Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

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Shimmer
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Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Shimmer »

I want to upgrade my little Marshall 10w amp. But I'm terrible at making decisions. I'm also on a tight budget, so I agonise over any purchase.
My list of wants/requirements:
Cheap - $500 budget.
I don't currently play in a band any more, but want something that could keep up if I did so.
I want to buy new.
I am not a tone fiend - so please don't suggest a 2nd hand tube combo (see above) :)
I want a nice clean with headroom with ability for lots of gain/fuzz (favourite music style is kind of loud-quiet-loud - e.g. Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, Slowdive etc)
But I use pedals so don't actually need a gain channel.
But want an effects loop if it is a 2 channel amp.

I am trying to choose between these three.
  1. Orange Crush 35RT
  2. Boss Katana 50
  3. Vox MV50 Clean with BC108 cab
The Orange is a little more pricey than the others - is that due to quality or just the 'name'?
The Katana has obviously loads of features, but many of these I wouldn't use. Advantage of 12in speaker over the Crush 10?
Recently seen the Vox micro heads and intrigued - lots of great reviews. But is it too simple? Small cabinet size of BC108 might be an issue (only 25W with that cab), but then again, it is versatile in that I could use another cabinet down the track.
Any pros and cons of these would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Andrew
P.S. I apologise in that I've asked similar questions about some of these amps before (see above about agonising over decisions...), so promise that this is the last time... :|
I want all the pedals!

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Polar Bear »

I'm a big fan of the MV50, and indeed, you can run an external cab of any variety with it. They are very loud too, if and when you get back into playing with a band.
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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by mrmofo »

best to start with an open mind in my opinion.
ask yourself why you have already made decisions when you are at the beginning of your journey.
buy a secondhand Valve Combo.

I like the Vox stuff on a budget. those ac15 ss amps are great
There are still some that think the neck PU is moved to accommodate the extra frets which only proves they cannot detect the difference in length of each.

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Shimmer »

mrmofo wrote:best to start with an open mind in my opinion.
ask yourself why you have already made decisions when you are at the beginning of your journey.
buy a secondhand Valve Combo.

I like the Vox stuff on a budget. those ac15 ss amps are great
20 years ago I had a 100W valvestate marshall - loved it but too big for what I need now. Maybe a used tube combo would be better, but I do like having something new out of the box ...
The ac15 you mention - is that the AC15VR range?
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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by sirvill »

MV50 with a small cab is a great idea, cause if you need big volume, buy a cheap 4x12! Often volume is number of speakers more than anything else, small amps can get to really loud volumes through 4x12s.

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by TmcB »

MV50 all the way.

The tech they use is an actual tube but in a new kind of package. I read up on the specs of the NuTube stuff - fantastic reinvention of tube tech.

Sound great
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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by godgrinder »

MV50 but track down a cheap 112 cab for it.
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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by sirvill »

Oh yeah totaly agree re cab - didn't see the cab you mentioned was an 8" cab. Generally those can sound a bit boxy which might be ok for quiet bedroom but if you turn it up a bit it'll be lacking.

A cheap 1x12 will make you happy though

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by mrmofo »

Shimmer wrote:
mrmofo wrote:best to start with an open mind in my opinion.
ask yourself why you have already made decisions when you are at the beginning of your journey.
buy a secondhand Valve Combo.

I like the Vox stuff on a budget. those ac15 ss amps are great
20 years ago I had a 100W valvestate marshall - loved it but too big for what I need now. Maybe a used tube combo would be better, but I do like having something new out of the box ...
The ac15 you mention - is that the AC15VR range?
yes, that's the one. amazing amp.
There are still some that think the neck PU is moved to accommodate the extra frets which only proves they cannot detect the difference in length of each.

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Olderama »

Happy to do a deal on a 1x12 cab :)
:mental:

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Shimmer »

Olderama wrote:Happy to do a deal on a 1x12 cab :)
Although I'm undecided, I am leaning towards the little Vox - So out of interest, what cab do you have?
I want all the pedals!

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Olderama »

:mental:

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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by jeremyb »

Katana 50W doesn't have an effects loop, but a great all round clean amp for pedals or anything else you want to do with it!! And the 0.5w mode is perfect for bedroom practice!!
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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by Single coil »

No ones said bandit yet :(
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Re: Amp advice - pros and cons of my short list

Post by SimpleSi »

I own 3 MV50s..


AC, Clean and the boutique on the way in the mail as we speak

The 8" cab is great.

There's a "deep/flat" switch which in deep mode makes the 8" sound huge.
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