PCA Forums

I got a '79 fender strat from my aunt last christmas (she used to play it but doesn't anymore) and have been using my computer in place of an amp. From what I've been reading it seems seems to me that I could get better (stronger?) sound from an amp (which I could definitly see). Plus I could mess around with some effects instead of the limited effects on a PC. Problem is I have no idea on what makes a good amp/bad amp.

So I think I'll finally invest in an amp (or should I say santa?) and ask for one for christmas. Got any suggestions? Price around $200-300. Don't need anything fantastic (considering I don't know what a "good" amp sounds like, nor a "bad" amp) but I don't want the bottom of the line either (if it's possible in that price range ) Thanks.

Well, I can't help you in the least, but I would suggest asking Jeff if you ever see him at school. He should be able to give you a good idea or at least get you to someone who would know. I mean, the dude has a banjo and a tight ass Carl Thompson, he should know something.

I suggest you check out local music shops primarily...but also look around at Musican's Friend

Get yourself a marshall combo amp. I'm fond of the GCD series (I think that is what they are called). They're solid-state (as opposed to tube powered), so they'll be cheap. If you want to spend $200-300, you should be able to get yourself a 50watt combo amp (meaning the speaker and amp are one, not like a seperate amp and speaker cabinet). The CD series has a CD input, so you can play overtop of any CD. I have the 100 watt seperate amp, and it has an input for effects pedals, so maybe the combo will have one, too. Anyway, sorry I'm not more help. I'm really lazy and I don't want to check out any sites for more info Musician's Friend is really good. I ordered my amp from there. I got my speaker cab locally, since shipping would be monsterous. Good luck, and have fun playing.

Larry

I'm guessing that because you're using a PC to play thru and are wondering if an amp would be better, that you're a novice player. If so, you may want to get an AMP SIMULATOR like the Line 6 POD (~$250-$300) or the Line 6 GuitarPort which takes the signal, feeds it thru USB into the computer and uses SW sims to create the tone. It also allows you to play online and DL tracks and lessons, etc. (Fee required for online stuff. I think it's ~$7/mo.)

Lemme know if you need more info.

I wouldn't say I'm completely new (been playing for a year and a half) its just that I've never invested in an amp cause I never saw the point since I could always use my computer. However, recently I've gotten the notion that it might sound better through an amp given the fact that most people play through amps....so I was just curious what a decent one might be.

Thanks for the suggestion. Basically everone has told me to go to a music store and listen to one in person, even though I don't know what I'm listening for

I second the motion on asking Jeff, I think he'd be very knowledgable in this area, and could give you good suggestions/places to go...

Be sure to check out the Line 6 stuff. Any amp is just one or two tones, the Line 6 amps/sims mimic DOZENS of amps, plus all sorts of pedals and speaker cabinets.

I currently use a Line 6 AX2 live and it's great to be able to switch from a Marshall JTM-45 with Overdrive thru a Marshall 4x12" slant cab w/Celestion Greenbacks (clean) then a Marshall JCM-800 thru a Fender 2x12" with Tube Screamer and delay (lead) then back to a JCM-800 thru a 2x12" Line 6 cab with a Big Muff (rhythm). Doing that Poison cover? BAM!!! Instant Soldano SLO tudio w/4x12" cab! All at a touch of ONE button. When you're playing and singing live like I do, it's great to have that flexibility.

Good luck.

you could allways use an active d/l box into your sound card and save some hassle if your using cooledit or something like that.I don't
use the machine at all (Too lazy
i guess). I don't see any reason not to look into the guitar port . it looks pretty cool and not a bad price.
also http://www.activemusician.com has a lot of nice stuff online.

IMHO Strats sound good through tube
fender amps (Like the twin Reverb). or
a small mesa boogie amp. I hava a marshall and I really don't care for it.