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#289566 - 11/11/11 01:07 PM
Combo amp upgrade?
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mrmatt
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 29/07/08
Posts: 136
Loc: Stockport
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Hey guys,
Been a while since I've been on the forum, but I thought I'd run a question by you.
I currently have a Vox AD30VT which I use with a Fender Classic Player 60 Strat. I like the sound on the 2x12 setting, as I play a lot of clean tones for dub, funk, hip-hop etc.
I've just started practising regularly with my band after mainly being a studio based project. Frankly the AD30VT just doesn't cut it. Yes I know its only a 30 watt modelling amp so I wasn't expecting much, but even tone wise it doesn't seem to cut through. As a band we don't even play overly loud. For an idea of the type of music we play you can listen here: http://soundcloud.com/48acres
So, I'm thinking an upgrade may be in order. I was planning on buying a new guitar, but now I've started playing my Strat more, I'm pretty happy with the tone.
So my limit is around £200-300. Very unlikely to get a tube amp for that I guess, but what can you recommend? I like the Fender-like tones for what I play, and I have a delay pedal and wah which i would be using with the amp as well.
A couple of models which I've seen mentioned in various searches are the Peavey Bandit 112 and more recently the Fender Mustang III.
Any more advice would be appreciated.
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#289568 - 11/11/11 01:38 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: mrmatt]
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S&P
One of the Regulars
Registered: 18/08/11
Posts: 85
Loc: Sheffield UK
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Take a look at the Fender Frontman 212
Listening to your style of music I think it would fit well.
Edited by S&P (11/11/11 01:44 PM)
Edit Reason: got the model numbers the wrong way around
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#289570 - 11/11/11 01:48 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: S&P]
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mrmatt
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 29/07/08
Posts: 136
Loc: Stockport
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Take a look at the Fender Frontman 212
Listening to your style of music I think it would fit well.
Thanks. Do you mean the 65R? I've seen mixed reviews about those. Do you own one yourself?
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#289571 - 11/11/11 02:08 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: mrmatt]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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This is just my own experience, but I bought a Fender Mustang 3 several months ago, only to have to take it back to the shop and exchange for a Roland Cube 80XL. I had problems with what seems to have been labelled the "Fender Fizz" - this YouTube clip (not posted by me) illustrated the kind of thing I heard: Fender mustang 3 fizz This only manifested itself when I got the amp home, or at least I did not notice it at the shop. Other people seem happy with the Mustang 3 though, so maybe it's not there on all of them. A shame for me, because otherwise I thought it was a brilliant amp for the money. Not trying to have a go at Fender or anything, but maybe just something to be aware of.
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#289573 - 11/11/11 02:18 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: Megi]
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mrmatt
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 29/07/08
Posts: 136
Loc: Stockport
|
This is just my own experience, but I bought a Fender Mustang 3 several months ago, only to have to take it back to the shop and exchange for a Roland Cube 80XL. I had problems with what seems to have been labelled the "Fender Fizz" - this YouTube clip (not posted by me) illustrated the kind of thing I heard: Fender mustang 3 fizz This only manifested itself when I got the amp home, or at least I did not notice it at the shop. Other people seem happy with the Mustang 3 though, so maybe it's not there on all of them. A shame for me, because otherwise I thought it was a brilliant amp for the money. Not trying to have a go at Fender or anything, but maybe just something to be aware of.
Yeah I've seen a mixed opinion on the Mustang. The price and the features are pretty appealing. Not for the sound issues though.
Edited by mrmatt (11/11/11 02:19 PM)
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#289577 - 11/11/11 03:45 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: mrmatt]
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mrmatt
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 29/07/08
Posts: 136
Loc: Stockport
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Roland Cube/Peavey bandit?
Any thoughts?
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#289580 - 11/11/11 04:19 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: mrmatt]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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I should have said - I think the Roland Cube 80XL has to be a contender, well worth trying one at least. I've had mine a few months now, so really should have explored it more, but it does have a lot of versatility IMO, and I find the clean channel (a model of a Roland jazz chorus amp) is actually pretty good for a lot of stuff - it does jazz pretty well (although I prefer my Polytone), and I even used it to get a pretty good Hank Marvin Shadows type tone on one occasion (don't ask!  ). Simpler to operate than the Mustang, less built-in effects, and without the patch storage facility, but easy to use, plus seems well designed and made to me. The looper is quite a nice extra too, I find it quite handy for pracicing soloing over chord progressions. Overall a good gig-able amp I think, not just made for bedroom practicing, and definitely plenty of volume on tap.
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#289595 - 11/11/11 07:51 PM
Re: Combo amp upgrade?
[Re: mrmatt]
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S&P
One of the Regulars
Registered: 18/08/11
Posts: 85
Loc: Sheffield UK
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Take a look at the Fender Frontman 212
Listening to your style of music I think it would fit well. Thanks. Do you mean the 65R? I've seen mixed reviews about those. Do you own one yourself?
No the 212R is a 100watt combo. A guitarist I occasional play with, uses one with a strat and it
sounds very nice.
The Roland Cube as suggested is a great amp too.
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