Extremely O/T - Choosing a guitar combo for my son.

[ALLEX]

Please forgive me brothers of iron, but I'm in the market to buy a guitar combo amplifier for my 13yo son and very confused. I have my eyes on a Line 6 Spider III 150W, but not sure if that's a good option. Is there any Fender that would have the same features and built-in effects? I'd like to stick with Fender if possible, since he plays a Stratocaster.
Any help is appreciated.
And here we go talking guitars again...

 

[fletch_belfast]

If I remember correctly the amp you're talking about comes with pre-sets based on the sound of a particular band or player (ie. to make you sound like Slash or whoever), and im sure the kid would appreciate that, its a nice feature you dont get built into many amps.

Wouldnt worry about looking for a Fender amp specifically 'cos like I said, all these so called 'traditional' sounds that you can 'only' get from a Fender or Marshall amp (for example), can all be replicated by amps like the Line 6 Spider.

I say its a good choice. Also 150w is pretty loud and could be used to gig in small clubs and bars in later years if he gets to that stage. So you've got longevity covered there too.

 

[Krom]

Fender has a whole bunch of combo amps with fx. I have a deluxe 900 that I play threw in live situations all the time from jazz to hard rock. Its just a 1x12 and it might be a little expensive. For smaller amps, the G-DEC fenders look ok but I don't know if you could use them in a band. Personally my favorites are the Roland micro cube and they have a bigger one too that sounds good. I can get a great sounds with that $100 amp. If I could, I'd mic it up on stage but sometimes I need the extra volume if the monitor mix sux. Of coarse good sound is always in the ear of the beholder.

 

[ALLEX]

A friend of mine swears by Vox, any of you guys has hands on experience with them?

 

[ALLEX]

If I remember correctly the amp you're talking about comes with pre-sets based on the sound of a particular band or player (ie. to make you sound like Slash or whoever), and im sure the kid would appreciate that, its a nice feature you dont get built into many amps.

Wouldnt worry about looking for a Fender amp specifically 'cos like I said, all these so called 'traditional' sounds that you can 'only' get from a Fender or Marshall amp (for example), can all be replicated by amps like the Line 6 Spider.

I say its a good choice. Also 150w is pretty loud and could be used to gig in small clubs and bars in later years if he gets to that stage. So you've got longevity covered there too.

Simulation is what worries me a bit, that it will sound "artificial" and "digital" instead of "natural" and "warm".

 

[Dad]

Allex,

I'm hardly the person to reply, but how about a Fender Squire, or Epiphone SG?

Does he have long, skinny fingers like my enviable 17 year old? If so, anything that's in yuoe budget would probably work.

Try Craigslist in yuor area, too!

 

[shoestring]

What is the price range? This is going to be the key factor here. Lots of cool combos out there. Are you looking for solid state only? Or is tube power too $$. You want built in effects? Moddeling or just effects?

 

[terryd5150]

I have a few questions....

How old is your son and what's his level of playing (complete beginner/knows how to play and wants to upgrade amps, etc.).


Not knowing those answers right now I will make the following suggestions:


If your dead-set on an amp with emulation/modeling capabilities here's a great one that Fender makes:

G-DEC 30:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-GDEC-30-Guitar-Digital-Entertainment-Center?sku=482080

G-DEC 15:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-GDEC-Guitar-Digital-Entertainment-Center?sku=480868

The G-DEC series is top-notch and even for an experienced player like myself still made me smile a little when I tinkered with it. This series of amps has been very well reviewed.


More on Line 6 stuff:

The 150W version is pretty strong, especially if the amp's main use is going to be in the bedroom/basement, etc.

Have you thought about the 120W version? Still pretty kick-ass...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-GDEC-30-Guitar-Digital-Entertainment-Center?sku=482080

So is the rest of the series:

75W:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-75-Modeling-Combo-Amplifier?sku=482272

30W:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-30-Modeling-Combo-Amplifier?sku=482275

15W:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-15-Modeling-Combo-Amplifier?sku=482276


Depending on your budget, after making a desicion on what you want, you could look on eBay and maybe save a little cash.

Let me know if I can offer any more help.

 

[Kaiser]

Not sure if you are looking for an acoustic-electric but I bought an Ovation Adamas for someone in the past and it was a pretty incredible guitar. I don't know much about hem myself, but a couple people pointed me towards them as the body is not as big as most acoustics and it is easier for a smaller person to hold.

 

[Dad]

If I remember correctly the amp you're talking about comes with pre-sets based on the sound of a particular band or player (ie. to make you sound like Slash or whoever), and im sure the kid would appreciate that, its a nice feature you dont get built into many amps.

Wouldnt worry about looking for a Fender amp specifically 'cos like I said, all these so called 'traditional' sounds that you can 'only' get from a Fender or Marshall amp (for example), can all be replicated by amps like the Line 6 Spider.

