Review Archives - The Best Guitar Amp

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Fender G-Dec 3

The Fender G-Dec 3 is excellent for a practicing and recording musician. It comes with a great digital amp and one hundred presets. It also has a wide range of music to for your practice collected from different artists across the world. The Fender Fuse software gives you the capability to create and configure your own music tones with much ease. It incorporates a wide range of backing tracks recorded by renowned artists. It has mp3 and wav file storage for your playback and an sd card to give you unlimited storage for your presets and audio. It can be used by players at all levels: whether a beginner, intermediate or the advanced ones.

The pedals make changing settings on the pedal easier for you. For your unwinding sessions after a long day this will be excellent. It comes with a mini stereo jack that gives you the capability to use mp3 player or CD player to play along. For private practicing, a mini jack enables you to use your headphones. This means you do not disturb other people while practicing your music. To start you off, the manual and the tutorials will be of great help. You just need to take some time reading through or watching the tutorials and you are ready to rock.

Positive Aspects

Flexibility: With its fuse interlink software; you can link the amp with your computer or laptop. This functionality allows you to change and create your tones easily. It also allows you control your volume to any desired keys that you wish to experiment with.

Power ratio: This allows you to play both indoors and for public functions. For the large functions, all you need is to connect to a larger system and you are set. This is amazingly good especially for a small combo. So whether playing indoors or performing on stage this will definitely sort you out.

Remodeling Ability: With its 100 presets, it enables you create many bands all in one. This also allows you to slow down or speed up your key to your preference. You can also dub your recordings over the backing tracks with so much ease. Recording is made easier by the inbuilt sd reader.

Negative Aspects

With this amp you have to keep scrolling up and down through the different presets to get the one you are really looking for. This means that for you to find your preset, you have to over write the already available ones. The keys for the backups are not provided on the tutorials or the manual so you can only guess which makes it cumbersome especially for beginners.

Duplicated presets: Although the amp boasts of having many presets, most of them are duplicated. However you can create your own range of presets by downloading from the internet or recording your own.

The sound quality is also not the best especially because of the speaker. This may not work so well especially for big functions.

Conclusion

The Fender G Dec amplifier is generally good for your gigs whether practicing privately or for your small group of people. It is also light in weight hence makes carrying it around easy. If you do not already have one you can include it in your wish list.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Marshall MG100HCFX Head w/ MG412CF Cab

The Marshall MG100HCFX 100W Head with MG412CF 4×12 Cab integrates the powerful Marshall MG412CF4X12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet and the ultra-glossy Marshall MG100HCFX 100W Guitar Amplifier Head. For a full-on event, the amp will let you perform like a pro while going easy on your wallet. This elaborate head is the summit of the MG range.

This amp offers pure analog Marshall tone. With the state-of-the-art internal design and approach, this new MG series delivers outstanding digital features, but with a high-quality and programmable analog sound at its core.

MG100HCFX’s front panel features are similar to the MGs from the MG50HCFX upwards, incorporating a proven tonal circuitry with awesome digital FX.

MG412CF 4×2” Cab. Designed to be used with the MG100HCFX head. It’s a 120Watt, 4×12” angled cabinet that’s loaded with custom Celestion G-12 speakers.

Positive Aspects

MG100HCFX panel layout is amazingly easy to use. The 3-band EQ, Volume, Gain, and Master volume are well positioned for quick access. Push-button channel switching provides for smooth and uninterruptible transitions. Integrating the FDD technology and analog tone circuitry, the amp gives authentic Marshall sound and feel. The damping technology mimics the dynamic interaction between an amplifier and its speaker, giving you a feel and tone characteristics that you would only find in very expensive tube amps.

Has four programmable analog channels for you to choose from including, crunch, clean, OD1 and OD2. These program channels give you a broad tonal range, from scream and mean to pretty and clean. To create a killer tone rigs you’ve always imagined, you can mix them with digital effects and speaker damping function.

One of the outstanding features in this amp is how the power stage combines with speakers, making their behavior to vary depending on the frequency being played. Most power stages don’t do this and feel ‘stiff’ to the player. All the MG range successfully imitate this advantageous valve amp qualities utilizing the Frequency Dependent Dampening technology by Marshall.

