Help me decide on a Solid State

Hello All,

Firstly let me please ask that you don't reply with a "why get a solid state, tube amps are so much better......etc" I specifically want a SS amp so that i can run my cds through it and jam alongside while listening through my headphones. I cannot get the best out of a tube amp where I live - My home sweet home is too small!

I currently have a marshall MG 250 DFX, but i'm looking at getting something different. Can anyone give me any advice for and against the following?

Laney TFX-2

Fender FM212 DSP

Fender Princeton 650

Laney VC15 - 110

Hughes & Kettner Edition Blue 60 DFX

They are all within the sort of budget i'm looking at (between GB£200 - GB£250 )and I'm just seeking some advice from those more knowledgable. Are these amps decent for the price or have I overlooked any that I should be including in my shopping list?

Looking forward to any replys,

Dan

You might wanna check out the Orange crush series:

http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=EG00760

played the 15w version and it sounded pretty nice..,(for a solid state amp)
looks sweet IMO

The Laney VC15-110 is not a solid state amp . . . it is all tube

I've had my eye on these for a while now
. . . they sound rather voxish but with their own thing going on
. . . if I had the money right now I'd grab one in a heartbeat

So if one of these is within your budget, I'd at least try one out if possible

Check out the Kustom amps.

JHS website (http://www.jhs.co.uk)

Why not go really small and look at the VOX DA5 or the Roland Microcube. They have everything you've specified and sound great while being cheap.

Thanks for the replys so far,

I've also found the VOX AD50VT. My only problem is that it doesn't seem to have a CD line in. Is there any other way of being able to listen to both my guitar AND CDs through the same headphones?

Cheers

Dan

Thanks for the replys so far,

I've also found the VOX AD50VT. My only problem is that it doesn't seem to have a CD line in. Is there any other way of being able to listen to both my guitar AND CDs through the same headphones?

Cheers

Dan

Hi, Dan. Not a model that's been mentioned so far, but a solid-state Fender Deluxe 112 could well fit the bill. It also has the advantage of being powerful enough to be fully giggable if required and it has two inputs so you could play guitar and recorded material at the same time (with certain restrictions). It does have a headphone socket, of course.

You could probably pick one up for well under £200. I have one that's not for sale - mine's the "Plus" model - but since you're local, drop me a PM and you can come over and see what you think of mine. Cheers, Tony.

Epiphone Triggerman 60DSP 60W Solid State Combo with 12 Speaker

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Triggerman-60DSP-60W-Solid-State-Combo-with-12-Speaker?sku=482068

I love mine. And it has great write ups. I first got a Firefly 30 watter. Liked it so much I went and got the Triggerman for more power and direct out and such. Love it.

Bill

Roland Cube 30-60 Series

Huge, warm, sparkling sound in a small box.

Does the CD mix too...be Careful...use a STEREO in jack

Why not go really small and look at the VOX DA5 or the Roland Microcube. They have everything you've specified and sound great while being cheap.

FWIW: I really like my Micro Cube, but it does not have the tone that my Fender FM DSP does, so you might want to check out the larger Rolands before you commit. That said, my Telecaster sounded the most Fender-like with the Fender FM amp where the comparison was Rolands, Marshall, Crate and a few others. I also got the sound some larger and some tube amps had and then some with my Sonic Stomp box. I suggest that for any amp.

Good luck!

Vox Valvetronix are the best value and tone.
I have a microcube also, and love it.

I've had Kustom also, and they have awesome tone!

I have an Epiphone EP800 also that sounds great! But it is a one trick pony.
It only sounds great with the bass all the way up and the treble almost all the way down and with a bridge humbucker.... it also has a vintage RI Alnico Jensen PR8 speaker... but that's another story..

If you are looking for headphone use only. I've been using a Behringer VAMP2 for a couple of years and I really like it. There's also the Line 6 POD, and if you want all in one there is also the Tascam MP-GT1. MP3 player and headphone amp/effects box in one.

Just a note the Valvetronix headphone out is before the tube circuit, so it's the raw DSP sound.

I have a Fender FM 2-10R that has suprised me. It was a back up amp but is actually seeing more service than my Fender Blues Deluxe tube amp. I guess it depends on what music you play & what use you want from it.

Tech 21 Trademark 60

Fender FM212 DSP
This must be a new model. I bought my son the Fender FM212R a few years ago because it was the only decent amp in that price range without DSP (neither of us are fans of digital modeling).

I can tell you that the clean channel on those amps sound incredible. To my experience, DSP just wrecks the sound - and on a lot of those DSP amps, there's no way to bypass the digital processing ("clean" is just another digital effect).

this is the one I'm talking about:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN0231650000

Tech 21 Trademark 60

One of the only two solid-state amps that'll live with a decent tube jobbie (the other one's the Roland Blues Cube BC-60), but in this case it wouldn't do for two reasons: first, there's no way to play the recorded material and guitar through it at the same time, and secondly, it's way over budget here in England.

Yep...Roland Cube....great SS amps.

Thanks guys,

Tony, thanks for the offer of a trial run, it's nice to know a knowledgable neighbour is out there!

Anyone want to buy a Marshall MG250DFX?

I use my micro cube at the hotel or on the road for quick practice. It's cheap, light, compact, takes headphones, has a line in for audio (laptop, cd, Ipod), takes batteries or wall wart and is "cool" to boot. What is there not to like?

I gig with a Roland Blues Cube 60 with tele and lap steel. I'm searching for the perfect mid-sized tube amp for my pedal steel now....deville...i'm thinking....two 12's or 4 10's....heh, heh.

Thanks guys,

Tony, thanks for the offer of a trial run, it's nice to know a knowledgable neighbour is out there!

Anyone want to buy a Marshall MG250DFX?

Price?

email me playguitar4HIM@dejazzd.com

Bill

Hello All,

Firstly let me please ask that you don't reply with a "why get a solid state, tube amps are so much better......etc" I specifically want a SS amp so that i can run my cds through it and jam alongside while listening through my headphones. I cannot get the best out of a tube amp where I live - My home sweet home is too small!

I currently have a marshall MG 250 DFX, but i'm looking at getting something different. Can anyone give me any advice for and against the following?

Laney TFX-2

Fender FM212 DSP

Fender Princeton 650

Laney VC15 - 110

Hughes & Kettner Edition Blue 60 DFX

They are all within the sort of budget i'm looking at (between GB£200 - GB£250 )and I'm just seeking some advice from those more knowledgable. Are these amps decent for the price or have I overlooked any that I should be including in my shopping list?

Looking forward to any replys,

Dan

This Caveat: I am a "old" ( both in years and preference) amp tech and do not generally have much use for SS amps, but the Marshall Valvestates, and the new Vox SS boxes really do a damm good job. If you are a jazz player the Roland cube stuff are killer.

I use just a boss me-50 to practice with cd. it has the line in and a headphone out. It also has the effects I use right on board

....My only problem is that it doesn't seem to have a CD line in. Is there any other way of being able to listen to both my guitar AND CDs through the same headphones?

You get one of these....

http://www.behringer.com/502/index.cfm?lang=eng

and run a lead from the headphone output of your amp into one of the stereo input channels, and a lead from your CD player into the other stereo channel.

You will need 2 x leads with a stereo jack at one end and splitting into two mono jacks at the other.

You can also use this unit to record yourself using a mike.

Just a thought, not an amp but a Line 6 XT Live, not roadworthy enough for me but a great practice & recording tool, I have one they can be alot of fun if you have the time and patience. Good Luck