#1951243 - 06/01/08 06:23 AM
New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
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Bryton
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Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 32
Loc: Michigan
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Ok guys, I broke down and bought my son his next step up for what I could afford, and I got him this guitar http://www.prsguitars.com/sesinglecut/index.html with the recommendations from a lot of people. For a $600 guitar, this thing is a really nice guitar and plays outstanding and my son absolutely loves it. Thanks Lee (Dr. Ellwood) for the advice on this guitar. Now, the sales person at the store recommended this amp
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Line-6-Spider-III-75-75W-1x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp-103944773-i1168992.gc which cost $300, which I had never heard of before, but then again I have never played and know absolutely nothing about any of this stuff, so he showed me this amp and said it is perfect for my son as my son is only 13 and only been playing for about 5 Months, but he is really doing well. This thing has a ton of stuff on it, and I don't know if he needs it all or not. After doing some research when I got home, I have read both good and bad about this amp. Really the only bad thing is that they say the sound quality is not great, and a it's not a tube amp, which I have no idea what that means. Maybe someone can explain that to me. Gosh I hate being ignorant about this stuff. Everything else everybody thought was awesome about the amp. To me it sounds pretty darn good, but then again, Im clueless, so what Im asking is, can any of you recommend for me an amp in the $300 range that is or would be better then this for my son, to maybe take this amp back and get him a better one for the same price. This will be his last guitar and amp I buy for him for atleast a few years, so I do want to make sure I get him the best amp I can. The guitar, totally satisfied with this axe, it is really a very nice peice of hardware. Sorry so long folks, but again, you guys have been great to me on here in the past, and I appreciate you helping the idiot out lol. Thanks.
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#1951249 - 06/01/08 06:40 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Bryton]
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Strategery
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 02/24/07
Posts: 2662
Loc: Georgia USA
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WOW...what a dad! 
He should really like that set up!
Hey, your son will love that amp!
He can go a long way with that one and really be able to explore which avenue of music he wants to take.
That amp is a modeller...which means it can sound like many different amps.
It also has a lot of effects which are important as well.
It's perfect for someone up and coming and in fact, it's a nice little amp period!
What you've just given him...is an unlimited path of musical self learning...both guitar and amp.
You did a good job and you should be proud of yourself.
Have a great sunday.
Randy
P.S. I copied this from your link. This is what I'm talking about.
Amp Models:
Clean: Red LED - Select this Amp Model and adjust the tone controls to get crisp, amazing clean tones, great warm jazz tones, and all the high-end shimmer you'll need with a generous amount of bottom end.
Glassy: Green LED - Line 6 developed this Amp Model to emulate those late 60's and early 70's clean tones. It is like a 1973 Hiwatt Custom 100 with an extended tone control range and tightened up low end.
Twang: Red LED - This Amp Model draws on the mid 60's Fender amps, including the blackface '65 Twin Reverb and blackface '64 Deluxe Reverb. It has classic glassy high-end tone, with some snap and bite.
Twin Twang: Green LED - This Amp Model is based on* a number of vintage tweed amps: a '53 Fender tweed Deluxe Reverb, '58 Fender tweed Bassman and a '60 Gibson Explorer to create a swingin' Rockabilly tone.
Blues: Red LED Based on* a mix of a '65 Marshall JTM-45, a '58 Fender Bassman, a '63 Fender Vibroverb and a Supro, this Amp Model slides between gritty swamp-infected cleans to syrupy smooth, walloping drive tones.
Class A: Green LED - This Amp Model is based on* a fawn Vox AC-30 amplifier with an updated and expanded tone control circuit. It captures that early British pop rock tone that the Beatles and the Stones are so well known for.
Crunch: Red LED - This sound was crafted from studies of the '68 Marshall Plexi 50 Watt. This type of Marshall amp was used by a number of early metal bands. Crunch provides a wider range of tone control settings than the original Marshall amplifier had.
On Fire: Green LED - This Amp Model is based on* a 68 Marshall Plexi 100 watt with a few added extras; The combination of a Variac and the jumped input channels creates that infamous brown sound.
Metal: Red LED - This Amp Model is based on* the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. Use this Amp Model to get a tight and punchy, high gain Metal sound.
Spinal Puppet: Green LED - This sound was created to be an aggressive high gain Amp Model with a unique Mid control that will sweep though an entire spectrum of tone on one knob. The Mid knob for this Amp Model changes the character of the distortion. When set to minimum, the distortion exhibits Fuzz pedal characteristics. When the Mid is set to noon, it mimics the creamy modern high gain amp tones. And when the Mid knob is turned up to max, it's very much reminiscent of that Class A sound.
