It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:57 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Mustang V V.1 advantages over G-DEC 3 30?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:58 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:53 pm
Posts: 20
This may sound like a strange or stupid question but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
I have a G-DEC 3 30 I'm happy with but have been GASing for a new amp and saw the prices on V.1 Mustang Vs have come way down. I tried to do a little research to compare the 2, other than the obvious (stereo outs, more power and the different amp models in the Mustang) there is very little that demonstrates the actual differences.

So, can someone who has interacted with both the V.1 Mustang III, IV or V amps and a G-DEC 3 30 outline the advantages the Mustangs have over the G-DEC. What can the V.1 Mustang do that the G-DEC can't?

For reference I'm a bedroom player so I don't need a high power amp or stereo and I have a couple Peavey tube amps (a Valveking 212 and a Valveking 20 micro head) in addition to the G-DEC. I play mostly classic rock, blues and a little country. If I pick up a Mustang V I plan to use it mostly with head phones or through the 2 12s in the the Valveking.

Wheelman


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Mustang V V.1 advantages over G-DEC 3 30?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 4:27 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
My only experience is a G-DEC that my brother in-law has had for about 4 years now, probably not the same as the one you have?

I will have to be quite blunt about the experience with Dan's G-DEC. I didn't like it. It only had a few usable sounds, and the interface was anything but intuitive and there was very limited editing functions for changing things.

I have two Mustangs, (III and a IV) both are version ones. The G-DEC (from the experience I have) is not even comparable.

But again, I have to reinforce, this was one of the early models. I've no idea what changes/improvements have been made.

Maybe someone with more recent experience can help you out.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang V V.1 advantages over G-DEC 3 30?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:40 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
Quote:
I'm a bedroom player so I don't need a high power amp or stereo ... If I pick up a Mustang V I plan to use it mostly with head phones or through the 2 12s in the the Valveking

Can't comment on the GDEC, but if you're thinking of a Mustang then for your purposes the Mustang Floor may be a better choice. The Mustang V is a big, powerful amp head; the Mustang Floor is a compact floor unit. So it takes up less space, you can still use it with headphones or into your existing valve/tube amps, and it has more footswitch controllability than the Mustang V, which is very useful to change settings while playing.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang V V.1 advantages over G-DEC 3 30?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:53 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:53 pm
Posts: 20
scott-uk wrote:
Quote:
I'm a bedroom player so I don't need a high power amp or stereo ... If I pick up a Mustang V I plan to use it mostly with head phones or through the 2 12s in the the Valveking

Can't comment on the GDEC, but if you're thinking of a Mustang then for your purposes the Mustang Floor may be a better choice. The Mustang V is a big, powerful amp head; the Mustang Floor is a compact floor unit. So it takes up less space, you can still use it with headphones or into your existing valve/tube amps, and it has more footswitch controllability than the Mustang V, which is very useful to change settings while playing.

Good points Scott and I've looked at the floor pedals many times as a possible addition to my collection.

What really caught my eye regarding the Mustang V V.1 is the recent drop in price on eBay.
There was a buy-it-now auction for one that expired yesterday for $170.00 and the seller was open to offers. There is another active auction for one with the 4-button foot pedal starting at $140.00 that ends today with no bids so far.

As for it being a large high power amp, true again but it has a headphone out which makes it usable for practice with the added benefit that it has enough power for later use as a gig amp should I ever do that, although I can run a floor output into the FX return on the VK212 and have more power available than the Mustang V.

The bottom line though is I'm fighting a serious case of GAS and am trying to find a reason I don't need anything more than the G-DEC. I've experimented with running its line out into the FX return of the VK and found it sounds great and can get extremely loud. Its just a little inconvenient because the line out level adjustment then becomes the volume control.

Wheelman


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang V V.1 advantages over G-DEC 3 30?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 10:16 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
Quote:
one with the 4-button foot pedal

FYI, the Mustang V always comes with the 4-button footswitch as standard: it's in-the-box with the new amp. So no-one should be selling a new amp (which is what you imply you're looking for) without the 4-button switch.

Obviously it might be missing from a second-hand amp, if the owner has lost/broken it (or slightly deceitfully is trying to sell it separately to make more money), but in that case you should expect even more reduction on the price of the amp.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang V V.1 advantages over G-DEC 3 30?
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 3:42 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:30 am
Posts: 375
Devil's advocate, here.

The prices you quoted are stupid-good. Especially if you don't need the matching cabinet.

I do have a couple of things to point out, though:

The Mustang has an all solid state power amp with a very effective master volume. ALL the tone shaping is done in the DSP of the preamp- the power amp just makes it louder. Therefore, no matter what the box/adverts say the power rating is, it's very capable of operating at bedroom volumes through it's own speaker(s). I own a III, which is 100 watts- and it's never seen the outside of my bedroom since I brought it home. It sounds great at that volume. So don't let the 150 watt power rating of the V throw you.

The Mustang V is stereo. There are two speaker outs- left and right. The Mustang V 4x12 cabinet is wired stereo also- kind of like two vertically aligned 2x12 cabs. The FX loop is stereo, as well- you could theoretically plug into BOTH of those Valvekings for a REAL stereo set up.

As far as the G-DEC, I've never actually seen one, much less played it, so I can't help there. I do know that I love my Mustang, and would JUMP at prices like that if I were GASsing for one. As you say, you'll have plenty of power to gig with if you decide to do that in the future- AND you'll get all the flexibility of the Mustang platform when you do. ( with fewer power cords/plugs to deal with than a Floor + an amp) All in the same amp you use to practice with.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: