software

Hey all
I need an amp.
The 50 Watt DFX Marshall i have is not mine! and the person i borrowed from wants it back....so i need an amp. I've heard nothing but good things about the Line6 Spider II range, so that was what i was gonna go for.
I really like the range of sounds that can be made from this amp, and all of the extra features it has. The idea of preset channels for different parts of different songs is awesome. Also, you have to admit it looks lovely!
But i would like advice please! I play rock-based stuff, but i like blues as well.
The other issue i have to consider is the fact that i am a 5ft2 girl! Therefore i can't really carry a really heavy amp. (sounds stupid, but gotta think practically!)

So. Does anybody have one? Does anybody know anything about amps and does it sound like it would be a worthy purchase for me?

Thanks in advance!

Look for a used, 2x12 flextone II. Trust me, it's a much better amp, and you can pick them up quite cheap now. I think you can get one for £250 odd easily now... probably less.

However, theres a load of guys on this forum who swear by the Vox modelling stuff (this is assuming you want to go modelling) but I can't remember the prices for those for the life of me...

If you set a budget that'd help more.

Are you going to be playing shows with a band? (trying not to open up the whole wattage debate again...) If yes, you'd probably want the 2x12, and 100 watt or above versions for digital... past a certain point they kinda lose deffinition on gainy sounds, or at least all the ones I've tried did. I don't know if they resolved that issue with the newer series of amps but I found it in the previous ones (spider I's and flex I II's).

how are the flextones different? or is that a really wide question?
I'd rather not go over £250, should have mentioned that sorry.
Yeah im gigging with a band, they all have amps over 100watt. Realistically i would think that anything over 150watt would be a little OTT. I like the 2x10 or 12 stereo sound.
thank you

Don't forget that a 100 watt modeling amp doesn't have NEARLY the volume of a 100 watt tube amp. I've got the 300 watt Vetta and that just about holds up with a 100 watt tube amp. Mine is a stack as well.

I liked some of the Spiders I played in the store. I also dug the smaller Vox modelers but I've heard all sorts of horror stories about them both on this forum and off. I could recommend other amps but they would be a bit heavy for you to carry around. Get yourself a big strong guy to lug your stuff and get a Marshall stack lol. Good luck with the amp.

I really like the Line 6 amps for Practicing.... But they suck for playing with a band if you still like high volume.... They don't have the power to move enough air.....

WhoFan

I demo'd a Spider a few years ago when I was playing with a bunch of guys jamming in a basement. Drummer, bass player, and annother guitarist playing an old Music Man Hybrid Tube/SS amp. I could keep up with that at basement levels with the Spider. We had annother guitarist join us playing a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I couldn't keep up when we turned up a little. I took the Spider back and got a Hot Rod Deluxe.

I also suggest the Flextone II's used. I saw one here locally just the other day for $349 US...don't know what that translates into pounds or euro's. Also, a Fender Blues Jr. will keep up with a band a little better. You'll need pedals for your gain, but it's an option. Fender Hot Rod Deluxe will be more than loud enough, and probably at the top of your weight scale. $400 US is the cost used, give or take.

Those are some options, others will be along. The Spider has some cool sounds for practice or recording...playing by yourself, but really doesn't hold up well to gig situations.

I played a flextone (1) HD in a band situation and also made the experience that I couldn't get through. But the flextone was also connected to a behringer 4x12 which sounds like hell - compared to any Vintage30 equipped cab. And the flextone was quite old.
If you really like the spider sounds you might get it now and add later a nice poweramp (maybe tube-based?) to get more power and move more air


Originally Posted by just_me_reallyhow are the flextones different? or is that a really wide question?

32 amp models (that sound better as well IMO) more effects, cab models etc... But I'd turn the cab models off (especially if you're using quot;4x12quot; cab models on a 2x12 combo) if you were going to play loud.

I'd rather not go over £250, should have mentioned that sorry.
Yeah im gigging with a band, they all have amps over 100watt. Realistically i would think that anything over 150watt would be a little OTT.

Thing is... modelling amps don't work the same way. They're designed to sound good at all volumes, however if you push a modelling amp, it starts to lose deffinition. Trust me, if you run the spider at 7/8 on the volume you'll realise the tone isn't as nice as on 5 or less. I'm talking higher gained sounds here, and from experience. My flextone II XL sounds alright up to 5/6 for the sounds I use, but any past it and it gets a little unbalanced sounding.

Basically what I'm trying to say is you shouldn't worry about having an over powered modeling amp. If anything it's better, as it gives you more volume to play with before it starts to lose it... Again I'm trying not to start up the whole wattage issue, but anynone who's gonna be gigging modelling using rock kinda sounds, will want the 100 watt ones at least...

I think you'll like a 2x12 over a 2x10 as well.


Originally Posted by nuntiusTrust me, if you run the spider at 7/8 on the volume you'll realise the tone isn't as nice as on 5 or less. I'm talking higher gained sounds here, and from experience. My flextone II XL sounds alright up to 5/6 for the sounds I use, but any past it and it gets a little unbalanced sounding.

...which is why I use my V-amp 2 into a solid state 65 watt fender, which I can put almost as loud as I like without worrying

Ain't I clever?