halfstack

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artCROSS

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Hey all,
I'm looking to buy a halfstack for $500...any suggestions?

I was looking at Crate b/c they're halfstacks are pretty cheap, but i'm thinking i may just spring for a marshall b/c i've heard they're very reliable...i think that's an extra $150. I just spent a lot of money on some new recording equipment, so I don't have much left for this amp. I'll be using it mostly for gigging, but I am recording my band's CD relatively soon, so I need to keep that in mind when buying this amp. Thanks!
 
generally...

any half stack in the 500 dollar region is going to be trash. Save your money, get a serious setup that will last and actually sound good in the process. Marshall JCM900 With a good marshall 4x12 would be great.

If you need something now, go for a combo like a Fender Hotrod Deville or something comparable.

Honestly, 500 dollar half stack spells bad news my friend. Hang in there, keep saving, it'll be worth it I promise.
 
Why do you need a halfstack? What do you think a halfstack will do that a 2x12 combo won't do?

H2H
 
Yeah

I second that............. Get a 2x12 combo and an extension 2x12 later. Then you won't have to lug that HUGE 4x12 around.

If you had more than $500, something like $1000-$1500 I'd say go for the Halfstack, but inverst in a good amp first!!!
 
After years of playing bass in a group and lugging round a bloody heavy 4x10 and head unit round I am now playing guitar onstage...I use a Marshall DSL 401 1x12 and when I feel the need I have another 1x12 extension I can use to pump up the volume a bit.

It really makes the whole gigging experience far more enjoyable! The Marshall sounds great and is plenty loud enough. If you are playing anywhere big then you'll be going through a PA anyway!
 
Crate MX-120R...I own this and believe me it's a loud enough and durable enough amp. $400...I wouldn't recommend getting a crate half stack or full stack for that matter...I would seriously look into a Marshall.
 
Loudness and durability are givens with higher end amps. What he should be worried about is sound quality, which at the end of the day is the most important aspect of an amp right? Save your money buddy. Crate is trash. My band and I used crate for about three years out of lack of money, but once we saved up and bought some fender guitar amps (deville, bassman) and an ampeg bass stack (SVT410HLF, B2R) the quality blew us away. Keep saving, you'll be glad, I promise.
 
Ah come on crate ain't that bad. I would def. like to have a marshall 1960 series stack but... no ch-ching. If not a crate than try on of the Line 6 Combos.
 
NO LINE SIX!

NO!

Someone, please back me up here. Go to guitar center, or whatever chain you have. Get a decent guitar, and plug it into the following amps.


Fender Hot Rod Deville 212
Marshall JCM900
Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier

and then play a little. All great, right? okay.

Plug it into anything Crate
Plug it into anything Line6

TRY and find something you like. Then, tell me that the first three are not worth saving up for. C'mon guys, remember this proverb...

Buy cheap, buy twice.

Save yourself money in the long run, save, and spring for something quality. You said you have 500 dollars.. save up two hundred more and get a Fender Hotrod Deville 212. Trust me, these things are loud. AND! They are actually capable of creating a lovely, excellent, respectable tone.
 
I completely agree, don't buy a bad sounding amp no matter how cheap or loud it is. The sound is what matters, then wattage comes second, and if you cant afford the wattage you need in whatever amp sounds good to you save up for the better one. I wish I would have done that... on an unrelated matter I have to go play my cheap little crate amp now. :mad:
 
The Hotrod Deville is a recurring name around here...

Would it be a good amp for metal as well? How is it's distortion/overdirve? I've heard it has great tone for recording, is it equally useful for gigging?

Anyone wanna buy a slightly used crate 2X12 combo? :(
 
Hey guys, I have been playing for 30 years now. I have been through a lot of different amps. Don't screw around, get a Marshall or Mesa. You will spend 1500, but then you won't spend anymore!! Go for the real thing, get the tubes, the power and the sound that others try to emulate.
 
thispleasesme said:
Loudness and durability are givens with higher end amps.
Click to expand...

With the exception of Marshall on the durability end of the scale? Every newer Marshall (i.e. non-vintage) I've ever been around has crapped out, even the ones that were taken care of. Somehow they can manage to just stop working, even when they never ever get moved out of a bedroom or garage. Marshall's QC and their quality in general has sucked ever since they were bought by Korg (and even for a while before that).

My cheap ($400) Peavey Classic 30 has freaking fallen out of the back of a truck, and it still worked without a hitch. Even the tubes were ok, although I'm sure their lifespan has been shortened a bit.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

I have a 2x12 right now, but it just doesn't overpower my extremely loud drummer without distorting a bit. Plus, i play a lot of festivals that don't have a PA. I was thinking maybe an ampstand might help the situation more though to help get the sound off the floor.

I guess since wherever I play, the bands I play with all have marshall halfstacks, so I thought that would be the next step in my amp. I play alternative notsomuch punkish music (i don't know how to classify music anymore...).
 
Fender

The Fender 412s Cabinet is a great deal, loaded w/ 4 12" Celestions for $368..

Pair that up with any head for great sounds....
 
I have never heard any Marshall half stack as loud as a Twin 2x12 combo. More speakers does not give you more volume. If you want something really loud, find a used Twin reverb from the 70's (you can get for $400) and put some pedals in front of it to get the overdrive/distortion that you like. Cause you're not going to find a decent Marshall head/cab for under $1000. And Crate makes nothing decent.

what 2x12 do you have now? Even an AC30 (30 watts 2x12) can easily be heard over a drummer. Even a 15 watt AC15 with only 15 watts and one speaker.

H2H
 
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