Guitar advice for a teenager who likes 70/80's Rock

Hawklan

Modelling unit Hmmm, I'll need to look into those

Thanks so much for your help, you have given me a lot to think on

Ron

Christian 71

It just means it's digital so uses a microchip.

The modelling amps have settings on for sounding like different amps (marshall, fender vox etc). The modern ones like the Mustang model about 10-15 amps and also effects like distortion, delay reverb. the models are pretty good these days, but you can't beat the real thing.

Valve/Solid state amps generally have one sound with a gain knob and maybe different voiced channels. The problem is they sound best loud, so the modelling amps simulate this to various degrees of success.

Hawklan

Ah right makes sense

For our current needs a modelling amp sounds like a good fit
When he starts gigging, we'll go for the real thing

Many thanks

Ron

reevesy

yeah modellers can be a good start

got a vox VT 20  modeller myself....which can be got pretty cheaply....good for getting a taste of effects etc.....can go very loud...

Vox VT20 Plus Combo Amp | Dawsons Music

not the easiest thing to get to grip with instantly and took a while for me to get my head round some of the settings etc...the vox online forum was a must read for me....get on a lot better with it now

View forum - VT15/30/50/100 - VT20 /40 /80 /120  • ValveTronix.Net

also had a blast on a blackstar ID30 TVP once....really liked it and was a lot quicker to 'plug n play' and get going with clean and crunch tones...theres also a 15 watt version .

Blackstar ID:15TVP 15W Guitar Amplifier Combo - PMT Online

this one can be plugged into a pc and can be tinkered with or tones can be downloaded.

planning to have another test drive on these...and a blackstar HT 1 R...and possibly something else next week if I can


as buying a guitar really...he should take his les paul in and have a play about on a few in your price range and see which one he gets on with the best

Hawklan

Hi

Thanks for that. I do like the look of the Vox.

However, as you said, what we need to do is to try some out and as he did with his Gibson buy the one he likes the best

Many thanks

Ron

Toasty

Our guitarist uses 30 Watt Line 6 Spider IV, loud enough for a band practise and good for home too. He likes it a lot and saves him getting out the big guns every time we play. If you can get to a PMT shop, I can recommend them for trying before buying. I recently trialled some guitars in their brum store, they have a large inventory of guitars and amps to choose from.

I use a Marshall Valvestate, but at 100watts, its at its best in a practise hall / gig venue. As above, anything valve is best cranked up, it doesn't have much in the way of effects, but it doesn't need them, it sounds awesome as is. I also have an Ibanez TBX150, again, being solid state its a bit loud, its more metal and has a wide range of tones, but its actually better for home use than the valvestate, although the volume knob can't go much above 2 if I want to stay friendly with the neighbours. That said, I don't recommend my amps for home use unless you want a gigging amp that can be used at home too, which is what I got the Ibanez for.

I also have a Zoom G2.1 pedal, which I can use with any amp with a decent clean channel. I don't use it so much now, but its another popular way forward along with the line 6 pod range and the plethora of other effects modules available at decent prices.

Hawklan

Hi

Thanks very much for that
The 30 Watt Line 6 Spider IV and Ibanez TBX150 look very interesting.
I think for the moment I'll steer clear of a valve amp as most of his practicing will be indoors and if they sound at there best when cranked up, my wife won't be too happy

There are PMT stores driving distance from us, so we will definitely go and visit the Norwich store along with his Gibson. Hopefully they can help whittle down the vast list of options available to us

Thanks very much for your advice

Ron

Goooner

Don't know if anyone's mentioned it yet, but the Vox VX II gets a decent review in the latest Total Guitar.

11 amp models, plus a few effects, chorus, flange, phaser and tremolo. Also analogue and tape echo delay and a couple of reverbs.

Comes with software that can extract the guitar track from most songs, so you can play the guitar part yourself.

Sounds pretty decent from the review, only £138 too.

hyperfish

If only it wasn't so ugly. Definitely one to keep under the stairs.

Hawklan

The Vox amps have been recomended but not the VX II. Yep it is pretty ugly, but it ticks most of the boxes and is at a great price

Time for a demo

Thanks guys

Ron