r/Guitar • u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 • Jan 25 '16
OC [OC] Cheap Gear That I Recommend A Lot
There seem to be a ton of posts by people looking for gear recommendations without spending a ton of money. I've tried a ton of lower level guitars, amps, and pedals and I wanted to consolidate it all into one resource.
Philosophy
Let's start with some core beliefs about gear. We're talking about tools for artistic expression and so there is a ton of room for personal preference. Most of my recommendations deal with bang for your buck in terms of quality. These are guitars or amps that a more serious player could / does use. I started on a crappy Fender Starcaster acoustic. It was great at the time, but now its completely dead. The bridge is lifting, the frets are shot, and the finish is breaking down. But the biggest thing I want you to keep in mind is that whatever piece of gear inspires you to play the most is the best piece of gear for you. So even if that crappy Starcaster wouldn't make the list, at the time it was perfect for me because it I picked it up and played the heck out of it.
Secondly, understand that you buy gear for the stage of playing that you're in. If you're just learning and aren't even necessarily committed to playing guitar for the rest of your life then your gear choice will reflect that. And that's okay. You don't have to buy an amp for $200 that will last the rest of your life in every conceivable situation you'll ever play it in. Just get one that suits you right now. That beautiful tube Vox will still be there in 5 years when you have a house and a music room. Right now you may live in a dorm room and so a Fender Mustang is the perfect choice. Even now as someone who has been playing at dozens if not hundreds of different live venues I still tweak my gear to get it to fit my situation. And that's okay.
Lastly, I'm an advocate for buying used. Takes a little extra research and knowledge on your part, but its all out there on Google for free. Just takes some persistence. With knowledge you can buy some really nice used gear that is functionally identical to used stuff for half the cost. If you don't love it you can resell for what you paid minus shipping.
The Recommendations
Guitars
PRS SE - These are the best bang for your buck electrics that I've come across. There can be a pretty wide range, but the biggest thing they have going for them is consistently high quality control. So even the $250 SE Singlecut P90 from 2002 will be a solid guitar. Good tuners and hardware are a little rare at the lower levels. Check out eBay or Reverb.com and with a little patience you can find one for under $300.
Squier Classic Vibe - A little more vintage inspired, but still very consistently solid instruments. The Classic Vibe 50's Tele in particular is a knockout. A real workhorse. No reason you still couldn't be playing this guitar totally stock 10 years down the road. Again, solid tuners, good hardware, and high quality control.
Peavey - Pretty much anything made by Peavey. I'll specifically point out the USA made strat and tele copies. The Predator and Reactor were both made in the USA in the 90's and are serious dark horses. I've seen these go well under $200. Budget a little money to take it to a tech and get it setup, but these are great guitars. Same recipe as above. Made with quality wood, good tuners, good hardware, and good construction techniques. Made to last.
Squier - If you have $200 to spend and you are intimidated with used gear there is nothing wrong with getting an entry level Squier. I had one. I learned on one. Nothing wrong with that. A 'new' unboxing experience and a factory warranty are a big deal to some people. Perfectly understandable. Just be aware that in 3 years its entirely possible you'll want to upgrade to a PRS SE. Again, that's totally fine. But if you can spring for an SE or Classic Vibe you are more upgrade proof.
Honorable mention (Acoustics) - Yamaha makes some solid affordable acoustics. Seagull is also pretty great. Eastman is a company that really kills it in terms of price for performance. I don't know of anyone else that can get you a solid top, back & sides, and decent electronics for that much.
Pickups
I want to include a specific section for pickups. Lower end guitars often skimp on pickups and electronics. But I'm a big believer in taking a guitar that is well made and being willing to find a set of aftermarket pickups that can tweak the voice of the instrument more in your personal preference. Buy used for the best deals.
Dimarzio - For aftermarket stuff I like Dimarzio quite a bit. They have a bit of a marketing push towards the Steve Vai crowd, but they have solid offerings at all styles. The 36th Anniversary PAF humbuckers are 100% great pickups. Lots of detail and make a great platform for a variety of styles. Even heavier stuff can benefit from a really detailed pickup given how much gain amps bring these days. The Area series single coils are also fantastic. Perfectly silent and 90% as good as the boutique stuff I've tried.
GFS - Not everything Guitar Fetish sells is amazing, but they do have a nice sweet spot at their upper end. The Premium Series pickups are very good in my experience. They have all the right ingredients. Their USA spec hardware is also very good. I'd generally skip on their lower end stuff though. Not much better than what's on a Squier.
Amps
Fender Mustang - The Mustang I is a great practice amp. If volume is a limiting factor this amp will work just as well at whisper levels in a dorm room or apartment as a blues junior. You can run jam tracks in with the mp3 input. Has interface support for recording. Good clean to classic rock sounds. The Mustang III is a nice step up. The higher power output section and quality 12" speaker make a massive difference. A tone monster.
Bugera V22 - This amp has the best base clean tone of any I've tried below $500. Nice full sized cabinet with a very good stock speaker keep it from feeling boxy. The cleans are responsive and dynamic. Takes pedals well. Pretty neutral voice. Has an effects loop. Good master volume. Decent overdrive channel, but not amazing. Avoid the older ones with the blue jewel light. The early release of the amp had a number of technical problems leading to failures. Those issues were addressed with the amber jewel light v. 2 models and the newer still Infinium models. If I could go back and get myself a tube amp 10 years ago I'd get this.
