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Best amp <$500

#21
iualum said:
Whoa Nellie :woot: . If you're dead set on a combo/dead set against separates, fine. No worries. Your bux. Enjoy. But who said separates wouldn't be worth it? Where'd that notion come from :D ?

From my perspective, I'd always do separates unless I just didn't have the bread. But if you go with a used MB200 (lots of love for that little gem), your $500 will allow for a pretty decent (again, used, but in very nice shape) rig. New music gear's little different than a new car. The instant you drive it off the lot ... With a combo, if one part malfunctions, the whole thing is down (& maybe out). Plus, ain't no company gonna give stuff away. Compromises have been made somewhere along the line to get the combo price down, or it's a pricey combo :D .

A 500 RMS combo less than a 200 RMS amp? Maybe. Probably, some. Somewhere. Ain't too many though. Ain't too many.
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No I didn't mean like screw separates I was asking in general if or was worth it to go after for the budget of less than $600. It just happened that the the early replies suggested 500 watt combos. I'm just trying to make the smartest purchase in terms of life span, price, and extension capabilities.
 
#23
I'd say the Rumble 200 with the GK a close second. The BA115 and Orange come next, in that order. Carvin was mentioned earlier on, why thats not on your list I don't know. Excellent stuff from Carvin at your price point.

But none of these is going to compete with a 100w guitar amp being stretched out even a little bit.
 
#24
Jeb said:
I'd say the Rumble 200 with the GK a close second. The BA115 and Orange come next, in that order. Carvin was mentioned earlier on, why thats not on your list I don't know. Excellent stuff from Carvin at your price point.

But none of these is going to compete with a 100w guitar amp being stretched out even a little bit.
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Thanks so in regards to watts what should I be looking for be able to hang with a 100 watts guitar amp. Keep in mind I'm not experienced in the amp world. For example would the Ampeg SVT Micro Stack - SVT Micro Head and SVT-210AV Cabinet | Sweetwater.com or 200 watt head have the same strength as a 200 watt combo. Like how does the head/cab compare to combos?
 
#28
Another vote for the Rumble. I should also say that I love the older Ampeg and GK; I just haven't tried any of their newer stuff. On the other hand, if I were going to be playing metal, a 200 watt Rumble isn't the first thing I'd reach for. I've never tried Orange, but it's never been in my price range. I play heavier rock covers and the Rumble 500 has absolutely no problem keeping up with two guitars (112 tube/ 210 tube) and drums.
 
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#29
G-Sleeve said:
My vote, go with a head and a cab. More versatility in the long run, you can always switch out gear/ upgrade down the line as taste and situations in life change.
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So to get this straight if i go for a head and cab, I dont have to worry about incompatibility between the two besides the ohms? Like compared to a GK combo I could only extend it with a GK cab?

I want to make sure that what ever I get has room for extension when that day comes.
 
#31
Sludgewhale said:
Thanks so in regards to watts what should I be looking for be able to hang with a 100 watts guitar amp. Keep in mind I'm not experienced in the amp world. For example would the Ampeg SVT Micro Stack - SVT Micro Head and SVT-210AV Cabinet | Sweetwater.com or 200 watt head have the same strength as a 200 watt combo. Like how does the head/cab compare to combos?
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You won't be happy with that micro stack so don't do it. If I were you (which I'm not), I'd want 1000 watts and 8 tens. So that would mean a head capable of at least 1000 watts (at 4 ohms) and two 4x10 cabs (8 ohm each). You'll be happy with something like that but you'll have to expand your budget.
 
#32
I'm loving my Carvin MB15. Its 380.00 alone and about 550.00 with the 15" ext cab. The amp and the extension weigh about 30lbs each and its a total of 250 watts. Has plenty of eq, compressor and a line out for PA
if needed. Makes a nice stack with plenty of volume, and it sounds fantastic. They also make the MB10, MB12, and the MB2/10.
 
#35
How many watts the guitarist has available is less important than how far he turns up his volume. The drummer is also key. If he is a hard hitter, everyone else has to keep up the volume to compete with him. The 210 combos you listed above would be fine, and I believe the Rumble allows expansion with another cab if you need it (not sure about the Ampeg but likely as well)....perfectly reasonable unless the band is stoopid loud.
 
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#37
Buzz E said:
You REALLY need to play each one and decide. They sound nothing alike.
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That would be obvious. The purpose of this thread is for people with experience to give me their wise advice on the subject. I'm looking for a starting point and as I said multiple times I have little experience. If I played through both right now they would each be incredible improvements to what I have now.
 

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