amp help

[rage941]

what do you think is the best cabinet and head combo for around $500?

[rjs1]

That aint much to work with ! For that range I'd be looking for a nice tube combo

[rage941]

i know =(...what about this
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ead?sku=483716
and this
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...net?sku=601726

if not what would be a good tube combo for around 500

[RockStringBender]

Rage- detail your type of music played and available stomp boxes and/or effects processors. If you go Fender you are on a trail that is a distictive sound and kind of locks you into that sound unless you process your signal. Same if you go with other brands that have a distictive sound. There are modeling amps out there that let you chose a broad variety of sounds but some consider each of those sounds a slight compromise from the traditional. Problem is who has the $$ to have a Marshall, a Fender, a Crate, a Randell, an Ampeg, a Peavy, a VOX, a Hughes & Kettuer, etc?

[rage941]

right now all i have is a distortion pedal and im working on getting a cry baby

[rjs1]

Dude... what style of music do you play, or plan on ? You subtle hints might get you more help

[jovanid]

Rage- detail your type of music played and available stomp boxes and/or effects processors. If you go Fender you are on a trail that is a distictive sound and kind of locks you into that sound unless you process your signal. Same if you go with other brands that have a distictive sound. There are modeling amps out there that let you chose a broad variety of sounds but some consider each of those sounds a slight compromise from the traditional. Problem is who has the $$ to have a Marshall, a Fender, a Crate, a Randell, an Ampeg, a Peavy, a VOX, a Hughes & Kettuer, etc?

Im right on with RockStringBender..
If you want to keep the amp and not just need to chuck it some day ...go try some low watt combo tube amps.

recoginzing amps charactiristics is a life long journey..
but a place to start would be to try some different tube combinations..

go try a tube amp with EL34s, EL84, 6L6 etc...

you will find out why off the shelf stuff is known for its sound.
Like
"the Marshall Sound"
'the Fender sound"
" the mesa boogie sound"
" classic Vox"
etc..

I think $500 is plenty for a combo amp...

if you buy fender you will "never" get a Marshall sound I guarantee you. and vice versa

[kellcats521]

Not to be a smart a$$ , but the original Marshall JTM amps were nothing more than a pirated Fender Bassman design where they used trannies (with the corresponding voltages) and tubes that were readily available in England vs the US. The 'Marshall' tone was more a result of running a higher voltage and different power amp tubes (KT-66) than what was typically used in Fenders.
And, there were some ultralinear Fenders made in the early/mid 80's when Ed Jahns and Paul Rivera worked together that are very Marshall-like in tone, even though they use the Fender standard 6L6 power amp tubes; and today, modern Rivera, Soldano, and other amps do a pretty good job of re-creating the vintage Marshall tone without using those vintage Marshall (or Bassman) components.

I do TOTALLY agree with this:

go try a tube amp with EL34s, EL84, 6L6 [PK adds solid state] etc...

you will find out why off the shelf stuff is known for its sound.
Like
"the Marshall Sound"
'the Fender sound"
" the mesa boogie sound"
" classic Vox"
etc..

Find out WHAT you like by playing as many amps as you can; or, although not nearly as effective, by finding out what guitarists' play through that you like. Remember that your amp/speaker is only a few links in the signal processing chain - they're important links, but still only a PART of the deal. Effects, pickups, the size/acoustics of the room you play in, technique, and more are also links in the signal chain, and tone/signal chain that I like may not come close to hitting your 'hot' button.

Good luck.