# Best guitar amp to buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177 "2003-07-22T16:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JAPrufrock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@JAPrufrock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JAPrufrock)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/1 "2003-07-22T16:45:51Z")
I have a Fender Deluxe tube amp. It has one 12" speaker, and I’m pretty happy w/ it, but with the distortion turned on, it puts out a fairly muddy sound. I’m looking to upgrade, and will probably spend around $800. Plus, I think I can get a good $200.00 or so if I trade in my amp. So, if you had $1,000 to spend on a nice guitar amp, what would you recommend? I’m in a rock band, so I need a good distortion sound, but it also needs a nice, pretty, clean sound for some songs. Should I get one w/ a head that separate? Any experts out there? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/2 "2003-07-22T16:57:16Z")
If you like Fender, why not a Twin? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/3 "2003-07-22T16:59:30Z")
If you like Fender, how about a [Twin](http://www.fender.com/gear/gear.php?partno=0217300000) ---
**Author:** ![mamm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mamm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/4 "2003-07-22T17:04:40Z")
Couple questions before I can give you my $0.02: - what guitar(s) do you intend to use with the new amp? - do your band play “Creedende, Lynyrd Skynyrd rock”, “AC/DC, Cult, Guns & Roses rock”, “REM, U2 rock”, “Creed, Korn rock” or yet another “flavour” of rock? ---
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/5 "2003-07-22T17:06:08Z")
Not an expert, but I have a few amps. I like the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier w/ tremelo. It’s huge sounding. However, it’s big and heavy, a pain in the ass to lug around. I also have a smaller less complicated mesa boogie that weighs about 50 pounds. It’s perfect for gigs, even big rooms. I got mine used for about $500. I also have a Fender, the Fender HotRod Deville. Line 6 makes a great amp, a modeling amp (non-tube). Has all the effects built in. ---
**Author:** ![browndwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@browndwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/browndwarf)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/6 "2003-07-22T17:08:09Z")
[http://www.matamp.com/](http://www.matamp.com/) ---
**Author:** ![JAPrufrock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@JAPrufrock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JAPrufrock)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/7 "2003-07-22T17:23:37Z")
Well, I hate classifying my band (as do all bands) but of the bands you mentioned, we probably sound the most like REM/U2…but some of our stuff is a lot heavier than either of those bands. If you know the band Suede, we have some stuff that sounds like early Suede. And, since I live on the second floor, and the place we practice is on the third floor (no elevator) I don’t want anything that ways a ton. Can’t they start making inflatable amps or something…hmmmm…patent pending! ---
**Author:** ![mamm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@mamm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/8 "2003-07-22T18:23:12Z")
Ok, based on your info, let me suggest one of my current amps: Laney VC50 - [http://www.laney.co.uk/html/products/valve/VC50.htm](http://www.laney.co.uk/html/products/valve/VC50.htm) . It’s a 50W, 2x12" all-tube combo. Pros: - great (I mean REALLY great) crystal-clear clean on the first clean channel; - a very good Vox AC30 impersonation on the second clean channel (that’s where your U2 & REM will come from); - tight, focused, heavy distortion on both dirt channels (it’s hard to believe that the punchy tone that your hearing is coming from an open-back cabinet); - it’s loud (enourmous headroom); - cheaper than both Marshall & Mesa. Cons: - it’s heavy. You definitely need two people to move it upstairs/downstairs; - it’s loud. No power-amp saturation here (if you are into it). All your dirt must come from the pre-amp tubes. Feel free to ask any questions, ok? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-guitar-amp-to-buy/190177/9 "2003-07-22T18:53:35Z")
My friend’s Mesa Boogie Rectalfrier has a tremendous sound. I like my vintage Gallien-Krueger 200RG with matched 4x12 cab. Be sure to check eBay before buying, they have outstanding bargains.