Here's $3000.00. Build an Amp and Guitar Rig.

[mightywarlock]

So a friend of mine wants to get back into playing the guitar, and they are giving me about $3000.00 and asking me to build them an Amp and Guitar rig. Amp, Guitar, and any effects or pedals involved. This doesn't mean we need to spend $3000.00, but that is the budget.

They want to be able to be versatile, but also be able to play heavy stuff too.

I am thinking they would want a Combo as well, to make it even more portable/versatile, be able to toss in the car and head out somewhere.

I am not sure which kind of guitar they might want (still waiting to see what kind of shape they want).

I have been trying to decide whether any of the current or past Marshalls would be good for this, thought maybe the new JMD-1 since it has built in effects (even though I personally do not like new Marshalls...too cheaply made, too much plastic everything), or maybe a Bogner Alchemist. But the gates are open for anything I decide would be good for them. New or Used!

so.

$3000.00.

What would YOU get them?

 

[Dallas Marlow]

So a friend of mine wants to get back into playing the guitar, and they are giving me about $3000.00 and asking me to build them an Amp and Guitar rig. Amp, Guitar, and any effects or pedals involved. This doesn't mean we need to spend $3000.00, but that is the budget.

They want to be able to be versatile, but also be able to play heavy stuff too.

I am thinking they would want a Combo as well, to make it even more portable/versatile, be able to toss in the car and head out somewhere.

I am not sure which kind of guitar they might want (still waiting to see what kind of shape they want).

I have been trying to decide whether any of the current or past Marshalls would be good for this, thought maybe the new JMD-1 since it has built in effects (even though I personally do not like new Marshalls...too cheaply made, too much plastic everything), or maybe a Bogner Alchemist. But the gates are open for anything I decide would be good for them. New or Used!

so.

$3000.00.

What would YOU get them?

Boy this is a tough one, first thing you should look at it how good of a clean channel you need, and what kind of tone your going after, if it's old school Marshall hard rock, 80's metal, modern metal, modern hard rock. The reality is there's a flavor for everything out there. I'd definitely not get anything new production Marshall, lots of people like the JVM but it's just build poorly IMHO as you said to much plastic everything.

As far as cabs go bang for the buck, I'd look for a used Mesa 4x12 of v30's, the OS cabs are supposed to be the shit. Keep an eye out and can pick up a good used one for under $500 easy.

Heads, really pick a flavor, I think the DSL100 is definitely worth looking at, has a nice clean channel and decent gain, but you can also pick up a really good used Dual Rec for under 1k, the DSL can probably be had a good bit cheaper though. However; I'd personally probably go for an older JMP100 just because I feel they are built better and a better platform for mods. You can send that off to Friedman and it will slay damn near anything Marshall has EVER made.

I'd say screw the effects for now, totally unnecessary and an easy thing to add on later, focus on the core stuff, get solid LONG term gear upfront and go from there.

3 things Guitar, Head, Cab, not in any particular order they are all important.

As far as guitars go, it's a hard call, you can probably pick up a decent used Les or quite a few other options, Charvels are ok I haven't played one but budgeting $1500 for a guitar I think is a better call than going with a W/D rig, which is a bit unnecessary IMHO. You can def do better than a production Charvel for that kind of money though. Just find out if he wants a floyd, or a super strat etc., if possible and you can get a steal on a good head grab one of the Suhr Pro Series guitars... great for the $$$

Right now the world is your oyster, cash is king, be patient, and don't OVER PAY people are looking to sell stuff fast these days as the gear market is in quite a bit of a slump from what I've seen use it to your advantage.

Dallas

 

[Khoi]

Splawn Streetrod - $1800
Nice Pedalboard - $200
Guitar - $1000

Basically, a Streetrod and nice pedalboard and you'll have awesome tonez

 

[jaybird]

New Charvel San Dimas $900 (or used for $600-$700)
Used Marshall JCM800 $850
Used Marshall 4x12 with greenback 25's $550 with simple mod to make it stereo.
Used Rocktron Intellifex. $125
Used Carvin DCM poweramp or MosValve poweramp $200
Line level box like Suhr ISO box $150
Timmy pedal or BB preamp $130

Under $3000 wet/dry rig that will sound killer.

OR

For another $600 the amp could be modded with a killer Jose mod for the ultimate Marshall tone. So for $3500 or $3600 you could have a rig that would rival most pros.

I WIN.

- sounds like a winner. Listen carefully to someone with a killer rig who could have anything he wants.

 

[joolzriff]

used..soldano 4x12 roughly $500 used soldano hotrod 50+ roughly $1200=$1700
guitar is subjective,i could find a les paul standard used for $1200 or a used SG for $1,000 also an Explorer or V for $1000
Pedals are a WANT not a Need,not worth adding in apart from a Boss floor tuner (used $50)
FX are added as u need them otherwise they are a players distraction (very very cheap to add on)DONT be concerned w/ them.

thats exactly what id spend 3g on and NUFFIN else if its amp,cab,guitar.

 

[Mudder]

Splawn Streetrod - $1800
Nice Pedalboard - $200
Guitar - $1000

Basically, a Streetrod and nice pedalboard and you'll have awesome tonez

How many pedals are you getting for $200? I can do that with one fuzz. Heck, a decent tuner is $100.