The FX loop ensures you don’t run through extra cabling, jacks, and circuitry when you’re not using the pedal. If no single loop is engaged, it goes from the switcher to the amp, most likely with buffer in between, to ensure your tone makes it from the board to the amplifier in good shape. A good FX loop runs effect in line as though everything is in a row.

Other attractive features are; the stompware pedal friendly and programmable Speaker Damping (PSD)

Negative Aspects

The amp is perfect for classic rock kind of stuff. If you plan on playing Metallica or Megadeth, it’s not the amp for you. It does not have much gain, but the clean channel, on the other hand, is excellent. If you feel like playing heavy metal, you might have to rethink it.

Mixed reaction concerning the manufacturer support. It takes long to get your amp repaired and shipped back to you. You’ll have to put a noise gate pedal on the amp when using OD2 channel to minimize the buzz. M ixed reaction to sound quality. It has some slight delays on the adjustments

Conclusion

Despite the downsides especially concerning the manufacturer support, the amp rocks, it’s sound is super, especially for an amp that’s not tube. It’s got killer sound effects. You can crank Marshall MG100HCFX 100W Head with MG412CF 4×12 Cab up and click on dampening for a warm tube sound.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Marshall Code 25 Amplifier

The Marshall Code 25 – 25W 1×10″ Digital Combo Amp shows what you can do with a broad library of all valve amps and an excellent team of software designers. Marshall, together with the Softube Team have created the Code 25 lightweight combo, filled with four power amps, 14 modeled preamps and eight speaker cabinets on top of 24 effects. It’s the smallest in the family, and with its 25 watts of power, it’s ideal for home use.

Marshall Code range integrates the Marshall legacy with the latest technology, to offer the peak of their most impressive and versatile digital product ever. The range provides options of power amps, digital amp models, cabinet simulation, and FX, enabling you to key in every tonal possibility you require.

Positive Aspects

Code’s MST preamps produce the best and one of the most acclaimed Marshall tones, 1962 Bluesbreaker, JTM45 2245, 1959SLP Plexi, JCM2555 Silver Jubilee, JCM 2203, JCM2000 DSL 100, JVM410H and more.

You can connect with Bluetooth to control Code 25 and stream audios from you Android or iOS device utilizing the Gateway App. When you have your friends come over, you don’t have to struggle to get a playlist; you can just stream from your device and listen to the songs on speakers. Additionally, you can connect through USB to utilize Code as a DAW interface to record, and to stream music from your laptop. Lastly, you can connect your MP3 player through Code’s audio input to queue along with your favorite tracks.

The amp has different effects that you may find useful; Distortions, Compressor, Auto Wah, Chorus, Pitch Shifter, Phaser, Tremolo and Flanger on top of the studio quality Reverbs and tap tempo Delays. You can access all these on the amp using the Marshall’s Gateway app or with a programmable controller, which you’ll buy separately.

The smartphone app enables you to control parameters remotely, and you don’t have to bend down to switch the knobs. Moreover, the amp’s tone is amazing especially for its price and comes with many effects

Negative Aspects

Marshall app looks like a fantastic idea and would make customizing the sound much simpler. But there are exceptions. There are mixed reactions to being able to connect to it with Android devices. The amp won’t read them. Similarly, it gives horrible sound when a fixed to a MacBook through its built-in USB port (with Logic Pro and DAW). It removes a consistent static buzz making it impossible to record.

The tuner works fine, but it doesn’t provide enough information on how to tune half step.

It does not feel very sturdy.

Pretty hard to adjust the settings on the presets to get a decent tone

Conclusion

Marshall Code 25 – 25W 1×10″ Digital Combo Amp is fitted with a 10” driver is a small combo but can push out some serious volume with excellent quality. With the Gateway App and connectivity, you can fly change your setting, manage the amp, create presets and even stream music directly to the amp through Bluetooth. Despite the negative aspects, it’s worthwhile.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Marshall Compact Fridge

The Marshall Compact Fridge utilizes authentic Marshall parts and control knobs including a black fret cloth, iconic Marshall logos, engraved Jim Marshall signature and a brass-finished faceplate. These ultimate combinations of features make the refrigerator ideal for rock & roll.

