulate tube circuitry and ended up getting better "amp sim" sounds than companies that make amp sims. It really does have the dynamic sensitivity of a tube amp, not the deadness of a lot of its solid-state brothers.

If you ever choose to use it live, it has a SansAmp direct XLR out which is amazingly accurate. I use the direct out on my Trademark 60 every Sunday and it's dead-on every time.

It's also freaking light, at 14 lbs. See if you can find a store that sells Tech21 in your area and play with one for a while. You might be surprised...

Ditto!!!!

-mr moon

[jdier]

Originally Posted by spoonie g

A silverface Fender Champ.

The champ is really worth a look. You should be able to get one for about $200 - $275. It is Fender's only class A tube amp. Like they say: If it was good enough to record Layla...

[Lorde]

Behringer V-Amp Pro......$169 at mucicians friend right now

[spoonie g]

also, another great amp for the money is a peavey classic 30. don't be fooled by the name; it has very nice clean and overdrive sounds. put a celestion greenback in it and you've got a great little amp for recording.

[MarkIV123]

Fender Champ DSP 30. The built in effects work really really well and the distorted tones can go from clean break-up to almost metallica crunch. Highly recommend it! I believe it goes for around $250ish

[Peavey Renown]

I'd get the little Line 6 Spider II combo, the 15w version is really nice, has a bunch of different sounds and some effects, you can get one for about 150$

[Purge]

I used to have a Fender Princeton chorus and I loved it. The only reason I don't own it anymore is that a good friend needed it more than I did. Decent solid state distortion, good clear clean channel, and it'll get as loud as you need it to. Around 200 bucks nowadays.

[HappyTapper]

I would try out the Roland Cube 30 Amp.

Great Recording And Gigging Amp Due To The COSM Models.

Well Under Budget Also.

;o)

[kid klash]

Originally Posted by Lambo

Roland Cube 30.

+1000!!!

Great amp models, small and easy to move around, good effects, LOUD (if you want it to be), built like a tank. I've used mine for over two years (club gigs, rehearsals, recording) and love it. My Marshall JCM 900 2500 half stack and '63 Fender Tremolux are beginning to feel ignored!

[Buck62]

Vox AD30VT

Just play through one... you'll buy it, I guarantee it.

[Fusioninspace]

Another vote for the Trademark!

I really like the Trademark personnally. But there are several other modelers that are worth looking into as well (as stated in other responses). The key is that the modelers will really help you decide what sound you like.

A Champ always sounds great, but it always sounds like a Champ. Same with Marshall, etc.

I tend to use my Trademark with a semi-hollow body on the "Fender" sound, my Strat with the Marshall or Mesa sound, etc. But whatever sound I choose, I can DI into my workstation at 3:00 AM and not wake anybody... Or take it to a gig, plug it into the PA and make all kinds of noise.

I think the 60 watt series is probably more for professionals, but the 10 watt works great for me.

[Wyz_fool]

Originally Posted by manning1

one of the best guitar sounds i ever heard was when i was in a big studio once and heard an ace guitar player (this guy made his living as a pro studio player working as a session man) . all he brought in was a pignose amp (the one up from smallest) and some guitar pedals. totally blew me away re his guitar sounds. playback was stunning.
he could do anything with that pignose plus pedals. blues, rock, jazz,punk etc. a true professional. he was also a very kind warm person and shared a lot with me. i learnt from him various factors contributed towards tone.
strings, pickups, the hands and the way they work the strings etc

Those pignose's get a really killer tone, the off-kilter brown-ish color makes them look like they'll sound like ass, but they can cover quite a versatile array of tones. I had purchased the 60W one w/ a 10" speaker in it...they're only about $150 or so.

[Peavey Renown]

If you're looking for a modelling amp that's affordable, you might want to try a 15w Line 6 Spider II Combo.. I've played through one and was thinking about getting one myself.. The clean on that is really good and it provide a couple of different tones as far as overdrive.. My cousin does direct recording with his and it comes out really nice, you may want to give it a look.

[gitrguy87]

I gotta give props for the Tech 21 and the Line 6 Spyder II.

[Fusioninspace]

I'd like to add the Roland Micro Cube to my original Trademark vote. I just picked one up last night for air traveling - 2 watts/7 pounds. It's not as flexible as my Trademark - but it will fit nicely in my suitcase and give out decent tones at hotel room volumes!

[reshp1]

Traynor custom valve 20WR
Not a lot of flexibility, but very good at what it does (clean to dirty blues tones)

EDIT: Sorry a little out of your range (I forgot how much I paid for mine, yikes)