wraub

Inexpensive but still pretty good? I have an AKG Perception 200 and a 220, the older blue/silver ones. I am very pleased with the results I get on different sources, and the 200 is my daily vocal mic for the radio gig. I haven't directly compared them to the newer ones, but I've heard those and they seem okay, too.

Long time thrift store/pawn shop digger here, and I have definitely gotten some great deals that way.

I thought so, too. The body is about 90%, I could build it out as is and call it a relic, but I think it wants better than that. It definitely could use some tlc, but for the price I couldn't pass it up. I might remove some wood from the back, as the body is a little thick and heavy for my tastes. Considering a single humbucker (possibly two) and a 22 fret Jackson slab rosewood 'board pointy (early 90s replacement neck) on a hardtail. Either black or nickel hardware. I may just throw an old Invader pickup in it and see what I get.

My recently acquired amp is switchable between 50 watts, 25 watts, or .5 watts. When I got it, I very briefly tried it at 50 and 25 just to see... It lives at .5 watts and it's plenty loud, still too loud at some settings. It has one 12 inch speaker, a 4x12 would be dangerous in my space.

...all my stuff is on soundcloud.

I'm a big fan of ash, sonically and aesthetically. Recently picked up a project Tele body that's ash with a black korina top, and the ash has me interested in the pickups and hardware chosen here.

I'll buy small stuff from Sweetwater, but the possible return is always in mind and the cost always excludes the big stuff for me.The biggest get from them was a Gator guitar case, easily enough returned if unliked but I knew it'd work. I got my recent amp acquisition at GC- Played it for a while, picked out my favorite looking cardboard box, and took it home. 45 days to return, no hassles if I do. I don't love GC, but at times they do serve a useful purpose.

Newest favorite setting- clean channel, slight reverb, master on 9 and volume on 2-3, effect pedals for flavor. It's good... I may never even use the USB.

I've definitely not got them too high, if anything they're slightly lower than typical P.A.F. specs dictate, but that's where they sound the best to me. I usually put pickups where they sound the best to me, and measure afterwards. I think I really like these pickups- the neck is really good, the bridge is still a little bright but definitely in the "Tele on steroids" camp. I definitely prefer lower wind, lower resistance pickups, in my basses and guitars, but I think I'm over active basses. I have two that hardly ever get played.

I don't bend strings much on my Strat, but do all the time on my LPSO... I think it's the sustain, it just works musically in a way the Strat doesn't do as well.

I have been trying to get brand new pickups in a brand new inexpensive guitar to sound like the vintage goodies, and, after a lot of adjustments, I think we are pretty damn close. The natural sound of the guitar is on the tighter side, and it's been a process getting the warmth I was seeking, but we are pretty much there. Obviously, it's not going to sound like a well broken-in and loved/abused old guitar, but what it's got ain't bad. Larryz- I have adjusted the pickups and the polepieces countless times, I think I may be done now. I prefer the treble be defined and full, not piercingly bright but clear and precise, and the lower side to be clear and distinct. I like articulation and clarity, but dislike shrillness and muddiness.These PAF style pickups are good, very accurate at conveying the sound of the guitar, but the pole pieces weren't evenly balanced sonically. All's even soundwise across the range now, but the pole piece screws are all over the place. I like the guitar enough that I got a brand new case for it... I guess it's staying.

I'm pretty sure I'll be getting the foot switch. Played through the Katana for a few more hours yesterday, it's very capable. I've yet to plug in the computer, I've been using the controls on the amp and getting a variety of great sounds, finding out what does what. The reverb is good, the delay is pretty good, the amp variations are as useful as the main settings, and it's all very adjustable with the amp's controls. The brown and lead channels do have some hiss, but it's comparable to the sound of the modeled amps at idle, definitely not too obtrusive but louder than the clean channels which are very quiet. I don't think it would be an issue in a band context, but could see it being so in a solo setting. The "tone settings" buttons presets are good too, one offers a reverby-clean that's Fendery enough for my uses. It gets a lot of play time. I've been turning on the amp in the morning, playing for a while, and doing other stuff, then playing some more, etc. The Katana quietly waits to get loud, and it does sound good. I leave it in standby mode when not playing, then switch it to .5 watts, which can still get a little too loud at some settings. So far, it's difficult to find much to dislike.

