Marshall Amp Forum - View Single Post

steelhorse · 10-07-2008, 06:21 PM

The powerbrake or hotplate won't blow up your amp, completely safe. I prefer the hotplate. Just sounds better to me.

As for cabs or amps or gear, you really need to go into the shop(s) and try them out for yourself. Take a few of your guitars and put all the amps and cabs through the test.

That's REALLY the best way any of us can help you choose.

You have an idea of what you want but you could walk in and be greatly disappointed with the one you're expecting to buy.

It's happened to me in the past 30+ years I've been playing (yikes!) and when folks ask me what they should get I point a few things out:

1: if you buy cheap, it's gonna probably perform about the same as that, so spend wisely with the consideration that at some point you're either going to upgrade or give it up and need to sell it. Better equipment as you know usually sounds and performs better inspiring the player to play more. (fwiw, I don't believe this is an issue for you heh)

2: Never over spend. I've seen guys walk in all wide eyed plunk down some big coin as if they were already preparing for stardom only to get pennies on the dollar when they find out it isn't as easy as they thought. (hmmm...maybe this)

3: Bigger, more knobs, more this or that doesn't equal better. Have you seen some of the rigs the big time players made their name with? Shamelessly simple. Heck, EVH had 1 flippin' humbucker in a beat up old ratty guitar! Same with Jimi, even Zakk's amps don't have multiple channels. Pros like these can plug into a practice amp and sound great. (or this?)

4: More expensive, boutique, NOS, vintage doesn't equal better. (we all get fixated with this at some point if you play long enough)

and lastly, never buy into the hype or because your ego would be massaged by having the biggest baddest rig on the block, because those are only fleeting.

/end rant

good luck and have fun!

10-07-2008, 06:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,016	Re: Help me choose!! The powerbrake or hotplate won't blow up your amp, completely safe. I prefer the hotplate. Just sounds better to me. As for cabs or amps or gear, you really need to go into the shop(s) and try them out for yourself. Take a few of your guitars and put all the amps and cabs through the test. That's REALLY the best way any of us can help you choose. You have an idea of what you want but you could walk in and be greatly disappointed with the one you're expecting to buy. It's happened to me in the past 30+ years I've been playing (yikes!) and when folks ask me what they should get I point a few things out: 1: if you buy cheap, it's gonna probably perform about the same as that, so spend wisely with the consideration that at some point you're either going to upgrade or give it up and need to sell it. Better equipment as you know usually sounds and performs better inspiring the player to play more. (fwiw, I don't believe this is an issue for you heh) 2: Never over spend. I've seen guys walk in all wide eyed plunk down some big coin as if they were already preparing for stardom only to get pennies on the dollar when they find out it isn't as easy as they thought. (hmmm...maybe this) 3: Bigger, more knobs, more this or that doesn't equal better. Have you seen some of the rigs the big time players made their name with? Shamelessly simple. Heck, EVH had 1 flippin' humbucker in a beat up old ratty guitar! Same with Jimi, even Zakk's amps don't have multiple channels. Pros like these can plug into a practice amp and sound great. (or this?) 4: More expensive, boutique, NOS, vintage doesn't equal better. (we all get fixated with this at some point if you play long enough) and lastly, never buy into the hype or because your ego would be massaged by having the biggest baddest rig on the block, because those are only fleeting. /end rant good luck and have fun!