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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
 Posted - 06/21/2006 : 20:22:56
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What good solid state amps good you recommend?
I play mostly hard/classic/latin rock, so I need versatility (i have also 2 BOSS ODs and a DS-1 so I can get that versatility from my pedals). I'm basically looking for a solid-state combo that improves and replaces my old Crate GX-120 amp. Maybe a 2x12" amp if that's what I neeed.
What do you thing of Randalls? Found a nice 2x12 combo (I think it's the g200) wich pumps up like 200w in a pair of Celestion speakers...
opinions? |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2006 : 22:17:21
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| Heres what I did, and since you run distortion pedals, like I do, it might be an idea that might work for you. I needed to get a new amp for "live" situations about 6 months ago, and since I use a MT-2 for distortion, I just started looking for an amp with high wattage and a low price with an excellent clean channel. I settled on the Rogue 120watt 2x12, unfortunately you can only get these through Musicians Friend, and I don't know about their international shipping policies. Another idea is the Crate Power Block, 100+ watts but the thing is about the size of baby's head. Just get one of those and a 2x12 cab, and you'd be set. The Randall combos seem pretty be good, though I have yet to try one, just make sure you really need 200 watts, cause realistically anything 100watts should be loud enough for any size venue, whether or not they mic your amp (However higher wattage amps keep being made because its the only way that exaggerated Dimebag Darrell-no-mids-scoop can cut through when you have a bass and drums in the mix). You might want to look into Kustom as well as they seem to make good quality amps at a decent price. |
Edited by - jack on 06/22/2006 15:40:33 |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2006 : 23:04:14
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has anyone here tried the Power Block ?
I saw that one, but here I'd get it blindfolded, if I get it, since there's no way for me to try it here before I buy it.
I agree with you in looking for a high wattage amp with an excellent clean channel. I tried my rig in a Yamaha amp (those old ones with 2 12" speakers, kinda like a Jazz Chorus clone), and it made it sound wonderful. I tested the Randall with the equipment they had at the store, but the Yamaha clean channel is definitely warmer... anyways both amps sound better than my current one, and much fuller.
I'll just have to keep looking, I must settle to what they're currently selling here, since shipment costs would be prohibitive for me.
Would you say that the increased bass response and "fuller" sound speaking in general, is due to twin 12" speakers?
Any help from people here is welcome...
Thanks! |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2006 : 23:14:25
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| I have not tried a Power Block myself, but I know someone, who knows someone, who has one, I'll see if I can out how they like it. As far as the fuller bass response, bigger speakers usually handle low end better, thats why many bass guitar speakers are 15" or more. With 2-12" speakers, yeah things sound fuller, though I don't know if its actually fuller or since its just louder, it sounds fuller. Then I hate to give you more to think about but there is a difference between closed-back and open-back speaker enclosures. Most combos are open-back, most cabinets are closed back, though there are mostly-closed back combos and they make open-back cabinets too. If I'm not mistaken, you supposedly get better bass response from the closed back, if I am mistaken, its just the opposite then. |
Edited by - jack on 06/21/2006 23:17:21 |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2006 : 03:00:53
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i recommend a Kustom.
i have a Kustom Lead II, 120 watts from the mid 70s. apparantly it was one of the first solid states on the scene.
anyway, even with drive turned to 10, you cannot get a dirty sound out of it alone.. this makes it great for anything with distortion (especially metal) since ALL of the dirt is from my pedals, and i dont get any bad mix. lots of people seem to be going amp ditortion all the way nowadays, but i wouldnt trade this amp for 10 SG-1's 
however, i think that all amps have their own features, and it is really up to you to try them out and choose whats best for you and your playing style. |
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lazzrath
Bronze Member
Canada
103 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2006 : 10:56:21
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quote:
Originally posted by midibuddy
What do you thing of Randalls? Found a nice 2x12 combo (I think it's the g200) wich pumps up like 200w in a pair of Celestion speakers...
opinions?
Avoid the 200 like it will give you VD - it's that bad. It's a very poorly designed amp, with a high failure rate.
Try a Peavey Bandit 112. Cheap, build good (honestly), and has a nice warranty. Nice bass response, too. 80 watts is a lot, and you could always plug it into an ext cab to make 100 watts. like jack said, make sure you only get 200 if you absolutely need it - and most people don't. |
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tomwest
Silver Member
United Kingdom
436 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2006 : 18:44:25
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| Roland Jazz Chorus takes beating, you can get that in 2x12, but i have a Fender 85 which i absolutely love, you can sometimes pick them up off ebay. |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2006 : 22:47:00
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lazzrath, Are you telling me that the Randall RG200 2x12" is a bad amp, and has high failure rate? That was my most optioned one...
I tried a Yamaha VR300 or 4000 or so, with twin 12" speaker configuration, it sounds really good for a solid state, much better than my Crate, and a bit warmer than the Randall., but unfortunately, it's not for sale...
What do you think of the Peavey Supreme head ? The previous model, not the Supreme Head that it's been sold now.
