Musician Gear & Tech Discussion

So, after months of research, advice and chats, I'm buying an electric and an amp. I'm thinking used, simply because I'm a poor fuck.

I've got a negotiable deal on a Lado Hawk guitar [long story short = a LowToMid-end PRS] and a Behringer GMX212 with 2 12" speakers, clean and dist. channels, 60w, built-in DSP [which I have no experience with].
This rig goes for $800, but I can bargain a little.
The amp alone is $350-ish.

I have my eye on an Ibanez S520EX going for $500. Features Infinity 1 & 2 pickups. The bridge is rumored to be not great, but the neck pickup gets a lot praise. Basswood body/mahogany solid top.

And what do you guys think of the Roland Cube [modelling]?

Style: A good metal/sludge [think old MetallicA/The Melvins] tone is a must [bass>treble>mids]. At least decent cleans for classical stuff. A blues tone isn't a necessity, but would be nice. I prefer slimmer necks, but I can adjust.

I need your help, guys. I don't want a LP or a Strat.. and as you may have noticed, I'm on budget.
Thanks for reading.

The only experience I have with any of these manufacturers is the Behringer.
We have used and still occasionally use a PA of Behringer manufacture.
It has served well and we have no complaints.

I know nothing at all about what youre askin about andy, but its good to hear that you're picking up an axe maybe we can hammer out some collaboration stuff with ryanstrain, I still keep in touch with him on youtube

Alright. Ted, hit me up on Myspace or email if you got a collab idea.

So, after months of research, advice and chats, I'm buying an electric and an amp. I'm thinking used, simply because I'm a poor fuck.

I've got a negotiable deal on a Lado Hawk guitar [long story short = a LowToMid-end PRS] and a Behringer GMX212 with 2 12" speakers, clean and dist. channels, 60w, built-in DSP [which I have no experience with].
This rig goes for $800, but I can bargain a little.
The amp alone is $350-ish.

I have my eye on an Ibanez S520EX going for $500. Features Infinity 1 & 2 pickups. The bridge is rumored to be not great, but the neck pickup gets a lot praise. Basswood body/mahogany solid top.

And what do you guys think of the Roland Cube [modelling]?

Style: A good metal/sludge [think old MetallicA/The Melvins] tone is a must [bass>treble>mids]. At least decent cleans for classical stuff. A blues tone isn't a necessity, but would be nice. I prefer slimmer necks, but I can adjust.

I need your help, guys. I don't want a LP or a Strat.. and as you may have noticed, I'm on budget.
Thanks for reading.

Here's the Musician's Friend page on the Behringer. I always go there and read the reviews before I buy anything. And the amp is only $260 brand new. I noticed all the reviews were good except one. That's the only thing about Behringer. Occasionally some of their equipment may be a lemon. I'd be careful about buying a used one as that may be why it is for sale. Also no warranty.
I have a Roland Cube30 and I love it. I built a foot switch for it that changes channels and turns the effect (chorus, phase, flange, or tremolo) on or off. The other effect on there is delay or reverb and it stays on as you set it no matter which channel you're playing through. Was thinking about getting the Cube 60, but now I have been hearing lots of good things about the Peavey Viper series and after checking some reviews and seeing the price and how much more versatile it is, I think that would be my choice so far. But, by the time I'm ready to get it, maybe something even better will come along.

Ok, so the Roland cube seems to be good for you.. ok..

The best advice I can offer you is that a crappy guitar and a crappy amp can be made good by the effects you use to color your sound.

1) Go to your local music show etc and get comfortable with the type of guitar you will be buying. (just do not buy it there)(buy used unless no other choice)

2) I'd get your Roland Cube first if you really are set on it and THEN bring it to the place you will buy amp/guitar and PLUG IT IN. DID YOU LIKE THE SOUND? then buy it? If not, find a different amp.

I can make the worst guitar and amp sound good if I have good effects and an amp that will work with what I want to use. No better way then to try it out right there. (the sales people will sell you anything)

Behringer is always a hit or miss. Some of their equipment's alright, other times it's not. But yeah, follow the advice on here: Buy used unless you have no choice. It'll be cheaper in the long run. And if you can't buy used, don'g buy through music stores, buy online because music stores tend to jack up prices.

