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Dybuk

Dybuk

Well-known member
Looking for some advice for my daughter's birthday. She plays guitar, bass and keyboard and is heading off to uni next year. The uni has suggested there is some money to be made doing gigs in the halls of residence. So she needs a better amp than the 20 quid job I had lying around.

I genuinely have no idea about amps, what brand is good, how much we are looking at (it's her 18th so she might get a decent present), what type of amp will fill a halls of residence room (200 people or so). Does the music style impact the type of amp you want (she's arctic monkey, fontaines type of sound). I know she likes the look of the Orange ones but she's definitley more substance over style so she's more than open to anything.

Any help from people who play would be gratefully received.
 
I'm out of touch with what's available these days regarding what to get but if she's going to sing and play more than one type of instrument then maybe a portable PA system is the way to go. Can then DI microphone, keyboards etc into it.
 
Do the venues have a proper sound desk? Where I play went amp-less years ago, and we plug in to the desk and run in ear monitors - more places go this way these days. What you don't want to do is spend a significant chunk of money on something that she does not actually need. It's worth finding this out, I think.

I play electric guitar. The amp you want for that depends on what sort of sound you want. There are hundreds of choices. The days of lugging massive 4x12's around are long gone.

Usually you would need a totally different amp for a bass. As for keys - I have no idea really - I think they usually plug into the sound desk without any amp at all.
 
Johnny Vincents Motorbike said:
what university does your daughter want to go to ?

she wont have her results in just yet - but when my kids were in their 'halls of residence' = you would struggle to get guitar, bass, keyboards & amp in them - space is an absolute premium.

in any case , this will do her well enough

www.pmtonline.co.uk

VOX Mini Superbeetle 50W Guitar Combo Amp

VOX Mini Superbeetle 50W Guitar Amplifier - Combines Iconic Looks with Stunning Nutube Sound Past meets present with the brand new VOX Superbeetle, a herald back to the Golden Age of Rock and Roll w...
www.pmtonline.co.uk www.pmtonline.co.uk
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Thanks everyone. I knew I'd get some good advice here. Any idea if that one has a headphone port taking into account Exileds message.

On space it's not an issue. Don't like to say but it looks like she's off to Oxford and their halls rooms are honestly massive.
 
Steer said:
Do the venues have a proper sound desk? Where I play went amp-less years ago, and we plug in to the desk and run in ear monitors - more places go this way these days. What you don't want to do is spend a significant chunk of money on something that she does not actually need. It's worth finding this out, I think.

I play electric guitar. The amp you want for that depends on what sort of sound you want. There are hundreds of choices. The days of lugging massive 4x12's around are long gone.

Usually you would need a totally different amp for a bass. As for keys - I have no idea really - I think they usually plug into the sound desk without any amp at all.
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That's a very good point. I'll see if I can find out what they have. Sound wise she's the heavier end of indie rock. I had no idea there were different amps for guitar and bass! Guitar is her main use of the amp though so I'll focus on that.
 
Dybuk said:
That's a very good point. I'll see if I can find out what they have. Sound wise she's the heavier end of indie rock. I had no idea there were different amps for guitar and bass! Guitar is her main use of the amp though so I'll focus on that.
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Yeah, if played loud enough and regularly enough a Bass guitar through a guitar amp will likely blow the speaker apart. Guitar amps are not designed for the low frequency's of bass.
 
I have a Boss Katana 100w amp, 1x12 speaker - very loud and not too bulky. Also has switching which allows you to play at low/practice volume, then dial it up in a venue.
 
exiledinboro said:
Theres a PMT in Oxford at Cowley so maybe have a look there when you’re down

You wouldn’t get the Black Friday deals

Assuming a PA is a bit more than she needs and a combo is what she wants which allows her to play bass on it I’d look at something like this

The website shows they have it in stock in Oxford so it’s probably a ex demo as says B-stock

www.pmtonline.co.uk

B-Stock Marshall MG50GFX Guitar Combo Amplifier

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www.pmtonline.co.uk www.pmtonline.co.uk
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Even better if there is an AMP that does both. That looks good and not a bad price. Thanks a lot.
 
I’ve got a Fender Deluxe which serves me really well. Anything by Fender is usually pretty safe, Marshall too.
 
Hello,
I'm a full time professional musician, tour regularly.

If you want something versatile and with headphones, digital/modeling is probably the way to go. Most gigs I do now, people are using Kemper or Axe FX tend to be the most popular. These are "virtual" amps, with pedal boards etc, so she can plug in and choose the type of amps/effects. Plus side is huge variety of sounds, lighter than an amp, more versatile (wouldn't break by using with bass) and can use headphones with. Negative sides are you'd still need a separate speaker/PA, and it'll be a little less simple than going straight into a "proper" amp.

Other than that, Fender/Vox are most popular with the acts I play with. Reliable and sound great.

Good luck to her!
 
exiledinboro said:
I can imagine, to be honest

His solo albums are pretty good

Tied to a star is amazing. A proper acoustic album
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Yeah this was a festival with Dinosaur Jr. These things happen I guess but funnily enough saw them at the same festival years back and they sounded great.

Quite fancy seeing him on his own. I'll keep an eye out.
 
Dybuk said:
The uni has suggested there is some money to be made doing gigs in the halls of residence.
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If the halls of residence have a performance space then it probably has a PA. If she wants to do pubs/clubs etc then she'd need her own gear but I wouldn't go forking out for anything special until you know what's available.

Ideally, wait until she's had a chance to settle in and has a better idea of what she might need.

Does she do anything public-performance-wise already? There's a decent live music scene locally where she can both play and see what works for other people.
 
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