It’s a distinctive and innovative product that brings the rock and roll style from the stage into the houses of fans anywhere in the world. Marshall Fridge combines the practicality of a club fridge with the iconic appearance of the Marshall guitar amplifier and maintains the similar commitment to dedication & quality that the founding father established half a century ago.

Positive aspects

Adjustable tempered glass shelf to accommodate a variety of packages. The shelves are attractive, easy to clean and can be pulled out for accessibility to items that are on the back. Moreover, the glasses are sealed to make cleanup easier and to contain spills.

Reversible door enables you to switch the hinges from one side of the fridge to the other, allowing the door to open from the left or the right side. Ability to change the door is important especially in limited spaces; you won’t have to move the fridge to another place.

Adjustable front leg, a great feature and comes in handy when the freezer door pops open, and can’t shut by itself. Similarly, if both doors swing open by themselves instead of staying put, this feature can help. Extendable legs allow the front of the unit to be raised causing the fridge to slope a little bit towards the back.

4 cu. Ft. freezer cabinet to preserve food or beverages at very low temperatures. It allows you to make ice cubes which come in handy when you want to chill or dilute your drinks. The 4 cu. Ft. refrigerator has can storage space and plenty of room for extra storage, which is ideal for easy organization and greater accommodation of your stuff.

Low decibel compressor ensures the fridge produces lesser noise, rendering the fridge living room friendly.

Perfectly regulates temperature in comparison to other mini fridges, and it keeps everything cold.

Other attractive features include the flush back design, Marshall logo and signature and is has a one-year warranty.

Negative Aspects

In case the compressor fails, replacing it costs a lot. It would be cheaper to buy a new fridge.

Mixed reaction concerning its efficiency. After a long time of usage, it gets noisier and noisier, which causes lots of discomforts.

Poor quality control as the doors can become loose, so users have to tighten the brackets or adjust the front leg.

The switch on the front of the fridge doesn’t light up.

Conclusion

Marshall Compact Fridge is a state-of-the-art cooling and an excellent piece of rock and roll history. It works exceptionally well and looks good too. For music enthusiasts, Marshall Compact Fridge is an ideal storage place for their cold drinks and will be proud to display it in their dens, homes, caves, garages and any other place they like to relax with a cold drink.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Line 6 Spider Jam Guitar Amplifier

The Line 6 Spider Jam Guitar Amplifier is a perfect rehearsal tool for artists at any level, who want to polish their jamming skills. With more than 100 endless jams laid down by top Los Angeles and Nashville session players, from country to funk, blues to punk, these backing tracks are perfect inspiration and accompaniment for composing, practicing or simply having fun with your guitar. Besides, it can give you an experience of playing with a pro band.

It has a built-in multitrack Looping recorder that stores up to 28 minutes of sound and a 1/8th Aux input for your iPod and microphone, so you can record your song ideas without ever touching a computer.

It’s an utterly fantastic little 75 Watts amp, filled with 12 amp models and seven Smart sound effects. You can load up any Spider Jam’s 400 presets and rock Line 6-exclusive Endless Jam Engine.

Positive Aspects

Like any other amp in Spider 3 family, Spider Jam has numerous of rock star certified presets, smart control effects, 12 unique amp models, and a built-in tuner. The amp is packed with numerous rock star sounds – an ideal practice tool.

Spider Jam owners get free access to the Spider Online, a one-of-a-kind online resource providing more than 500 guitar lessons, jam tracks, amp tones and much more. You get to watch top artist videos dialing in their signature sound, spark new inspiration with jam tracks, drum loops and drum-and-base recorded by platinum artists, plus hundreds of tones to be downloaded. The lessons cover all styles and genres and include audio samples, tabs, and tones. Spider Online is free for owners of any Spider amplifier; Spider Valve, Spider Jam, Micro Spider and Spider I-IV.

The tracks aren’t computer generated; you’ll feel your pulse racing as you’re jamming with top players in killer tunes. Your recorded creations push out of a 2” tweeter and a 12” Celestion Custom speakers. With this, you can spend less time tweaking and more time playing with Smart Control FX. Get the effect you need, adjust the knob to desired intensity and you’re set to go.

