Solid-State Amp Choice!

[Annihilator]

Hi folks,

I’m about to buy the new combo amp. Since I can’t afford tube amp at the moment, I’m forced to consider some other options. I play many styles, from old-school thrash metal, hard rock, to blues/jazz and alternative rock.
I was searching a lot, looking for all kinds and types of amps and brands, and I sticked with these two models, based on their characteristics and reviews, two of them hybrid, one pure solid-state.

Laney LV200
Power RMS: 65 Watts
Inputs: 1x Jack
Channels: 3 (Clean, Drive 1 and Drive 2)
Equalization: Independent Bass, Mid, and Treble for Clean and Drive
Bright Switch: Yes (Clean Channel)
Reverb: Yes, with independent level controls for Clean and Drive
Footswitch: Custom 3-Way (Included)
Speaker connections: 1x Jack (8 Ohms)
FX Loop(s): Yes
Drivers: 1x12" Celestion Super 65
Scoop Switch: 2 (Drive 1 & Drive 2)
Tube Fusion Technology: ECC83 Preamp Valve
Headphone Socket: Yes
Price: 260EUR

Peavey Bandit 112
80 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms
100 Watts RMS into 4 Ohms (w/external speaker)
12 in. Blue Marvel speaker
High and Low Gain inputs
TransTube tube emulation circuitry
Footswitchable Clean and Lead channels
3 band passive EQ on each channel
3 position EQ/Gain Voicing switch on each channel
Reverb with level control
Footswitchable Boost with level control (footswitch optional).
Price: 350 EUR

Roland CUBE-60
60-watt output, compact 12" speaker design
9 COSM guitar amp models, including JC, British Combo, and R-Fire
New Dyna Amp feature enables smooth and expressive tone transitions based on picking dynamics
6 classic built-in effects, including Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, and independent Delay/Reverb
Recording/Phones output, Line out, Tuner out, and Ext Speaker out
Channel switching, delay/reverb, and effect on/off control via optional footswitch
Price: 330EUR


Btw. I saw some guy selling used ’88. Laney Linebacker 50W Reverb, so I’m considering that too:
Laney Linebacker 50W Reverb
Made in England
Year of production: 1988.
Solid-state ampAccutronix reverb
Celestion 10-50 speaker
Master: Presence, Reverb, Master volume.
Two channels
Channel A : Master A (volume) , Treble, Middle, Bass Pull Boost, Gain Pull Boost.
Channel B: Master B (volume), Treble, Middle, Bass, Gain
Input: Footswitch, Channel A, Channel mix, Channel B (footswitch not included).
Rear panel: FX Loop , D. I. , Speaker, Headphones.
Price: 170 EUR

If anyone has some better option in that price range in mind, please share it. Thanks in advance!

[Steve Conner]

Peavey Bandit all the way!

[Jazz P Bass]

Yup.
The Peavey Bandit 112 is a very versatile amplifier.
Go for it.

[exclamationmark]

I vote for the bandit as well.

The roland-60 always made me chuckle because of the johnny demarco demo. Plus it sounds like processed cheese.

[Jazz P Bass]

I vote for the bandit as well.

The roland-60 always made me chuckle because of the johnny demarco demo. Plus it sounds like processed cheese.

Processed Cheese.
Cheese Food.

[Chuck H]

Bandit.

[Jazz P Bass]

Is this the "Peavey Forum"?

[DrGonz78]

I would go with the Bandit too. Although the Laney LV200 sounds kinda of interesting too.

[Chuck H]

I had a Bandit 60 wayyy back in 1982. I used that amp for years. It easily kept up with a live drummer. Once I started getting into more "professional" gear I chased a good tone for about two years trying to figure out why all this rack mount tube stuff didn't sound any better (or sometimes not as good) as my old Bandit with a mid 80's white face RAT pedal. Like a dummy I had sold the Bandit and the RAT to raise funds for new gear. That was a very early Bandit. And it was a really good amp. Nothing compares to an overdriven tube amp (especially not a box full of rack mount garbage) but if there were all of a sudden NO TUBES I would be on the hunt for a Bandit. Woah I really wish I still had that mid 80's RAT.

[anthillrich]

the bandit was my 1st amp. late 80's early 90's. cant remeber exactly when i bought it. i have very fond memories of that amp. i remeber thinking " i found MY sound", along with millions of other people.

it easily kept up with my drummer friend in our garage band.
and it had the added benefit of punishing the neighbors.

I have owned a few peavey products over the years, the bandit, a 5150, a 2x12 renown (which i still have) and a PA head.
Their products used to be looked down on, at least that is what i perceived as a youngster. i never understood why. their stuff lasts forever, and some of it really sounds good.
i hope their new stuff is as reliable as it always has been.

as for your other choices, I have never played thru a Laney, so i cant say. I would not get too caught up in the "pre amp tube" thing tho. sometimes that has no "warming up the tone" effect at all. if you can, play it and let your ears be the judge.

as for the roland, i have played thru one, and i liked it. then again, i also like cheese, so go figure.

also, for what its worth, there are alot of inexpensive "made in china" tube amps out there. not my cup of tea, but they are out there.
infact, the peavey valve king would fall into that catagory. a few benjamins and presto -you have a tube amp. I dont know what that would be in euros.
good luck.