First Amp Head and Cabinet Discussion

  • Thread starter Thread starter DocDesperado
  • Start date Start date
D

DocDesperado

New member
This is my first time using RigTalk but I figured it'd be a good spot to ask questions. I have a Amp Head and Cabinet I'm planning on getting soon and I would like a second opinion if these are the right choices. First the Head, the Peavey XXL is what I'm aiming to buy. It's a solid state Amp and I hear it gets close to sounding/feeling like a tube amp just minus the tubes to replace and what I've seen it seems like it would be good enough at its job despite the gain channels being weaker than the newer models Peavey has released which shouldn't be a issue since Mt pedals are gonna be doing most of the distortion work. Second is I'm thinking a  Marshall Cabinet which I've heard they are basically the universally good but id like second opinions ofc. I want a rig that won't let me down so I want to know if these two would work well together or if there are better options? My price range is probably anything around 500ish (brand new) for each of these pieces. If you are curious about the sound I'm attempting to achieve is a 80s heavy glammy sound. I've seen a lot of people use the Peavey XXL for a thrash heavy tone but not on the Glammy side of things yet.
 
Assuming by glam you’re talking ratt, crüe, dokken etc it’s a pretty simple sound to cop. I’d look for a peavy Windsor and a Marshall 1960 cab. the pair should cost less than a grand for both on the used market. Can’t comment much on the xxl, but if you are dead set on one, you could always run the clean channel with a Friedman beod or other miab pedal. I’d skip out on any Marshall cab except for the 1960 line. All the other cheaper cabs use particle board(sawdust pressboard) and are not built the best. They also use cheap speakers. For that 80’s LA tone, I’d look for a birch 4x12 with v30’s or g12m greenbacks. Not the most help but hopefully a start.
 
I’d recommend the 5150 iconic 80W head instead on the used market. It’s voiced more like a hot Marshall on the gain channel and sounds great. It could cop the glam metal very well and will also retain its value.

Cabinet wise, pawn shops are your friend
 
I’d go jet city 50w head, easy to service with a decent amount of gain, peavys are a literal hell to fix. As for cabs I’d stay away from the Marshall mg cabs, stick with the classics like a 1960. I see them on CL for decent prices. Also around me recto cabs can be cheap and are a wise choice.
 
Welcome to Rig-Talk :cheers:

Proven QnA to great results:

Budget?
Genres?
Do you need cleans?
What guitar/pickup/pedals will you be useing?
Used gear OK?
Where are you located roughly?
 
jtgainor said:
Assuming by glam you’re talking ratt, crüe, dokken etc it’s a pretty simple sound to cop. I’d look for a peavy Windsor and a Marshall 1960 cab. the pair should cost less than a grand for both on the used market. Can’t comment much on the xxl, but if you are dead set on one, you could always run the clean channel with a Friedman beod or other miab pedal. I’d skip out on any Marshall cab except for the 1960 line. All the other cheaper cabs use particle board(sawdust pressboard) and are not built the best. They also use cheap speakers. For that 80’s LA tone, I’d look for a birch 4x12 with v30’s or g12m greenbacks. Not the most help but hopefully a start.
Click to expand...
Heard greenbacks are amazing, thanks for the input
 
glpg80 said:
I’d recommend the 5150 iconic 80W head instead on the used market. It’s voiced more like a hot Marshall on the gain channel and sounds great. It could cop the glam metal very well and will also retain its value.

Cabinet wise, pawn shops are your friend
Click to expand...
Isn't the 5150 a tube head? Could be mistaken on that, but I was wanting something that I don't have to worry just yet about tube replacement
 
DocDesperado said:
Isn't the 5150 a tube head? Could be mistaken on that, but I was wanting something that I don't have to worry just yet about tube replacement
Click to expand...
Yeah, but tubes aren't as troublesome as some make them out to be. Take it from a bassist, where bass gear is commonly solid state. I have the same problems with SS gear, and have had more blown SS heads than tube heads. The difference is that when a SS head blows, it can be an involved repair, but in some amps you can replace the tubes yourself. If not, any shop can do a swap and bias for a bench fee. Not only that, but they sound better.