Insane: Red LED - This model is a dialed in for shredding" version based on* the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier red channel. It combines the intensity and impact of Metal Red, but delivers more midrange and teeth for that bone-crushing, brain piercing insane grind.
80s Solo: Green LED - The goal with Insane is to provide you with as much input gain distortion as possible short of complete meltdown. You get an obscene helping of distortion, while still retaining tonal definition and character.
Effects:
A great amp isn't the only part of a great guitar sound. With Smart Control FX, an exclusive Line 6 feature that automatically dials in different effect parameters, you spend more time playing and less time tweaking. Simply find the effect that you want, turn the knob to your desired intensity, and you're done. You can even use multiple effects at the same if you wanna get really crazy.
Effects Models (Up to 3 effects simultaneous)
Phaser
Chorus/Flanger
Tremolo
Sweep Echo
Tape Echo
Reverb
Edited by Strategery (06/01/08 06:52 AM)
_________________________
"I like them franch fried puh-taters...Uhm-Hmm."
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#1951256 - 06/01/08 06:49 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Strategery]
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Bluesape
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Registered: 06/13/05
Posts: 9004
Loc: Ottawa
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For the money, it's just fine. Those of us who are seasoned would pay, say.....double that amount for a tube amp, but for now, this amp is fine. When he finds direction, he WILL outgrow it, but no worries, unless there are used tube amps in your area. Don't worry about warranty on tube amps. My main amp is 55 years old and totally reliable.
_________________________
Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
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#1951276 - 06/01/08 07:25 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Rampdog]
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Bluesape
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Registered: 06/13/05
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Loc: Ottawa
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"That's a way better setup than most of us in here started with..."
Absolutely! Total props for starting him off with nice gear.
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Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
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#1951280 - 06/01/08 07:30 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Rampdog]
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Bryton
Senior Member
Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 32
Loc: Michigan
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Ok, now I feel a little bit better. Thanks STRATEGERY, I feel a lot better apperantly knowing I did a pretty good job for him.
RAMPDOG, thanks for the kind words. The reason I did this for him was, he does have a Fender Squire, made in INDONESIA or some crap, and a 15 watt Marshall that he started off on, which lasted all of this long, about 5 months, and now that he has progressed pretty good, and is playing stuff like, Black Sabbath, and The Scorpions, and Greenday and stuff, he was getting frustrated when it didn't sound like it at all with what he had. So, me being scared, and worried that he would lose interest went ahead and just spent a few bucks for what I think is a pretty good set up, and he loves the way it sounds, and actually sounds like the songs he is trying to play. I mean, he wouldn't put it down last night, so that is what I was looking for. I could care less if he plays guitar or not, but I know he loves it, so I want him to stay interested for him. But thanks for the encouragment everyone. I really needed to hear that, and I know I will get an honest opinion on here as well and that is ultimately what I was looking for. Thanks everyone.
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#1951334 - 06/01/08 09:39 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
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Rampdog
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Registered: 02/04/06
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One more thing Bryton... Keep in mind that your boy will never grow up to be a musician... It is impossible to do both...
(I know...someone else said that but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway)
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I play in the 'Key' of 'Fun'......
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#1951335 - 06/01/08 09:41 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Caevan O'Shite]
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Bryton
Senior Member
Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 32
Loc: Michigan
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Thanks CAEVAN, as insecure as I am about this whole thing, I just needed to know that I didn't do to bad for him. Yes, he loves the sound. He totally loves playing his new PRS through it. He plugged in his Fender to it, and it totally doesn't sound close to his new PRS. I am very impressed with this guitar. It is built really well, and sounds great, even for not being an american made. I heard great things about PRS and everything I've heard is absolutely true to form. And yes, he loves playing around with all the settings. I think it will help him to actually try different things to find out what sound it is that he actually likes. So I am really excited about that. Thanks for everything.
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#1951336 - 06/01/08 09:42 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Bryton]
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Bryton
Senior Member
Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 32
Loc: Michigan
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RAMPDOG, what exactly do you mean by that? "Keep in mind that your boy will never grow up to be a musician... It is impossible to do both..." Do both of what? I don't understand that. Sorry, again my ignorance lol.
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#1951346 - 06/01/08 09:57 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need help
[Re: Rampdog]
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Bryton
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Registered: 02/17/08
Posts: 32
Loc: Michigan
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lmao, ok, thats what I thought you were getting at, but I wasn't sure. But I got it now. Yeah, I don't ever want him or my daughter to grow up. I want them to stay my babies forever, lol.