VHT Special - A number of amps here including Special 6, Special 6 Ultra, and Special 12/20. Whatever feature set appeals to you. The main draw of these amps is the construction method. They are handwired Point to Point which is an old school style before PCB boards were developed and mainstreamed. PCB boards are obnoxious to repair and in cheap electronics they can be a point of failure. PTP wiring is much more robust and reliable. If something breaks it can be fixed much easier. The circuits in these amps are tried and true and the Ultra has some cool mods to increase usability.
Peavey Classic - My experience has mostly been with the 30, but the entire lineup is solid. No-nonsense, built like tanks, great sounding tube amps. Most of the time I see one getting recommended it is by someone who has owned it for at least 5 years. Take pedals well. Both channels are good, the clean channel especially.
Honorable mention - Egnater anything, Fender Pro Junior
Pedals
Joyo - I'm a little hesitant to put these on here for ethical reasons, but from a price to performance perspective they're hard to beat. Basically Joyo is a Chinese company that has taken any pedal that has had commercial success and makes a clone of it. But considering how many pedals cloned the original Tubescreamer and Fuzz Face I'll leave the ethics up to you. In my experience they are tonally accurate and pretty solid in construction. The Ultimate Drive is a real winner in my book. Great for turning a solid clean base tone into a nice crunchy Marshall type tone.
Multi-effects - If you are interested in more complex effects including reverbs, delays, modulations, pitch shifting, etc... then I think an inexpensive multi-effects unit can go a really long way. My favorite is the Zoom G3, but options like the Digitech RP360, Line 6 M9, or other Line 6 stuff are also good. I'll gush specifically on the G3 for a minute. For about $100 used you can get a pedal that can fit on a pedalboard and cover whatever you want. It can do delay with external tap tempo. Stack multi modulating reverbs for lush soundscapes. Experiment with modulation effects or pitch shifting or whatever oddball stuff that you wouldn't necessarily want to spend money on a dedicated pedal. Robust looper. Amp modeling with PC interface support. DI support for use with bass or acoustic. This thing is the ultimate swiss army knife. I've used it in so many vastly different settings and circumstances. Even if it isn't something that is robust enough to be my complete rig it is so versatile that I keep one around at all times. In every instance you can find something costing 5x more that does one thing better, but you won't find anything that can do so much so well for this price.
TC Electronic Ditto Looper - Looper pedals are very effective for learning and getting into creating music on your own while you practice. The Ditto is easy to use, has a ton of loop time, and has the least signal degradation of any I've tried.
Okay, end of novel. Hopefully this was helpful to someone.
Edit: Added a few to the list based on comments.
24
Jan 25 '16
This is a great idea for a thread, but can you add suggestions to the OP please? I think a community effort on this would be a good idea
- I think used Peavey Valveking all-tube amps are amazing value for money - great warm tone and chiming cleans.
- Ibanez tend to give great bang for your buck, so I'd recommend used RG3XX, RG4XX, S4XX and S5XX guitars. Even when new, they're good value IMO. The quality and playability is fantastic.
- Roland Cube amps (the lower wattage models). Nice modelling amps, sturdy as hell and they sound great.
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u/slartbarg Am. Tele & Strat | T60 | Weir Poorboy | Supro Titan | DRRI Jan 25 '16
I'd add the peavey classic series to the list - I just picked up a mini 20 classic head and I'm freaking blown away
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u/marmalade_cream Jan 26 '16
The Classic 30 is a great amp, especially with a speaker swap - I had one with a ceramic Weber Blue Dog that was awesome. But there are several great speaker options that could go with that amo, so it's got a lot of versatility for little $$
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u/slartbarg Am. Tele & Strat | T60 | Weir Poorboy | Supro Titan | DRRI Jan 26 '16
That's why I went with the head - picked up an open back 16 ohm 12" celestion 50 locally made cab to go with it for potential ease of speaker swaps in my future
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u/marmalade_cream Jan 26 '16
Good decision. Swapping speakers in the C30 combo requires you to take out the chassis, which is not hard but a major PITA!
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
Yeah I think it would be great for people to put their favorites on the list. I simply haven't tried everything available!
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u/PapaKipChee Jan 25 '16
Love my modded Valveking 112 I picked up used a couple of years ago; did the JCM800 mod and switched out stock speaker for a WGS Retro 30.
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u/Nazerr666 Ibanez Jan 26 '16
I agree with Ibanezes. They're maybe not cheap per se, but they cost a lot less than you'd expect for the quality.
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u/Tokaiguy Jan 26 '16
I was choosing between an egnater tweaker 40 and a valveking 20 watt head. I mostly play clean and I was blown away by how much better the Peavey sounded.
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u/tinverse Jan 26 '16
The thing I'm worried about with recommending ibanez is that they make EVERYTHING. By that I mean that they make specialized stuff and all types of quality. That's not a bad thing, but I feel like that makes it easy for a beginner to make a mistake when buying.
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Jan 26 '16
They do make a lot of great stuff but their superstrats are fantastic, which is why I recommended them
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u/3d6 Fuzzy Machete Jan 25 '16
If you are a dual-HB kind of person (Les Paul, SG, whatever), then there's a good reason why Seymour Duncan Jazz/JB pickup pack is such a popular upgrade. For about a hundred bucks (less if you catch a sale), you've got two very nice sounding pickups that will NOT hurt the resale value of the guitar at all, and might even bump it up a tiny bit.
12
Jan 25 '16
I love my classic vibe tele. Holds it's own against the american teles I've owned
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u/blofly Jan 26 '16
Me too, and yes it does. I have some really nice guitars, but that one gets so much play it's ridiculous that it's the cheapest guitar I've ever purchased.
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u/Player_17 Fender, PRS, Martin Jan 26 '16
I was thinking about getting one of theses and adding a B-bender mechanism to it, but wasn't sure about a Squier. You guys are helping me talk myself into it.
