Need help from the experts

[Tonal Sex]

Hey guys, I've been around on some of these forums and I'm trying to understand this whole amp/rig thing. It's very confusing to me. Basically, I've decided to start getting more serious about music and am looking for the right amp for me. Money is a pretty big issue for me and I'm trying to make wise purchases, but I'd rather spend more money where it's needed rather spare expenses and get something I don't want and end up spending more in the long run with disappointing results.

Basically I'm chasing a 80s hard rock/metal tone similar to Nuno Bettencourt, Warren Demartini, etc. I need an amp I can gig with. I can't say now how big of rooms I will be playing but I'd rather have more than not enough I think. From doing my own research I found the Marshall AFD100 which seems like it would be perfect for me. For one reason, it has the attenuation feature where you can play it at bedroom volumes and still get the full sound out of it. And the other reason is just because from the videos I've watched it seems to sound amazing. Could someone here verify if this amp would be a good purchase for what I've described? I know it is Slash's signature and carries a lot of his sound, but it sounds like it would be capable of many other sounds too. And could someone tell me how much they usually go for used and where I might have he best luck finding one for sale? I've checked ebay and other places and can't seem to find many of them.

Outside of this I've also looked at amps like the splawns. I've also considered the jet city amps buying an ADA MP-1 to run through the power amp. But I keep going back to the AFD100 because of the features I mentioned above. It seems like it would be a good amp that would have the quality tone and user-friendliness for someone like me who is kind of new to the whole gear/tone-chasing thing. With the attenuation thing, I could play large and small gigs with it so it seems like it would be very versatile in that regard.

So basically I'm here to pick the brains of the experts. So if some of you could please advise, I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[PatF]

You'll get more action if you search for Caswell SIR #39. You can bedroom practice with a 100W with a MV.

For cheap, most people would say a Peavey 515_. Old rack stuff like the Mp-1 can be had super cheap. A free Digitech 2101 and a $250 QSC power amp got me through a few years when my Marshalls were broke.

 

[Rayneman]

I would recommend a Marshall JVM410. Tons of variation available in that amp, and definitely "more than not enough."

Also relatively cheap compared to others.

 

[Deanmachine]

Had the Afd and it was too ice picky for me ...check out a bray modded marshall with the Ppimv wife knob also line out for wet dry .

 

[Racerxrated]

Soooo many choices..... I would start with a JCM 800 and an SD1. They can be had for 1K and the 50w 2204 will be plenty loud through a 4x12. Those guys were playing through marshalls...stock and modded. Kick on the SD1 and its 80s hard rock. Kick it off and you have a dirty clean channel. If you need an fx loop buy a metro loop and throw it in.

 

[Tonal Sex]

Had the Afd and it was too ice picky for me ...check out a bray modded marshall with the Ppimv wife knob also line out for wet dry .

What exactly does that mean?

 

[Racerxrated]

Had the Afd and it was too ice picky for me ...check out a bray modded marshall with the Ppimv wife knob also line out for wet dry .

I'll add to this..the one I played sounded thin. Its collectable and full of features but I think a single channel JCM 800 sounds better...with a boost of course.

 

[anomaly]

Is everyone here a 40 something washed up 1980's hair rocker?? The taste in music and gear around here makes it seem so??... here, lets see:

Van Halen fucking sucks!

 

[anomaly]

Those new EVH 5150III seems to be the new popular amp for the hair rocker type of players. Try that.

 

[Kevin11]

Had the Afd and it was too ice picky for me ...check out a bray modded marshall with the Ppimv wife knob also line out for wet dry .

What exactly does that mean?

Bray = David Bray - amp modder/builder
PPIMV = Post Phase Inverter Master Volume
Wife Knob = Gain Knob
Line out for wet/dry = don't worry about it

You're apt to get a thousand answers here. I've heard others mention the AFD being bright or too bright. Never tried one myself so I can't comment. For 80s metal though, Marshall or some variation of that is the place to start. I like both the JCM800/SD1 and JVM410 suggestions. The tones will generally be more pure with the JCM. Tons of 80s players used that setup. But the JVM (Satriani model especially) would be more versatile and might be a little easier to keep the volume in check. That thing is packed with tons of features and tones, and from what I've seen/heard, particularly the ones you're looking for. The MP1/power amp suggestion is also a good lower-cost one. Lots of players famous and not so famous used that preamp back in the day. MP1's have been discontinued for a long time so I don't know how reliable a used one would be these days.

