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What Used Amplification Would You Get from GC for $600

ccfalkner

ccfalkner

Sep 19, 2016
129
152
Dallas, TX
#1
So, it's my son's birthday coming up, and I asked him what he wanted. He is in college, playing in a band, and they are pretty decent. I like their stuff. He said he has grown out of the last amp I got him, plus it had some issues, and he needed an upgrade. Good thing I got a 2 yr warranty, so a couple of days before it expired, I called in for a repair. They gave my money back $216, they are letting him keep the amp, he has $200, I am putting in $200, so, after fixing and selling the old one, he should have about $770.
(I put all that in for the entertainment value. I could have just put $770, but then this post would have been over soon and none of y'all would have burnt up much practice time reading it.)

So, to add it all up, he is in a college town in Idaho, so his stuff will have to be shipped, plus I always get a warranty on used stuff, for the obvious story above. That means the budget would be $170 for warranty, shipping, etc, and $600 for the actual stuff. He wants a digital head and a cab. I am thinking 500W would give him some growing room and cover just about any venue. He doesn't like bright colors, so Mark and those orange guys are out. Last thing is he does have a B string, so that is important. Rough estimate would be 200ish for head, 400ish for cab.

Finally the question: what used GC pair would you get if you had that scenario? I don't expect anyone to go shopping for him, but if you had this kind of experience and liked what you purchased, even the brand name/model line would be good info. Also if you mixed brands, did that work to get the best of the two brands. I am asking all this, due to lack of experience, cause I still have the rig I first purchased cause I had the money to do what I wanted. :)

Here is one of their video's just in case you were curious and still don't want to practice yet:



Thanks in advance.
 
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#4
I don't know what shipping would cost, but there are tons of used 410 cabs around $300 that you could pair with something like a Fender Rumble 500, Ampeg PF500, or similar head. I'm 38 and have a bad back, but 20 year old me in college would definitely have rocked a 410 (I had a 100w head & 4x12 guitar cab and a 40w 2x10 guitar combo in those days).
 
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#6
MateoG78 said:
A bit off topic but that's a good song. I like it :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yes, I have been impressed. They seem to put out commercial quality songs. They picked a name that was used by a retired band, but they like it. You can find most of their songs by doing a youtube search for "the howls - topic" They are on other music services, but I don't subscribe to those. I think my personal favorite is "Devils in my Mind" If you could classify it, it would be Indie Surf Rock. It is just what comes out of the song writer.

 
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#11
ccfalkner said:
Yes, I have been impressed. They seem to put out commercial quality songs. They picked a name that was used by a retired band, but they like it. You can find most of their songs by doing a youtube search for "the howls - topic" They are on other music services, but I don't subscribe to those. I think my personal favorite is "Devils in my Mind" If you could classify it, it would be Indie Surf Rock. It is just what comes out of the song writer.

Click to expand...

My daughter heard me listening to this video and was wondering what I was listening to. Told her about this thread. She really likes it (as do I) and we both have added them to our Spotify. Tell your son they've got a couple of new fans in Wisconsin!
 
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#12
IMHO - secondary warranties stink.

Skip paying for a third party warranty and buy either a new amp with multiyear factory warranty, or one with a transferable warranty. You need the original manufacturer involved in any service of the amp.

Some amps come new with 5 year transferable warranties, so buying one used after 3 years you'd still have 2 years on the original factory warranty.

If you bought such an amp New, then he'd have an easier time selling it and upgrading or downgrading if/when the time comes.
 
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#16
I recently picked up a Mesa D800+ that I love and will be my primary. I also picked up an early Markbass Little Mark III as a backup that has really impressed me. I think I paid $350 for the LM3. That would leave you a decent amount of change for a light weight cab that you could find on CL and might have a bit more negotiation leverage. There are various options on Dallas Craigslist although I think most are on the heavy side.
 
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#18
seamonkey said:
IMHO - secondary warranties stink.

Skip paying for a third party warranty and buy either a new amp with multiyear factory warranty, or one with a transferable warranty. You need the original manufacturer involved in any service of the amp.

Some amps come new with 5 year transferable warranties, so buying one used after 3 years you'd still have 2 years on the original factory warranty.

If you bought such an amp New, then he'd have an easier time selling it and upgrading or downgrading if/when the time comes.
Click to expand...

I. Like this idea. I also have had very good experience with GC warranties like what is in my original post. Basically the jack input is crackling when he moves the patch cable around, so I got a full refund plus my tax. So he had use of a Fender rumble 100 for the price of shipping, but then when he fixes and sells it, he will have made money.

I was going used to get the best horse power for the money. This is why I posted this and why I love TB. Where else can you get all this excellent advice before walking into a purchase.

I showed my son this post and charged him with getting the funds together and informing himself with these posts, and then we will work together on the purchase. If we have any further questions, we will do a last minute post, but in the end, we will post the final purchase.
 
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#20
ccfalkner said:
Yes, I have been impressed. They seem to put out commercial quality songs. They picked a name that was used by a retired band, but they like it. You can find most of their songs by doing a youtube search for "the howls - topic" They are on other music services, but I don't subscribe to those. I think my personal favorite is "Devils in my Mind" If you could classify it, it would be Indie Surf Rock. It is just what comes out of the song writer.

Click to expand...


For a cab I would recommend an Aguilar GS or DB. As for micro amp heads... I can't really comment. Only experience I have with them was an Ampeg PF-500 which sounded nice and had plenty of power but just died on me one day. Never had another amp let me down like that before or since. I know how to properly operate amps, hook up cabs, and all of that. It was just an unreliable amp. Those tiny little pcb boards crammed into tiny spaces worry me. I'm sure can be done well, but so far my experience has been that all of this nano technology comes with a certain decrease in reliability... just look to cars nowadays with all their computerized nonsense
So I went back to lugging around the bigger stuff. Might have been a dud, but I'm still young, healthy, and have a my own transportation, so I'll haul around some extra weight for the peace of mind while I can.

On a sidenote, they've got a good sound. Remind me of the Growlers www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIhIrp_IDoc
 
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