New Guitar purchase

[break]

Seems like a lot of money for it (For a used RG550) IMO.

Still, I reiterate that a novice spending big money on a guitar is crazy... but each to their own.

[Only-got-an-i5]

Buy your amp first. Then after that and you have enough money, go into a shop, tell them you have a certain amp and then go nuts on picking a guitar.

I've got an RG350DX and I like it, pickups are passive though and the mids dont slice through enough but some of the 550s I tried are very nice, Just a lil out of my price range.

[randomness]

I just tried an ibanez RG prestige with a line 6 spider 4 120W at allans music, it was amazing when i dialed in the steve vai love of god preset.

The 75W version costs 600$ at allans, anybody have thoughts on this particular amp? Ive changed my mind and im going to buy an amp first, then see if upgrading the guitar is really necessary.

[Marlborosmoker]

Just my 2c. Don't be fooled by big wattage numbers. 30w is plenty unless you're planning to play Wembley, (if you are Line6 wouldn't be my choice). The 30w cube I have for sale will rattle windows and doors and set car alarms off at 12o'clock volume position. I would seriously recommend looking at the 30w spider 4 and saving 200-300 and then manually programing those settings. The Line 6 forums have heaps of resources


Also try the amp with something similar to what you have ie try it with a Squier strat (which has 3 single coil pickups AFAIK) instead of the rg (which are usually Humbucker single coil Humbubucker layout). When trying amps try to keep it as similar to the gear you have so you get a more accurate representation of what you'll sound at home.

[Only-got-an-i5]

Originally Posted by Marlborosmoker

Just my 2c. Don't be fooled by big wattage numbers. 30w is plenty unless you're planning to play Wembley, (if you are Line6 wouldn't be my choice). The 30w cube I have for sale will rattle windows and doors and set car alarms off at 12o'clock volume position.

I agree a lot on this.

I have a cube 30x at the moment and it can be cranked up enough to make some noise. I had a Peavey Bandit which was 80w and I could only put it on the volume of 1 before it was too loud

[break]

Originally Posted by randomness

The 75W version costs 600$ at allans, anybody have thoughts on this particular amp? Ive changed my mind and im going to buy an amp first, then see if upgrading the guitar is really necessary.

The Line6 non-tube amps are all horrid when compared to the Peavey Vypyrs and the Vox Cubes.

I played a Spider IV 75w extensively before playing a Vypyr 75w, and within 30s I knew the Vypyr was for me. A far more natural and analog tone, and far more depth to the overall sound.

Quite simply, it blew the Spider IV away.

The only big downside to the Vypyr was the cost of the floorboards (to take full advantage of it, you really need one), with the Sanpera I around the $150-200 mark, and the Sanpera II (what I bought) for $399.

I also agree with everyone else... for a bedroom you really want a 30w amp. I went the 75w thinking it would be fine, but to drive it hard enough to get the full tone (ie. '2' or above on the volume) it gets too loud for a practice amp. I really should have got a 30w instead.

[damo2002]

I pretty much agree with break's experience, but I ended up with the Vox VT+ instead of the Vypyr. I found the Vox a bit ahead of the Vypyr overall in terms of sounding more natural etc, but the Vypyr did have a very slight edge for high gain stuff. The Cube 30x was in third place by just a hair - it had some really good tone, but not as many effects, and the Vypyr was still better for high gain too.

The Line 6 was down the end of the list somewhere and just didn't sound anywhere near as good as those 3 to be honest.

The Vox VT40+ can be pushed up to 60w and brought down to 15w (and further), so it generally sounds pretty good at most levels, big plus for me since the majority of time it's just for playing at home.

Also check in-store for a Fender Mustang, another relatively new modelling amp which seems to be getting some rave reviews.

[randomness]

yeah, i really liked the spider 4's built in effects and the numerous presets that were on offer, the next time i go in ill try to find a fender mustang and ill try the spider 4 again with a squier strat at the shop

[randomness]

Damn, i just downloaded guitar rig 4 and connected my squier to my comp via line in...and dialled in God's love tone (Steve vai)

and guess what? Sounded almost like vai. So my plan of action now is to buy a modelling amp with built in effects. I saw the mustang I for 220$ at allans, i think i can haggle it down lower if possible.

[Marlborosmoker]

Buy my amp LOL (shameless plug)

But seriously I hear good things about those. I haven't played a round with those one but supposedly its a cheaper version of a G-DEC which my niece has and thats a pretty solid amp

[damo2002]

Originally Posted by randomness

Damn, i just downloaded guitar rig 4 and connected my squier to my comp via line in...and dialled in God's love tone (Steve vai)

and guess what? Sounded almost like vai. So my plan of action now is to buy a modelling amp with built in effects. I saw the mustang I for 220$ at allans, i think i can haggle it down lower if possible.

GR4 is pretty good, but it doesn't quite have the same 'power' as a real amp.. some of the effects aren't very good, while others are decent. I reckon you're on the money with a Mustang though. Have you had a play with one yet?

Allans price match, so just find a cheaper price locally, print the page out and show it to them. Got nearly $100 off my Vox VT40+ doing that.

[Alex.W]

Wow.. Looks like Fender are tarnishing the name of a legendary guitar.. the Mustang.. with a budget modeling amp.


And dont say the Mustang was a student guitar, its still been played by a few pros.. doubt that this is going to see much studio time..

[Marlborosmoker]

Actually it makes sense when you think about what the Mustang guitar and bass was supposed to be - it was a student guitar - the great granddaddy of squiers. It was supposed to be a budget offering, by naming a student amp "mustang" it's more in line with what the original corporate vision for the "mustang" branding was. And lets face it Mustangs aren't the most popular guitar around, by giving the students access to a mustang branded product they may eventually decide to purchase a mustang guitar.

[randomness]

I just bought a fender mustang II @ allans music.

Played it with my fake jem (finally got an allen key from allans music to install new strings) and it sounds amazing!!!!!!!

Chuck it on American 90's setting with lots of distortion and maybe some reverb and voila...steve vai sound.

The fake jem has its shortcomings though, the bridge is not flush with the body and i cbb to fix it and playing with the whammy bar a bit makes the strings go flat.