niagra Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Hi all, It's our eldest's 12th birthday in December and he wants a new amp. It would be for home and rehearsal use and maybe gigs in the future. I'm quite happy browsing the net, but it all gets a bit overwhelming with the amount of choice out there! I'm sure a modelling amp would be great for him to play around with different sounds, but maybe a simple amp would be best? Anyway, what are your suggestions? Thanks, Dario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 What sort of sounds is he after, what sort of music does he play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niagra Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 He plays rock mainly, but for his Rock School Grades it is a mix of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 Hey Dario, do you have a budget in mind? Might help narrow down the selection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niagra Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 Hmm, I wouldn't want to spend more than £2-300, which personally I think is a huge amount to spend on a child's birthday, but it is his passion and he does work hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 I'd have a look at some of the cheaper Blackstar combos, they get consistantly good write ups. Personally I'd go for a Fender Mustang iii v2, excellent, versatile amps that will seem him right for a good few years. Loads of amp models & built in effects that can be edited via computer if you should want to. I've been seriously impressed with this amp ever since I saw The Handsome Family live a year or so ago. I expected to see the guitarist using an old Fender amp for the bluesy, swampy sounds he was getting, I was stunned to see it was a £235 solid state amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 The Blackstar ID range are pretty nice. However, if you can go a bit extra, the Fender Super Champ X2 is a very tidy amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niagra Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 Thanks for the advice chaps. I'd forgotten I'd read a review of the ID 100/150w amps in last month's Guitarist mag. Looks like I'll be going for the 100w one I think, if I can get it past the management. The Fender suggestions look a great option but maybe too much gadgetry - he likes playing rather than fiddling really. Dario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbetingfrog Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 100 w will annoy the hell out of your neighbours! wow! i have loved all the Blackstar stuff i've played, and you'll never go wrong with a Roland Cube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niagra Posted November 12, 2016 Author Share Posted November 12, 2016 You're probably right, just been looking at the 40w versions and I'll save a few quid as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 40W is still pretty loud for home use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niagra Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 I was hoping to get one that he could use at home and also take to his rock school nights, is that going to be a compromise too far? Perhaps I should go for a nice home use one then, there's a nice 1 watt valve amp by Blackstar: [url="https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/HT1R/combo-amps/blackstar-ht-1r-1w-1x8-tube-guitar-amp-with-reverb"]https://www.anderton...amp-with-reverb[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 (edited) [quote name='niagra' timestamp='1479024672' post='3173316'] I was hoping to get one that he could use at home and also take to his rock school nights, is that going to be a compromise too far? Perhaps I should go for a nice home use one then, there's a nice 1 watt valve amp by Blackstar: [url="https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/HT1R/combo-amps/blackstar-ht-1r-1w-1x8-tube-guitar-amp-with-reverb"]https://www.anderton...amp-with-reverb[/url] [/quote] I'd go for an amp he can do both things with. I've had guitar combos ranging from 5 watts to 100 watts over the years & I've used them quietly at home with no problems. They do have volume controls you know. Edited November 13, 2016 by RhysP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil-osopher10 Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Roland cube is hard to beat. Built in effects. Good quality sound too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danuman Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 If you don't mind buying a used amp, a Peavey classic 30 wouldn't stretch your budget too far. Those little monsters keep up with the best of 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Take your son(and his guitar) amp shopping - it's important that he likes the sound of the amp at the volume level he is going to be using it at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 There is a Blackstar ID TVP260 on the For Sale forum, bit of a drive from Warwick to Norwich but might be worth a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 [quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1479142599' post='3174285'] Take your son(and his guitar) amp shopping - it's important that he likes the sound of the amp at the volume level he is going to be using it at. [/quote] Good point, provided you can try them in a small demo room as that will be more acoustically like a bedroom. A visit to Guitar Guitar in Birmingham would seem ideal given your location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 In my experience young'uns love the Line 6 Spider amps. Vast (and I mean VAST) range of sounds and effects and enough gadgetry to keep an 11 occupied for ages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 [quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1479142599' post='3174285'] Take your son([b]and his guitar[/b]) amp shopping - it's important that he likes the sound of the amp at the volume level he is going to be using it at. [/quote] Just to emphasise the important bit. It took me years to understand why guitars and amps I bought from guitar shops never sounded as good when I got them home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niagra Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 Good idea to take him along for a tryout. As for used amps, I'm all for used equipment (I'm in the market for a bass amp) but a child's present has to be new imho. [quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1479203762' post='3174663'] In my experience young'uns love the Line 6 Spider amps. Vast (and I mean VAST) range of sounds and effects and enough gadgetry to keep an 11 occupied for ages. [/quote] I've looked at these before but they don't seem to be well liked from what I've read? And he's not really into gadgets - he doesn't even want a phone ( a good thing!) Thanks for the replies, Dario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil-osopher10 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Having used both, the line 6 can do a lot of sounds, but the Roland sounds better to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 [quote name='Danuman' timestamp='1479080537' post='3173835'] If you don't mind buying a used amp, a Peavey classic 30 wouldn't stretch your budget too far. Those little monsters keep up with the best of 'em. [/quote] This would be my suggestion - get one of the older models (the newer models have a curve in the top side of the front surround). Stevie Ray Vaughn played through them and so did Nile Rodgers for a while. Great Fender tones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 [quote name='niagra' timestamp='1479221752' post='3174844'] I've looked at these before but they don't seem to be well liked from what I've read? [/quote] Line 6 Spiders are pretty terrible amps IMO. I tried one with my Gretsch earlier this year and was astonished at just how bad it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 [quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1479203762' post='3174663'] In my experience young'uns love the Line 6 Spider amps. Vast (and I mean VAST) range of sounds and effects and enough gadgetry to keep an 11 occupied for ages. [/quote] [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1479491190' post='3177006'] Line 6 Spiders are pretty terrible amps IMO. I tried one with my Gretsch earlier this year and was astonished at just how bad it was. [/quote] Avoid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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