Guitar amp recommendations
October 12, 2016 1:05 PM   Subscribe

Looking for a guitar amp, $200-range, just for messing around. The Blackstar ID15 looks pretty versatile. Good reviews on the Roland Cube 20GX as well. Anything else I should be looking at? Looking for some built-in effects with a good user interface, easy to program. (Good/bad experiences programming with an iOS app welcome!)
posted by starman to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
The Roland Cube got good reviews on this question (I'm also a fan).
posted by General Malaise at 1:29 PM on October 12, 2016


I have a Peavey Vypyr VIP 2. it's got a bunch of stomp box models and a bunch of 'rack effects' and several amp models all built in. it's $199 new (Peavey says $299 retail, but Guitar Center has it for $199). I really like it, and it doesn't break my back like my old tube amps do.

You can also purchase a separate foot controller that's nominally a MIDI based thing (but proprietary) to switch channels and so forth. The amp take 16 pre-sets that you can select from the front panel or lots that you can select from the foot controller.

It's loud enough to gig with if you want, or quiet enough to use in an apartment.

It has a cab-simulated USB out and a headphone jack and MP3 in. It (nominally) has a PC app, but not an IOS app.
posted by mu at 1:53 PM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm a big fan of Cubes too.

Maybe you can find a VOX AC15 on Craigslist if you stretch your budget a bit.
posted by humboldt32 at 1:53 PM on October 12, 2016


Best answer: I have a Yamaha THR5. I love it. It has a few amp emulations, some effects including two nice reverbs, and it looks great sitting in the living room. Besides the Tele, I run drum machines through it & it sounds great.
posted by gyusan at 2:19 PM on October 12, 2016


Best answer: The Yamaha THR10 is also quite good and has more features than the THR5, and can be found used for around $200. Yamaha makes a general THR10 model as well as metal and "classic" models. Very good for what it is. I am not a fan of modeling amps - tubez4life! - but own a THR10C and think it sounds pretty darn good for what it is.

Also, check out the Monoprice tube amp offerings. Very affordable! They have two models, a Champ style that's around $120 and a Princeton Reverb style that's around $220. Good choices if you want to come over to the side with the warm glow.
posted by mosk at 7:20 PM on October 12, 2016


I have two Roland Cube 20GX. I think they are pretty amazing for what they are. They were both given to me, so I have no money invested in saying if I love them or not. But I love them.

It's nice to have all the effects built in, however my simple DS-1, SD-1, and Nano Reverb are way better than the built-in versions of those effects, but that should be expected.

But for something simple, affordable, and to mess around with, you absolutely can't go wrong with the 20GX.
posted by TinWhistle at 6:43 AM on October 13, 2016


For the sake of completeness, here are links to the two Monoprice tube amp's I mentioned in my above post:

Monoprice 5-Watt, 1x8 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier with Celestion Speaker; $112

Monoprice 15-Watt, 1x12 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier with Celestion Speaker & Spring Reverb; $227
posted by mosk at 8:24 AM on October 13, 2016


Response by poster: Thanks for the great answers so far.. researching all these!
posted by starman at 11:19 AM on October 13, 2016


Response by poster: I'm going to try the Yamaha. I have no doubt all of them sound good though. If I outgrow it, definitely will consider tube.
posted by starman at 3:39 PM on October 14, 2016


« Older Sugar Skull face mask for Halloween   |   simple skin (face) care for adult male Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.