Guitar Amp for RECORDING

[Thomaslikesmusic]

Hey everyone,
I've been using guitar rig for a while and Im just pretty sick of it, I could never get it to sound any better than the first month of using it so I've decided to buy a good amp instead. I'm looking for something very cheap which will probably mean its very small but as Ive read so far it shouldnt influence the sound of the recordings too much (any opinions?) So I wanna know what amp should I buy?? Ive tried looking at some tube amps but all Ive found is expensive stuff and Im not even sure if they sound good. Im looking for something thats about $350 or less. I know theres a lot on this forum about guitar amps but most of it is talk of expensive vintage amps which I would love to have but I sadly cannot afford

So theres the question... what amp should I buy for $350 or less for recording??

[jclampitt]

thats hard to say, i guess it depends what kind of music your playing and what kind of tone your looking for, this guy seems to like this amp and it's under $350, and it's a tube amp.

Guitar Amp Review: Fender Pro Jr.

i guess it comes down to what you like, some people will like an amp and others will hate it so i don't know how useful reviews really are, go look at amps and test them out. unfortunately i've found that testing amps out at somewhere like guitar center really sucks because there are always a lot of loud people playing different things at the same time and it's hard to hear what going on with the amp, probably even more so for a small amp. so, maybe you should consider finding all the loud douchebags in there, walk up to them, and bash them in the face with something one by one, (there are usually guitars hanging everywhere) and tell them to shut the f*ck up so you can hear. they'll either shut up or it will start a huge guitar fight that you may or may not survive. seriously though, make sure you have a good idea of what an amp sounds like before you buy it, otherwise you might get home and realize that you don't like the amp you bought, fortunately you usually have 30 days to return stuff.

[elmagoo]

I was using a Line 6 Vetta HD with a 2 x 12 cabinet. I got it because I wanted to go direct using the emmulation outs on it (live in a very poorly sound proofed apartment, hence I didn't think I could mic it well). It sounded great, but I could never get that "tubeness" out of it, no matter how hard I tried.

So I went to the music store (West LA Music in this case) to see if there was a tube pedal of sorts I could use to **** this thing up. I would already run it through a UA Solo 110 pre, which would help, but it still didn't cut it (I didn't get the 610 as I wanted a good Class A transparent pre for my condenser, a Rode NT1A, and I'm on a budget .

As it turns out, the salesman told me about the new Line 6 Spidervalve. I tried this thing and instantly fell in love with it. Line 6 partnered with Bogner to have him make a real tube pre / power amp section, and then they coupled it with their smarts and know-how in modelling and electronics. The 1x12 was on-sale for $550 which is a bit more expensive than you were looking, but then again your getting a Bogner designed piece of gear for that price. I ended up trading in my Vetta and cabinet for the 2x12 and came out even at around $800.

Very flexible, you can get a wealth of tones out of it from classic blues and jazz all the way to screaming Boogie and Marshall. And since it has the electronics section you can save your presets for instant recall.

Since this is my first foray into actual micing, I picked up an SM57. The amp sounds perfect but I can't play it very loud due to conditions. Hence with a single 57 I can't seem to capture what I'm hearing. So I tried using a 57 up close, and the NT1A 3 feet away for some room sound and I got very close, almost perfect. It was a little harsh still, so I've ordered a CAD Trion 7000 ribbon as I've only read great things about it for micing guitar cabs.

OK, got carried away with the description, but definitely check out the Spidervalve. If you go to Line6's website there are videos of the amp with different tones played by different artists, and I can vouche that the amp in person sounds just as good, if not better than in the video.

Good luck .

[md.taylor67]

Originally Posted by elmagoo

I was using a Line 6 Vetta HD with a 2 x 12 cabinet. I got it because I wanted to go direct using the emmulation outs on it (live in a very poorly sound proofed apartment, hence I didn't think I could mic it well). It sounded great, but I could never get that "tubeness" out of it, no matter how hard I tried.

So I went to the music store (West LA Music in this case) to see if there was a tube pedal of sorts I could use to **** this thing up. I would already run it through a UA Solo 110 pre, which would help, but it still didn't cut it (I didn't get the 610 as I wanted a good Class A transparent pre for my condenser, a Rode NT1A, and I'm on a budget .

As it turns out, the salesman told me about the new Line 6 Spidervalve. I tried this thing and instantly fell in love with it. Line 6 partnered with Bogner to have him make a real tube pre / power amp section, and then they coupled it with their smarts and know-how in modelling and electronics. The 1x12 was on-sale for $550 which is a bit more expensive than you were looking, but then again your getting a Bogner designed piece of gear for that price. I ended up trading in my Vetta and cabinet for the 2x12 and came out even at around $800.

Very flexible, you can get a wealth of tones out of it from classic blues and jazz all the way to screaming Boogie and Marshall. And since it has the electronics section you can save your presets for instant recall.

