Solid State Amp heads?

Sassafras

Tech 21 Trademark. I think they're still being made,they pop up on ebay every so often. I never owned one but I have played through one a few times and was quite impressed. I do have the little Trademark 10 and it's a pretty good practise amp.

Creed_Clicks

VB800 looks good. Pricey though...

spacecadet

I picked up a ZT Lunchbox recently as a spare. It's a combo but there is a speaker output and you can turn off the internal speaker so essentially use it as a head. Not had to use it yet but alwasy test in soundcheck and it does a good job. Limited features but very good. 

samzadgan

i dont think its a rule of thumb...it depends on the cab and speakers too. I have had a Orange Rocker 30 combo in the past and I would say that the Crush Pro 120 is louder, but we are talking a 30w through 1 vintage 30, vs a 120w head through 4 Gt75's.

 

maybe @ICBM can chime in on this.

Creed_Clicks

I would stick a head through a 2X12 cabinet I reckon.

Jalapeno

Creed_Clicks said:

VB800 looks good. Pricey though...

If cheap's your thing the latest Marshall MGs perhaps ? (supposed to be better than the originals, well at least nobody's heard tell of one going off pop ... yet)

hobbio

Actually, whilst we're on the subject I've seen a few Hiwatt SS amps on ebay that look cheap. Are they any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hiwatt-G200R-Head-200w-Powerful-Guitar-Amp-Head-/271745398869?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item3f4549b855

Creed_Clicks

Can a footswitch be used with the orange?

not_the_dj

Creed_Clicks said:

Can a footswitch be used with the orange?

Yes, but it's not included.

Creed_Clicks

Yeah, those hiwatts look interesting...

Beexter

As for volume, I gigged with solid state combos for years. I've used a Roland Cube 60 (60 watts), a Tech21 TM60 (60 watts) and a Roland Cube 80XL (80 watts) - without exception ALL of them were loud enough (and stayed pristine clean) at gig level. I never had to mic any of them up or take a line out to the board - just plugged in and played. I always played them clean and got dirt from pedals.

I would, therefore, say with some confidence (and experience) that 60w plus on a solid state amp will be plenty loud enough to gig with.

As an aside, I have seen a number of examples where people have converted a Roland Cube combo to a head which would be a great way of doing it - you'd end up with a very compact and capable head for little money. I think Andertons did a "mystery amp" video showing an example. I'm sure a Google search of Roland Cube Head Conversion would show something up....You can pick up a CUBE for very reasonable money.

Creed_Clicks

I wouldn't have the skills to convert an amp

samzadgan

I used those hiwatts in a rehearsal studio and they were rubbish. I never got on with them.

You should also look at old Peavey's

monquixote

I believe there is a head version of something like a bandit though I can't remember what it is called.

Creed_Clicks

What about Quilter?

http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/products/aviator-amplifiers/aviator-powerplant-deluxe

Jalapeno

monquixote said:

I believe there is a head version of something like a bandit though I can't remember what it is called.

Is it the Peavey TransTube 100 ?

GuyBoden

Just my routine, I used to go to every Guitar shop nearby and play through all their available amps. I'd write a list of the things I liked about each amp, then I'd go back the next week and repeat the same routine, but narrow the list to my favs.

Creed_Clicks

True. Where I'm living at the moment, the selection wouldn't be great. So far, just from some online demos, the Orange Crush might be enough for me. Two channels. 

The Quilter amps look interesting. I'm waiting to hear back from someone who plays one, but a little bit pricey , but I'd be getting a good solid state.

I'd have no problem using a solid state with a cab as a main amp. None at all.

Creed_Clicks

The quilter tone block or the orange crush

ICBM

samzadgan said:

]i dont think its a rule of thumb...it depends on the cab and speakers too. I have had a Orange Rocker 30 combo in the past and I would say that the Crush Pro 120 is louder, but we are talking a 30w through 1 vintage 30, vs a 120w head through 4 Gt75's. maybe @ICBM can chime in on this.

Totally depends on the two amps. There is no hard and fast rule, even roughly - anywhere from nearly equivalent, to needing more than five times the power. It also depends on the context, valve amps tend to sound relatively louder compared to solid-state in a mix than they do in isolation.

I can't imagine a 120W solid state amp not being loud enough through decent speakers though.

Comparing it to a Super Bass is unfair . Most 100W valve amps don't even come close...