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#271749 - 09/02/10 07:13 AM Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations
darrenzanizibar darrenzanizibar Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 16/07/09 Posts: 34	Hi folks, I'm on the lookout for a new amp since the one I currently have is shockingly bad (its a Laney HCR 25 combo and makes so much noise - not in a good way). I definately don't want to spend any more than £300 as it will mainly be for home use. I know everyone bangs on about the Blackstar ht-5 (the combo would max out my budget but I am very interested in this) but can you suggest any good alternatives? Thanks, Darren
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#271774 - 09/02/10 11:47 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: darrenzanizibar]
english_bob english_bob Unregistered	Little help?: What style(s) do you play? Are you looking for an amp that's powerful enough for gigs/rehearsals, or just home use? Valve or transistor/modelling? Any preference? What don't you like about your current amp?
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#271778 - 09/02/10 12:33 PM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: ]
Oldjono Oldjono Professional Forumite! Registered: 15/09/09 Posts: 842 Loc: Dorset	As regards the budget. same old questions really. Valve or tranny? If tranny a Peavey or Fender for a more clean sound, a Marshal for grunt, or howabout a Roland cube for an in betweener? The problem is only relinquished really by trying out as many as you can within your budget. Let your ears decide rather than price. _________________________ My playing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiYSv38ZRok
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#271811 - 10/02/10 02:55 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: Oldjono]
english_bob english_bob Unregistered	Originally Posted By: Oldjono The problem is only relinquished really by trying out as many as you can within your budget. Let your ears decide rather than price. I agree- don't let anyone's low opinion of an amp stop you trying it. That said, there's a lot of amps out there, and a few opinions can help save you trawling through the really crappy stuff (although there's less of it around than there used to be), or save you making a long trip somewhere to try out a lesser-known brand only to find out that it's rubbish... I think if I had £300 to spend on an amp, I'd be keeping an eye on Ebay for a WEM Dominator. They're around 15-20w and very similar to the 18 watt Marshalls- apparently Marshall pinched the Dominator circuit... Should be up to gigging, and will get you a handmade UK valve amp for the same sort of money you'd pay for a bargain-basement chinese new-build amp. They're pretty ugly, but they're still fairly "under the radar" as "vintage" amps go.
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#271815 - 10/02/10 04:12 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: ]
darrenzanizibar darrenzanizibar Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 16/07/09 Posts: 34	I knew I should have included this info in my first post...guess I was being a bit lazy! I mainly play indie stuff such as the strokes, bloc party, radiohead, kings of leon as well as older stuff such as the beatles, led zeppelin, eric clapton, neil young. Not sure whether I would prefer a valve amp or trans...to be honest as long as it sounds good I couldnt care less. I want an amp which performs well on both clean and overdrive and the amp is primarily going to be for home use (might gig at some stage but that would probable be quite far down the line). My current amp sounds like a train crash (i swear its not just my guitar playing) even when not strumming it makes a lot of humming noises. £300 is my maximum budget and as I say, the Blackstar does interest me a lot but some alternative suggestions would be much appreciated...what more am i going to get from an amp that costs £200 compared to one that is £300
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#271817 - 10/02/10 05:19 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: darrenzanizibar]
stickyfiddle stickyfiddle Spam Commander (Forum Council Member) Old Timer Registered: 22/04/04 Posts: 5874 Loc: London, UK	I would strongly suggest trying a Laney VC15- spot on your budget, or less second hand and nails most of the sounds you're going for. A couple of pedals would see you right for the others $\:\)$ _________________________ PSN: stickyfiddle
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#271820 - 10/02/10 06:10 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: stickyfiddle]
CortRedHanded CortRedHanded Professional Forumite! Registered: 23/11/04 Posts: 832 Loc: Warsash, Hants	I think the new Vox AC15VR is definitely worth a look. _________________________ There's no such thing as a useless effects pedal, it's just finding the right moment to apply it.
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#271825 - 10/02/10 07:17 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: CortRedHanded]
darrenzanizibar darrenzanizibar Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 16/07/09 Posts: 34	The Vox seems out of my price range (i checked one site and it was £450) The Laney VC15 is more what i'm looking for...similar price to the Blackstar. Any reason that you would suggest this above the blackstar? Thanks again! D
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#271826 - 10/02/10 07:21 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: darrenzanizibar]
CortRedHanded CortRedHanded Professional Forumite! Registered: 23/11/04 Posts: 832 Loc: Warsash, Hants	You can easily get the Vox for around £260 http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=vox+ac15vr&hl=en&scoring=p
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#271829 - 10/02/10 07:38 AM Re: Sub-£300 Amp Recommendations [Re: darrenzanizibar]
stickyfiddle stickyfiddle Spam Commander (Forum Council Member) Old Timer Registered: 22/04/04 Posts: 5874 Loc: London, UK	Originally Posted By: darrenzanizibar The Laney VC15 is more what i'm looking for...similar price to the Blackstar. Any reason that you would suggest this above the blackstar? Thanks again! D In my experience the blackstar sounds a little 'boxy', and really only has one sound- a really nice distorted sound, but the cleans are very limited. For me at least, the VC15 is far more open and responsive, and sounds REALLY nice however you set it. I'd strongly suggest trying both, but I'd take the Laney any day $\:\)$ _________________________ PSN: stickyfiddle
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