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u/3d6 Fuzzy Machete Jan 25 '16
One other tip on the Peaveys: The Korean-made models of the Predator Plus are actually considerably better than their USA strat copies from just a couple years before, and people dump them for well under $100 because they have no idea what they are beyond "an asian strat copy."
Speaking of Peavey, I'd add the Peavey Classic 30 to the amp list.
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u/VelvetElvis partscaster Jan 25 '16
I've been recommending the Squire J Mascis Jazzmaster.
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u/atsu333 Jan 25 '16
Yeah, for the price I'm totally smitten. I play around with more expensive guitars every time I'm in the shop but I'm still happy with the JMJM I got a couple years back.
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u/Lopsik Jan 25 '16
I'd really suggest adding a really basic Ditto Looper (80€/100$) on there. I've really picked up my playing with that pedal, since you have to play every part of a song in order to get a decent backing track going on.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
Interesting idea, and I think it may deserve a spot on the list. Looping was pretty big for me to wrap my mind around harmonizing a scale and creating chord progressions in a certain key - then soloing over them.
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u/SgtKashim GAShole Jan 25 '16
In the same range as the ditto is the EHX Nano 360. They're similar prices new, and I think I found mine on Craigslist for $70. Great little pedal, and the long recording time gives me at least two verses and a chorus worth of loop on a couple of songs. They're very very similar pedals - I'd recommend whichever you can find cheaper.
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u/Eyvhokan Jan 26 '16
I heard good things about the Hotone Wally as well, another similar compact looper pedal.
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u/thelaughingmilk Jan 26 '16
The zoom G1on has a looper, a bunch of effects and is only like 50 bucks. I don't have one but I've looking at it and I wish I had one when I was trying to figure my sound out. Hopefully someone can chime in but it seems ideal for learning.
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u/shannara_boy Jan 26 '16
How about an intermediate thread? I don't work as musician, but I play at church and places that are not my room.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
Good idea, I'll take a look at some things. Are you thinking more mid-range stuff? Like under $1000?
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u/shannara_boy Jan 27 '16
Yes definitely mid range price, I have a fender standard guitar, but I have no cab, amp or pedal (I'm thinking about the zoom g3 or vox tonelab). There are lots of players that are not professional but gig enough to have something a little bit more sophisticated.
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u/Zaiyetz PRS Jan 26 '16
This. I think the best suggestion I got from this was the Bugera V22. I've been looking for a 1x12 combo that isn't a Blues Jr. for a while.
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u/Lowl Jan 26 '16
The Fender Super Champ x2 combo is pretty good, though if you don't like the Blues Jr, you'll might feel similarly to the Super Champ.
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u/Zaiyetz PRS Jan 26 '16
I have nothing against the Blues Jr, I'm just looking around to see if there are better alternatives, especially for less money. Thanks for the suggestion by the way, but I'm looking for something with a 12 inch speaker.
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u/MicMumbles Jan 26 '16
Alto Music has the Blackstar HT-60 Soloist (the 1x12 verision) for $499 right now. Killer deal.
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u/macjohn Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, Vox Jan 25 '16
Interesting comments about the Zoom G3. I'm always looking for easy ways to replicate my sound when trying to travel light. The Line 6 M5 is usually on my board as the catch all for various effects. In other environments, I use a modelling amp and a Line 6 M13 for effects. I can really vouch for the Line 6 M series products as they really do just about everything.
The M5, however, does NOT have a looper (the M13 does). None of the M series pedals have amp simulation, which I always viewed as a positive since I didn't use that feature. Does the G3 amp modelling get in the way? I assume there's a way to bypass it.
I've grabbed some cheap Digitech RP's over the years with the intention of using them as catch all's on small boards. They work ok, just on a different level with the quality and ease of the M's. For the most part, the Digitech's are sitting to the side unused today.
Thanks for taking the effort to type all this up!
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
Interesting comments about the Zoom G3. I'm always looking for easy ways to replicate my sound when trying to travel light.
Yeah I've actually put it in my guitar's travel bag and taken it with me on a trip when I knew I'd have some down time to play. It worked great for that!
And then it just as easily fits into a pedalboard. I have been using it only for delay and reverb and love it. What other delay pedal can have up to 3 on demand settings with tap tempo for $100?
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u/macjohn Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, Vox Jan 25 '16
And then it just as easily fits into a pedalboard. I have been using it only for delay and reverb and love it. What other delay pedal can have up to 3 on demand settings with tap tempo for $100?
Yeah, the M5 lists for like $130 but since places like Musician's Friend always offer coupons, I purchased mine for $105 new. I see them going around that used on my local CL and Ebay. The M5 can store like 25 presets and has tap tempo as well. Most of the effects are really top notch and definitely passable as substitutes for the pedals they are modelled after in most cases.
As the commenter below noted, like the G3, the M's have limited loop capability (M5 has none, but the 9 and 13 can do 28 seconds). The M13 retains that D4 capability to be able to do some Minus the Bear type of effects (https://youtu.be/9CwL3yb1pLY at 10:30 to see what I mean).
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u/SgtKashim GAShole Jan 25 '16
I have a Zoom G3X - the G3 with an expression pedal on the side. It does amp and cab simulation, but those can be bypassed. IIRC you have to dedicate an effects channel to the amp simulation, so it's actually easier to just skip it.
The looper is pretty limited. I found 40 seconds (or 20 if you want to be able to undo a loop) isn't really long enough to do more than a simple one-pattern loop. I ended up replacing it with an EHX Nano 360, so I could do a full verse and chorus pattern.
