I wanna buy a bedroom amp today (in the next hour)

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:05 pm

And I don't want to order something online... I wanna support the local stores.

I'd like to stay at under 30 watts, and I'm not too bothered as far as solid state/tubes go. I'd like a good clean that takes pedals well.

Here are the complete four brands sold at the 3 music stores nearby (brands are listed by distance to the store)

Laney
Orange
Ampeg
Behringer

What should I get? Oh, I need to decide with the next hour.

avj · Post by **avj** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:07 pm

What's the rush? Is the building being imploded in an hour?

You're best off letting everyone know what the model choices are for each brand rather than folks throwing out a bunch of ideas and models that the store doesn't carry.

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:09 pm

Plus, I would just go play them and decide. It can very dpending on what type guitar you play. So you want a bright fender clean style tone or something with a little more character on it's own. How much you looking to spend. Solid state or tube?

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:09 pm

I should've mentioned that I have a $100 ATH gift card (local debit card brand) that expires today.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:10 pm

no, you should've answered the above questions.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:10 pm

mickie08 wrote:Plus, I would just go play them and decide. It can very dpending on what type guitar you play. So you want a bright fender clean style tone or something with a little more character on it's own. How much you looking to spend. Solid state or tube?

Good clean, and takes pedals well. I'm not bothered as far as solid state vs tube for a bedroom amp.

Post by **Doog** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:10 pm

I've heard of too many Behringer amps developing faults within a year to recommend one, even for just bedroom practise.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:12 pm

The Orange/Ampeg dealer gets new stock weekly, so that one will have the entire selection available to at least order.

The Laney dealer isn't one anymore and has tons of inventory from 2010... this is a guitar shop that's gonna close any day now.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:12 pm

vox pathfinder.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:14 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:vox pathfinder.

Hmm... there's a dealer a bit further out that sells Vox (about 2 hours away). Gonna call them and see when they close.

***called them***... I won't make it. They close in under 2 hours.

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:15 pm

Never played a Laney but have heard decent price/value comparisons on here often.

The orange solid states are generally well recieved but not sure if they have that really good clean tone or not. Orange is more known for a more colored clean tone. Great, but not always the best with different pedals.

Behringer....See Doogs comment

Ampeg. Should be fine. NEver been really impressed except with their tube amps and bass rigs.

Can you get one of the newer vox's by chance. Some of their small amps are great both price and sound wise.

Personally, I use a Peavey Vypyr 15 that I bought new for less than $80 after a Guitar Center sale. It is a great little practice amp to the point that often times I run a line out of it's preamp and use it at shows as my guitar rig.

avj · Post by **avj** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:16 pm

Having thought about it for a moment, rather than impulse-buying an amp, why not just buy something -- anything -- from the store that's very slightly over $100 and not open or use it? Then, spend whatever the return period is researching the amp selection and when you find what you want, return the item for store credit and use it toward the amp purchase.

There's nothing shady about it, really. It all shakes out in the end, and it's a nice workaround for ridiculous gift card expiration rules.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:18 pm

avj wrote:Having thought about it for a moment, rather than impulse-buying an amp, why not just buy something -- anything -- from the store that's very slightly over $100 and not open or use it? Then, spend whatever the return period is researching the amp selection and when you find what you want, return the item for store credit and use it toward the amp purchase.

There's nothing shady about it, really. It all shakes out in the end, and it's a nice workaround for ridiculous gift card expiration rules.

That's exactly what I'm going to do. The Laney shop is a bit shaky at the moment (I serioulsy haven't seen any new gear in their store in over a year), and the Orange/Ampeg shop is only about 10 minutes further. I'll drop the $100 there, and if I like what I bought, I'll keep it. If not, I'll return it.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:18 pm

What nowhere nearby is stocking Fender amps? 'Cause I'd suggest (if you can find one that is) a Fender Mustang I amp.

Quite few people on here have been raving on about them recently. And from what I gather they're not too pricey either.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:04 pm

I actually want the Mustang I, but none of the Fender dealers on the island has them in stock

The Behringer dealer is an occasional Fender dealer (as in they'll special order them from the distributor (who themselves is sold out), but aside from a few Squier Strats, don't keep any Fender products on hand), and they wanted $50 more for it than what it goes for stateside.

I ended up getting an Orange CR12L and a set of Ernie Ball .010's to get me over the $100 on the card. The store has a 30 day return policy, so I just bought myself an extra month if I don't like the amp.

avj · Post by **avj** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:09 pm

Smart shopping. Let us know how the amp works out.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:59 pm

So far all I can say is that I like my little amp. It's a loud little shit. The cleans are ok, but they're definitely colored - but the dirty stuff is where it excels. And it appears to take pedals well.