I am looking to buy a new modeling amp, but which one?

[ambernhard09]

I am getting back into playing and I'm pretty intrigued by the modeling amps. I'm into hard rock and metal for the most part. So I have been reading up on the Boss Katana, Peavy Vypyr X3, Fender Mustang, and Line 6 Spider. The Peavy seems like the standout. But does anyone have any recommendations or input on these brands. Thanks!

 

[Tele-friend]

I have a Fender Mustang LT25 and I am very happy with it for home playing.
The Fender amp simulations are really great. It also has some really cool metal sounds in there.

 

[DanielK]

I have owned both the Katana and the Mustang, and have spent many hours playing the older generation spiders. Is there a particular genre or set of tones you might be interested in? I am not the biggest fan of the Katana, but I still feel that it is the most well rounded option with extremely useful and well implemented features that will continue to be of use even if your rig moves towards a more analog or digital direction. A used katana 50 is fantastic value.

 

[tfarny]

Lots of good and affordable options. Do consider the UI for modeling amps when you make your decision. The Katana for instance has pretty basic knobs and buttons on the control planel, no menus or need for nonsense. On the other hand if you do plug it into your computer and use their app, you discover it can do a million more things than the panel shows.
If you are looking for a basic high-gain tone, they all do that. Other than that I would just look for what is available in your area, the pandemic has limited what is out there for sale.

 

[codamedia]

So I have been reading up on the Boss Katana, Peavy Vypyr X3, Fender Mustang, and Line 6 Spider. The Peavy seems like the standout.

Of those... I would lean toward the Katana. Roland/Boss is never a bad choice.

I don't trust Fender or Peavey with support for this technology.... and although the Spider is Line 6's cash cow, it's not very good compared to their better products.

My my 2 cents...

 

[ASATKat]

I have the Kat 100 Mk2 and the Kat Mk1 50 for sale.

Nothing comes close to the quality of tone that thing puts out imo. I once had a Kemper and it sounded better than the Kat, at home, at a gig it wasn't reinforcing my thing, it was fickle, probably my cab choice. Bottom line is bang for my buck I put my money on the Katana and I'm very happy. It's consistent home or away from home, the tone is just what I expected to hear and play. And it's all about tone not effects, and the effects are very good.

The price wasn't a factor in my choice, tone is always above money with my gear. The amp should cost more imo.

 

[OmegaWoods]

@ambernhard09

I have a Positive Grid Spark that I like OK. My wife has taken over my Mustang LT25 for her bass lessons.

I wouldn't buy any of them without trying them or buy it and send it back if you don't like it. What's your use case? Gigging at all? Just in your house? How much time do you want to spend fiddling with your amp? Or do you just want to rock?

I actually don't use either of my modeling amps any more. I bought a Quilter Aviator Cub and plug in a couple of pedals if the three amp voice inputs aren't enough. The reason for this is that I was spending time goofing with amp settings that I wanted to use for playing; I'm more interested in becoming a better player than tinkering with virtual effects.

 

[ambernhard09]

Hi. Thanks for your input. Basically I just want to rock out at home. No plans for gigging. I want something that has good tone, easy to setup and start playing. Good effects are a plus too.

 

[Mark617]

Another vote for the Fender Mustang. I have it in my office, it’s ideal for what you seek

 

[ambernhard09]

I have owned both the Katana and the Mustang, and have spent many hours playing the older generation spiders. Is there a particular genre or set of tones you might be interested in? I am not the biggest fan of the Katana, but I still feel that it is the most well rounded option with extremely useful and well implemented features that will continue to be of use even if your rig moves towards a more analog or digital direction. A used katana 50 is fantastic val

I have owned both the Katana and the Mustang, and have spent many hours playing the older generation spiders. Is there a particular genre or set of tones you might be interested in? I am not the biggest fan of the Katana, but I still feel that it is the most well rounded option with extremely useful and well implemented features that will continue to be of use even if your rig moves towards a more analog or digital direction. A used katana 50 is fantastic value.

For genre I would say mostly hard rock and metal. So something with good tone and decent effects would be good. Sounds like I should check out the Katana.