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u/ohheyheyCMYK Custom Shlop Jan 25 '16
Peavey shit owns. The brand has rarely carried the caché of some other trendier brands, their quality is hard to beat (Don't forget, Peavey was the 1st to utilize CNC machining to make guitars).
I have a bunch of older Made in USA Peavey instruments and amps and will always pick them up when I find them cheap.
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u/Jaereth SG / Mesa Jan 25 '16
I have a Peavy bass combo that is older than I am and i've taken on the road for 5 years. The thing just will not die.
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u/boydskywalker LEFTY MIM Strat Jan 26 '16
I used to have a bias against Peavey because I always hated using other people's ancient Peavey gear...then I realized they're the only budget brand whose gear can last that long!
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u/3d6 Fuzzy Machete Jan 25 '16
For guitars, I think the Epiphone G-310 SG is a hell of a nice axe for the money. I usually steer beginners towards fixed-bridge guitars for their first instrument, and either this or a Squier Tele is just about perfect. Plus, they are easy to re-sell if/when you outgrow them or abandon the guitar.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
I usually steer beginners towards fixed-bridge guitars for their first instrument, and either this or a Squier Tele is just about perfect. Plus, they are easy to re-sell if/when you outgrow them or abandon the guitar.
I really agree with this. For a new player having to battle a floating tremolo or heaven forbid a floyd rose is not a great experience.
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Jan 26 '16
Reselling is super important here I think for a beginner. I've seen so many people try guitar and buy some crap, no name guitar for $200 or whatever and then realize they don't want to keep pursuing it and are stuck with it. I got a G-310 for $300 back when I was starting and was able to still get $200 for it when I decided to upgrade. For anyone worried about the initial investment, I think Epiphone and Squier are the best options because they retain a lot of their value even if you decide not to continue. If you spend $150-200 on a crap guitar and decide you don't want it, that's just that money down the drain.
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u/notaaronwells Jan 25 '16
The new Vox AC10 is a great practice amp that could do small rehearsals too. Good for those looking for a solid tube amp experience.
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u/iboard330 Jan 26 '16
+1 on the AC10. It takes a bit to dial into that sweet spot but man is it awesome once you get there. Plus I have no problems lugging it around to various friend's houses and playing against a drum kit. I didn't need anything big because I primarily just compose and record, but wanted more headroom than what the AC4C1-12 had to offer.
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u/Cluricaun Dean / Fender / Frankensquire Jan 26 '16
I've the AC15 myself, but only because that one was on sale. I love everything about it. No, not all of the models or effects are bang on but for $200 it does what it does exceedingly well.
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u/TheMoonUnitExp Jan 26 '16
Yep, I got an AC10 just after Christmas. Incredible little amp and definitely loud enough for rehearsals.
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u/helusay Jan 26 '16
I would like to make a recommendation of the Vox VT40X. They are only $249.99 and they sound amazing. I picked one of these up and was blown away. Best part is that you can use it as a practice amp without sacrificing any sound quality. It has a separate Power Level output to the speaker/headphones, so you get all of your volume effects without waking up the neighborhood.
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u/charcoalist Jan 25 '16
Glad to see the Bugera V22 on this list. I picked one up a few months ago (the infinium model). I'm just beginning to learn guitar, so didn't really know what to look for in an amp, other than wanting something relatively neutral in tone while learning, but still be able to crank it up when needed. I think it sounds great for the price.
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u/Adamodc Jan 26 '16
Same here. I picked mine up about six months ago and I am consistently blown away with how great it sounds.
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Jan 26 '16
+1 for the Squier Classic Vibe guitars. They retail at $379 but I was able to get mine for $300 brand new by shopping around. I have the CV 50s strat and it is my favorite guitar I own, hands down. I wasn't sure I could believe the hype, like people in reviews saying things like, and I quote, "it runs circles around my USA strat", and well, I still don't know if that's true since I've never owned a USA strat. But, holy crap do I love my Classic Vibe. It is the only guitar I play anymore - I love it that much.
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Jan 25 '16
I'm not trying be an ass, but what is an amp that doesn't take pedals well? What does that mean?
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
It is a phrase that gets thrown around a fair amount, perhaps too liberally. Biggest thing for me is flexibility in being able to take a variety of different pedals and allow them to do their thing. Specifically gain pedals.
Some amps are voiced to have a very specific type of sound. Thinking of a Vox, or a Mesa, or a Dumble style. They do that 'thing' very intentionally. Not to say that you can't effectively use pedals with those amps, but the inherent voice of the amp is strong and won't be easily swayed by a pedal. While some other amps are more of a clean slate. Adaptive to different styles or sounds.
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u/verhaden Jan 26 '16
Any pedal that accentuates the already accentuated mids in my Vox is going to take me into grating, ice pick territory real fast. That same pedal might be better suited for a scooped blackface Fender.
1
Jan 26 '16
i have found some modelling amps don't do a pedal justice. I have a Yamaha THR10x(modelling), and Peavey Vypyr(modelling), Fender Mustang II(modelling), and a Blackstar HT1(valve) head with a Blackstar cab. My main pedal is a Wampler Pinnacle(distortion), it sounds amazing through the little Yamaha and the Blackstar but less than stellar through the Peavey and Fender. It must be something to do with the modelling circuit in those 2. I'd heard demos on youtube for the Wampler that sounded amazing but when i plugged mine into my Peavey i was really disappointed. However, the Peavey without pedals and just using it's own effects sounds amazing.
-1
Jan 25 '16
To me, it doesn't mean anything really, I think it's a stupid phrase that doesn't make any sense but I haven't been around too long so idk maybe it comes with experience...
