Good amps

[trackman]

Does anyone have a suggestion for a nice inexpensive amp that I should purchase. I like the sound of tubes but I don't like the prices. Something I could use at church that can get loud would be preferrable.

[Gabester77]

I have tried a few solid state amps but I have concluded that VOX amplifiers are your best bet. They have cool solid state amps that mimiic the tube sound and warmth. check out their website and you can even listen to different amps on their site.   :lol:

[Daboniel]

My church runs everything through the sound system which controls all the volume levels and mixing.  For this reason, I got a LINE 6 Pod which I really love.  It is extremely versatile and you can set up good clean sounds and distortion sounds as well.  I use both at church.  It is like have a row of amps to play through because it is a modeler.
With 36 presets, switching in the middle of the song is a breeze.  I don't have it connected to an amp at church, but I do that at home and like it. If you have a stereo power amp, that is the best because it has stereo output.
With my church, I don't use an amp but run straight into the system, so it is ideal as it is actually a pre-amp modeler anyway.  You can get them pretty cheap on Ebay sometimes, I WOULD recommend getting at least the POD 2.0 (mine) or the XT which is the next generation.  You can also get the pedal that allows you WAH effect and foot switching which I also recommend.  The 2.0 and the XT have different pedals, so be sure to get the right one.
God Bless!
Daboniel

[uriahsmusic]

...DONT DO ANYTHING TILL YOU TRY THE POD!

VOX VALVETRONIX!!!!!

[Razzman]

I usually fender tube amps, but I just Picked up a Vox ad50vt for 350.00
This amp has the best amp modeling I have tried and I have tried them all. Plus it has a tube inside for the dirty stuff, excellent tone. Vox for me is hands down has the best tone for dollar when it comes to modeling. The on board effects are very good as well.

[Gabester77]

yeah I had the ad50vt too, it's awesome!  I like the UK 80's setting and the Modern UK amps on it. I now play a 40watt fender deluxe amp It is my first tube amp and I really like it. I also have a little 15 watt Kustom solid state which is awesome too! For a solid state it packs a punch and the distortion is extremely dirty when I want it to be   :lol:

[Razzman]

thats the same amp I use in the tweed! or a Deville 2X12, those amps love pedals..........Right now I'm in love with the black face twin 2X12 on the vox

[jlynnb1]

i've tried almost every amp around, I've really fallen in love with my pod xt live into a tech 21 power engine 60. the tech 21 is a 60 watt compe with no preamp, so it doesn't color the sound of the pod, or wahtever processor/modeler you are putting on the front end of it. it only wieghs 35 lbs, which makes for easy travel. also, the pod xt live has xlr outs as well as quarter inch, along with stomp box modeling and tons of effects and amps to choose from.

[trackman]

8O Wow, thanks guys. One more question though. I play at a pretty large church and I need to amplify over a good distance as well as other instruments. Would a 25 or 30 watt amp do this? It's an Apostolic church and we really get into our praise and worship sevices.

[Razzman]

25 to 30 watts , you will have to probly mic your amp threw your house pa. A Sure 57 mic is what I use when I need to. Or If you get an amp with a line out for direct recording you can run that direct to the mixer thru a direct box. SOme amps will disengage the amp speaker though when you use the line out so youll have to come up with a way to monitor the sound via headphones or floor monitor.

[jlynnb1]

i for one refuse to go direct to a mixer, I think it craps out the tone SOO bad. now, if you want to go out to supplement your volume thats ok, but there's nothing like a speaker pushing air.

[trackman]

My church isn't really set up for me to go through the system yet (soon though). How many watts would I need. Also , I hear that tubes get alot louder than solid state amps, so if you can compare the two for me. I want to be as knowledgable as possible when I am ready to purchase.

My church seats about 500 and I want to be able to be heard through the band and the clapping and foot stomping

Just Churchin'

[Razzman]

go buy a peavey classic 30 or a fender hot rod deluxe 40w, both all tube and inexpensive. you should have plenty of clean head room. The fender sounds best to my ears.  The dirty channells on both are not that great though. I use a 40w deluxe in a 500 head church and its plenty. I still mic it though cause they like to mix thru the mains.....

[wika2]

8O Wow, thanks guys. One more question though. I play at a pretty large church and I need to amplify over a good distance as well as other instruments. Would a 25 or 30 watt amp do this? It's an Apostolic church and we really get into our praise and worship sevices.

It may if it's a tube amp, and no if it's solid state.  In any case, you'd stilll need to mic it.  30 watts just not enough to cut through the mix IMO.
Our church seats 1,500 and I use a Tech 21 Trademark 60.  It's a 60 watt ss amp that emulates a very convincing tube sound.  This is the same company that manufactures the "sansamp" pedals.  Like a POD, only much simpler, and  it  allows you to use effect pedals of your choice. It has a convenient balanced output to go straight to your house mixer without compromising your tone.  List on this is about $500, $300 street.  Sweet deal!

[gtrdave]

I'm currently using a Line 6 Spider II amp in church.
It's a solid state modeling amp (like the POD) with 75 watts and a single 12" speaker.
It's plenty loud enough all by itself for my church but I run it low and we mic it to run it through the system.
For a small combo, it's cool.

For years I used a Peavey Delta Blues 210 tube amp. It's similar to the Classic 30...a killer amp, I love the sound but I can't turn it up loud enough in church to really let it breathe so I use it for live gigs where there's no PA system for me to run through.

A 30 watt tube amp is loud enough for most semi-large churches...75 watt solid state (or louder) would work, too.

[trackman]

Are effects really a factor when playing at church? Is it better to have them onboard the amp or in a seperate module.

[gtrdave]

Are effects really a factor when playing at church? Is it better to have them onboard the amp or in a seperate module.

I use three effects: chorus, delay, and reverb...I'll use them each independantly and sometimes together, depending on what kind of sound I need.

They're on-board the Line6 amp and for what they are, they work fine. I have a seperate pedalboard to use with my other tube amps and they work fine too.
Some folks get too tied up in the gear they're using rather than on what they're playing and the quality and sincerity of their worship. I'd rather have just an acoustic guitar and genuine worship from my heart than all the finest boutique gear and killer tone...the former is for the Lord, the latter is for man.

All that to say what's "better" is whatever helps you to worship our God.

[trackman]

I know... but it's always fun to have buttons to push...

Seriously though, I've been wondering about the Line 6 product. I've never heard anyone talk about them good or bad and I've alwys wondered if they were any good.

[gtrdave]

I know... but it's always fun to have buttons to push...

Seriously though, I've been wondering about the Line 6 product. I've never heard anyone talk about them good or bad and I've alwys wondered if they were any good.

I've had experience with several of their amps; the early Flextones, the original Spider, the newer Flextone II and III, the DuoVerb and my current Spider II.

Are they any good? It depends on what you like and what you need. For me, the Spider II I own is just about perfect for my church/worship needs.

If I was looking to buy a Line6 amp, I'd stay away from all of the early stuff...the original Flextone and Flextone II, original Spider and the like...and look only at the Spider II, Flextone III and Vetta II.

Same with their other devices: the POD XT, XT Pro and Live XT are worth a look...the older stuff just doesn't sound as good, imho. It sounds very sterile and brittle. Others may disagree.

Line6 guitars...I've played the Variax 700 a few times. Neat technology but cheap guitar. Not worth the selling price. I got a much better quality guitar (Godin Solidac) that is very versatile and cost much less than the Variax.

Line6 pedals...I've got no experience with them.