Thanks! |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2006 : 15:21:28
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hi midibuddy.... i see your still hunting for the 'perfect amp' i don't have much experience with solid state amps but many moons ago i remember having a HH 60 watt 1x12 combo it was a great amp for a basic clean sound,another amp i had was a session amp it was a 1x12 2 channel 90 watt combo... i got into valve amps after having these amps and have never gone back.... but a friend of mine just bought a fender princton,i think these days they are solid state he got it here in dublin for 200 euro in a local buy and sell paper,i haven't heard it but he swears by it and he gigs a lot... as far as i know these a fairly basic amps so they might be perfect for you if your using pedals to shape your sound...maybe two of them in stereo to spread the sound...? the peavey bandits are good amps also i used to use them in a rehearsal studio in stereo... i think session are back in business but they are based in england and as far as i know HH no longer exist unless you pick one up second hand... don't be fooled by the power ratings these were both loud amps for there size and very portable..as far as i know the great eddie van halen used or still uses HH power amps (solid state...!!) to amplify his rig the marshalls etc are used as preamps before the effects and then the HH poweramps to the cabs, www.guitargeek.com has an old setup of his rig plus many others ....might give you some ideas...good luck and keep us posted..... and good luck in the world cup against england....!! |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2006 : 18:17:14
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It would be a miracle if we won, I would be like this and also like this  ....
I don't think anyone would go to work on monday if we did ...
I let a peavey supreme head go for $ 190, I was too slow getting it from www.mercadolibre.com.ec (our version of ebay), and someone got it in the first place..
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lazzrath
Bronze Member
Canada
103 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2006 : 08:36:13
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quote:
Originally posted by midibuddy
lazzrath, Are you telling me that the Randall RG200 2x12" is a bad amp, and has high failure rate? That was my most optioned one...
Yup. It's all about faith. I know the first run was extremely buggy. Lot's of reports of helicopter noises and such... randall released a tech fix for it, and some still had problems. I've never heard about that specific problem with their G2's or 3's, but amidst other issues I had to deal with, I lost faith in them.
quote:
Originally posted by midibuddy
What do you think of the Peavey Supreme head ? The previous model, not the Supreme Head that it's been sold now.
Thanks!
Peavey Supreme? I never tried the version before the current Supreme XL, so I can't fairly comment on it, but the current model is a good inexpensive head. I like the gain and the clean, but it does come across as rather quiet for what it is - so if it's anything like that, it should be a fair choice.
I hope this helps |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2006 : 10:58:59
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| midibuddy..... stuttgart 1988 ireland vs england in the european championships .....we beat them 1-0 and nobody gave us a chance to do it...our first time in a major tournment... maybe lightening can strike twice in the same place...!!! and its supposed to be very hot in germany today might suit your players better....and when we did it there was lots of this stuff....and thisand i think the whole country closed down for about a week.....!!!! |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2006 : 11:17:38
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| oh....and i saw your other thread about sansamps don't they make a trademark series of solid state amps i know they had 120 watt stereo 3 channel combo and a 300 watt 3 channel head...the head got a 5 star review in guitarist a few years ago(i think..?)the idea is you can have a fender,marshall and a boogie all in one amp,the head also had a space for a rack unit to be inserted so to cut down on setting up times etc...thought it was a pretty cool idea..i was going to check the combo out myself but i found it hard to track down in ireland...sometimes hauling the marshall and the musicman around gets to be a pain in the ass....for real..!! i know i have said i love valve amps and i do... but the weight...especially the musicman combo.... |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2006 : 03:53:06
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just an update...my old selmer amp went on fire in rehearsal the other day ...well not on fire but lots of smoke and smell of melting bakerlite, the singer is an electrican and he said it smelt like a transformer melting.....and early 60's selmer stadium.... don't think it will be to easy to fix....so the drummer has a marshall mg 100fx amp solid state amp he lent to me for rehearsing i had forgotten all about it i actually used it on a few gigs a couple of years ago i had forgotten how good it is,either using the overdrive channel on the amp or my pedals as normal... they have heads as well as combo's i think there is a 2x12 stereo model and i don't think second hand they are too expensive ...something else to consider.. |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2006 : 18:16:47
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I was thinking on a Marshall MG100HDFX too, they seem interesting. I saw a couple of heads at a fairly good price, but on the used combos, the prices were too high. The guys that had it advertised in our version of ebay (www.mercadolibre.com.ec) , were lowering the price by like $ 50 from the new amp price. So definitely not good buys. I'm still waiting for an amp, but I think that the Randall RG200 I had seen before would not be a reliable buy, from what I read on one of the posts here.
Thanks for all the info ! |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 18:15:04
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I got a Peavey Transtube Supreme Head on Monday!! Brand new with footswitch and everything at $ 390 + Tax...
I can't try it yet tho, 'cause the cabinet I am making is still not ready... it'll be ready on Friday, it's a 2x12" with Eminence Legends V112 on it... it sounds VERY loud, and VERY full, and I think that I'll be able to use the channels of the amp, its distortion sounds usable...
What do you think of this head?
I'll post comments on it next week, when I actually can connect it to my pedals and everything... |
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good solid state amp