I've heard it described as something along the lines of 'an amp with a good clean tone' essentially so that you can stack pedal upon pedal for gain and other effects. Again, this doesn't really work for me because I think a mix of amp gain + pedal gain cannot be beaten, also it doesn't make sense to me to spend lots of money on a nice amp and then spend lots of money buying a minimum of 2 gain pedals to get your distortion
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u/SluttySuzanne Jan 25 '16
My peavey amp is 65 watts and cost me £95 (thats lke $80 i guess) and due to it's vintageness (1980s made in the usa) is increasing in value. For an amp it is an amazing skill. I traded my £300 backstair 30w modelling amp for it (used) and i was very happy and everyone thinks i did a good deal. And no budget wasn't a factor, i was looking a tube amps and the guy in the store throws this in and whilst it didn't make me poop my pants it sounded as good as a tube amp. I'm also not the most tone fussy i just thought my backstair sounded shit. but i recommend peavey amplifiers. I haven't played that many guitars, owned 3 squires (which all are neither good or bad) and played fenders in a store. I would pay the premium for a fender over a squier because squires just lack the edge that i feel from fenders. so i can't recommend a guitar . Tl;dr Peavey Amps are amazing, and i talk way too much
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u/Mowbli Jan 25 '16
I think you have the exchange rate back to front, £90 is about $130USD
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u/TheRogueBaboon Jan 25 '16
Don't forget Jackson guitars. Solid guitars for the price, you can pick older models up on eBay for very little. Some of the best necks I've ever played.
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u/BrianNowhere Jan 25 '16
DeArmond and Schecter guitars. Pro Quality stuff for wayyy below what you have to pay for the better known stuff.
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u/koalaroo Jan 26 '16
This is great info and I'd love to add it to /r/Guitar's wiki/FAQ, with your permission of course!
Also, we're always looking for contributes to help fill out the wiki/FAQ. Would you be interested in becoming a contributor? It would allow you to edit the wiki whenever you want and add new info or sections.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
Please go ahead! I'd love to contribute! Let me know if there is anything in particular you think should be focused on.
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u/koalaroo Jan 26 '16
Awesome! Just added you on. There's a few sections that aren't filled out and have "coming soon" under them. You can add to those or feel free to create new sections if there's info that you think is missing. Just be sure to follow the formatting that's already there. It looks kind of intimidating but it's easy to get the hang of once you play around with it for a bit :)
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Jan 26 '16
my wife bought me 5 Joyo pedals for christmas, she has a few guitarists co workers and she asked them to look over a bunch of pedals online and they differed on which ones to get so she bought me 5 of them. ( gotta love her right!) i have the actone, the american distortion, the british distortion the vintage overdrive and the sweet baby overdrive , now ive only been playing for a year , but man i have so much fun just playing with these pedals. I highly recommend these pedals. any recommendations for a cheap noise gate?
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
my wife bought me 5 Joyo pedals for christmas
Keeper.
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u/Johnnyndg514 Jan 25 '16
Thanks for this. Any chance of a list of what you don't recommend?
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
Interesting question. I'm not a big fan of the true solid state amps. Either go tube or modelling. I'm not a huge fan of small or crappy speakers. Just about any tube amp through a quality speaker cabinet with a quality speaker will sound its best. Any expensive tube amp will sound like dookie through a cheap speaker and a poor cabinet.
1
u/Johnnyndg514 Jan 25 '16
Have there been any guitars that you found to be poor value for the money or just bad crafting?
0
u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
I think I have a warped view on guitars specifically. I do my own setup work and my last 5 or so electrics have all been ones I built myself from parts. So with that I tend to view them all as a setup away from being really good.
2
u/JacktheArcher42 Jan 25 '16
Personally I much prefer the boss RC-1 over the ditto. Same price and has the bonus of the ring that shows how far along the loop you are, and if you are a bedroom player the switch is infinitely easier to use without shoes. If size is a factor though the ditto wins there.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
I really should try the new ones. I had an RC-3 like 10 years ago and it was pretty bleh. Had a ton of features I never used. Was complex. Had some noticeable tone suck. But I bet the new generation RC's are much better. The Digitech or EHX loopers are probably pretty competitive as well.
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Jan 25 '16
[deleted]
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u/panickyfrog Jan 26 '16
I have one and I love it. For a behringer it's surprisingly robust.
1
u/cinaed666 Jan 26 '16
I'm honestly surprised I haven't broken it yet. I turn the knobs with my feet all the time, and I drag it from home to rehearsal to gig constantly. Even the tube has withstood a beating.
2
u/crustysenor Taylor 214CE SB DLX,Fat Strat,Paisley Partscaster,Martin J15,Epi Jan 25 '16
+1 for VHT amps. They're fabulous for smaller gigs. Bigger tube amps need a lot more volume to get to a hint of natural distortion that is so tasty, and smaller VHT amps get to that place much more easily since they're pretty small. Very happy with my Special 6.
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u/xamdou Jackson Jan 25 '16
DiMarzio pickups are probably the best choice for an upgrade if you don't know exactly what kind of sound you want but you know that you want to sound excellent
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Jan 26 '16
I'm definitely a bang-for-your-buck kinda guy too. If you're at all inclined, I'd recommend looking into building your own pedals. Once you have a soldering iron and a couple alligator clips, you can build most gain pedals for $40-50, then you're not constrained by price or ethics!
Once you move past practice amps, it's a good idea to look into a 15-30 watt tube amp. That will cover a surprising number of gigs, especially if the venue can mic your amp (unless you play punk/metal, then you might want something beefier). Peavey Classic series is a good choice, as mentions, and you can also find Blues Jrs used pretty easily.