I will agree with RTC to one extent yet take some contention on the next.
Yes, we can (and I have obviously because I use a lot of Carvin gear) buy stuff on line. And a lot of times if your shop carefully you can save some money. BUT, retailers whom have service and guarantees have a good role to play in our economy.
When I was smithing used to piss me off, every day customers would tell me about the cheaper price at the "big box store". Then the next week they would show up with some busted ass gun the bought ten dollars cheaper from the BBS. When they took it back the BBS people would tell them Ah thats too bad, it's your problem bud.
If they'd bought it from me. 1st off I would know if it was deffective and not sold it to them in the first place. 2nd if a problem got passed me
I fixed it or had it replaced for them FREE!
Moral to the rant? Be carefull how hard you work to save ten bucks!!
Can cost you a lot more in the long run.

Thanks. I was set on buying used since it seemed to be cheap, but I went and tried out the Cube 30x [with a Paul nonetheless haha] and I was slightly impressed.

Now here's the thing bout the Cube. The more time I spent on it, the more I found a nicer tone. It takes a while to figure out all the good settings. It's $280 minus taxes, brand new.

I was planning on doing like the Capt. said [oh the horror... we think alike?!] and get the Cube first since it just sounded quite versatile.

I can make the worst guitar and amp sound good if I have good effects and an amp that will work with what I want to use.

I know. My friend's friend came for a jam the other day and he had such a huge rig. So many pedals, noise gates, etc. Yes, I said gateS lol
And he had a decent ESP + some crappy amp. Moral: I don't like a clutter of pedals, maybe one Metal Zone and thats bout it.

<happyrant>
The salesman started playing Judas Priest and I smiled. You know what? He was actually very nice. I was shocked. He tuned the Paul, set up the amp and before he got up, he turned the volume up! You know, usually they shout "turn it down; it's too loud for the store" haha
</happyrant>

I'm trying the Lado and the Ibanez some time around this weekend. We'll see how they work out with the Cube if I decide to go through with this plan.

Thanks again, guys.

Oh and bout the used stuff. I test it out thoroughly before I consider buying. Unfortunately, when I went to the store, they didn't have the Behringer model or the Ibanez axe. I was looking forward to hook up the Ibanez to the Cube and hear how it sounds...

Hey, Andragon, you might still want to check out that Peavey Vyper. It's got all the modeling and trans tube technology and you can later add the pedal for accessing the presets. And it's only $200.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=482909
I haven't played through one yet, but have talked to lots of people who have and they all love it. I really like the Cube 30 that I got, but I got it and a Squire Strat both for $200 from a friend. If I were going to spend $200 on an amp, I'd definitely go with the Vyper. I'm looking at the Vyper 75 watt one now for $300.

It's recommended as a good metal amp, but it's said that it's not as versatile with PURE cleans or overdriven blues sound. I'ma go try it and see what I think.
Thanks, man

Or.... http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=487781V Wow! 120 watts for $99!

Thanks, man. I tried out Crates before [3 to be exact]. I just don't like the tone.
I tried the Vypyr at the store. It wasn't bad for a modelling amp, but it was nowhere near the Cube. I hooked up a Paul and an Ibanez [similar to the one I'm probably getting]. The lead channel feedbacked quite a bit in different situations. I messed around with it for 15-20 minutes and I couldn't get a good crunchy tone. Also the knobs were touchy. There was a lot more effects than the Cube though. But that didn't do it for me.

Went back to the Cube and a sigh of relief escaped my mouth. The Jazz Chorus channel and the Classic preset are perfect for cleans. Very warm, bright-enough tones and no buzz/hum/unwanted sound. The Rectifier and Metal presets are killer for [captain obvious:] metal/hard rock and the "Tweed" did well with blues/rockin' stuff.
And this thing is LOUD. It's definitely small-venue gig-worthy.

$300 and so far, worth it.

yeah, the Cube definitely has better sounds than the Crate. Glad to know that about the Vyper although I'm an effects kinda guy. Some friends were playing at local bar and called me up and asked if I wanted to come out and jam with them and to bring a guitar and amp. I walked in with my guitar case and my Cube 30 and they started laughing. The guitarist was running a Marshall 2-12 combo and the bassist was playing through an Ampeg with the 8-10 cab. I hooked up the Cube (they were going to mic it anyway) and started wailing away and they were blown away. They wouldn't have had to mic it except that their amps were mic'd too.

Ive got a little Mesa Subway Rocket 20 watts 2xEL84 tubes that just smokes. I can use it without a mic up to around 150 seat room. It gets a great clean sound and can also do hard rock, I wouldnt say it could do metal without a pedal, Im talking the newer metal, old school metal it will do it.

Modeling amps are great for finding tones, but once you have an idea of what you want to sound like get a real amp.

Rats ass I like the Cube. I would recomend it over the viper any day.