Good guitar amps to consider?

[tedmich]

PV Ultra 212 (~$300) put EM swampthangs (~$190) in an you are good to go. New JJ 6L6s and you're still <$700

An ULTRA+ 120 head and decent cab would be a little more (<$700) but MASSIVE

[Steve Conner]

I really don't think a DIY kit is such a good idea unless you're somewhat technically minded. (do you own a soldering iron?)

I think any of the amps mentioned would put a smile on your face. Unless you're emo in which case that is obviously impossible. The second hand Marshall JCM or Peavey would be a good bet. The Mesa is a classic "alternative" choice, but could you find one for anywhere near $700?

My own personal choice would be the silverface Fender (maybe even the 135 watt UL Twin) and a choice of half a dozen different distortion pedals, but I'm getting old.

Peavey, Fender, Marshall and Bogner now have Chinese budget lines. The Bogner Alchemist got pretty good reviews. Don't know about Egnater.

[wyomingrocks]

Marshall TSL, DSL on the used market. Don't let something like the Vox AC100CPH or AC50CPH stop you being made in china. Also if you can find a Marshall JMD really good little amps and very diverse. Peavey makes good affordable gear. Also if you can find a blackstar amp, I have not had one "yet" but they sound pretty good. And are more affordable than marshall. Good luck

[J M Fahey]

*All*excellent suggestions, but I guess the original post sort of favors certain choices and discourages others.
I guess that:

"anything from alternative, punk, to metal."

sort of discards all those beautiful sounding Fenders .
Not much twangy Fender sound specified. (although I personally love and would `prefer them)
And the

preferably no more than $700

clause is very easily met by SS gear, not that easy by Tube one.
For me, those Peavey suggested might nicely fill the bill, specially if using (or upgrading to) good speakers.
Hey !!, she might even use *two* Bandits side by side, for a very loud sound in a very portable package, still well within budget.
And two Fender Stage 160 would be a bone crushing version of same setup, and quite heavy sounding.
Speaker wise, a Marshall VS8240, with its two Celestion G12T75, is miles above any other amp with no-name speakers, in that price range
And provides good heavy distortion just by itself, no need for external gear.
I just fail to imagine a 4x12" with good speakers plus *any* reasonable head within that budget.
And 4 crummy speakers do not beat 1 or 2 good ones, at least in my book.

Just a different option

[big_teee]

I would think something with a 2x12 would be good.
If you want Peavey, they seem to be in every Pawn shop.
T