tube amp confusion

[dunn666]

i've decided to get a new amp instead of changing my pickups , but i want to buy a tube amp the problem
is im pretty clueless ..

ive been looking at a few amps particularly the laney vc-30 range , but on the laney website it says the amp is more suited for blues and rock. I like playing rock styles but i also like my high gain metal. is it possible to just use a distortion pedal for the metal stuff or is this amp really not for me..

i also looked at the valveking but its like a 100watt all tube, and i dont think my neighbours would like me to get something that powerful lol

any ideas ?!?

[ccso8462]

Hey dunn666,
I use a 74 Fender Vibrochamp for a lot of my playing. The tube sound is great, but I augment it with a pedalboard that includes 3 distortion pedals. That way I get everything from clean to over the top metal. I can make it scream at a LOW volume, which my wife defintely appreciates ;-) (she's a classical violinist)
You might consider a multi-distortion pedal. Boss makes one that emulates a bunch of their stompboxes and some other stuff, too. I think it's the OD-20. It lets you store 4 settings in the memory plus 1 non-mem setting. That gives you 5 different distortion sounds at the tap of your toe. It seems like they run about $175.
For my money, pedals are a great way to go. Definitely hit the music stores and try some out.
Happy hunting! Carl

[hammeroff]

Here's some cool info that'll set a couple things straight for ya.



Pedals pretty much let you get anything out of an amp. But just like a guitar, there's certain qualities in an amp that will be there always. I guess those "permanent" qualities are what you should really try to pay attention when your shoppin around =)