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What amp and pedals should I get?

GitarGuy

New member
Joined
Jan 29, 2021
Messages
2
Hi, I just spent pretty much my whole budget on a Les Paul special so I am looking for a cheap amp to plug into. What would be your thoughts on getting a few Behringer pedals? I was thinking a VT999 could be okay to create a decent dirty channel on a solid-state amp? I like Fender amp tone if that helps you help me. I just can't afford a Princeton or something similar.
 

Mr. Papa

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2002
Messages
1,418
Behringer pedals are a great value, you can't really go wrong. As for amps, it depends on what you play, but there are so many pedals out there that any amp with a solid clean tone is a good platform to build on.
It sounds like you might be a new player. I wish I could go back in time and give myself advice on a first guitar rig knowing what I know now, after all the gear I have bought and sold.
I would have told myself to buy a Les Paul, whatever amp with a good clean channel you can find that floats your boat, and to keep every pedal I ever bought.
 

Ccapilla

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Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
17
What size room are trying to fill with sounds? If you’re looking to practice/play in home and maybe play out occasionally, I’d actually suggest something like a Boss Katana (50W?) where you can get a million different tones and see what you want to sound like. For under $200, you can pick one up that will give you total flexibility for what you need now, and when you’re ready to throw more coin at a “forever” valve amp, you will have most of the trial and error done so you’ll at least know if you want to go in the Fender/Vox/Marshal-like families of amps. Or know that you want (at least) one of each.

Welcome to the insanity. Make sure you let us know when you get your next Les Paul. And the one after that. It just happens. We’re all powerless to stop it.
 

GitarGuy

New member
Joined
Jan 29, 2021
Messages
2
What size room are trying to fill with sounds? If you’re looking to practice/play in home and maybe play out occasionally, I’d actually suggest something like a Boss Katana (50W?) where you can get a million different tones and see what you want to sound like. For under $200, you can pick one up that will give you total flexibility for what you need now, and when you’re ready to throw more coin at a “forever” valve amp, you will have most of the trial and error done so you’ll at least know if you want to go in the Fender/Vox/Marshal-like families of amps. Or know that you want (at least) one of each.

Welcome to the insanity. Make sure you let us know when you get your next Les Paul. And the one after that. It just happens. We’re all powerless to stop it.
I have read some people don't like katanas but you really can't argue with that price can you. I was maybe considering a spark but there's no way to play a gig with them.
 

rareskyone

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Joined
Feb 15, 2021
Messages
1
If you need a bit more power for gigging, then another Sweetwater-exclusive amp that's perfect for pedals is the JHS “Loud is More Good” by Milkman. As you might expect of an amp designed for a pedal designer, this 40-watt, all-tube 1×12 combo is ideal for guitarists who rely on their pedalboard to shape their tone mybkexperience mcdvoice
 
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concert410

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2003
Messages
2,388
" I wish I could go back in time and give myself advice on a first guitar rig knowing what I know now, after all the gear I have bought and sold.
I would have told myself to buy a Les Paul, whatever amp with a good clean channel you can find that floats your boat, and to keep every pedal I ever bought."

Truer words were never spoken!!!
 

KCFrets

New member
Joined
Mar 10, 2021
Messages
12
Work your way to a used Fender Twin Reissue/Deluxe Reverb Reissue (the former w/pedals will cover any/all occasions from now to the next millennium) and the Friedman Small Box pedal.

You will be Bloomfield/Allman/Page/Clapton circa-'67-68 reincarnated. That pedal is IT (says a player who bought the original TS808 and every dirt/OD pedal made since)....
 

Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
WTF!! Get a Fender Blues Jr. Used ones are plenty and cheap. I toured for yrs with mine. Clubs to huge Festival stages no problem. Works great at home to. You can find Yamaha G MK II with parametric eq. They were 100 or 50 watts of the best solidstate tone I've used. They would have names like G100 112II for 100 watt 1 12 combo, make sure it has the II at the end. All had channel switching and spring reverb, the best clean channel ever and super quality. From late 70s to early 80s you can find them for a couple hundred bucks plus shipping, they are heavy. I toured with mine for over 20yrs.
 

peeninety

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2002
Messages
297
Big Al's right about the Fender Blues Jr. I've got a pile of amps and cabs that haven't left the house for over a decade. All I need now is a BJ. The only further advice I can offer is to find a 12AX 7 made in pre-war Yugoslavia by a company called EI and stick it in V1. You'll be amazed.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Yup. They are easy to find and cost is reasonably within reach. Tube and speaker upgrades work well. Not bulky or heavy and they are loud enough for gigs, take pedals well and they sound good. Gotta keep the Master up high and I run mine dimed with Volume/Gain about half at noon. I footswitch the Fat control for beef and leads. The Reverb works but I prefer using a pedal for better verberations. Yeah you can spend way more and get more but even with 50 plus amps I chose to gig mostly with this little beast.

Funny enough, at Festivals I always had other guitar players wanting to know about my stock tweed B JR. It is a blue collar all tube amp for low dough that just gets it done.
 

deytookerjaabs

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Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Messages
1,592
Yeah, can't go wrong with the lil' Fenders. First, if you get used to one you can ask for it as a backline anywhere in the world, second, there's a million bits of information online about them if you ever have the need to troubleshoot or mod.


Having said that, so many little budget amps that do the trick. Laney makes some good ones, Blackstar does, Fender Bassbreaker amps, hell, those solid state Orange crush series amps like the 35 and 60 are great too.....and you won't need the pedal. It shouldn't be hard to walk into any retailer and come out with a nice sounding little amp for a few hundred bucks these days.
 

Morlock

Member
Joined
May 22, 2018
Messages
58
If you are just playing at home then you could go for a modeling amp like the Fender Mustang GT which has heaps of tones and amp variations. Plenty of other modeling amps. I don't play in a band or anything and I know my Mustang and Vox (both modeling amps) have saved me a fortune in pedals etc.
 

Flogger

Active member
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
555
Heretic alert!

A used Boss Katana V1 is an outstanding value, plus it comes with ALL the pedals inside.
 

Jayden1990

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Sep 5, 2021
Messages
5
In case you're one of those "I plug straightforwardly into the amp and needn't bother with no stinkin' guitar impacts pedals" somewhat buddy, then, at that point, godspeed, and much obliged for halting by. Then again, in the event that you own a pedal board whereupon you go dancing, stay close by — this rundown of guitar impacts pedals you should have will approve what you may know, enlighten what you don't have the foggiest idea, and rapidly assist you with creating an enormous and exceptionally flexible sound range.
 

ADP

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Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
681
Victoria Regal II. No pedals. Save yourself years and years of time.
 

agogetr

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Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
451
big al has given you sage advise with those old solid state yamaha,s they used to be dirt cheap too dont know about now days, but killer cleans from those, and they love pedals, we had one floating around in the mid 80,s and i was surprised how good it was.
i liked some of the early galien kruger amps too, my pal had one it really cracked, they are dirt cheap or used to be. i finally snagged one at a show 10 years ago i think its the model 200 combo for 60 bucks!
also blackstar has been mentioned, i plugged into a 40 watt combo, set the master and ...man. prolly more money tho..
if your really financially challenged drag home a free old tube organ and rob the amp out of it, and speaker. lowrey is a good one, thomas too, and of course hammond
 
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