Need a good amp to play shows with.

[cNelson144]

I'm going to be playing shows soon, and i need a new big amp. But i'm not sure what kind to get, i need it to have distortion even though im getting a distortion pedal also. But anyone have any ideas? If you need to know what kind of music we're playing it'll be Punk/Rock.

[Pekker_Head]

Price?
Also are you looking for a tubed amp or solid state? A tube amp with a distortion pedal= bad sound (which sounds like a hive of mad bees). You could get an overdrive pedal instead which would add more distortion on your already distorted tone from your amplifier.

[cNelson144]

hmm, price doesnt really matter. i dotn want it like $100000000 lol, but umm i dont really no the difference between tube and solid state. but im pretty sure i want solid.

[Pekker_Head]

Tube amps sound better.
Solid State amps sound thin but have advantages over tubed amps. Weight and the cost of running them are the biggest advantages.

[cNelson144]

yeah, well if it doesnt sound good with distortion thats bad, cause our songs have a lot of distortion. and exactly what does a distortion pedal do?

[Pekker_Head]

yeah, well if it doesnt sound good with distortion thats bad, cause our songs have a lot of distortion. and exactly what does a distortion pedal do?
It well is more of a "fake distortion" as Its hard to explain. Distortion by definition is where you put your amp beyond its capabilities where it distorts the sound. Marshall Plexi Heads the only way to get distortion from them is to be a man and crank them to 11. I am guessing you would overdrive the pedal but overdriven tubes sound better.
An overdrive is a distortion for a distortion tubed amp. It adds more distortion on already distorted tone and they are made especially for tubed amps.

The downside with distortion on a tubed amp is it shortens your tubes life span somewhat. Thats why distortion pedals where invented was to help prevent that. (from what I have heard)

Though I did forget to mentions Hybrid amps. There pre-amp is a tube (usually 12AX7 tube) and the power amp is solid state. Which some do sound nice such as the Kustom HV30 (I think thats the name). which you could check out.


Now then I would recommended these amps for you to try
Solid State- Roland Cube, Vox Valvetronix
Tubed- Peavey Vlaveking
Hybrid- Marshall AVT and a Kustom HV30

Which should be in a 200 to 1,000 price range.

Allright since your also a rock punk tone and have a bit more to spend I would recommended Marshalls
The AVT http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-AVT150HX-Half-Stack?sku=482639

My highest recommendation to try out with Marshall and maybe on this topic is this
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-DSL401-Combo-Amp?sku=483125
A Marshall DSL, I tried the head and cab but not the combo and well the head and cab can blow you away. Go to your local Guitar Center and Sam Ash and have fun try some stuff out. Why I recommend it is most rock bands use Marshall and Isn't insanely High priced but that is up to you and your wallet and ears. Also it should last you quite a while.

[cNelson144]

yeah, i thought distortion pedals just turned on and off the distortion which is something i need. but thanks for your help ill take your advice

[LifeByTheDrop]

In that case get an amp that comes with a footswitch and has two channels. One for clean and one for distortion. Footswitch...switches the channels. Go to a music store and check them out.

[cNelson144]

oh sweet thanks. so i guess i dont need a distortion pedal then

[bobthecow]

Price?
Also are you looking for a tubed amp or solid state? A tube amp with a distortion pedal= bad sound (which sounds like a hive of mad bees). You could get an overdrive pedal instead which would add more distortion on your already distorted tone from your amplifier.

That is COMPLETELY opinion. I love the sound that you get from distortion+tubed... it sounds more like fuzz. I think the fuzz sound is sweet. John Frusciante, Dave Navaro, and Darrell Abott are great examples of fuzz sound.

[kingmann90]

That is COMPLETELY opinion. I love the sound that you get from distortion+tubed... it sounds more like fuzz. I think the fuzz sound is sweet. John Frusciante, Dave Navaro, and Darrell Abott are great examples of fuzz sound.

I Have a Marshall Dsl-401 tube w/ distortion. Sounds great to me....I'd deffinatly go play some Tubes and solid states to see what you like.

[cNelson144]

yeah i will, thanks

[marshallTSL]

I went the slow way, a fender frontman 15, a roland cube 60, then a marshall TSL 60 then a TSL 100.

do yourself a favor, if you can afford it, go with a nice tube amp right off the bat. you'll lose money on every trade you make as you upgrade. also the longer you own one amp(that's amazing) the better you'll know it, and how it reacts with pedals, volume and your guitar.

I belelive if your good enough to gig, and you can afford it, do it. you'll be happier down the road.

Look for them used! you can save a ton, and it makes no difference, esp if you buy from a store with a warenty for 30 days or whatever.

If your a real hard sound, go marshall. DSL, TSL, the new one that has 16 channels all availble from footshitch, mode 4. you won't even need a distortion pedal, you'll have everythink you need, (unless your a metal head)