software

Thanks for ur time first off cuz looking down i can see alot of ppl asking for help finding good amps thats suit their needs and u guys always seem to be able to help Thanks.

heys guys, like u might of read in the pickups forums i use:
-FMT strat mexican
-digitech rp100a pedal
-10 band eq
-small peavy rage 158 amp (i think 15 watts)

ok so i asked the pickups forums about changing pickups to get more of a slash tone but still metal sounding as well (like maiden). they suggested changing to APH1 and CC or APH1 and JB. and one guy added that maiden uses hotrails... but when they found out i usually play with comp speakers they realised that was moastly my problem and suggested i get a better amp... so here i am, ne suggestions that will help me get my described tone.

PS-I'm not rich so dont suggest a stack that cover ur whole wall that costs like $80 000, im trying to stay under $400 cuz im a poor ass student haha.

Thanks guys.

wow man, that's a tough one. I'm really not too well versed in what amps are used for metal, let alone in that price range, so i'll leave that to the other guys

as for the guitar, here's what i suggest. Maiden uses H/S/H strats so get yours routed for a humbucker in the neck, too. Then get 2 alnico 2 pro humbuckers, one for the neck, one for the bridge. Then get yourself either a hot rail, jb jr, or lil '59 for the middle, whichever you like best, there's clips of each on the main SD page. Then disconnect the tone pot from the middle pickup amp; put it on the bridge. Then rewire the 5 way switch so that the bridge pickup is in the middle, this way you can use both alnico 2's at the same time.

This should get you all the tones you want. Not exact, but better than ballpark

I'd recommend a modelling amp. Either Line6, Roland or Tech21. Go try them out and pick your favourite out of them, although it may be hard if you don't have time to tweak the sounds to your liking. The presets may not be the best.


Originally Posted by ScottPearson88im trying to stay under $400 cuz im a poor ass student haha.

That is tough, but for now I'd get a decent used bridge humbucker and either get a 2 channel amp with tones you like or a 1 channel amp with a good sound which works well with the digitech. If it were me, I'd save a bit more $$$ and get a big old tube head with one channel I like, with a 412 or 212 to go with it, and use the digitech. Maybe a tube power amp like a Mesa or Peavey 50/50. You can change that later with a better head or effects unit or pickups or speakers...

Though my best advice is to wait and buy only stuff you actually want instead of buying stuff which you kind of want so you avoid a tone you're not satisfied with. That will make you want to start looking for gear again.

some of u guys thought i meant under 400 for it all, im saying under 400 for the amp, i already have an average of howmuch pickups will cost... do u guys tyhink the marshall mini stacks r ne good???

No, the Marshall mini-stacks sound like ****!

I'd get a PODxt or PODxt Live, for sure!


Originally Posted by ScottPearson88some of u guys thought i meant under 400 for it all, im saying under 400 for the amp, i already have an average of howmuch pickups will cost... do u guys tyhink the marshall mini stacks r ne good???

nahhhhhh...Those mini-stacks are pretty weak to tell the truth...and wayy overpriced. I'd suggest checking out a used line 6 or somthing...Flextone II and on...They may not be the greatest sounding amps in the world...but they definately sound good enough, and are versatile as hell.


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3No, the Marshall mini-stacks sound like ****!

I'd get a PODxt or PODxt Live, for sure!

While a tube amp would do you much better, I know you're trying to stay cheap here. I must agree with DSS. The PODxt has some really good metal amp models and a good overall sound and it won't set you back more than say $200-300.

and then play the pod through what just the comp speakers/headphones i usually use?

IMO if you went with something modelling I'd go with a Vox Valvetronix amp. You can get a 50 watt 1x12 for $350. They might not have as many bells and whistles as the other modelers like the Line6 stuff but they sound more natural to me. At one point I picked up a POD live from GC with a power amp and ended up returning it for the 100 watt Vox because the POD just sounded fake to me. I also realised that most of the features on the POD I would never use anyways.


Originally Posted by ScottPearson88and then play the pod through what just the comp speakers/headphones i usually use?Yep it has a headphone jack on the pod.

check this out...on sale...

from : localhost/more than you wanted to spend but the XXX is a great head so this combo may be a cool choice.

-Mike

Sorry- all the pickups, pedals, pods etc arent' going to make any difference with a Peavey Rage amp-we are talking about a 15 watt 8 inch speaker here- it will always sound like a 15 watt, 8 inch speaker amp-I agree you need to look at another amp- Have you looked into any of the Crate Palamino series amps? or even a Peavey Valve King, both offer decent power and a 12 inch speaker for under 400 bucks- put off buying the pickups and get yourself a workable amp- then save your money for pickups etc. You have to have a good foundation to build on-

thanks guys i really appreciate all ur help for a new user to the forums like me. tommrow im going into the biggest music store around like 7 floors... so ill try out all the amps and espically look for the ones u guys suggested. i find that most of the ppl who work there dont know **** about what specific ppls needs r... even tho its their jobs to. so im glad i could get input from prople who view amps from a guitarists point of view not a salesmens.

THANKS

One more thing, what do u guys think of the marshall AVT 20 and 50 amps???
Are they anygood?

I don't like the SS marshalls. I don't like most SS heads! I think that it's either modelling or tube. IMO, your best option right now is to go for a Tech21 combo.

i'm gonna go with xssive amp; say the xxx combo is your best bet. Just go with an alnico 2 pro bridge amp; hot rail middle, put the neck one amp; new pickguard on hold, that should save you atleast $100 so you can get the amp. One thing though, DO NOT forget about the damping switch on the back. If not for that thing i would totally hate the XXX.

I would even go further amp; say after you get the 2 pickups amp; XXX your next step is a new speaker, THEN the other pickup amp; pickguard

i see silverface bassman heads like mine on eBay aaaall the time for $200. Vintage tube head to start your quest with...get an OD pedal and you'll be more than happy i bet.

-X

If you don't go for anything which has been said before, I'd suggest the Line 6 Spider IIs... great versatility for the $$$ and more gain than you'd ever need available

i herd that line 6 donst make ne thing good other than the Pod's is that true or r their amps good too?