I could go with:

Streetrod - $1800
MIJ Kramer Focus 1000 - $300
Avatar 4x12 - $400 (give or take)
Pedals - $500

 

[Motorpud]

I'd pick up an Edwards LP, G-force and midi mouse, Mesa 4x12 (All used of course) and the Fortin modded marshall clone in the classifieds. That would put you right around $3,000 and would be pretty hard to beat

 

[RJF]

First thing to get.....

One used Diezel Herbert head for $3K.

Second thing to do....
Go find more money

 

[RJF]

Seriously....

What ever you and your buddy can find as a good deal on your local Craigslist! There is no "right" amp or guitar to get as there are a million good tube amps out there. I'd mainly just look for a quality piece of gear for a good price on CL. With a $3K budget you could get some nice stuff if you deal hunt the local Craigslists.

 

[smucarolina]

my rig

2 Channel Mesa Triple Rectifier w/ Live-In Road Case ($1300)
Marshall Mode Four Cabinet with G12K-100's ($500)
Carvin 4 space rack ($75)
Rocktron Intellifex LTD ($100)
BBE Green Screamer ($50)
Boss NS-2 ($75)
Peavey Tracer ($200)
MIDI Buddy ($100)
Furman Power Conditioner RR-15 ($75)

and some cash to spare

o and these are not the actually prices i paid...just estimates on today's market value for these items used

 

[nbarts]

It's simple for me.

Used Diezel Einstein combo & a Horizon NTII or Edwards LPC. Fits in the budget & is in fact an outstanding rig.

 

[tehuk]

You can save quite a bit if you buy used:

Guitar: Edwards LP or Charvel Strat - $700
Effects: Rocktron Intellifex -$125
Barber Direct Drive - $100
Amp: Marshall JCM800 2203KK -$1000

Great thing about the 2203KK is that you can use it as a stock JCM800 if you don't need the over the top gain.

EDIT: I forgot about the cab. A Mesa 4x12 with V30s would be around $500.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I think to get a good answer you need to be a little more specific. Favorite style, tones, players etc. How versatile does it need to be? Rock to blues or country to death metal? What does he already have? I will give it a shot anyways.

JCM800 2x12 with maybe a speaker swap $1000 tops
Fender guy? Strat (or copy) with a h/s/s
Gibson guy? used flying v, explorer, SG or LP studio $1000 tops
Boss tuner $50
Wah pedal $100
Boss sd-1 $50
Boss chorus $50
Ibanez DE-7 $50

That is $2300 and leaves some room to splurge on a cab, better guitar, amp or effects. Like I said, it depends on which way he leans but this would be a very versatile and simple to operate rig.

 

[GRK]

Cornford Harlequin
Fender HSS Strat
Stupidly expensive guitar cable

Done.

I know it doesn't fit your description AT ALL but I thought I'd fantasize for a bit.

 

[splawner]

+10,000 to Psychodaves post...A winner for sure

 

[shredhead666]

New Charvel San Dimas $900 (or used for $600-$700)
Used Marshall JCM800 $850
Used Marshall 4x12 with greenback 25's $550 with simple mod to make it stereo.
Used Rocktron Intellifex. $125
Used Carvin DCM poweramp or MosValve poweramp $200
Line level box like Suhr ISO box $150
Timmy pedal or BB preamp $130

Under $3000 wet/dry rig that will sound killer.

OR

For another $600 the amp could be modded with a killer Jose mod for the ultimate Marshall tone. So for $3500 or $3600 you could have a rig that would rival most pros.

I WIN.

 

[insignificant11]

First thing to get.....

One used Diezel Herbert head for $3K.

Second thing to do....
Go find more money

+1 for RJF's economic stimulus plan!

Seriously tho if this guy is into lots of effects an Axe-Fx might be right for him. He should expect a fair amount of time for set up, but it's extremely versatile.
Used Axe-Fx Standard or Ultra: $1350/$1850 respectively
Used FCB1010 w/ Uno Mod: $150
New Atomic Reactor FR Cab: $800 (not sure of a used price)

If he went with the Standard this would leave $700 for a guitar. Maybe a used LP or strat.

 

[mightywarlock]

thanks for all the replies...

I don't think very many of you read my 1st posting though...

I said he might want a Combo of some sort, hence why i was thinking either Alchemist or that new JMD1 amp. both come in combo's, and have tubes, and digital, and fairly cheap. Only I personally have is they are both Chinese amps that will have no resale value whatsoever, if and when he tires of it in years to come.

He lives in a condo in Hawaii, and wants to be able to fit the stuff in the backseat of his bmw convertible when he goes somewhere to play.

so a 4x12 and head probably is not the best choice for this circumstance.

I have a lot of equipment and know what I would buy. But this is for someone else, and I need to make it as simple as possible, without being a crappy line6.

Keep the ideas flowing please...i am feeding him some ideas from them, and still looking for more...

 

[RJF]

Again, I'd start reaming over Craigslist. Search from your local town to as far out as he is willing to drive to. Guaranteed you will find at least one hot deal on a combo amp and another for a good guitar for him, for probably half his budget or less.

If you guys don't have a certain amp or guitar in mind, I'd almost think it would be stupid to not try to pick something up for a good price that is of good quality.

 

[mysticaxe]

JCM800 combo - $800
Suhr Pro series - $1400
fx -
Bad Monkey - $40
MXR Carbon Copy - $150
Turbo Tuner - $120
Danelectro Fish n Chips - $30
MXR Phase 90 - $60
cables - $150