I would look for a good amp first and foremost and don't worry about tube replacement until after your first tour.
 
311splawndude said:
Welcome to Rig-Talk :cheers:

Proven QnA to great results:

Budget?
Genres?
Do you need cleans?
What guitar/pickup/pedals will you be useing?
Used gear OK?
Where are you located roughly?
Click to expand...
Under $500 for each peice of equipment so in total under a grand.
80s style hard rock, heavy metal, glam/hair.
I would like clean channels.
Currently using a karmer, and the pedals are a Tubescreamer, a Distortion, EQFH, 10 band EQ, and a chorus.
Used gear is fine if in good condition.
Central North Carolina.
 
Und
BeZo said:
Yeah, but tubes aren't as troublesome as some make them out to be. Take it from a bassist, where bass gear is commonly solid state. I have the same problems with SS gear, and have had more blown SS heads than tube heads. The difference is that when a SS head blows, it can be an involved repair, but in some amps you can replace the tubes yourself. If not, any shop can do a swap and bias for a bench fee. Not only that, but they sound better.

I would look for a good amp first and foremost and don't worry about tube replacement until after your first tour.
Click to expand...
Understood thanks
 
DocDesperado said:
Under $500 for each peice of equipment so in total under a grand.
80s style hard rock, heavy metal, glam/hair.
I would like clean channels.
Currently using a karmer, and the pedals are a Tubescreamer, a Distortion, EQFH, 10 band EQ, and a chorus.
Used gear is fine if in good condition.
Central North Carolina.
Click to expand...
Not sure if you are scouring craigslist but I see some stuff. Like Bezo said, don't let the tube talk bother you. I used to think that too. It is actually the opposite. If a solid state amp has a problem (and they will, especially in this price point) there is not much AT ALL you can do except take it in. With a tube amp, you have the opportunity to do some trouble shooting on your own. Often times that just requires you to take a tube out and stick it back in or sometimes swap them around. Sometimes you may need to clean the tube pins with some spray. At some point, you may need to replace some tubes but that is easy too (usually). Worst case, you have a blown resistor or something like that but again - very easy for a tech to replace.

And if you could increase your amp budget a but there are some really nice amps within your reach, like a Marshall 800 SC20 and a Marshall JVM combo.

Some of these need speaker cabinets to work but this give you an idea of what I'd be looking at. That Laney in particular. Maybe the Switchblade but I don't know much about it. For guitars you have many more options to you locally. Particularly the ESPs and Schecters and Fenders I see. For example:

Laney IRT30 combo $650
Marshall DSL40 $650
Vox AC15 $600
Fender Bassbreaker $550
Orange OR15 head $550
Fender Hot Rod $450
Hughes and Kettner Switchblade (hybrid) $400

ESP LTD S200
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/efland-esp-ltd-sc-200-limited-edition/7616791441.html
G&L Tele
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/durham-gl-tribute-series-asat-classic/7627341203.html
Strat
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/cary-strat-for-sale/7626371902.html
Strat
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/durham-fender-mim-1994-black-label/7622241657.html
Epi Les Paul
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/selma-epiphone-les-paul/7624517920.htmlhttps://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/raleigh-90s-mik-epiphone-les-paul/7607940102.htmlhttps://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/raleigh-epiphone-les-paul-standard/7623815349.htmlhttps://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/durham-epiphone-les-paul-htg-cherry/7618405848.html
ESP LTD MH350
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/durham-esp-ltd-mh-350-fr/7613712831.html
Squire Tele
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/raleigh-squire-telecaster/7627179427.html
Schecter Damien
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/holly-springs-schecter-damien-platinum/7623123138.html
G&L Tribute Fallout
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/apex-gl-tribute-fallout-guitar/7618187526.html
Squire Tele
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/raleigh-squire-telecaster/7626448351.html
PRS Santana
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/durham-prs-santana/7624657144.html
Schecter Van Nuys
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/d/alamance-schecter-van-nuys-traditional/7617167815.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top