What combo amp?

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esun127

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I'm looking at getting a combo amp in the $500 range. I do not want a half stack because of it's size. I already have to lug around a 12U rack case, 2 JBL eons, and a 16 channel mixer, not to mention my friend's bass rig which includes a 6U rack and an ampeg 8x10.

I like the marshall tone more than the fender tone, so I'm deciding between the MG50DFX ($350) and the AVT50 ($480). I plan on micing the amp, and my eons are getting 225+ watts each, so I don't really need anything over 50 watts. However, I would consider the MG250DX ($500) since it's doesn't cost much more, isn't huge like a stack, and has twice the power/number of speakers, but the main question at hand is solid state or tube?

On the same note, what's a good mic to use with a small combo amp? I have an SM-57 lying around. How does that compare to a good condenser?

Thanks for any replies.
 
if you are looking for the great marshall tone, then definitely go with the AVT50. i'm about to get one myself, once i get the money. but anyway, the reason i say this is because the MG serious does not have a tube preamp like the AVT, which makes the AVT capable of producing a much better tone than a completely tube-less amp. i played the AVT and MG50 several times in direct comparison like you, because i am in the same situation. i reallly reallly like the AVT50 also because of its incredible gain and versatility. you can go from a popular alternative rock sound to death metal, while still having an individual sound if you want. it's great for any type of rock because of marshall distortion. plus, don't worry about power wattage specifications---the AVT50 is deafening. also, considering the AVT50 has got a tube pre-amp and the MG250 doesn't, i wouldn't be surprised to find out that those two amps go just as loud. i've also talked to some people who own the AVT50 and they all said they've never cranked theirs up all the way, it's just too damn loud.

your best bet is to go into a local guitar shop and play both like i did... it will quickly become apparent which one is better :) also, don't pay $480 for it, that's a complete rip-off. my local daddy's junky music had a used one in excellent condition (which i tested out in store) for only $330. check out daddy's continually updating used gear stock, every month they have at least 2 used AVT50's around there. if you don't have a daddy's near you, then check out guitar center's used gear, if they have them. ebay is also your friend. so basically i'm telling you to look into a used AVT50, much cheaper, makes no difference (as long as it's not messed up of course).

good luck
 
You can pickup a used 50 watt JCM 900 combo off ebay for $500, if not cheaper. Thats about the price of a new ATV.
 
Question

When you say you prefer the marshall tone to the fender tone, are you refering to the clean sound or the distortion?
just wondering,
Todd
 
....I would assume he means the clean.......

.....who buys a Marshall for its "distortion"?
 
Yes, I like the clean sound. I play blues-y stuff... not really into alternative/metal distortion.
 
esun127 said:
Yes, I like the clean sound. I play blues-y stuff... not really into alternative/metal distortion.
Click to expand...

are you serious? if you are, then you would want a Fender amp most definitely instead of a Marshall. Fender is known for the great blues tone while Marshall is known for their versatile and powerful distortion channel. LocusLarson was being sarcastic when he said
.....who buys a Marshall for its "distortion"?
Click to expand...
everyone that i know that wants a Marshall over a Fender amp is because of its better distortion. if you truly are into blues stuff, then definitely go with an amp from Fender. the Fender Blues Junior Pro is a great 10" amp with tons of volume. however, if you're looking to be able to play on stage without using the PA, then you'd want to go the Fender Hot Rod Deville/Deluxe route.

*arjun
 
I have an AVT50 and I love it.

Killer tone, light to carry, and more than enough volume than you'll need at any club.

When I bring my AVT50 to open-stage, the other guitarists always ask to use it because it sounds so damned good.

You can't go wrong with the AVT50, IMHO... and they just extended the warranty period to 3 years on parts and labor.

You're not going to get that with a used piece of equipment!
 
arjun said:
are you serious? if you are, then you would want a Fender amp most definitely instead of a Marshall. Fender is known for the great blues tone while Marshall is known for their versatile and powerful distortion channel. LocusLarson was being sarcastic when he said
everyone that i know that wants a Marshall over a Fender amp is because of its better distortion. if you truly are into blues stuff, then definitely go with an amp from Fender. the Fender Blues Junior Pro is a great 10" amp with tons of volume. however, if you're looking to be able to play on stage without using the PA, then you'd want to go the Fender Hot Rod Deville/Deluxe route.

*arjun
Click to expand...

I looked at the blues junior but it seems too noisy for recording and it was insanely loud for a 15 watt amp. I think that would get me evicted from my apartment. That kind of steered me away from the fender.