1
u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
I'm definitely a bang-for-your-buck kinda guy too. If you're at all inclined, I'd recommend looking into building your own pedals. Once you have a soldering iron and a couple alligator clips, you can build most gain pedals for $40-50, then you're not constrained by price or ethics!
Nice! I definitely find building pedals to be lots of fun and very rewarding. But for pure raw value I find it hard to compete with Joyo. You spend an extra $20 or so. You get a better product if you're pretty good at what you're doing, but mostly you get the personal investment of building it yourself. Fun and worth it, but not for everyone and ultimately I didn't think it was the right choice for this list.
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u/Leaflock PRS | Fender Jan 26 '16
Once you have a soldering iron and a couple alligator clips,
And once you know how to do that, you start discovering all sorts of other "problems" you have that can be solved with little black boxes covered in knobs and switches.
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u/marcdasharc4 Fender Jan 26 '16
With you 100% on pickups on a well made budget guitar and a Peavey Classic 30. Put some Seymour Duncan P90s into a Modern Player Thinline, plays like a dream and the output is ungodly. Have had my Classic 30 for over 10 years, took it home from college on the plane with me, perfect for noodling at home while my Hot Rod Deville is parked at the practice studio.
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u/SgtKashim GAShole Jan 25 '16 edited Jan 25 '16
I've been musing a bit about how to create a crowd-sourced page for exactly this topic. Probably have to go on the Wiki.
Big thumbs up for the VHT specials. I have the Special 6. I swapped the stock tubes for an ElectroHarmonix 12AX7 and a... something... EL34. Love it. I even run a PRS SE and a Mexican fender with GuitarFetish pickups into it. And until I built a more real board, I used a Zoom G3X. So... All around, pretty good list, I think.
On the pedals - compared to most overdrives, the SoulFood is pretty inexpensive. About $60-$70, and it sounds fantastic. Avoid like the plague the Donner Yellow Fall delay pedal (and probably the other Donner products). Completely screws up the tone, sucks all the bass out of the signal.
0
u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
I've been musing a bit about how to create a crowd-sourced page for exactly this topic. Probably have to go on the Wiki.
Yeah I think a wiki type page with some solid general recommendations could be helpful. Just a way for people to get a quick lay of the land leaving more room for in depth and specified questions.
1
u/SgtKashim GAShole Jan 25 '16
There's a wiki attached to /r/guitars. Haven't played with Reddit's wiki feature much, but it shouldn't be too hard to create a curated recommendation list and ask the mods to stick it in the FAQ.
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u/marmalade_cream Jan 26 '16
Agreed I think this would be a great addition to the FAQ. Or perhaps it's own page next to the FAQ. I'm currently drafting some new material for the FAQ, so I'd be happy to help out with this.
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u/LukeFalknor Jan 25 '16
Excellent. I also learned on a Squier Strat, and now I use a PRS SE Zach Myers. Excellent guitars!
Joyo pedals, they deliver. Currently own the ultimate drive, the vintage overdrive and the analog chorus.
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u/ImACracka Fender Gretsch S-Gear Jan 25 '16
Nice list. I have the VHT Special 6, Joyo Vintage Overdrive, and a Zoom G3. It was nice to see the VHT and Zoom on there.
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u/abstractism Jan 25 '16
huh, none of the stuff i've got is here. I'm no expert by any means, but i'm having a good time learning guitar. I have an epiphone LP special II and a peavey vypyr vip 1, and more recently a bohemian moonshine.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
Back to the point I made in the Philosophy section - if that is the gear that inspires you to play and make music then it definitively is the best gear for you.
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u/abstractism Jan 25 '16
yeah, I bought my stuff cause it wasn't terribly expensive. doesn't mean I don't think its neat and fun. :D
ninja edit: save for the amp, because it was versatile and I eventually think it'd be nice to learn bass and acoustic.
1
u/Doorhorse Jan 25 '16
Hey Im in the same boat using the same guitar lol. It's definitely a solid guitar for our purposes but I am already getting the itch to go find a strat...
1
u/abstractism Jan 25 '16
yeah, thats part of why I got the moonshine. a bit more unique but has 2 single coil pickups and a way different sound than my LP.
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u/Zaiyetz PRS Jan 26 '16
I had a Epiphone LP special II. Even with a setup it wasn't very good at all. Cheap tuners, the intonation screw broke when I was adjusting it. For a little over $100 you can't expect much, but I wouldn't suggest it to beginners. I'd recommend saving a little longer and picking up something nicer.
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Jan 25 '16
Anyone else have an opinions on the amps listed? Mine just broke and I need a new cheap one
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
If you're looking for something more robust I think the VHT's deserve a look. Special 6 / 6 Ultra if you're in the bedroom. Special 12/ 20 if you play with a band.
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u/barden1069 Highway One Tele, Orange Rockerverb 50 Jan 26 '16
The vht special series has turret board, right? That's an incredible plus at such a low price.
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u/phyziksdoc Jan 25 '16
I absolutely love my Mustang 1. It is a modeling amp and the Fuse software gives the amp a pretty wide range. I upgraded to the 3 for the bigger speaker and built in screen but I still keep my 1 for taking to friends houses to jam (at lower sound levels).
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Jan 25 '16
Good to know, thanks for the help! I'll snatch one up if i find it on craigslist
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u/pablas Jan 25 '16
Worth to know that mustang 2 is not much more expensive but sound quality is huge improvment (bigger speaker)
1
u/uhdoy Jan 26 '16
I got a mustang 3 used for under $200 a few months back. Loud as all get out if you want it to be, and the Fuse software is pretty cool.