I like it. Enjoy.

After a lot of reading and online comparisons, I went out yesterday to pick up one of these. I figured the best way to know if it was any good was to really know. Drove to GC, it was quick and casual there, and got it home. Smaller than expected, easy unboxing and setup. As yet, I have only played it as-is, no computer involved- that will likely come. Played through it for a few hours last night, first impressions: the clean sound is very good, as is the crunch, very useful stuff there, plays well with pedals. The "brown" setting is really good, very faithful imo, although a little hissy. The brown and distortion channels both have some high end background hiss, slight but apparent. Pretty sure it wouldn't be an issue in a group or gig setting, but it's there. I tried it for a second at the higher output settings, the 25 watt one is louder than I could really ever use in the house (although next time I'm home alone there will be a moment...) , and the 50 watt one is, as expected, even louder but mostly seems to add some headroom. The .5 watt setting is perfect for my uses, just loud enough bordering on too loud at some settings. If needed, it do get loud. I wouldn't say it's the best at any one thing, but it's very good at lots of things that all seem useful. Apparently involving the computer and applying some global EQ can improve it further, I'll probably do that after I get used to what it offers like this. It seems to offer almost endless opportunities for experimentation with tone shaping and sonic creativity that I'm kinda looking forward to trying. If I keep it I will get the foot switch. I have it for 45 days, I intend to use it a lot and see if we fully bond, but, for now, I think I like it. More to come.

I was just in GC today, too. Looked around a bit, came home with a Katana 50 Mk2. We'll see if I like it.

...and, I just got back from GC with a Katana 50 Mk2. It is unwrapped and plugged in and waiting, right over there next to the guitars. I'll be back.

Thanks for the report, Larryz... I've come to understand a little about PAF pickups, and adjusting the height of the pickups and the polepieces individually as needed, and I've noticed slight adjustments can make big changes. Maybe with some time to fiddle about with things, you could make them sound more alike than different, but if you like what you have, then just enjoy that. I played a new Epi LP for a minute today, and I thought it sounded very good but a little bass heavy. The pickups I have are very clear and distinct but I have them set up to avoid a lot of that bassness (a real word, I swear ) . What would you say defines your preferences vs. the others in the shoot out?

I am but awaiting a new guitar case and I'm going to GC/Sam Ash and comparing. I have nothing against the Katana, and I'm actually eager to actually try one out... I just know me, and I'd rather plug in and play than wade through menus and options I may never use, so the stuff I've seen on it and similar amps does seem a little off putting. When I want to be creative I like the process to feel easy, rather than like a process, if that makes sense.

I've been watching videos and doing a lot of reading, and the Katana looks really promising, until I see firmware updates, and digital fizz, and sound editor menus... The same with the Yamaha THR, good but so much I really don't need or want. I just want to play, to plug in and go- good cleans, maybe some dirt when desired, plays nice with pedals, not too big, too loud, or too expensive.If it's got a speaker out to drive a bigger cab if desired, even better, but not mandatory at all. Maybe I do just want a good simple amp that rocks. All the tone videos I've been watching lately seem to point that way, and also point to amps I could never justify buying, and definitely can't afford anyway. But, it's the tone I want. Still looking.

