50 watt combo or 15 watt head?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:52 pm

You'll have more options with the head. If you buy the 50w combo, you're effectively buying another Classic 30. And you've already got a classic 30. It's also the cheapest option.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:19 am

If I had the cash i'd be all over that 15 watt head.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:34 am

Agreed with all of you.

The 212 has more power (all of my other amps are lower powered; not convinced this really matters, though), is a fully self-contained gig/practice amp, very flexible. Most importantly, it's daft cheap for what was retailing around the Â£700-Â£800 mark last year. If I ever sell it then I stand to come out of it alright.

The 15 is lower-powered but apparently remains nice and clean right up to the top level, unlike the Tiny Terror (which I was considering before this) making it a good pedal platform. It's a head so easily utilised in other situations and with my current setup. Cheaper, and the resale value would still be fairly good if it ever came to it. Simpler. I like simple amps.

WHAT DO.

What would have been brilliant is Ampeg having put out a simpler head version of the 50 watter. The complete set of bastards. It's basically a choice between some niggling feeling of eternal regret for not grabbing the 212 like I wanted back in 2011 or getting it and thinking "Well, I would really have liked to have got a decent head for my cab."

Coin toss might decide it.

luciguci · Post by **luciguci** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:47 am

if it was my choice, i'd go for the 1x12 because it seems like it would be a lot lighter than a 2x12 and still get loud enough for gigs and shit, and any more volume was needed just mic it up or some shit. 2x12s always seemed kinda impractical IMO

but then, its not my choice, its yours.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:51 am

Absolutely. The Vox AC30 was a monster. But having two speakers pushing out that sort of air just sounds amazing. I also love how manufacturers only ever put a single grab handle on the top of the amp on 212s. Like, ever. The saving grace for the AC30 was that it had two handles in the edges as well as the central handle, allowing it to be moved by two people. I'd probably stick wheels on it.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:38 am

It's my birthday next friday, I can raise the cash and I have the go ahead from the girlfriend to get the GVT15H but I can't decide whether to or not.

The amp seems to get great reviews, it's a steal at that price, it has all the cab options I could want/need, takes pedals well and i've been after a low wattage head that I can use for bedroom playing and that stays clean at a decent volume for a while.

Help me make my mind up Shortscale!

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:41 pm

Welp, I just ordered the 1x12 combo. Went for the slight edge in portability. I'll probably grab a Harley Benton Celestion V30 cab at a later date if I feel like it's needed but I'll see how I get on with it when it gets here for a few months first.

A PROPER AMPEG. FUCKING YES. Wish fulfillment.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:47 pm

If I didn't already have a 1x12 and a 2x12 I would've gone for the 1x12 combo, any indication of delivery time?

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:55 pm

Thomann are usually shit-hot with this sort of thing, I'm expecting it around Wednesday next week but I won't know for sure until I get a shipping notice.

I'm considering selling my Classic 30 if this amp is all I've built it up to be in my obsessive guitar dreams from being a kid. Then again, maybe not. Can never have too many amps, amirite? But yes. Yes, you can.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 2:20 pm

All the clips I saw on youtube made the amp sound pretty good, plus the reviews I read did the same. Seems to have some nice Fender-y cleans (but a bit different) with some nice crunchy tones with the gain and mids turned up. I really want it for playing at home (my Bassman is a bit loud for this) plus be able to use it for gigs when my Bassman would be a bit overkill - to get the best out of it I need to take both my cabs which is a bit much for a small stage. The speaker output options on the GVT15H cover all bases which will make borrowing cabs for gigs and using studio amps easier, my Crate Powerblock only sounds good at 8 ohms.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 2:38 pm

I went for it, happy birthday to me!

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 2:48 am

Hurrah!

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:11 am

Sensibly sized amps for everyone!

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:53 am

Anyone received their amp yet?

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:56 am

Mine's on backorder, they're trying to get stock from their supplier. I guess these were quite popular, I only hope they're able to fulfil my order.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:58 am

Yeah I got mine yesterday. It's beautiful. It came with a footswitch, too. I had a very brief play with it on 25 watts, with the master turned up a millimetre. The EQ is really powerful; you can get almost any sound you like. And having a two channel amp with separate EQ is kind of a novelty for me, very useful. The hi-gain channel sounds great, the reverb is very nice.

I need to get into a practice room so I can turn it up and stuff it full of fuzz.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:06 am

Sweet. You went for the 50w? Interested in the 15w but wanted to know if it was usable at "bedroom" levels on half power.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:18 am

johnnyseven wrote:Mine's on backorder, they're trying to get stock from their supplier. I guess these were quite popular, I only hope they're able to fulfil my order.

Yeah, not surprised they were popular at those prices. Hope they come through for you.

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:05 pm

benecol wrote:I was really interested in those Ampegs Eric, and came >this< close to buying one. The 15w head is the best of the lot, followed by the 15w combo, with the bigger combos coming in quite a distant third. The 15w amp does a great job of doling out classic Ampeg sounds, does great cleans, and is an amazing pedal platform. For the 50w version they appear to have run out of ideas and just bunged on a fairly shitty sounding generic high-gain channel.

Buy the 15w head. I'll be infinitely jealous.

Yes indeed.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:20 am

BearBoy wrote:
johnnyseven wrote:Mine's on backorder, they're trying to get stock from their supplier. I guess these were quite popular, I only hope they're able to fulfil my order.
Yeah, not surprised they were popular at those prices. Hope they come through for you.

I've been told that they're due a shipment on the 7th, hopefully mine will come not too long after.