Hey, first post here. I've been playing guitar for a long time but acoustic. I've listened to metal for years but only recently have I decided to finally start playing it. From reading the forum I've learned some things to look for in a guitar but I don't know the first thing about amps. If anyone could fill me in or point me in the direction of a site with some helpful info it'd be great. I'm looking for something to jam with friends but powerful enough to allow me to play in small shows (I'm in the school jazz band :sickface. Thanks!

Hey, stay in the school jazz band. You'll learn a lot.

What's your budget?


( By the way ... we ARE the definitive authority on metal amps )

John, you need to dig up that list you made ages ago.

Also do you have transport and would you like a small combo or a huge stack? Also maybe list some of you're favourite bands so we can get an idea of what you're after.

Also do you need a tube amp or can you deal with solidstate(also means: do you need to play at very high volumes or at home/small band volumes?)

Just say your approx. budget and we'll spew a list of possible candidates for you.

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I think I can probably deal with solidstate. I mainly just plan on playing with my friends and then at some small shows around here. My budget is about $400 but I guess I could go a bit higher if it would get me something considerably better. I really don't know the first thing about amps to tell you the truth haha. Some of the bands I like are Heaven Shall Burn, As I Lay Dying, Unearth, Mortal Treason, that kinda stuff. The guitar I'll be using is an epi Les Paul standard if that makes any difference. Thanks a ton guys.

For 400-600$ you can buy a Peavey Ultra(predecessor to the XXX) or 5150/6505 tube 2x12 combo(the Ultra also comes as a 1x12), and that sounds like exactly what you need given the kind of bands you like. Search ebay for em. The Ultra is substantially less expensive(under 500$ probably). Brutal sounds.

Another tube alternative: Crate Blue Voodoo BV6212. 2x12 combo version of the Crate Blue Voodoo, monstrously high gain 60W tube amp. 300-400$ used off ebay.

If you would rather go SS, an Ampeg VH140C will pull off those hardcore sounds too I gather, comes in head as well as 2x12 format and costs between 300-450(both amps but no cab for the head version). Can be found relatively easily on ebay every now and then. It's a classic high gain amp used by tons of death metal bands. Ridiculously loud too(140W RMS).

The "next best thing" to an Ampeg VH140C is a Crate GX-130C. The preamp is modeled after the Ampeg's and it sounds a tad similar, can be had cheap(well under 400$) 2nd hand. CC used to use it as well as some other DM bands. Doesn't have the build quality of the Ampeg though.

As you can see, I'm not suggesting any amps that can be had new in a store because there really aren't many worthwhile investments in that price range that you can find in regular stores these days. In that price range, I don't think you'll find anything better. Good luck.

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I keep this one bookmarked

http://metaltabs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25868

A great list by our very own John Holland.

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Yeah, but this one is for amps 400$+.

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Peavey 5150/6505 combo.

He plays in his school's jazz band.. he needs a half decent clean for that.. Crate blue voodoo combo?

my old school's jazz band use mesa boogie express combos. Huge investment for them. They went from SUPER shitty super old used peaveys to one of those... mostly because the peavey's didnt have the ability to push out cleans through the clean channel anymore.

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Definately hald decent are 5150 cleans. Its just a bitch with the shared eq, etc. If your playing jazz though, no need to worry about having to eq the gain channels.

Just remember the eq settings for each tone, then switch them....how long does it take to spin a couple of knobs?

Not long enough to not get a 5150.

granted the cleans on a 5150 aren't fender...but they dont suck either. get decent cleans out of it. throw verb or delay in there and you're cool.

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Actually the Ampeg VH140C and SS series have incredible cleans, comparable to those of the Roland JC-120. The Ampeg was called the "JC-120 Killer" back in the day, cause it offered kickass cleans and an unbeatable high gain channel for a solid state amp, which the JC didn't have.

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