Since this is my first foray into actual micing, I picked up an SM57. The amp sounds perfect but I can't play it very loud due to conditions. Hence with a single 57 I can't seem to capture what I'm hearing. So I tried using a 57 up close, and the NT1A 3 feet away for some room sound and I got very close, almost perfect. It was a little harsh still, so I've ordered a CAD Trion 7000 ribbon as I've only read great things about it for micing guitar cabs.

OK, got carried away with the description, but definitely check out the Spidervalve. If you go to Line6's website there are videos of the amp with different tones played by different artists, and I can vouche that the amp in person sounds just as good, if not better than in the video.

Good luck .

I just saw this same amp a couple days ago Line 6 and Bogner did something so killer, this will be the amp I getting next!

[brandondrury]

I'm skeptical about any Line6 product. If I had $350 for an amp, there are a number of great amps out there. The Fender Pro Jr. is damn good. I really like my Fender Bronco. I think I may actually get to use it on a recording soon. That's exciting! The Boogie Subway amps for a few years ago were great. The Boogie DC-5 is AWESOME, but maybe a little out of your budget.

There are a lot of damn good amps in this price range and there is no reason to go with some kind of gimmicky junk. Then again, if this Line6 really sounds good, go for it. I have my doubts. I've continually heard people who rave about the latest Line 6 just get to bored with it when they realize it sucks. This has been going on for over 10 years.

Brandon

[elmagoo]

I can definintely understand the skeptisim. I loved the Vetta, but it was missing that extra...something you get with a good tube amp.

I was absolutely shocked when I played this amp in how it sounded. You can get that smooth tube jazz or blues sound, and then twist it to straight rectifier. I have played through a Boogie triple rectifier head, and I've played through some Fenders, and of course they are fantastic (the real-deal is always good). But I can vouche for this thing sounding just as good. Having a real tube pre / power amp built in gave it what it was missing.

Of course my word alone won't sway your opinion (as it shouldn't), you need to go check it out for yourself. But I would definitely urge you guys to give it a go at your local store and hear it for yourself.

Also here are the videos Line 6 put together with people trying it out:

Line 6 - Spider Valve

Again I can vouche that I've been able to get these kind of tones from the amp.

[brandondrury]

I loved the Vetta, but it was missing that extra...something you get with a good tube amp.

Your "extra" is my "bare minimum". I guess I'm a little spoiled, but when you get used to good amps, the modeling stuff just sounds like a scam.

I don't think it's an issue of tube or not. I think the Randalls solid state amps I've played on sounded awesome in their own way, which really can't be compared with an old Marshall. I've even heard some Peavey solid state amps that impressed me.

The videos appear to illustrate that this Line6 box does have some tone. I'd have to hear it in person to be sure, but it appears to be superior to all the other junk they've continually released.

Brandon

[Face]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Your "extra" is my "bare minimum". I guess I'm a little spoiled, but when you get used to good amps, the modeling stuff just sounds like a scam.

I don't think it's an issue of tube or not. I think the Randalls solid state amps I've played on sounded awesome in their own way, which really can't be compared with an old Marshall. I've even heard some Peavey solid state amps that impressed me.
Brandon

I was going to suggest randall and there new line of amps, My buddy has an older randall and it wails. I have always been a fan of peavey solid state. I own a bandit 112 and its great. I also own a peavey xxl for practicing and that thing is great for noodling as well.

[Thomaslikesmusic]

Hey all thanks a lot for the replys
Ive looked at some of the things mentioned and also found some stuff on my own that I hope some of you know...
I looked into the epi valve junior and read a lot of reviews where everyone seemed really happy with it so I was thinking I'd go for that one since its as cheap as they get and with only one knob you cant really go wrong, but at the same time you cant make it "yours". So then I found the blackheart little giant or small giant or something which is VERY similar except for the 3 band EQ and the 3 watt switch which should give more distortion in case I need it... so it seems better at least for my needs.
Also I looked at the spider valve series... honestly its way beyond what I want to spend (I realize Im being a cheap ass) but it does sound interresting. Although I currently own a spider 1 and recording it is like recording an old broken keyboard amp with too much distortion. So I would really consider it first even if I had the money.

Also I found this brand called Sovtek (mig 60) which used to make some ugly amps for pretty cheap but I am not sure of the sound you can get out of them... I did read somewhere that taking back sunday uses it to record sometimes so it seems like a nice choice (they go for arround 300). So if any of you know this amp it'd be nice to hear about it...
Thanks again too all!

[brandondrury]

Although I currently own a spider 1 and recording it is like recording an old broken keyboard amp with too much distortion.

I've wasted too many hours of my life trying to record these. I guess recording them is easy. Unfortunately, the tone captured has been embarrassing in almost all cases.

Brandon