+1 on the concept that this is a dumb argument.
Different tastes make the world go 'round. Now, I gig more than any of you ...... July I already have 25 gigs booked and several others pending. A main criteria for me is reliability while Gear Junkie has it absolutely right ..... for you homerecordists ... reliability isn't nearly as important for you as for me.
And anyone that hates all Mesa's because they heard a couple and didn't like 'em doesn't really know about more than those few models.
For example ...... one of my main gigging amps is a Mesa Blue Angel. A straight blues amp ..... no channel switching ..... not even a master volume ..... no cascading gain stages ..... as basic an amp as there is and it sounds great. Wouldn't do for high gain but it's a wonderful all-around do most anything amp.
I also use
my Orange Tiny Terror for small gigs ....... it does great!
For super small gigs I'll use my Epi Valve Jr. ...... with a multifx in front of it to get a little 'shimmer' to the sound ..... it does great
Larger gigs, I'll use my 1970
Ampeg V-2 or my 1971
Ampeg VT-40 ....... both are bad to the bone.
Sometimes I'll pull out my Fender Hot Rod deVille (4-10's) which I love but it's prone to breaking down so I don't trust it for gigs too much but it's a great amp.
My Fender Blues Jr. is an amp I don't like much so I'm gonna MOD the hell out of it, but I use it for gigs where I have to carry my equipment a long ways and I CAN get it to be passable.
I really, really love my Dean Markley solid state amp and I bet you can't tell it's SS from listening to it ....... but it's also gotten to be prone to problems so I've retired it.
My Ampeg ReverbRocket reissue is nice too though it's too large for its' output ..... I wish it were a bit more compact.
And some gigs ...... I won't even use an amp (like when I'm playing on the beach where load in's a pain and no one listens anyway) and just run a Rocktron Utopia direct into the PA.
The point is ..... just like people make the mistake of thinking there is only one decent guitar model and they MUST have that to do what they want when any good player can play on anything decent, it's the same with amps.
Almost all the amps that have been mentioned in this thread would do just fine for me or anyone else that knows how to dial in an amp.
Yes, I would have my preferences (like I said, I don't like the Blues Jr. much) but this concept that any of the 'experts' in this thread can declare entire brands of amps to be crap just amuses the hell out of me!
I've heard guitarists that play way better than you or I play thru Peavey and sound great and that Classic 30 is a hell of an amp by anyones' definition except for metal.
And a friend of mine in Baton Rouge who's played with a lot of very big names and plays maybe the best I've ever seen/heard, plays thru a Carvin solid state little POS and he's freakin' amazing. He uses the Carvin 'cause it's light and he doesn't give a shit since he can make most amps do what he needs.
Do different amps sound different? Of course, and you should get one that makes you happy, but this trashing of amateur musicians by other amateur musicians is just so funny to me. And just 'cause you played a couple of gigs a week for a few years before you settled down doesn't get you out of the amateur class ......
Having an opinion is one thing and everyone does and should ...... but this superior attitude of some towards slightly less experienced players is silly. If you've played at least 5 gigs a week every week for at least 20 years or more raise your hands.
In my case I've done about 350 gigs a year for 40 years and even I don't have an absolute opinion on this amp being great and that brand sucking.
You shouldn't either.
everyone has ........opinion ... check out every tube amp available play through and judge for yourself. My two bits. Tiny terror, Mesa Mark 3, Fender Deluxe (with proper bias) who knows...? Only you. Cost constraints are a regular part of the current economy (eeecon o my). When you find a cool one, post for the benefit of all. Be well.
Of course!
If you read more carefully, you will see that there is a Peavey that is WAY cheap on the used market that I do recommend.
ain't this interesting? I have 6 amps right now (all under $1000 - 5 under $300). I love em all. I don't gig (not for 25+ years now) and mine are just for home enjoyment. A Musician can make whatever he has sound good. Make WHATEVER YOU HAVE sound good and then you'll be a true musician.