Negative Aspects

You must use a two-gig or smaller memory card, or it will reboot if you try to save on a bigger SD card. And considering there are very few places to find the small SD cards, it can be quite a challenge.

It’s difficult to use. It records nicely, but it’s hard to figure out how to record the microphone and guitar input at the same time.

You can turn the presets and looper on the fly with the shortboard, but you must set foot pedal in the record mode on, and when FBV is in the recording mode, you have to turn it back to channel mode so as to switch various guitar tones.

Conclusion

Apart from the few things that they could do better, Line 6 Spider Jam Guitar Amplifier is exciting, especially with the looper and presets, and the endless ways you can tweak your tone. It works well and can be a great inspirational source for an upcoming artist.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Line 6 AMPLIFi 75 Modeling Guitar Amplifier

The Line 6 Amplifi 75 is a must have music system for modern homes. With a complete integration of wireless streaming, it enables you enjoy quality music without having to clatter your sitting room. It has features that allow you enjoy your favorite music with more ease. Apart from enjoying your music indoors, it can also serve you well as a public address if you are hosting a small party in your homestead. It is light in weight therefore moving it around is so easy. Recording your music is also made possible since it is has an USB interface. With its wireless remote, it makes it easy to control your music from your android or iOS.

Pros

Comes with a Bluetooth speaker- it is a great speaker for connecting your Bluetooth devices. This will allow you enjoy music from any room of your house especially if you like deep low tones. The Bluetooth system enables the speaker to fill every part of your house with the music. You do not have to keep moving the speakers from one room to another. The blue tooth does the magic for you.

Tone editing- This amplifier will allow you enjoy your music on different tonal variations. It has an easy to edit feature that gives you the freedom to edit your music and enjoy different tones. With this capability you can create your own playlist and match different guitar tones. It enables you balance different sounds from your guitar and music creating a range of tones for your music library.

Ease of finding playlist- It makes it very easy to find your custom made playlist and share it with your social circles. You can easily share the tones you have created through different social media platforms. This enables top contributors to be recognized through rating. Therefore you can request for your favorite sounds.

Cons

Sound Quality-If you want to enjoy your music through wireless devices, you can only keep it on low volume especially if you want to spread the music to other rooms in your house. If you play the music at a high volume, the sound quality is interfered with. This limits those who prefer their music at high volumes.

Play list. The ability to recognize your songs is limited to your iPhone or hydroid only. It does not recognize those saved in your internet or on your cloud playlist.

Limited effects- This system may not be adequate for music lovers who wish to enjoy more than four effects at a go. It is only limited to four effects at a go. The same limitation is extended to the Bluetooth if line six amplifiers are in use within the same place.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an amplifier that is unique and exceptional the Ampli is definitely the one. For someone learning to play the guitar this will be a great companion. With its attractive colors it attractive colors it harmonizes well in your living room or bedroom without disrupting the themes in your home.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Fender Super Champ X2

The Fender Super Champ X2 15-Watt 1×10-Inch Guitar Combo Amp has a sense of exact valve-amp dimension with the versatility of 16 separate amp voicing and an array of onboard digital effects. It’s an affordable amp with a valve power amplifier and a bolted DSP preamp on the front.

The Fender Super Champ X2 has the USB port which allows you to tinker with the Fender Fuse software or through the USB directly into their DAW. The amp can be used in a professional studio but is perfect for hobbyist and bedroom players.

Positive Aspects

It’s flexible, tuneful &simple with easy computer connectivity – allows you to customize the voicing and effects of the amp according to your personal taste. The endless tones that can be created with the Super Champ X2 ensure your recording and rehearsal sessions are lively.

The amp features voicing knob with 19 different amp types, (Blackface, tweed, metal, British and more). A 10” Fender Special Design speaker, dual-channel switching – the footswitch option. 15 effects with control. Tap tempo control for accurate delay adjustment. USB output for the speaker which imitates the digital recording and ¼” line output. The free to download Fender Fuse software allows for more tonal versatility. You will also have access to free Fender community content.

