Buying my first real guitar rig, need advice.

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Hendrix27

Hendrix27

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It's come time to buy my first real guitar amp, and I'm a bit conflicted about it. Right now I'm looking at a Marshall 1959SLP 100Watt Super Lead Plexi Head with a Marshall 1960A Slant Cabinet / 4x12. I want that classic rock tone (Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, etc), and nothing seemed better than the super lead with a 4x12 cabinet. I wanted to know what you guys think, let me know if there's something you think that is better.
 
That's going to be super super loud...you will need to use a attenuator. Maybe something with master volume for your first amp? Also, most people prefer a straight cab.
 
Welcome to the forum! :cheers:

Personally i like a slant better. Not as boomy in the low end, (in my experience having owned both), however this is highly dependent on the speakers you are using and other cabinet details. YMMV.

If you're going for a 100W you either have the space to open it up or your neighbors dont care. If either one of those are a problem then you're going to need a rock crusher attenuator, hot plate, or torpedo live for a load and line output source for a smaller power amplifier/monitors/recording capability.

I would suggest getting the plexi + a torpedo or a rockcrusher and bypassing the 4x12 all together. They dont sound their best until you're getting some volume going. That would make for a better all around setup.
 
Go to every large music store and play everything you can.

The rig you describe will be super loud at a bar gig.

Low wattage rigs still have plenty of volume.
 
A JCM2000 DSL50 might do what you're looking for. Plenty loud, quite versatile and can be gotten on the cheap. Just an opinion.
 
I second the DSL. What's your budget and how versatile an amp do you need? The 40 watt Splawn Street Rod would cover your Marshall type needs and can be run at 1/2 power for home use.
 
I have a DSL100...

Use it to practice at 5:00 am before I go to work. Great amp. Cheap.
 
Great info guys, I came into this barely knowing anything about amps and now I know quite a bit more. I'm leaning towards the DSL, it looks like it will work better than the plexi (don't think anyone would be pleased with a amp that loud in my house) and be more affordable. Keep on with the comments tho, I'm still open to more suggestions.
 
Yeah, If you have your wits about you, a DSL 50 and Marshall 1960 cab can be had for about $800.
 
If you a keen on a plexi style amp, id suggest the YJM100. Its an awesome amp for that plexi sound at a low volume.
 
I use a Friedman BE-100 and a 4X12. The Friedman Pink Taco is a killer low wattage amp. I played it at NAMM. The Splawn Supersport I also dig. I use to use a Friedman modded Jetcity 20 watter for club gigs. I preferred that over my EVH-III 100 watter at the time. Because of the volume issues. The BE-100's master volume makes a difference. In the under 1500 range for the type of music your playing.. I recommend the Pink Taco or a Splawn..with a nice Marshall voicing. I really dig EL-84 tubes driven hard. 6V6's sounds good too.
 
Do not get a DSL. If your budget allows, a low-wattage Friedman (or BE-100, if you fancy) will suit your needs better.

You should also consider Bogner: a Goldfinger in particular will get you those tones in spades. Would be worth checking out a Shiva and an XTC also.

-C
 
Never was a fan of the DSL's myself...

I'd recommend the following:

BUY USED!

Look for good deals on the following amps:

VHT/Fryette Deliverance 60 or 120. You can find these heads for as low as $600 used in good condition. Great, versatile sound that can pretty much get in the ballpark of any Marshall tone that ever happened and heavier. I'd take it before any Marshall, personally. Reacts really well to single coils or humbuckers, and is capable of great cleans to exceptional overdriven tones. For true heavy sounds you may want an overdrive in front of it, but from the looks of things that wouldn't be your game.

Marshall JCM-800 2204 or 2205. Both are 50W. 2204 is a single channel, one of the classic 50W JCM800's. The 2205 is the Tom Morello amp. 50W, 2 independent channels. A little more gritty sound overall but the clean channel can open up in to the classic Marshall roar if necessary.

Carvin X100-B (preferably the 6L6 version) - used extensively by Frank Zappa and Steve Vai back in the day. Jason Becker was also known to use them. Extremely punchy amplifier that was made to compete with the Mesa Mark II and III. Very versatile amplifier. Great tones. Underrated and underappreciated amplifier. Great bargains to be had on these!

Laney Pro Tube Lead / AOR = Effectively a hot rodded British tone. Great amps.

Peavey VTM 60 or 120 - VTM = Vintage Tube Modified. This was made to compete with hot rodded Marshalls but the mods were switchable. Turn on the onboard compressor and you can get good low volume saturated tones. Switchable gain boosts and frequency boosts. Used extensively by Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) and Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple) and was the platform upon which the Peavey 5150 was built.
 
Wow. This is a tough way to get advice ;). Try everything you can. Find tones you like and what wattage you need. Then buy used and take less financial risk.
 
doesn't sound like he's after something like a dsl at all

get a used jcm or jmp mk2 (mk2, not mkII), or a jtm/jmp/plexi reissue with added master volume
OR you could buy a non-master and a good attenuator
there are also cheap good clones around

make sure you find a cab with celestion greenbacks, or at least g12h's
a regular 1960A will most likely have g12t75's, which aren't that good for the sort of thing you're aiming for
 
As stated try everything you can. When you find the "one", go try 10 more amps and come back to the "one" in a week or two and see if it still is the "one. ;) That goes with cabs as well. No fun switching stuff out all the time. Well, it's a little fun :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:
 
Welcome.

Try before you buy. You can get a LOT of terrific and even-better-than-the-real-thing Marshall tones from a number of other manufacturers, all with different bells and whistles. Your original aim will be too loud without effective attenuation, but personally - I think it'd slay a DSL :yes:

Stick around here for about 100 posts and you'll become an armchair pro in the world of kerrang.

Furthermore, extra points for the avatar. Awesome :thumbsup:
 
Yes, welcome to the board. This is a big decision and one that's fun to be making.

No personal experience with the DSL, so I won't bother commenting on that.

However, I agree with a couple others regarding Splawn amps. They can be had on the used market for reasonable prices and I sold my '72 Modded Marshall for the one I have. It's an older QuickRod, but it KILLS on those classic rock tones. It is MUCH more versatile than a "one trick pony." 3 gears (gain levels) for a variety of tones from more of a plexi to hot rodded 800 to modern hot rodded 800 and foot-switchable solo boost too, awesome.

I understand the newer models have great upgrades to the clean channel, the effects loop and even the footswitch. I have been considering buying another one :D 2012 model or later. The streetrod is basically a combo version of the QR from what I understand, with lower wattage (40 watts I think). However, the QR has a 1/2 power switch to drop down to 50 watts.

Regardless of all that we say here (and we say a lot :lol: :LOL: ), it comes down to you getting out there and playing some amps to really get a feel for what works for you. Most of us have played MANY amps, we know what works for us and are happy to share. That all comes from trying MANY different amp/cab/guitar combinations. It just needs to be a thing YOU hear and YOU like.

Best of luck and keep us posted on your decisions.
 
I think the critical piece of info we're missing is how this amp is to be used? Will it be used solely in home, or will it be used for gigging? If gigging, are we talking about club gigs, or larger venues?

If you're looking for classic Marshall tones and are only using this at home or at club gigs, I strongly recommend a Fargen Olde 800 MKII, of which there is one currently listed here in the Classifieds!
 
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