So for graduation, I've been given $1500 to spend on guitar gear. I'm currently looking into some ESP Guitars and Line6 Amps, but having only played for around a year, I feel like I'm in over my head. I've searched over the forums, and read other people's suggestions, but it's still overwhelming.

I was hoping some of you could enlighten me as to what you would spend the cash on (looking to upgrade both guitar, and amp).

Currently I'm using:

Ibanez RG 170 R
http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guita...RG170DX&color=0

V-AMPIRE LX210 (I love the effects, so if my new amp doesn't have any/some of them, is it possible to run it through my V-AMP just for the effects, and use the distortion of the new amp or something)
http://www.behringer.com/LX210/index.cfm?lang=ENG

Any and all input would be much appreciated.

I suggest the used market.

Also you should really evaluate what you want to get, because you don't want to waste 1500 dollars of someone elses hard earned money, and you should really think about whether your going to be playing in a band, or by yourself that will vastly influence what equipment you get bought for you.

Also Id suggest working for your own gear it will make you respect it ALOT more, and take better care of it. Personally if my mommy or daddy dropped 1500 dollars on my set up, I wouldn't appreciate it as much as if i worked for afew weeks to make the money myself.

Now by no means am I discouraging such a generous gift, but I am just saying definetally study up on reviews and take good care of what you get, and it will serve you for a very long time.


Now less of that and more of my personal suggestions

Head:
Blue Voodoo
5150
Triple XXX
JCM 900

Cabinet:
BV412
Avatar 412
Genz Benz Gflex 212

Guitar:

Well thats upto you I am a really big jackson fan, but this is alot more preferance than the other 2 types of gear I mentioned

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I think that is some good advice and a decient set of equipment.

You could also add in the b52 412 cabinet, i've played out of it and its damn good and cheap. like only a few hundred bucks cheap.

I would definately check out what ebay has to offer.

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What speakers are in the B52? Because i know the head sucks wiener like it was a 12 year old vietnamese prostitute, of course that doesnt mean the cabs are bad...

BUT definetally look into the BV cabs they have Vintage 30's, which are pretty renowned for their good tone. Alot of people prefer them, becuse of their semi dark tone they get (Atleast in combination with a good tube amp/or even a decent solid state head)

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You know i'm not sure. When i went to guitar center to try out heads (eventually buying the bv300) they recommended the B52 as a damn good match. I moved the head over and tried it out and its not bad at all.

I then checked out the price and it was MUCH less than the cabinet that is usually paired with the head, (even though that cabinet also sounded fucking amazing)

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some crate bv cabs have v30's some don't. there is a little tag that says vintage 30 equiped on the bottom right usually.

b52 has a v30 loaded cab for like $600 new, not a bad cab really, but i'd just suggest an avatar cab with whatever speakers you want if you were going to buy brand new.

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Author, be patient with the gear you will be buying, take good time on really focusing exactly what kind of a sound you are after.. Sell the behringer whatever it was, there are better effect processors when looking for a good sound


edit: and not only sound, what kind of features do you need?

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Avatar cabs have some great reviews but I've also been reading that some people have found the speakers only screwed into the baffle and not bolted through the baffle I've never been able to closely inspect a avatar cab but even if the speakers are screw mounted it is a easy fix to bolt mount them through the baffle.

Either way, you can't beat Avatar cabs in selection and price.

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Now that you mention it that does sound correct.

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I like using Echo and Delay, most of the others don't get used much.

For the sound/tone, I don't know how to describe what I'm looking for, so I'll just tell you what kinda stuff I play. Mostly Power/Prog type stuff, but have recently been playing some heavier stuff (i.e. Bodom), and usually have my guitar tuned 1/2 - 1 steps lower.

EDIT: Oh, and I had a question as far as what kinds of amps there are. I know there are heads, cabs, and practice amps. Basically, the cabs plug into the head, and produce a louder sound using the heads effects/distortion/etc. Correct? So is a practice amp just like the two of those in one?