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Post subject: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:08 pm
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Well, I'm finally getting a band together after about 14 years of playing and making music :D but I know little about live sound.

I've got a cheap Johnson guitar/amp combo I got more than 12 years ago, and I've never really played anything else. I do use a korg effects pedal to get a decent sound, but I can’t play the guitar clean as it sounds like the cheap chinese thing that it probably is, but I actually love how the 30 watt amp sounds!!! I set the knobs on full vol, full overdrive, and on top of that, it gets the full tube overdrive effect and a decent amount of delay and reverb from the pedal. It always sounds like it’s screaming for it’s life at very low vols, but I’m not sure about how much of the sound comes from the pedal and how much from the amp.

I'm getting a deluxe mexican Fender strat soon (vintage noiseless pickups), and I'm thinking about getting the Frontman 212r amp to go with it but I'm not sure about it!!! I feel I won't get the singing overdrive I get from my cheap 30 watt amp. At the same time, I’m not sure if I will be able to mic the amp at every gig, as I own neither an extra mic nor a proper PA so I would have to rely on the local setup everytime, can that be a problem? Or is it rare they won’t be able to mic the amp?

On the other hand, I feel the f212r is perfect in terms of price and usability. I wouldn’t have to rely on miking the amp for starters, and it seems I won’t need a bigger amp unless we start playing stadiums. I play using mostly overdive and delay/reverb but I would love to use clean stuff aswell as my complex chords lose color and get muffled with the overdrive. So, will I still be able to get the crazy overdriven sound I get from the pedal alone if I get the 212, or if not will it still sound better on both the clean and overdriven setup with the help of the pedal?

Thanks Anyone!


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:59 pm
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You've mentioned playing gigs, which in and of itself implies that any new amp you decide on should provide a level of trust and reliability that all professional musicians require of their gear. Frankly, I do not "feel the love" with any model within the Frontman line which can deliver dependable service on a sustained night-after-night basis.

As well, I think if you do some research you'll discover that a 100-watt amp (regardless of brand) is overkill in most of today's live venues.

Something to think about......

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 1:43 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
You've mentioned playing gigs, which in and of itself implies that any new amp you decide on should provide a level of trust and reliability that all professional musicians require of their gear. Frankly, I do not "feel the love" with any model within the Frontman line which can deliver dependable service on a sustained night-after-night basis.

As well, I think if you do some research you'll discover that a 100-watt amp (regardless of brand) is overkill in most of today's live venues.

Something to think about......

Arjay


Thanks! your reply is very helpful! It does seem to me like 100 watts are overkill, but I hear so many guides saying it's the standard for small-medium venues. If it's overkill then I want a smaller one! What about a Mustang II or III? what's the minimum wattage in your opinion? what amp would you recomend? small tube?


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 1:57 pm
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I used to routinely play five-stool saloons with a 135-watt Twin Reverb.

Today......I manage quite nicely with a 20-watt Deluxe Reverb or a 40-watt Vibroverb.

Nobody's ever complained that they couldn't hear me -- then OR now.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 2:18 pm
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Right. I sold my Marshall head and went with a DRRI. It carries every place I play at now. PA's have improved and pedals have improved. You can mic an amp now and sound fantastic thru the PA. The Frontman 212 is dependable and Loud. It sounds best Loud as the speakers are stiff, being that it is a 100 watt amp. So don't think you can do a low volume gig with it. A Frontman 65r would suit you better.


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 7:12 pm
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thanks guys! I will look into smaller amps as 100-watt seems "unnecesary"?


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 8:38 pm
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...so what non-tube (I want absolute reliability) Fender amp in the 30-60watt range has the best tone? Even though I'm not into all those fancy features, I'm looking at the mustang series, is the mustang 2 enough for live events? thanks


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:32 am
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A modern non-tube amp that's reliable?

Image

:lol:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 8:37 am
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Rockerduck wrote:
Right. I sold my Marshall head and went with a DRRI. It carries every place I play at now. PA's have improved and pedals have improved. You can mic an amp now and sound fantastic thru the PA. The Frontman 212 is dependable and Loud. It sounds best Loud as the speakers are stiff, being that it is a 100 watt amp. So don't think you can do a low volume gig with it. A Frontman 65r would suit you better.


what's a DRRI? Well it does seem the 65r would be better but I don't think they sell them no more....


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 8:45 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
A modern non-tube amp that's reliable?

:lol:

Arjay


Haha, good point, I'm going through some Mustang iii threads and that seems like a nightmare! I knew that lcd screen was a "keep away" sign.

The thing is tubes will need replacing don't they? how often is that done with most fender tube amps? sadly too pricey to be honest. The other thing I should have mentioned is my budget. $300 max... Picking up a Fender seems the best move given I'm getting a strat, but should I look at other brands in that price range? thanks!


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 8:50 am
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If your budget window is capped at $300, I'd recommend you find yourself a Stage 100, Deluxe 110, or a Princeton 90 from the old Dyna-Touch line. They sound good, they look good, they hold together, and they're plenty loud. You can find them on the secondary market at prices well within your price stipulation. The later DSP-equipped versions have some cool on-board effects as well.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:05 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
If your budget window is capped at $300, I'd recommend you find yourself a Stage 100, Deluxe 110, or a Princeton 90 from the old Dyna-Touch line. They sound good, they look good, they hold together, and they're plenty loud. You can find them on the secondary market at prices well within your price stipulation. The later DSP-equipped versions have some cool on-board effects as well.

HTH

Arjay


Thanks a lot1 super excellent stuff!!!!


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:15 am
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Some of them -- like this Stage 100 DSP I once owned and gigged with for many years -- are equipped with an extension speaker jack which allows the addition of an extra 8-ohm cab......

Image

This rig would eat a Peavey or Crate half-stack for lunch.

My wife called it "the micro-stack from hell".

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:27 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Some of them -- like this Stage 100 DSP I once owned and gigged with for many years -- are equipped with an extension speaker jack which allows the addition of an extra 8-ohm cab......

Image

This rig would eat a Peavey or Crate half-stack for lunch.

My wife called it "the micro-stack from hell".

:mrgreen:

Arjay


Man I would but that set in a heartbeat! if I didn't have all the crazy tax and shipping I would have to pay (I don't live in the US) nice stuff!!!!


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Post subject: Re: HELP choosing an AMP!
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:32 am
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I had $325 into it when I bought it -- six years later I flipped it for $400. And the buyer thought it was a steal at that price.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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