[Closed] Another guitar thread - amps this time

I’m a beginner guitarist. I have a Fender Mustang GT40. It’s very nice a surprisingly loud for a 20W + 20W stereo amp - it’s not a 40W amp as its name suggests. I really recommend the footswitch to go with it.

I’ve also got a pedal board so I tend to stick it in one of the cleaner channels & use the pedals, but the amp models are really nice

I own or have owned four Mustang and a Mustang floor (all the range except the Mustang 1), all the previous generation v2 except my Mustang 2 which is a V1. I've use the latest GT200 too. I like them so clearly I'm biased. I also have some "proper amps" - a Marshall JCM 2000 100W head, a Fender 45 Basbreaker head and some nice cabs.

At low volume the Mustang on the "British 80s" model sounds more like a Marshall than the Marshall because the Marshall only really sounds like a Marshall at the sort of volume you use when playing with a drummer on an acoustic kit. Junior uses the Mustang 5 150W head on the "metal 2000" model with a metal band - a Vintage Telecaster is all that's needed to drive it, no need for humbuckers or EMGs. Transistor watts and valve watts don't equate but 150W is plenty in a smal venue and in a bigger venue he uses the XLR line-out into the PA.

I use a Mustang 3 with low gain on the "British Watts" model (Hi-Watt clone) with my acoustic guitar - I sold my acoustic Marshall amp because the Mustang is much more rounded. I have changed the speaker, The celestion 70-80s in the Mustang 4 are pretty good but the original speaker in the Mustang 3 was a bit muddy.

I've also used Cube, Boss, Line 6 and Vox modeling amps and like them in the that order. However, I find the Mustang the most versatile - everything from folk to metal and most things in between.

Cheers, sounds positive 🙂

Just one problem I should mention - high output "hot" single coil pickups with the high gain amp models used on high gain settings create some dreadful electronic sqealing. It's not acoustic feedback because it's still there even when I take the pickups out of the guitar. No problem with vintage single coils, stacked single coils or humbuckers, just some "hot" after market telecaster pickups and P90s.

The problem isn't unique to the Mustangs, other modeling amps and effects pedals have the same issues.

I have an old Epiphone SG (from about '98) so hopefully no issues there.

I've got a Blackstar HT5 that I like a lot. Sounds good with my SGs as well.

They appear to be quite spendy

I’ve had a 50w vox modeling amp for ages.

We tried its vox against my mates vintage valve vox.

It was similar, I perhaps wouldn’t record a $$$$ album with it but it sounded fine at gig volumes and it’s got an attenuator dial at the back so it sounds good at house friendly volumes.

I’d expect any modern modeling amp to be similarly good : )

They all sound different.

I was convinced I wanted a Boss Katana until I conpared a few.

The Vox modellers are superb for the money and sound excellent, I had an older 50 watt Valvetronix but it was just too heavy for home use.

I ended up with an Orange Crush 35. Light and just sounded far, far more complex and involving than anything else I tried.
No modelling or built in effects, but to my ears it's superb.

Edit, crossed posts. My Vox was an AD50VT and my thoughts echo Tall Paul's.

For a home amp, why does it matter how heavy it is? Mine just lives in a corner 😀 it required stopping and taking breaks when carrying it anywhere. Not as bad as giging my bass amp. Ideally I got a mate to help with that.

Mine is a vox vt50, they did a size down as well. Cheap on eBay. The newer ones have a line in so you can play along to music.

Someone on here was recommending the Yamaha lunchbox sized amp as well

I had a mustang v2, did sound nice. Only 2 issues for me with modelling amps in general. 1, I spend too much time fiddling and less practicing. And 2, never found one my Gretsch sounds good through, though solid bodies are fine. I have a small hybrid amp now, but use the iPad with AmpliTube for fiddling about with sounds.

Sorry, Tall Martin, not Tall Paul! Doh!

It was used for jams too and I'm old and have a dodgy back!

It lived upstairs and just became too much work lugging it about. Great amp though.

whatever you choose you need to try them, take the guitar you have and plug into them without pedals or owt else. try stuff from different makers and try digital and valve. I got an HT5 combo from fb marketplace for 180 and I like the clean channel but the overdrive is a bit excessive, it goes from nothing to megathrash gain and then just gets fizzy. The clean is great. No amp makes you play well though 🙂

Trying them isn't going to happen. Nothing is open but more importantly I won't impose my 'playing' on anyone.

Some of the newer home amps work as bluetooth speakers for music listening too. Check out the Yamaha THR II series. They even have a wireless receiver so you can get a wireless transmitter for your guitar and not need a lead.

or this might be of interest? https://uk.line6.com/amplifi/amplifi-tt/

Some of the newer home amps work as bluetooth speakers for music listening too

No thanks. Can't stand bluetooth, awful way of transmitting things.

I spend too much time fiddling and less practicing.

^^ very much this.

I have a Vox modelling amp in the loft. Sounds great, tons of options, never gets used.

I use a Marshall one watt all valve amp with clean and dirty channel, very simple amp but sounds great without p!ssing off the neighbours. More sound options won’t make you a better player, nor mask poor playing.

No amp makes you play well though 🙂

It helps though. If you leave the fat e-string ringing when you play an A or D chord on an acoustic it sounds odd but not awful. Do it with a wound up amp and it sounds awful. An amp teaches you to mute strings you're not using and use no more strings than necessary.

Wind up the gain and that teaches you to be really clean because the compression effect means the string you accidentally touch sounds nearly as loud as the one you intended to strike, and any string left ringing soon goes into feedback.

You need to play loud to get used to it. It's amusing to watch someone not used to playing loud having a go on my big tube amps. They're afraid to touch the strings because they're not used to the almightly racket produced by the slightest move of either hand and the impact of the sound stilts their playing.

I recently got a Yamaha THR10ii amp for home use. Great little thing, small and doesn't loko very amp like which helps to just have it around for casual playing. Decent enough set of modelling/effects, which can be enhanced further through the app (phone or PC). There are a few downloadable presets availoable on line, and I expct there will be more over time as anyone can create a good sound and upload the settings.

No thanks. Can’t stand bluetooth, awful way of transmitting thing

Yes it is Bluetooth (not for the guitar obviously), but even if you dont use it for listening to music it is handy for playing backing tracks through the amp as you play. Separate volume controls for guitar and for music means you can dial it in nicely. It does also have an aux in if you prefer.

Only minor niggles - a couple of the settings are onyl availoble via the app (eg the compressor and gate FX), and the non-wireless version that I have doesnt have an FX loop. Apart from that I am impressed.

A review vid:

Or if you wnat to see what someone who can really play can do with one, try this video:

I got a Vox VT20X a year or so ago and it's ace, the British metal sound is awesome (if you like British metal that is!)

I recently got a Yamaha THR10ii amp for home use. Great little thing, small and doesn’t loko very amp like which helps to just have it around for casual playing.

Glad to hear you like it - I just ordered the 30W version, although it isn't in stock anywhere so I'm going to have to wait for it to arrive.

the non-wireless version that I have doesnt have an FX loop. Apart from that I am impressed.

None of them have a true FX loop. The 30W has line outs and (they all have) aux in which means I should be able to use my looper with that one (and a bunch of cables). It's kind of annoying though - I'd prefer the smaller cheaper quieter one otherwise.

Thanks for all of the input. My lovely local guitar shop chap is going to get me a Mustang I 🙂