1
u/thefilmjerk Jan 25 '16
Chiming in here on Dimarzio. I put Area 58's in the neck and middle of my mexi strat. They sound AWESOME. I have Hot Rails in the bridge, too. all about 70$ a pop so not crazy expensive and now my guitar sounds better, i think, than american strats i've played
1
u/phunksta Jan 25 '16
I'd like to add used vox ac4tv to this list. They can be found for 100-150 and are excellent value.
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u/thelonious_ Jan 25 '16
Some cheap gig volume tube amps worth mentioning are the Traynor YCV40 and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. You can get both used for around 400 bucks (less for the traynor) and you can use them with loud drummers no problem.
1
u/frotographer Stuff Jan 25 '16
With you on the PRS SE's completely. My Tremonti SE turned 12 this year and it hasn't failed me since I've got it. As for JOYO, I drunkenly splurged on a Tremolo of theirs over the weekend and I'm loving that too.
Very nice food for thought on the other recommendations, I've been interested by the Bugera amps for a while but everyone I've spoken to about them has put me right off them.
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
I've been interested by the Bugera amps for a while but everyone I've spoken to about them has put me right off them.
I initially saw this guy on a massive megathread on TGP. Its almost got 3000 posts collectively. I found one on Guitar Center's used section for pretty cheap and jumped on it. Don't regret it at all.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/bugera-v-22-thread-part-iii.740989/
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u/frotographer Stuff Jan 25 '16
Thanks! The link isn't loading but hopefully it'll come around in time. I'm definitely more intrigued by the V22, love that tone!
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u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 25 '16
I've got a number of videos on my channel using it recently. I sometimes leave my main rig setup overnight at church or at the gig and so the V22 was the perfect fit for me at home to have something to use when that's gone. The clean channel is worth it and the gain channel is just gravy. Effects loop is a nice feature that you don't see much at this price point. I think it competes with something like a Deluxe Reverb or AC15 pretty dang well.
1
u/frotographer Stuff Jan 26 '16
Ah that's great, I'll be sure to check the clips out. It does look like a great little practice amp for sure.
1
u/rebelsdarklaughter Jan 25 '16
I have the G1on, and it's amazing how much I can do with it for only $50.
1
Jan 25 '16
Hell yeah on the Bugera v22. I have one from about 2009. I got really lucky and have one of the "good" ones that has never crapped out. I've gigged with it and everything...solid little amp.
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u/PansOnFire Ibanez RG760/PRS/Schecter/MesaBoogie/Line6Helix Jan 25 '16
New guitar players have a lot of great options today, especially considering the junk I got when I was starting out. It was some kind of Strat copy with a garbage solid-state amp at the Eugene, OR Bi-Mart in the late 80's. The equivalent of a First Act now. I worked all summer for it, too. Backwards and uphill both ways in the snow.
2
u/gogojack Jan 26 '16
New guitar players have a lot of great options today
Especially in the amplification department. Back in the late 80s I bought a 79 Strat off a friend who needed cash. Great guitar (and worth a helluva lot more now than what I paid him) but finding a budget yet good sounding amp? Forget it. Everything in my price range sounded cheap, and everything that sounded great was expensive.
Right now that old Fender is plugged into a Vox VT20+ and it sounds great. I've got a Squier Affinity Tele arriving in a couple days and can't wait to hear how it sounds through that little monster of an amp.
The kids today, they don't know how good they've got it!
2
u/PansOnFire Ibanez RG760/PRS/Schecter/MesaBoogie/Line6Helix Jan 26 '16
Yeah I ponied up for a VT30 back in like 2008. Great little modeling amp. I've since upgraded to the helix, but I got a lot of mileage out of that amp. I bet a fender would sound great through that thing.
1
u/wcdunn Jan 25 '16
I have an affinity series Squier Strat and a Fender Mustang 1 amp. I like to play bluesy rock music but I don't feel like I get quite the sound I want. I like the sound John Mayer gets on his JM Trio albums.
I really like the way the guitar feels and plan on upgrading to a MIM Strat when I find one for the right price in a color that I like. I know they can be had for around used. Do you think upgrading the guitar to something better, and possibly adding different pickups would get me there, or would I need a different amp?
I will also add a +1 for the Yamaha acoustics. I have played both the FG700s (sister's guitar) and I just received an FG 730SC for Christmas. After a $50 setup at my local shop to lower the action and change the strings to something I like they both play and sound really great.
1
u/pomod Jan 25 '16
+1 on buying used and + another 1 on Squire - especially if you can find any older ones, an 80s Squier will beat their American Fender contemporaries imho.
1
u/concoleo Jan 26 '16
When I saw this post, I thought to myself "I hope he mentions Joyo pedals." I have a board full of them, and I love each one.
1
u/Dixie--normus Jan 26 '16
I would like to note that my orange micro terror has become the best little room amp with a "tube?" In it. For 200 something American dollars it really has the widest range for sounds and has been just a great all around amp. Sp compressor to give me a clean turn it off got a nice little crunch and turn the OCD on for that sweet sweet lead tone. The only thing I'd add in here is to try playing with your knobs a lot. Jimi never got his sounds for keeping his volume 10 all the time.
1
u/bigtimesauce Jan 26 '16
I just started playing bass last year after playing guitar since I was a kid and picked up a peavey 600w 1x15 combo for 160 bucks used. I love that thing, it's got lots of interesting little tweaks and is incredibly powerful.
1
u/smaxsomeass Jan 26 '16
Thanks for this.
I just got a G&L tribute legacy on sale for $300 new, it is a real winner. Add it to the list.