I guess I'll have to try them again. I haven't done an A/B comparison yet. However, I really liked the clean tone coming out of some guy's marshall stack when I saw him a few months ago. Is the Fender's clean tone really that much better? I played out of my friend's 50w fender and it had a constant buzz (not because of the pickups either...)

What is the Marshall's distortion good for? When I use distortion, it's usually for wailing (my feeble attempts to copy Steve Vai and Tim Reynolds). I hate power chords. Right now I'm playing out of a Standard Fender Strat, but will likely get a high end Ibanez RG or JEM within the next few months. (My primary ax right now is actually a Taylor acoustic).

If I had the dough, I'd get something like a Guytron head & stack... I saw the guitarist from Tower of Power playing 2 weeks ago with Vail Johnson, Billy Valentine, and some other charcters at a restaurant near LA (Sherman Oaks)... the amp sounded real nice.
 
Marshalls distortion is great for everything. But if you like the breakup that Marshall has in the clean channel, then checkout a Deluxe Reverb from Fender. It is 22 watts and loud as Hell, but sounds good at any volume. Get a used one for cheep. I know you said a Blues Junior is too loud, but the Deluxe Reverb is a NON master volume, so it sounds good at any volume. ...and when you do crank it, you won't believe you ears.

Acually....come to think of it. Check out a used Champ on ebay. I know there a few different versions, but the good one is a 6 watt tube. Shouldn't run you over $450.......and thats if you are looking for a pre-CBS.
 
i am looking to get a marshall amp, either combo or half stack, and i was wondering in terms of tone, flexibility, and basically everything, what is the difference between the avt and jcm series?
 
These Fender guys are going to keep trying to sway you into buying a Fender amp, because that's the sound that they like.

You said (quite clearly) that you liked the Marshall tone, and that you're looking for a small, light-in-weight, Marshall combo with a broad range of tone.

The AVT50 is that amp.

Call Guitar Center and tell them you found the AVT50 brand new for $425 on line. Ask if they'll match that price... they usually will.
Don't worry that they'll ask for proof, because they won't. There's a pretty big mark-up on music gear and the AVT50 is no exception.
They'll still be making a decent profit, despite the cut in price.

I used to be a Fender-amp guy, too. But I couldn't stand that constant freakin' BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ that you get when you crank it or overdrive it even in the slightest. It's annoying as hell. They're great amps, for sure... but that buzz will drive you bonkers. I have no doubt you'll LOVE the AVT50, because it has killer tone and massive volume for a such small combo amp. The JCM series ate great amps, but you're gonna spend more money and get more weight to lug around. Stick to your guns.
Based on what you described, the AVT50 is the right amp for your needs.
 
I don't have a JMC, but I own a few of the fender amps listed above, and the Marshall AVT20, AVT50, and Studio 15. I like the Studio 15, but you can get the Marshall AVT50 everywhere and it's cheaper. And there is eBay and etc. If you like the Marshall sound and want a combo and cost matters, get the Marshall AVT50. It's small, light weight, affordable, loud as hell, and sounds like a Marshall.
 
so if i wanted to go with the AVT50 half stack, would it be loud enough to hear clearly over a loud drummer?
 
The AVT50 combo is more than loud enough.

Buying a half stack is just extra weight to carry and means more space will be needed for transporting it to a gig.
 
BUZZ???WHAT BUZZ??? I'v e owned 100 amps..fenders,marshall,everything...never heard a fender amp 'buzz' unless it was improperly grounded or played around flourescent lights or there was a bad guitar cord...BUZZ???i doubt it....and the blues junior is the quietest amp for recording i've ever owned...and one of the best sounding....15 watts....too loud? ya playin in a breadbox??and then someone suggests a 22 watt amp...is that gonna be a little louder?...they have knobs on em for volume control...if you want a TRUE blues sound then the fender is where its at...show up at a REAL blues club sometime with a marshall...you wont get to play a note..
 
> and the blues junior is the quietest amp for recording i've ever
> owned.

Presumably you're not using the reverb! :)

> and one of the best sounding

I think the consensus of opinion among those who have used both is that the Pro Junior is a better sounding vintage-style amp than the Blues Junior. It's simpler and doesn't have all the extraneous tone-suck circuitry. Most of the Blues Junior versions are pretty lackluster, noisy designs, thanks largely to the reverb. The current Mexican-made version (revised in late 2001 a few months before production moved to Ensenada) is the best, having addressed a really lousy reverb circuit that had been griping people since the Blues Junior's debut. At least some of the problem appears to be traceable to poor component runs, as a few with the same design didn't have the problem to such an annoying degree. In any case, changing the OpAmp from the TL072 to a 4560 and moving the reverb circuit in the tone path has improved the Blues Junior in the current revision and reduced the reverb circuit noise substantially.
 
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