I say its a good choice. Also 150w is pretty loud and could be used to gig in small clubs and bars in later years if he gets to that stage. So you've got longevity covered there too.

Not to get off track or hijack Allex's thread, but until recently this photo wouldn't have made sense to me. Now, when playing above the 12th and especially the 15th fret, I can see why one might actually hold the guitar something like this.

 

[terryd5150]

Notes on this thread....

To All:


The OP is asking about a guitar AMPLIFIER for his son, not a guitar (keyword being "combo"- a type of amp).


To Dad:


The pic of Slash proves nothing about having to hold a guitar in a certain way. It DOES, however, prove that WE ALL have better biceps than the former G N' R guitar player!


Rock On!

 

[ALLEX]

Allex,

I'm hardly the person to reply, but how about a Fender Squire, or Epiphone SG?

Does he have long, skinny fingers like my enviable 17 year old? If so, anything that's in yuoe budget would probably work.

Try Craigslist in yuor area, too!

He's got a guitar already. A Fender 60th Anniversary Diamond Series.
I just don't know much about today's guitar amps. If it was a bass amp though...

 

[ALLEX]

What is the price range? This is going to be the key factor here. Lots of cool combos out there. Are you looking for solid state only? Or is tube power too $$. You want built in effects? Moddeling or just effects?

Price range would be up to $400ish...
Solid state seems the best option for a kid. I'm probably looking for modeling+effects.

Thanks.

 

[ALLEX]

How old is your son and what's his level of playing (complete beginner/knows how to play and wants to upgrade amps, etc.).


Not knowing those answers right now I will make the following suggestions:


If your dead-set on an amp with emulation/modeling capabilities here's a great one that Fender makes:

G-DEC 30:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-GDEC-30-Guitar-Digital-Entertainment-Center?sku=482080

G-DEC 15:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-GDEC-Guitar-Digital-Entertainment-Center?sku=480868

The G-DEC series is top-notch and even for an experienced player like myself still made me smile a little when I tinkered with it. This series of amps has been very well reviewed.


More on Line 6 stuff:

The 150W version is pretty strong, especially if the amp's main use is going to be in the bedroom/basement, etc.

Have you thought about the 120W version? Still pretty kick-ass...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-GDEC-30-Guitar-Digital-Entertainment-Center?sku=482080

So is the rest of the series:

75W:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-75-Modeling-Combo-Amplifier?sku=482272

30W:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-30-Modeling-Combo-Amplifier?sku=482275

15W:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-15-Modeling-Combo-Amplifier?sku=482276


Depending on your budget, after making a desicion on what you want, you could look on eBay and maybe save a little cash.

Let me know if I can offer any more help.

He's 13 but not a total beginner. Been playing acoustic guitar for quite a while and started jamming with friends using a generic PA amp of some kind.
I'm just afraid that the Line 6 would sound digital, which I definitely don't like.
Those links are cool, I need to try those Fenders though.
Have you tried a Vox, btw?

Thanks for the help.

 

[ALLEX]

Anyone has ever played this?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...D50VT212-50w-2x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=481035

 

[ALLEX]

I was getting into the Fender G-DEC 30 but reading these reviews...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN2350500000

 

[phoenix13]

no one has mentioned Peavy yet, so I'll throw it in. for $400 you can get a nice solid state combo that will have enough power/volume/effects to last him through decent sized club/bar gigs...essentially until he would want to upgrade to a full stack. my sister has one, it's about 10 years old now, never had any problems with it & sounds as good as any higher end amp i've used.

imo, peavy is a very underrated company.

 

[ALLEX]

no one has mentioned Peavy yet, so I'll throw it in. for $400 you can get a nice solid state combo that will have enough power/volume/effects to last him through decent sized club/bar gigs...essentially until he would want to upgrade to a full stack. my sister has one, it's about 10 years old now, never had any problems with it & sounds as good as any higher end amp i've used.

imo, peavy is a very underrated company.

Which model she got?

 

[Krom]

no one has mentioned Peavy yet, so I'll throw it in. for $400 you can get a nice solid state combo that will have enough power/volume/effects to last him through decent sized club/bar gigs...essentially until he would want to upgrade to a full stack. my sister has one, it's about 10 years old now, never had any problems with it & sounds as good as any higher end amp i've used.

imo, peavy is a very underrated company.

I'm not into them. My 212 combo didn't last to long. I had one of their amp heads and wasn't into it either.

 

[Krom]

I was getting into the Fender G-DEC 30 but reading these reviews...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN2350500000

For the price I'd rather have a deluxe 900 any day by far. More watts.

I don't have much of an opinion on Vox's. I usually have to own an amp and try it out with other guitars and in live situations before I really feel like I know it.

Amps are a such personal thing. Have you gone to a music store to try any out?