No point in buying a new amp...

[StratGT]

This thread has wondered quite far now, but I still have questions to ask.

The lack of dynamics is still the biggest (and maybe only) thing that bothers me about the Mustang 2. I play primarily blues, so of course it's very noticeable.

I get the feeling I should consider buying some kind of small cheap tube amp. Of course I won't get many sounds out of it (compared to the M2), but maybe it's worth it? You don't need much to just play some blues, just some warmth and some dynamics. I've heard many great things about the Vox Pathfinder, even though it's also SS. Unfortunately none are sold in my country, so I can't just go and try one

Or should I get into amp building and build a small tube amp myself? I've seen some courses here and there, can't say I'm not interested.

Here's what over 30 years of experience has taught me...get a decent tube amp with a great clean channel and put your favorite OD/ Distortion pedal in front of it. A great pedal can go from mild to wild and cover allot of ground.

I have a Vox 20+ as a practice amp which has 33 different sounds...many of them are completely useless (for me) and I end up using clean, grit, and overdrive...that's it. Unfortunately out of those 3 tones, they're mediocre examples of the 3 tones that I need...so I'll probably sell the damm thing and buy a little 15 watt Fender amp and use my OD pedals for a couple of good sounds. For the record, I'm not saying saying the little Vox amp is a bad amp...out of all the little modelling amps it sounded the best (to me). But, I little tube amp can give you a much better tone and a good OD pedal complements it.

I'll take 2 or 3 great tones over 33 below average sounds any day.

 

[Echo]

If dynamics is the issue I dont think any new SS amp or a upgrade to your existing gear will give you any meaningful improvement over your M2. I think a 5w - 15w tube amp will get you what you want and you can get used Blues Jrs or Phaez here or on ebay without having to learn to build an amp. Figure $300-$500 and you should be set and keep your M2 for night time and low volume practice. Limited edition BJrs have better speaker so if you go that route check out the diffrent flavors. I hope I answered the right question this time

Fender Blues Jr III Gold Amplifier Limited Edition (Les Paul) - YouTube

Here's what over 30 years of experience has taught me...get a decent tube amp with a great clean channel and put your favorite OD/ Distortion pedal in front of it. A great pedal can go from mild to wild and cover allot of ground.

I have a Vox 20+ as a practice amp which has 33 different sounds...many of them are completely useless (for me) and I end up using clean, grit, and overdrive...that's it. Unfortunately out of those 3 tones, they're mediocre examples of the 3 tones that I need...so I'll probably sell the damm thing and buy a little 15 watt Fender amp and use my OD pedals for a couple of good sounds.

I'll take 2 or 3 great tones over 33 below average mediocre sounds any day.

That's exactly what I wanted to hear

To summarize -

Many beginners start out with a SS, and that's good because they don't exactly know what they want out an amp yet (a beginner also may not notice the sound quality as much ).

I'm not an experienced player, but maybe it is time to pick something that's a bit more specific. And if I keep the Mustang anyway, what could go wrong?

I absolutely agree with taking a few good sounds over many bad ones.

Not to say pedals can't solve anything. It's interesting that you especially mentioned a dirt pedal. I'm not much into dirt myself (ok, the Mustang isn't very good with that), but I see what you mean by going from mild to wild. What I'm afraid of, is having to build a pedal board. But I think you just demonstrated that it's not necessary. I don't mind having just and OD and a Tuner beside the amp.

Maybe I'm gonna make the move right now, maybe I'll wait a bit and see. That's what my gut is telling me right now at least.

I'm not abandoning the idea of building an amp though! Ok, it's probably a pretty big time consumer, but I might just like it. We'll see, something for the future here.


Soo yeah, I think all of my questions have been answered now

Not stopping anyone from adding to this thread though, awesome advice here.

 

[KenG]

Í'd just like to point out that most peoples'opinions on modellers are based on amps that cost less than $300.00 for the whole package. What you get at that price range is an introduction to modelling with limitations not just of the models themselves but often the cab and speaker are quite small. Cranking a small modelling amp is not the way to go, they are meant to emulate the sound of their cranked bigger brothers sounds at lower volumes. Once you get into the better modellers the money is simply for the preamp, effects and amp sims, you don't even get a speaker or amp as these thigns require you invest in specialized equipment to get the most out of it. I like my little VOX but my HD blows it out of the water Mind you the VOX was $240 all in and the HD was $530 plus I needed decent powered monitors for it just for home (another $300). Of the people that didn't like some of the higher level stuff, the majority of them tried running them into guitar amps or thru amps into guitar speaker cabs ruining all the simulation work done in the first place.