What's a decent solid state (gasp) amp to get? *NAD & NCD*

[RJF]

I am getting back into guitars here the last few weeks and I am taking weekly lessons again. So whenever I have a chance, I need to practice, even for only 10-15 minutes.

I just changed power tubes in my Diezel Herbert, and killed the last set in only 150-200 hours. Why? Likely from amount of heat cycles I put them through.

So I am thinking I should grab a little POS solid state amp, something I can just practice on for short periods here and there, and not be putting hours on my tube amps.

I don't want new, so what are some decent SS amps of the past? Randall? AVT or MG Marshall? Line 6?

 

[sandman]

I have a Yamaha Thr10x arriving today from Brad (King Guitar)...it's "out for delivery" according to UPS status....I will give a review of it once I get it. It gets wonderful reviews online though.

 

[Charvel_King]

Roland Cube, they sound great!

 

[EVHpickdust]

Marshall Lead 12 (with Eminence speakers) or Lead 12 Ministack

 

[jlbaxe]

Roland JC120 sometimes you can find them cheap. Good pedal amp

 

[Anonymous]

Roland JC120 sometimes you can find them cheap. Good pedal amp

Was gonna say that, the 120 or smaller ones
A bad or average SS amp will just make you hate your tone
The JC120 is not only good for practicing (with good dirt pedals in front), it's also awesome for cleans by itself

 

[blackba]

I have long been curious about these Orange amps. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifie ... tads-plaid^58357803867-sku^H97902000002000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^30429850107

For SS you can't go wrong with a good ol Peavey Bandit.

 

[jlbaxe]

I had a peavey bandit for my first amp Bandit 65w was a good amp to start with in the late 80's. It blew up on me lol but lasted many years and was shipped back and forth to Puerto Rico a few times which probably didn't help. I would go JC120 though

 

[RJF]

Hmmm. I think I want to go with a head. Less space that it will take up and I can just use one of my current cabs that would probably sound better anyway. I'm leaning towards a Randall for a couple reasons. 1. Supposedly good metal amps. 2. As a collector, I could see a Randall as something actually worth collecting. I guess Randall has earned a spot in the metal world.

I thought about the JC120, but I am not sure if they offered them in heads only, and I don't want something that requires pedals. I just want to plug into it, practice, and shut it off. No 9v batteries, cables, etc.

I'm kind of eye balling this one.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/4296485002.html

 

[4406cuda]

Roland Cube 60

 

[sandman]

peavey xxl was a good solid state head

 

[Anonymous]

I have the JC120 head, it does have distortion, but horrible distortion (as most SS amps do IMO)
Why not get a small tube amp anyway, something like a Baron Snott Watt, which won't cost you much in tubes

 

[NoodlerKS]

I had a bandit 112 made in the early 2000's. When they first started using the term "transtube." I think it was great for the money. Pretty versatile and the verb wasn't that bad either. I had to replace a couple of potentiometers on it a couple years back other than that good as new.

 

[sandman]

I've been playing the Yamaha thr10x I got today...holy crap...get one..sweet and small amp

 

[nevusofota]

Absolutely love my Line 6 Flextone III (not the I or II). You could even gig with it in a pinch. I had to use it a few years back during one of our shows where we opened for Stryper. It actually killed FOH w/ a 57 on it. You have a footswitch with some presets and all your fx are built in. It's a very simple and portable set-up. I think it's one of the most underrated combos. And this all coming from a guy who was very anti Line 6/modeler at one time, until I played the one. You can find them for about $300 used but they are getting a bit hard to find in good condition.

 

[bonedarrell]

This one always looked interesting

 

[university81]

Peavey Vypr are nice, cool hi gain sounds with effects

Blackstar ID series, get some decent tones out of that

yamaha thr series ,

and otherwise the roland cubes get the job done as well


or if you have an Ipad ... amped or bias with the plug .. output to your computer speakers or something might be the cheapest option , or one of the other guitar modelling computer programs

 

[JimmyBlind]

peavey xxl was a good solid state head

+1

 

[guitarmike]

Try this, you can play through a cab or by itself:

or this:

 

[rupe]

When I'm at home, the only thing I fire up these days is a Boss E-band...coolest little jamming/practice tool I've ever come across.