 

[ambernhard09]

Hi. Thanks for your input. Basically I just want to rock out at home. No plans for gigging. I want something that has good tone, easy to setup and start playing. Good effects are a plus too.

 

[Chicago Slim]

The three amps that I've liked, are the Fender SCXD/SCX2, Boss Katana and NexTone.

The SCXD works well for Fender Blackface and Tweed sounds and the overdriven Marshal model is also very good.

I can get good Tweed sounds out of the Boss Katana, on the Crunch channel. Everything else is just sort of in the ballpark.

The NexTone amps are a little simpler to use. It's the only one that gives me both good Fender and Vox sounds. Plus, it feels and reacts a little more like a real tube amp, than the others.

I've owned several of the Vox modelers, but I haven't found them to be as reliable as the Boss amps. But I'm a guitar teacher and I tend to use them over 4 hours a day.

 

[Hoodster]

Super Champ for sure, or for less cash the Champion 20/40.

 

[bluescaster72]

Older Roland cubes can be had cheap. Just got a 30 and it can do it all and great built in effects really wish they hadn't quit making them.

 

[preactor]

FYI Fender discontinued support on the older Mustangs. I have a Vypyr 30 I got super cheap and I never use my computer on it. I might be inclined to try a Fender Champion 40 as my next amp.

 

[beagle]

If you want a list of amp models that you can switch between, don't get the Katana, that's not how it works.

 

[ASATKat]

The three amps that I've liked, are the Fender SCXD/SCX2, Boss Katana and NexTone.

The SCXD works well for Fender Blackface and Tweed sounds and the overdriven Marshal model is also very good.

I can get good Tweed sounds out of the Boss Katana, on the Crunch channel. Everything else is just sort of in the ballpark.

The NexTone amps are a little simpler to use. It's the only one that gives me both good Fender and Vox sounds. Plus, it feels and reacts a little more like a real tube amp, than the others.

I've owned several of the Vox modelers, but I haven't found them to be as reliable as the Boss amps. But I'm a guitar teacher and I tend to use them over 4 hours a day.

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Katana was designed to sound great on it's own, not mimick other amps and their names with all modeling.

Nextone is also a great sounding amp, but the Katana is much more versatile. For example my Kat can cop a number of SRV tones better than my 65 Fender Deluxe using my Zendrive 2 for Texas Flood tone and Voodoo Child tones, and it also gets a great Pride & Joy tone that my Deluxe and Zendrive just can't get.

Other great tones my previous amps and modelers could never get is the Peter Green tone, both Oh Well and Jumping At Shadows. Santana tones are wonderful as is the Jimi tones it has, it also excels at RHCP John Frusciante tones.

In conclusion, it's my feeling that the Kat was designed to emulate artist tones and not any particular tube amp.

Katana incorporates solid state and some modeling for effects.

 

[BrettFuzz]

Just to clarify/add to what @beagle said - Katana is not a modelling amp; it does not model its tones after any other amp. That said, if you can find a second-hand Katana Artist for a reasonable price I would highly recommend getting it. I've had Katana 50 MKI and Katana 100 MKII and they are really good for what they are. However, my Katana Artist MKII is something else; it sounds way more refined than any other Katana models - I don't know if it's the speaker, cabinet, or programming but it's on another level. It's not indistinguishable from a tube amp but it gets really really close.
As far as a modelling amp I would look at Fender Mustang GTX100.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Older Roland cubes can be had cheap. Just got a 30 and it can do it all and great built in effects really wish they hadn't quit making them.

Cubes sound GOOD! Not perfect, but working with Gain/Volume knobs, you can get good sounds out of amp models. Great effects.
But the ease of use/ Control layout is where I think Cubes excel. That's a big deal with me.
I got this Cube 30X on CL for $100
And my baby Micro-Cube ( more $$, but loaded!) is a perfect apartment practice amp

 

[beagle]

In conclusion, it's my feeling that the Kat was designed to emulate artist tones and not any particular tube amp.

Mine doesn't make any of those noises, not in the 5 years I've been using it.

It does allow me to dial in the sound that I want to hear when I play. It offers 5 basic pre-amp options (10 on the MkII) and 50 Boss pedals to choose from if you hook it up to a computer (which I don't).