I have three days to decide on either A. A Fender Frontman 212R or B. Peavey Vypyr 75 75W 1x12 amplifier and also a quick question:

What are a few good pickups for a bridge, I'm looking for a fat humbucker sound for a Single Coil fit, Im considering SD Hotrails, any other brand better? I play blues and punk, so like The Stooges+Hendrix

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I have wondered myself about the 212. The SD JB Jr. is a good choice for a bridge pickup. I have read that some find the hot rails a little too hot and muddy. I don't know this to be true. I have listened to a few JB jr's and they sound very good distorted.

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I had a FM 212R and after 2 weeks of playing at band volume it couldn't take it anymore. Go with the Peavey.
A JB Jr. would be a good pickup choice; it can cover blues - punk with no issues.

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Thanks guys, and btw Tim, my Jet Citys goin on the backburner till Christams

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WAIT!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, PEAVEY VYPYR IS A FREAKING MODELING AMP!!!!!!!! I'm looking for a non modeling 1X12 or bigger amp that covers gig power, help!!!!!!!!!!!

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[quote="TimDrakeMusic"]I had a FM 212R and after 2 weeks of playing at band volume it couldn't take it anymore.quote]

I've heard that equipment used lived and was impressed. How so your disappointment.?

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"Another day in paradise!"

How about the Fender Super Champ XD Guitar Combo Amp? Does it have enough power to be clearly heard over a three man rock band at a standard gig???? I mean, im hell bent on a non modeling becuz I want a true tone, not a rip off of another amps.

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That would be a miking situation unless your band plays quiet...

Well looks like im miking then, my band plays the exact opposite of quiet, but okay so what should I do, just get the Super Champ XD, go with the Frontman 212R, or if someone has another suggestion.
Seeking:Amp
Size: 1X12 or bigger
Type: NON MODELING
Price Range: $300 max
Special: Needs to be loud, like gig loud, and I have a few effects I plan on plugging into it.

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Hello NC: if you play loud and you want a proper valve/tube amp for band level work then there are many fine beasts for that task, depending the tonal territory you wish to explore. They don't have to be stupidly expensive, but they do cost a bit. I so strongly suggest you practice some patience and save your pennies for the right amp rather than wasting time looking at lower catalog models.

Somehow, I suspect that's not what you want to hear, is it?

Good luck - C

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The Bugera V22 is a fine little amp and can be had cheap...i scored one for 150.00 and use it all the time the drive channel can be manipulated to sound like a tweed deluxe....and ive never had any problems...just put some J.J s in it..

It takes about a year for me to get $350

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Good news Ive whittled it down to:
Peavey Bandit 112 Guitar Amplifier with TransTube Technology

or I could save a little and get the

Peavey ValveKing 112 Combo Amp

or I could just go with the Fender Frontman

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I thought it sounded great, but after a few weeks of using it, it developed a horrible rattle. I was never able to locate the problem, but it was very loud and easily audible. Then, the amp started buzzing really badly and I wasn't sure but I wasn't sure if the amp was getting as loud anymore.
Like I said though, it did sound pretty good up until I had these problems and I could have had a specific amp that had a problem. I just know that that experience has turned me off on Fender amps for a long time. But that's been a few years.



If you get the Peavey Bandit you're looking at, you may not even be too worried about the Jet City for a while. The bandit line has been out for a long time, and can be heard on countless recordings since the 80s (including most on my YouTube page). I haven't heard the new one, but the old bandits kicked $@!, and I've read nothing but good reviews about the new Bandit with transtube.

edited to fix html mistakes.

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If you're not going for super-aggressive metal tones (and it doesn't sound like you are), the Frontman is an excellent choice...and even if you were going aggro, you could get a couple of angry buzz pedals.

After talking and listening to some guys from New Orleans, I was surprised at the plethora of sounds to be gotten from the Fender Frontman amps. They were playing everything from swamp pop to Cajun/Zydeco to Gulf Coast Blues to second-line NOLA stuff, and the amps performed admirably. I asked one of the guys how he chose that amp and he said that after Katrina he lost everything instrument-wise except his guitar and this was all he could afford (he had no insurance)...but after "settling" for this amp, he started putting it through it's paces and found he liked it.

No, the FM amps weren't in the league of a good tube amp (like Tim's Jet City or the higher-priced Egnators or the even higher-priced Fender tube amps), but they were more than capable; with the right tube-esque pedal or preamp, they are really, really nice amps--especially for the price. They take pedals well and have a blank enough sonic "palette" to take on the attributes and attitudes of your playing.

I think years from now (if/when the Frontman is no longer in production) it's destined to be one of those, "Man, that amp was really good, I don't know why it wasn't more popular" pieces of equipment...much like those old red-knob Princeton Chorus and Gibson G20 amps of days gone by.

Some of the amps you mentioned are good--even great--but if you need to be loud enough to be heard in a performance setting (and since you're young, you are probably thinking you have to be loud whether it's necessary or not ) it's not always practical to mic up (depending on the venue and whether your band has it's own PA). The Frontman should be loud enough.

Another thing to think about is whether the guy with the PA will always stay with your band; if you only get an amp loud enough to be heard if it's mic'd and he leaves, then what are you going to do?

...although I think Ceri is right in his advice to keep on saving for a tube amp, if you need a gig-worthy amp, the Frontman is a good choice.

Whatever you get, buy some good earplugs and save your ears.

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