I've really been contemplating this question, and trying to reconcile my desires with my budget is, as always, an issue. Budget aside, the sound I'm seeking is in the previous video I linked re: the pickups I have, and, in these videos, in the guitar demos... It's worth the watch, imo. I have no affiliation with the band, store, or player... I just really dig the tones. [video:youtube] [video:youtube] What sort of amp and sound are you looking for? Low watt? High watt? Loud and clean with a lot of headroom, medium or high gain, bright, dark... ? Fendery, Marshally, Voxy, MESA/Boogieish... ? Combo or head and cab? Do you prefer 12" speakers, or 10", or... ? "Play the amp" varying your guitars volume-knobs and your "touch"? Or consistently the same? "Pedal platform"? Effects-loop necessary? Channel-switching, two or more? One AMAZING channel? What kind of price range? Tea-infusion? Incense-burner? Ovaltine?

Your amp is more tempting every minute... I bought mine new, (probably in 2006 or 2007). I got it on sale from one of the on line stores a year or two before version 3 came out, mine is version 2 made in Mexico. I probably have well over $800 in it considering the purchase price, the new tubes and tube rings, the speaker, and the cap job. I only got the cap job done because it was in the shop for a minor repair and while he had the amp open I pulled the trigger on the cap job, just because I know they wear out over time. I play that amp once a month over 3 days to keep the caps charged up and it is always plugged in.

Update- I can now go up to, but can absolutely not exceed, $400. More to come.

Apologies for the delay, how's this? Also... a new portrait-

Yeah, $300 is about as high as I can realistically go and still be welcome at home , and I also think that Hot Rod Deluxe may be more wattage than I really need. Good looking amp, though. Thanks indeed @Larryz for the heads-up. Thanks for the heads up @Larryz I see that his top dollar is $300, so I guess this amp is out of his price range. I won't sell it for that little. I will need $500 to buy my next (much smaller amp like that little Roland of yours Larryz) The HRD sounds awesome clean, if I can't sell it for the money I am asking, I will just keep it until I can, no big problem.

Looking for warmth and clarity, not into built in distortion or overdrive. I have pedals for that. Home/bedroom use, but also good for recording if desired. It will likely never be used onstage, because I'm not likely to ever play guitar onstage, but it could maybe happen, I suppose. I like darker rather than brighter, bluesy more than metal. Probably a combo, probably not too loud. I tend to play the amp, using the guitar's controls for that... I like the ability to have breakup and tube saturation, but have always disliked the maintenance of tubes. One speaker is fine, but two is not a deal breaker. I like 12s and 10s for guitar, but open to possibilities. Channel switching could be useful, but more interested in one amazing channel. Most modeling amps in my price range don't sound great to me.I like "real" stuff, if that makes sense. I do run a pedalboard, but usually just plug it in. I guess, if pressed, I'd lean more towards Fender/Vox, but I do remember a Boogie combo at the recording studio I worked at that was fairly amazing. I prefer clean to dirty from an amp, I can always add dirty. Price range- that could be an issue. I'm not primarily a guitar player, so can't really justify a major expense for a hobby tool, and I do have a household budget officer. I can do $200-250, maybe $300 tops. I feel leery of buying an amp used, not sure why, but, it's a thing. I'd do it from a store that offered a warranty of some kind, but from the usual private sellers I get cautious. Lots to go wrong, and I can probably only do this once. I've been looking at the Yamaha THR5, but still unconvinced. It's still got that "modeling thing", but could maybe be useful for recording. More than anything, I want quality sound, clear and warm. If that's a small single speaker cab and a micro tube head, or a big combo, I'm okay either way. I think my main issue is that guitar amps are kind of a mystery to me, so I'm learning on the go. I did just order a case for this guitar, so I can take it to some stores and try some things out. Oh, and coffee, or Yoo-hoo. Incense, optional. What sort of amp and sound are you looking for? Low watt? High watt? Loud and clean with a lot of headroom, medium or high gain, bright, dark... ? Fendery, Marshally, Voxy, MESA/Boogieish... ? Combo or head and cab? Do you prefer 12" speakers, or 10", or... ? "Play the amp" varying your guitars volume-knobs and your "touch"? Or consistently the same? "Pedal platform"? Effects-loop necessary? Channel-switching, two or more? One AMAZING channel? What kind of price range? Tea-infusion? Incense-burner? Ovaltine?