metalhead28
Hates Raymond
In recent years I've become rather tired of lugging around a half stack whenever I want to throw down at a little jam session with some friends. Plus I'm going on vacation soon to see my family in Chicago and they insist that I bring the guitar so we can jam (it seems that everybody up there is a musician). All signs were pointing to me buying a new amp. The only thing I have besides my large amps is a little pathetic 8" practice amp that isn't worth 2 shits but I'll never get rid of it because I've had it ever since I started learning guitar.
Anyway, I set my price limit at below 500 bucks and it had to be easy to fit in my trunk or back seat. It also had to have a wide range of sounds and be somewhat acceptable with just about all of them.
I was dreading this adventure. I have been a hardcore fan of tube amps for a long time now and eliminating that from my options due to price was leaving me with serious apprehension.
I tried out a few of your standard SS combo amps. Not enough versatility. I tried out a couple of the effects laden, knob covered offerings....no dice. I decided to try out the modeling amps. Can it be better than the stand alone modelers I have so much distaste for?
First up, Line 6. I was not impressed. Out of the several amp models this thing had, perhaps only one or two could I ever imagine using. The distortion was fuzzy and generally just plain disturbing. The effects were decent but not very convincing at all. Yuck. Perhaps their higher end models offer something worth using....I dunno.
Then after a few more tries, I decided to try an amp I had never thought of considering. The little Voxes. I was interested in the 50 watt 1x12 AD50VT specifically.
Within seconds of plugging in, I perked up and got just plain excited. This thing was impressive. I noticed that it was dialed in for the "AC30" sound. Having never played through an AC30 I can't vouch for it's accuracy, but I can vouch for it's fat, throaty, and generally bitchin' sound. I took a leisurely spin around the amp model selector and I was similarly impressed by each and every one of them. The blackface 2x12, the tweed 4x10, the 80's UK, the US Hi Gain, Boutique clean and OD models...I was nearly blown away by all of them. There is no harshness, no grainyness, no flabby muddiness. They were all clean, tight and very satisfying. This was the polar opposite of the Line 6 sound that I had come to expect from an inexpensive modeling amp.
The effects sound great (although somewhat limiting in their groupings...but hey, delay and reverb are on there independantly so it's good enough for me).
I don't know why I'm posting this. I guess I'm just real happy with the purchase and I thought I would share my enthusiasm for this little gem with everybody around here.
It's in no danger of replacing my 5150 or my Marshall when I want a 5150 or a Marshall sound. But for sheer versatility and satisfying sound in a portable package, I've never made a better purchase. Hell, I sat around and played that thing for hours last night.
Anybody thats in the same market, check them out. This thing may even see some recording duty with those blackface and boutique models.
Perhaps I'll record some clips this weekend.
Anyway, I set my price limit at below 500 bucks and it had to be easy to fit in my trunk or back seat. It also had to have a wide range of sounds and be somewhat acceptable with just about all of them.
I was dreading this adventure. I have been a hardcore fan of tube amps for a long time now and eliminating that from my options due to price was leaving me with serious apprehension.
I tried out a few of your standard SS combo amps. Not enough versatility. I tried out a couple of the effects laden, knob covered offerings....no dice. I decided to try out the modeling amps. Can it be better than the stand alone modelers I have so much distaste for?
First up, Line 6. I was not impressed. Out of the several amp models this thing had, perhaps only one or two could I ever imagine using. The distortion was fuzzy and generally just plain disturbing. The effects were decent but not very convincing at all. Yuck. Perhaps their higher end models offer something worth using....I dunno.
Then after a few more tries, I decided to try an amp I had never thought of considering. The little Voxes. I was interested in the 50 watt 1x12 AD50VT specifically.
Within seconds of plugging in, I perked up and got just plain excited. This thing was impressive. I noticed that it was dialed in for the "AC30" sound. Having never played through an AC30 I can't vouch for it's accuracy, but I can vouch for it's fat, throaty, and generally bitchin' sound. I took a leisurely spin around the amp model selector and I was similarly impressed by each and every one of them. The blackface 2x12, the tweed 4x10, the 80's UK, the US Hi Gain, Boutique clean and OD models...I was nearly blown away by all of them. There is no harshness, no grainyness, no flabby muddiness. They were all clean, tight and very satisfying. This was the polar opposite of the Line 6 sound that I had come to expect from an inexpensive modeling amp.
The effects sound great (although somewhat limiting in their groupings...but hey, delay and reverb are on there independantly so it's good enough for me).
I don't know why I'm posting this. I guess I'm just real happy with the purchase and I thought I would share my enthusiasm for this little gem with everybody around here.
It's in no danger of replacing my 5150 or my Marshall when I want a 5150 or a Marshall sound. But for sheer versatility and satisfying sound in a portable package, I've never made a better purchase. Hell, I sat around and played that thing for hours last night.
Anybody thats in the same market, check them out. This thing may even see some recording duty with those blackface and boutique models.
Perhaps I'll record some clips this weekend.
...I just love the thing too, and wanted them to get an idea of how it sounded.