The non-master volume channel 1 offers some beautiful blackface-style clean tones with lots of headroom and channel 2 expands the combo’s tonal palette to a greater extent.

For amp models, firing the Fuse software up provides access to the mid-range tone control, and sometimes a bright switch and presence control too. These are exceptional essential, more so, if you want to optimize a given model (and bright-surrounding cab) for the particular guitar you are using.

Fuse enables you to adjust parameters that are not available on the amps front panel.

Negative Aspects

It’s lightweight cab and 1”- speaker naturally lean towards the clear sound, which can be fatiguing and brash on the ears and you’ll have to utilize a better quality compressor pedal on the front of the amp together with a touch of reverb and delay from onboard effects section to get clean sounds.

X2’s higher gain voices are a little less successful, and at higher volumes, the physical restrictions of the bright-sounding small speaker can be exposed.

No decent studio-style reverb with an extended, smooth decay, therefore there’s limitations to what you can place where. The flexibility or freedom found in a full amp-modeling software is currently available, though there’s still a broader range of sounds on offer up to four effects that are on the front of the amplifier model and further three found in the effects loop.

Conclusion

For home use, it’s an ideal package that provides a broad diversity of sounds at the right volume level. Combining a software interface with physical amp hardware, the Super Champ X2 goes to greater lengths in trying to satisfy an average guitarist. From the easy-to-use- Fuse software to its front panel controls, it’s all about instant fulfillment.

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017

Review: Acoustasonic 90 Acoustic Guitar Amplifier

Fender, a top musical instruments manufacturer, has been in business since 1946, and still strives to be a fundamental part of the modern day music. The Acoustasonic 90-90 Watt Acoustic Guitar Amplifier is one of their creations and is ideal for acoustic guitarists who need a lightweight, compact, affordable and powerful amplification. With its 90-watt power amp, high-frequency tweeter, and low-frequency woofer, it packs stage-worthy performance into a lightweight and versatile combo.

The player-centric features like the smart feedback elimination circuit, XLR inputs and outputs and lush special effects make this amplifier a great tool for a studio or stage.

Positive Aspects

It’s lightweight (18lbs) yet gives a good sound. Since most performances are in small rooms, the Acoustasonic 90 does the trick, but even in settings that are somewhat bigger, the little guy still puts out a clear, clean and warm sound. Additionally, Fender’s amp factors several onboard effects like chorus, reverb, delay, vibrotone and more. Performers can carry it anywhere and easily set it up – what they love about it.

The Acoustasonic 90 is rugged. It’s made from a durable five-ply hardwood which cuts the cabinet down for reverberation and also produces a solid tone.

You can have an instant solo public address by plugging both a microphone and a guitar into the Acoustasonic 90 amp. The 2-channel performer provides you with independent control over each input; therefore, you can balance your guitar and vocal perfectly. If you’re playing on bigger stages, you’ll appreciate the balanced XLR direct out, which allows you to utilize the amp as a monitor while pumping your signal out to the house public address.

Pretty basic user channel allows you to dial in the tones quickly.

Additional ideal features are; optional two-button effects and a typical Fender cosmetic treatment with chrome hardware and brown textured vinyl covering.

Negative Aspects

Not practicable for a high output mic as it gives feedback very quickly. It’s somewhat better to buy a cheaper low output dynamic microphone because the built-in preamplifier gain on this amp is cranked too hot. With an impressive mic, you can only put it to about three before the feedback begins. So if you get this amp, be aware that it’s useful, but if you’re looking for a powerful and well-rounded vocal, you won’t get it here. It’s only ideal for small events. For large concerts, it’s better to run a direct box into the house public address and use a floor monitor.

The 90 watts seem like an exaggeration. It’s not loud enough to fill a room bigger than your living room. It’s way too weak for a public performance. Besides, the instrument channels are decent, but not useful in any way.

Mixed reaction on sound quality.

Conclusion

The amp is small, lightweight, but big enough to carry a respectable speaker. The Fender Acoustasonic 90- 90 Watt Acoustic Guitar Amplifier is more than adequate for small to medium sized clubs or venues hosting 100-250 people. It’s ideal for events, home studio, and performances.