Hi guys converted guitar player and newbie here. I've been trolling this forum for several weeks now and have seen a lot of great advice. I'm looking for an amplifier preferably combo that has a nice clean punchy sound. Not looking for a ton of power but would like enough to be able to be heard. What do you guys think. TIA
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Best Combo/Jam Amp?
- Thread starter Goalee1
- Start date
used peavy gear if your on a budget. i hear gallien kruigers are great for a tight punchy modern sound but i havent played one.
If you're on a budget don't mind the bulk of a 2X10, check out the Nemesis NC210P. It's very light for its specs and puts out 220W into 4 ohms. If you're on a budget and don't want bulk, check out the Carvin PB100. It's underrated.
If money's no object, look to your left. EA's combos are the current beauty queens.
If money's no object, look to your left. EA's combos are the current beauty queens.
If you want to have some extra power available, look at the Eden CXC series. As the standalone combo it has 225w, with an 8 ohm extension cab it goes up to 400w. They usually sell used for around $500 depending on speaker configuration.
As mentioned before, the Eden/Nemesis 210P combo is nice.
I also really like the Ashdown Electric Blue 12" and 15" combos. They have 130w and you can find them around $300 used. I've gone to Ashdowns for all my amps (rack, head and combo). They just always sound great. For a little more money, look at the Ashdown MAG combos.
As mentioned before, the Eden/Nemesis 210P combo is nice.
I also really like the Ashdown Electric Blue 12" and 15" combos. They have 130w and you can find them around $300 used. I've gone to Ashdowns for all my amps (rack, head and combo). They just always sound great. For a little more money, look at the Ashdown MAG combos.
I picked up a 2x10 400rbIII combo offa ebay for 400$ I was tired of draggin around a "rock stack" for lil'gigs n jams....Best decision on gear I have made, and the chaps I gig with all coment on the amps sound and such...they have larger(more powerful) examples of the same thing too...check em out
You will get tons of recommended amps; the basic question is what kind of sound are you after (what kind on music do you play)?
Also, do you have cost or size constraints?
Mike Money
In Memoriam
Hey guys, thanks for all the suggestions. As for music and size constraints, I wanted something that I could use for different genres. I've been playing more contemporary jazz type music but wanted something that if I wanted to play some hard rock I could do in a pinch. No size contraints but don't want something really big as I'm in an apartment in the city. Keep em coming and again thanks! G1
Euphonic Audio iAmp-800 Combo (may be in short supply, if you can find one at all--very new, just ramping up production, but you could just get an iAmp-800 and a CxL-112L)
EBS Gorm 2x10 Combo (to expand you will need powered cab(s) or power amp and cab(s), but since you said volume was not an issue, shouldn't be concerned, besides it's very loud and also has DI out for PA support)
Peavey Bam 2x10 Combo (most versatile)
SWR WorkingMan 12 Combo
Ampeg B100R or B50R Combo
[Top four listed very good all around combos; the WM12, you might need an Overdrive pedal or SansAmp BDDI to get more than just a modern, clean sound out of; the Ampegs are going to excel at rock & blues.]
I'd second the Ashdown vote - that's the way I'm going for allmy amplification needs!
I have an Electric Blue 130 with a 15" speaker for practise, and small gigs. You could always get the newer one, it has 150 watts, a speaker out extension jack and the sub-harmoniser effect built in!
What's in your local music stores? It might be a good idea to go and try a few things within your price range and then come back to see what stories people have about those. If you're a reasonably experienced guitarist, you'll probably have the ear to judge what sounds good to you.
Wulf
Wulf
Checked the classifieds with inzone's direction and did see the EBS. As for local music stores, I've checked out SWR, GK, Ampeg and Hartke at the local guitar center. For my bass sound, I'm actually looking for the opposite of my guitar sound. For my guitar sound, I love the sound of overdriven tubes. For what I've tried bass-wise, I liked the SWR and Hartke out of what I tried. Between the 2 I liked the Hartke a little more but the Hartke was going through 2 x 10 and the SWR was a 1 x 15 (I think), so I may have just liked the tightness of the smaller 10s. What do you guys think on these. Also, I have emailed back and forth a bit with the EBS guy and I have no experience with this company but it sounds like a great amp (Taurus).
Try a 2x10 SWR (Super Redhead).
The EBS Taurus is the predecessor of the Gorm (very good amp).
Also, a head + cab or (esp.) preamp + power amp + cab allows for more versatility over combos.
I asked about the super redhead and they told me they haven't had one in a while as there wasn't a demand for them. Thought that was weird as I've seen a ton of posts on them. The one common thing I've seen with these (the ones for sale on the secondary market), is that the drivers are often reconed. Is the amp just too powerful for the drivers? So then would I run into the same prob with the Taurus? I'm just a recreational player and spend 4-5 days a week in a small apt in the city so I don't need anything large by any means thus the search for a combo. thanks for all the info! G1