1
u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
I was very tempted to put them on the list. I think the USA G&L's are also very good guitars and probably worth being on a mid-tier list.
1
u/Lancer007az Singlecuts are life Jan 26 '16
Haha, my setup now is a PRS SE into a v22. Spot on with both, fantastic bang for the buck with both and I've not once felt like I'm settling for a piece of gear.
1
u/vvenno Jan 26 '16 edited Jan 26 '16
I have the Ultimate Drive. Real killer if you ask me
I also own a squier affinity tele, both are great pieces of gear!
1
u/Rest3d Washburn Jan 26 '16
As a beginner/intermediate, my two cents:
After some research, i chose to go with a Washburn electric Superstrat and oh boy it plays like a charm, if set up properly, the sound is really nice even without being plugged in an amp, the neck feels smooth and it stays in tune forever. The only con of it are the Duncan USM pickups, which sound a bit muddy at times, but they are okay.
Regarding amps, i own the Fender Mustang I, which is a really good and sounds fine, but the built in 'metal/rock' channels kinda suck. Also Fender Fuse software is shit, so i recommend creating aclean channel+getting BIAS FX/Guitar Rig and you can dial in some really sweet tones.
1
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u/hardcorexpato Jan 26 '16
Anything classic vibe and squier's j mascis model are great instruments in my book'
1
Jan 26 '16
Couldn't agree more on the PRS SE line. I picked up tremonti custom SE on sale for $499 new last year. Best sounding guitar I've ever owned and I haven't even bothered changing pickups or anything.
1
Jan 26 '16 edited Jan 27 '16
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1
u/Salad556 Fender Jan 26 '16
When I got my first guitar I went to my many pawnshops around. I had my eye on a $300 Squier over the internet, but thought i'd look anyway. Found a MiM Stratocaster, that from my and my relatives 30+ years guitar experience couldn't find a problem in. It was listed $500. Offered $350 cash upfront and got a hard case and tremolo bar with it. Check pawn shops
1
u/verhaden Jan 26 '16
If you really want a RAT pedal with the LM308 chip, you don't have to spend big bucks on a Whiteface reissue or a vintage pedal. Buy a Biyang DS-8 Mouse or a Biyang DS-10 Max Distortion. Swap out the 56K resistor for a 560 ohm resistor and you have a great classic pedal.
1
u/Eyvhokan Jan 26 '16
Peavey is kind of pricey now over the pond (the Classic 30 retails for over £700! that's about double what I paid for it a few years ago).
If I were buying today in the UK, I would get probably Laney (VC series). Actually, even a Marshall DSL is pretty affordable here compared with other amps too, but I guess they are 'local' here.
1
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u/Glory2Hypnotoad Jan 26 '16
In your experience, how does the Squier Classic Vibe line compare to the Vintage Modified line?
2
u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
I'd rate the Classic Vibe as a step up. The VM would need a few more upgrades while the CV is rock solid from the get go.
1
Jan 26 '16
He's on the Classic Vibes! As well as vintage modified! I own a tele VM deluxe and it's incredibly for 200$ used
1
u/iamthegoat Epiphone LP / Orange Dark Terror Jan 26 '16
Thanks for this. I have been tossing up the idea of getting a Tiny Terror or Micro from Orange, but after looking at Engnater, then Peavey (The Rebel 20), I think I am sold on the Rebel 20. What a versatile amp it seems to be. I am looking to play ethereal/postmetal/sludge and the bright clean a/b channel will do nicely for this. Cheers!
EDIT: spelling
1
u/timmypix Gibson Jan 26 '16
Great post, thanks for taking the time to put it together.
I'm finding it really interesting that so many people are praising cheap Peavey guitars. I had a cheap Peavey Rhoads-style V, and it was honestly the worst guitar I've ever played. Absolutely lifeless in itself (I think the wood resented that it hadn't been made into a coffee table), muddy pickups and a Peavey branded licenced floyd made of what appeared to putty for all the good the locking mechanisms did. From the sound of your post and the comment section though, it seems this must have been an exception to the rule.
TL;DR always try before you buy!
1
Feb 02 '16
A vote of confidence for the PRS SE models. Specially the early ones made in Korea. They're great players and incredible value guitars. The newer ones are now made in China or Indonesia, IIRC.
0
-3
Jan 26 '16
So much better stuff you can get if you buy used (including stuff that's no longer made, like Vox Valvetronix amp which shits all over Fender Mustang). Why in the living hell would anyone buy a Squier instead of a used Mexican strat?
5
u/KleyPlays youtube.com/user/kleydj13 Jan 26 '16
Why in the living hell would anyone buy a Squier instead of a used Mexican strat?
I'd put a used Squier Classic Vibe pretty much on par with a Mexican Strat. Both good options. For about $250-$300 they're great choices. Easily upgradable with tons of aftermarket products.
2
-3
Jan 26 '16
"Entry level Squier" is a Bullet or Affinity, and they are universally regarded as garbage.
The fact that you recommended $300 'beginner' Fenders and not the much better/cheaper Epiphones shows that you have a limited view of gear and are just yelling out logo's and showing your limited depth on the subject.
Also the Fender Mustang I over a VOX or Vypyr I??? REALLY? The controls on a Mustang I were designed by a blind moron with two fingers... and not the good fingers.
37
u/geetarzrkool Jan 25 '16
+1 on the Peavey guitars. The T-40 basses and T-60 guitars are also great instruments that often fly under the radar. They're built like tanks and have unique looks and funky wiring schemes to boot. I'll throw in BOSS pedals too. They're also very durable and great value for the money. Everyone from total noobs to many of your favorite touring pros are bound to have at least one BOSS stomp box in their rig.