What's the best Sounding Solid State Guitar Amp Around $400?

[Dennis D]

Ok thought I'd try this.....again, low volume, 10 in /12 in. max; easy to set controls, ( meaning the least built-in bias as possible )....

I don't care what they call it -- it can be a ' jazz' amp, or whatever, as long as I can start settings at flat, and go from there......

I'm thinking new may be better.......

Thanks......

[jazz.fred]

IMO, Roland Cube. Very affordably priced. Easy to use. Very Good to Excellent tone. An all around price/performance champion.

[jorgemg1984]

80s Polytone

[Jabberwocky]

Fender Mustang 3 V2.

[Boston Joe]

Sometimes you can find used Polytones in that price range. I have an Acoustic Lead 60 that I think was about $400. Nice little amp.

I would say go to a music store and try all of the amps (both new and used) in your price range, including the bass amps. You never know what you might end up liking. I was not expecting to like the Acoustic at all, and was pleasantly surprised. You might find an old black-box no-name amp that for some reason really nails the tone you want. Also - bring YOUR guitar. Sometimes there's a syngergy between a specific guitar and a specific amp.

[Dennis D]

One problem - -used is a worry because we're not exactly swimming in amp repair places around here. I got next to someone years ago, but he's gone now.

I just don't want to buy any headaches, if I can help it.


Just looking to see what people agree on.

Thanks again.

[Boston Joe]

One problem - -used is a worry because we're not exactly swimming in amp repair places around here. I got next to someone years ago, but he's gone now.

I just don't want to buy any headaches, if I can help it.


Just looking to see what people agree on.

Thanks again.

Understood, but I've got to tell you, I've had problems with new amps as well. Especially cheap ones.

[Dennis D]

Understood, but I've got to tell you, I've had problems with new amps as well. Especially cheap ones.

Oh yeah, absolutely --but then I figure -- if I'm a year later and it's out of warranty, so be it. And some of those Polytones I've found recently look like they've been rode hard and put away wet.

[Jehu]

Cube!

[woyvel]

Still gonna tout the ZT Lunchbox. I'm throwing that and a pedal in my backback and playing a gig. It's louder than the 1x12's others might bring, with great tone and lower cost.

[Frank67]

+1 on the cubes. They are surprisingly nice amps for the money. If you can find a polytone for that price it'll be great too but more of a one trick pony than the cube.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

One problem - -used is a worry because we're not exactly swimming in amp repair places around here. I got next to someone years ago, but he's gone now.

I just don't want to buy any headaches, if I can help it.


Just looking to see what people agree on.

Thanks again.

Where is "here"?

+1 on the Cube, but for cheap and used, I say watch the listings in your local on line classifieds and be ready to pounce on anything that looks reasonable.

[Boston Joe]

Still gonna tout the ZT Lunchbox. I'm throwing that and a pedal in my backback and playing a gig. It's louder than the 1x12's others might bring, with great tone and lower cost.

And I'll reiterate my opinion that they sound awful.

[NSJ]

Easy. Polytone MB used, 300-400 bucks.

There is a reason why I saw in the other thread Kurt Rosenwinkel still keeps his Polytone.

A Few years ago, when George Benson was playing the symphony center here, they apparently did not have what he required for the gig. So he came over to my teacher's house and got what he needed for the gig. What did he need? A Polytone amp.

George Benson is not one to go, "Man I really wish I had a Cube".

And George and Kurt both do a stereo set up, with the poly tone and a fender tube amp.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I just checked on reverb.com -- they have over a dozen Polytones listed, and most are in the OP's price range. They even have a 2x12" 104 model! (But not for $400).

[DanielleOM]

Fender Mustang 3 V2.

A friend of mine picked up a used v1, that had this weird swirling sound that was there all of the time. Did they get rid of that with V2?

[catar]

80's Polytone 15" speaker.

[Jabberwocky]

A friend of mine picked up a used v1, that had this weird swirling sound that was there all of the time. Did they get rid of that with V2?

No swirling sound in the one I had. Some of the presets are noisy; turning the digitalised Volume down to 3 in FUSE fixes that. The Master Volume is the actual volume knob.

The V1 has a 'fizz' trailing the decay of the notes.

[Dennis D]

Where is "here"?

+1 on the Cube, but for cheap and used, I say watch the listings in your local on line classifieds and be ready to pounce on anything that looks reasonable.

Near Milwaukee......

[jazz.fred]

Easy. Polytone MB used, 300-400 bucks.

There is a reason why I saw in the other thread Kurt Rosenwinkel still keeps his Polytone.

A Few years ago, when George Benson was playing the symphony center here, they apparently did not have what he required for the gig. So he came over to my teacher's house and got what he needed for the gig. What did he need? A Polytone amp.

George Benson is not one to go, "Man I really wish I had a Cube".

And George and Kurt both do a stereo set up, with the poly tone and a fender tube amp.

If I had his chops, not to mention his money, I probably wouldn't be playing a Cube either (or maybe I would).

[Max405]

Dennis, I've been singing the praises of the Marshall AS50r for a while now.
It is 50 clean solid state watts. 2 - 8" speakers. It's a great amp with lower output pickups. The speakers breakup a little when picking the low E hard using high output pickups. But when playing chord melody with floaters, the sound is as warm as it comes. And full too. Sounds way better than my Henriksen 12" and Polytone MB3. Fuller, deeper and not as nasally at all. When playing loud, the Henriksen and the Polytone rules.
I wonder what this amp would sound like if I changed the speakers to a better pair.
Plus the amp is beautiful. And can be had for around $200 dollars.

Good luck buddy.

[Dennis D]

Dennis, I've been singing the praises of the Marshall AS50r for a while now.
It is 50 clean solid state watts. 2 - 8" speakers. It's a great amp with lower output pickups. The speakers breakup a little when picking the low E hard using high output pickups. But when playing chord melody with floaters, the sound is as warm as it comes. And full too. Sounds way better than my Henriksen 12" and Polytone MB3. Fuller, deeper and not as nasally at all. When playing loud, the Henriksen and the Polytone rules.
I wonder what this amp would sound like if I changed the speakers to a better pair.
Plus the amp is beautiful. And can be had for around $200 dollars.

Good luck buddy.

Interesting Joe.

Spec's read like a Loudbox Mini. ( ? ).

Thanks as always.

Dennis

[edh]

There's a polytone on ebay right now for, I believe, 350. It's a minibrute 12" speaker. It looks like it's in great shape.

[Dennis D]

There's a polytone on ebay right now for, I believe, 350. It's a minibrute 12" speaker. It looks like it's in great shape.

There's actually some on Music-Go-Round too. Are they ? - -would it depend on the individual store ?

Do they ship between stores ?

[QAman]

Not sure if your looking for one or two speakers - but the Fender Champion 100 is quite impressive.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampli...itar-combo-amp