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#1951355 - 06/01/08 10:11 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need
[Re: Bryton]
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Dave da Dude
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Registered: 05/15/02
Posts: 3582
Loc: Charlotte, NC
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RAMPDOG, what exactly do you mean by that? "Keep in mind that your boy will never grow up to be a musician... It is impossible to do both..." Do both of what? I don't understand that. Sorry, again my ignorance lol.
I believe that Ramdog means that a musician is a person that has never grown up. 
It is possible though... just highly unlikely. 
And yes... you did REAL good Pop. Even if you did want to get involved in the whole tube versus solid state thing... your son will much more enjoy all the emulations and EFX (Effects) of the Spider III for quite some time. I did foster care for over twenty years and still have two adopted ones (12yoa & 18yoa), so I can speak from some good deal of personal experience.
By the time when (if) he ever decides that he absolutely HAS to have a tube amp... it will be at LEAST a couple of years, maybe more. I know, because this big kid non-musician, hack guitar player, took over twenty years to come to that conclusion... here at the best guitar forum on the net!!! Sorry... just had ta' get the plug in, but it's true.
PS: btw, IF he gets around to buying (or Dad buying) EFX pedals... get good ones that he can keep "forever" and ones that the sound will satisfy "forever" (i.e. expensive for the most part). First suggestion... an Equalizer (EQ) that shapes the tone over a wide range of frequencies.
PPS: ebay is a great source for EFX's
Edited by Dave da Dude (06/01/08 10:15 AM)
Edit Reason: add PS, then PPS
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Gotta' geetar... need an amp.
One step at a time... burp... GAS... burp... GAS...
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#1951362 - 06/01/08 10:16 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need
[Re: Dave da Dude]
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Dave da Dude
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Registered: 05/15/02
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btw... me thinks that Daddy has GAS!!! <see Rampdog's avatar for the snicker here>
_________________________
Gotta' geetar... need an amp.
One step at a time... burp... GAS... burp... GAS...
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#1951367 - 06/01/08 10:25 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need
[Re: Dave da Dude]
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soggybomb
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Registered: 08/03/07
Posts: 744
Loc: Gainesville, FL
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the line 6 stuff is great for young players because it allows them to find the types of tones that they like the best. however, i would also take a look at the Peavey Windsor Studio. Its an affordable tube amp that has excellent tone. It is an excellent amp for the hard rock styles your son favors. You just have to weigh the options: whether your son wants lots of decent sounding settings, or one primary tone that it does really well.
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#1951379 - 06/01/08 10:57 AM
Re: New Amp for my son. Not sure if its the right one. Need
[Re: Bryton]
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Caevan O'Shite
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Thanks CAEVAN, as insecure as I am about this whole thing, I just needed to know that I didn't do to bad for him. Yes, he loves the sound. He totally loves playing his new PRS through it. He plugged in his Fender to it, and it totally doesn't sound close to his new PRS. I am very impressed with this guitar. It is built really well, and sounds great, even for not being an american made. I heard great things about PRS and everything I've heard is absolutely true to form. And yes, he loves playing around with all the settings. I think it will help him to actually try different things to find out what sound it is that he actually likes. So I am really excited about that. Thanks for everything.
Oops- I just read your other post where you said how much he liked the amp (and the PRS) and how he couldn't put it down the other night and all... sorry, didn't mean to be redundant there before!  
Yeah, I bet that PRS pleased him quite a bit, too! A great combintation, that and that amp.
Another thing about that PRS- for the most part, it's much better suited for the types of sounds and musical-styles that you say your son is playing, than a Strat-style of any brand, price-point, or level of quality.
Most players going for those kinds of sounds and styles use a Gibson-style or similar guitar (PRS's fall into that category) with humbuckers (the dual-coil, hum-canceling pickups), or perhaps something a little more like a Fender, but often with humbuckers instead of the Strat's Fender-style single-coil pickups (like when Billy Joe Armstrong used to play a Strat with humbuckers earlier on with Greenday, or Eddie Van Halen's Kramer Strat-style with a humbucker, etc.). Those who don't are more exceptions than the rule (Ritchie Blackmore with Deep Purple/Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.). The bands that you mentioned before that your son likes pretty much all use Gibson-y, humbucker-equipped axes for most or all of their guitar work.
Going to the PRS was definitely a step in the right direction!
Nothing wrong with a Fender-style guitar at all, though, it's just a different flavor or color with different strengths and weaknesses.
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