I personally use an EVH 5153 Stealth at the moment to cover everything from country to modern metal. It's not authentically "Marshall" sounding, but it's in the ballpark and it's got some killer tones.

 

[Kevin11]

Is everyone here a 40 something washed up 1980's hair rocker?? The taste in music and gear around here makes it seem so??... here, lets see:

Van Halen fucking sucks!

Guilty as charged.

 

[Tonal Sex]

Is everyone here a 40 something washed up 1980's hair rocker?? The taste in music and gear around here makes it seem so??... here, lets see:

Van Halen fucking sucks!

Lol, man. I'm 24 years old.

 

[Tonal Sex]

What would one use to boost a JCM800 to get more saturation for metal?

The only reason I tend to side against the JCM800 is because I just don't think I need that loud of a amp just yet. I actually had a friend a couple years ago who had the AFD and I did not know what amp he was using at the time as I just never took the time to look. We jammed a couple times. But I recently found out it was the AFD he was using. Looking back on it, it sounded amazing. He played everything from Judas Priest to to Pantera to AIC on that amp and it pulled it off perfectly. Plus the attenuation feature alone just sells me on it. That and the tones I've heard from it. I don't think I ever plugged into that amp when I was rehearsing with him. I had a JVM210H at the time that sounded like crap. Just seems like the tone and features of the AFD make it a very good choice for verdatility in gigging situations. But I may be wrong. It also seems like you don't have to do much to the tone, like it's pretty much plug and play right out of the box.

 

[metalmaniac93]

What would one use to boost a JCM800 to get more saturation for metal?

The only reason I tend to side against the JCM800 is because I just don't think I need that loud of a amp just yet. I actually had a friend a couple years ago who had the AFD and I did not know what amp he was using at the time as I just never took the time to look. We jammed a couple times. But I recently found out it was the AFD he was using. Looking back on it, it sounded amazing. He played everything from Judas Priest to to Pantera to AIC on that amp and it pulled it off perfectly. Plus the attenuation feature alone just sells me on it. That and the tones I've heard from it. I don't think I ever plugged into that amp when I was rehearsing with him. I had a JVM210H at the time that sounded like crap. Just seems like the tone and features of the AFD make it a very good choice for verdatility in gigging situations. But I may be wrong. It also seems like you don't have to do much to the tone, like it's pretty much plug and play right out of the box.

Then get an AFD. The AFD is 100W as is the JCM800!

 

[metalmaniac93]

Is everyone here a 40 something washed up 1980's hair rocker?? The taste in music and gear around here makes it seem so??... here, lets see:

Van Halen fucking sucks!

Guilty as charged.

Me too!!!!

 

[metalmaniac93]

Those new EVH 5150III seems to be the new popular amp for the hair rocker type of players. Try that.

It can also be used for thrash since Eric Peterson from Testament uses it!!

 

[Racerxrated]

Is everyone here a 40 something washed up 1980's hair rocker?? The taste in music and gear around here makes it seem so??... here, lets see:

Van Halen fucking sucks!

OK let me try this.....

DUDE!! You need a Triple Rectumfrier Triple boosted, low end maxed with a Eq in the loop all low end MAXED!!!!!

Get ur NU METAL ON BRUTHA!!!! FEEL THE THUMP!!! Bass player, we don't need no stinkin bass player!!!!!

Better???
No offense to you nu metal guys. Or Recto owners. They are great amps. Just can't stand some of the tones people get out of them at times.

 

[IceMan]

Is everyone here a 40 something washed up 1980's hair rocker?? The taste in music and gear around here makes it seem so??... here, lets see:

Van Halen fucking sucks!

Oh, I'm sorry.........perhaps I should sell off all my Marshalls, Les Pauls, and vintage pedals so I fit in better with you 7-string Ibanez wielding, Line 6 Spyder playing, death-metal playing malcontents with black fingernail polish??????

Nobody insulted you or your musical preferences, pup - why do you have to come here and insult ours???????

 

[IceMan]

To the OP - if you are looking at the AFD, I would say this. Get the new re-issue Silver Jubilee that should be available in the next couple weeks. I personally think a JVM is the most versatile option, but if you gelled with the AFD, the SJ will satisfy and is considerably less expensive.

 

[Tonal Sex]

To the OP - if you are looking at the AFD, I would say this. Get the new re-issue Silver Jubilee that should be available in the next couple weeks. I personally think a JVM is the most versatile option, but if you gelled with the AFD, the SJ will satisfy and is considerably less expensive.

Even for the tone I mentioned?