Amp suggestions for modern/90s alternative rock?

[connor_online]

Hi everyone. I'm a big fan/follower of this site but this is my first post so... take it easy on me?

I'm looking for my perfect guitar amp and everyone on here seems to know more about guitar amps than I thought was humanly possible.

Desirable characteristics:

- Modern rock, alternative rock, (dare I say) pop-punk-ish rock sounds

- Head and speaker cab style. Combo just doesn't tickle my pickle for this purpose.

- Have been playing many small gigs. Bars, small venues, etc. Needs to be able to hold its own on this front. I play with a drummer, a bassist, and another guitarist. Have no problem mic-ing it when necessary.

- Would prefer it to have the capabilities of nice clean and nice distortion at roughly equal volumes. I say prefer because I am fine with picking up a nice stompbox or two or three to compensate for a lack of one of these sounds.

- Price range: $300-$500 (kinda flexible if I'm reaaaally in love)

Things I've been considering:

VHT Special 6
Jet City JCA20H
Kustom Defender 5H with a swapped 12AU7 (this thing looks like so much fun...)

Please bombard me with ideas, questions, and comments!!! Thanks!!!

[FFTT]

It's tough for me to recommend any amp in that price range.

For small clubs, I'd go for a Gries 12 or Allan Amps Sweet Spot.

which are both Princeton/DR voiced.

For more British gain, I'd go for a Reeves Custom 18 or a used Reinhardt 18
or similar Germino, DR Z

In the cheap seats, the Black Hearts are very popular as is the Tiny Terror.

[kuasalogam]

Orange Tiny Terror or Dual Terror should serve you well, I personally prefer Vox Night Train

[verve92]

Originally Posted by kuasalogam

Orange Tiny Terror or Dual Terror should serve you well, I personally prefer Vox Night Train

Huh? ADR the Orange is the last one I would think of; more metal sound. You will NOT get a head/ cab for that price range. Most heads I would even look at are $1500.
Definitely you need a tube combo amp.
If you watch many "alternative" bands (Radiohead, Deerhunter, Flaming Lips) you see lots of Fender's. Though tough in your price range, the Fender Blues Junior fits. Great little tube amp the baby brother to the Hot Rod Deluxe. Also the Peavey Delta Blues are great amps. Consider that Fender's are expensive due partly to it's name. You can get more amp for the money elsewhere.
Bare in mind effects are VERY important in this type of sound.
Also, just go to the local music shoppe and try some out. For the love of god, don't settle for a solid state (non tube) amp with cheesy DSP effects built in and don't get suckered into LOUD amps. Most bands like this keep volume low and mic it.
One more thing. If you make good music, you don't need an expensive amp. I learned on a $100 Hohner guitar and a 10 watt solid state.
Best of luck

[texasguitar903]

You might wanna give up on the half stack and look for a tube combo. Peavey 5150 combo's have a very nice clean channel that can go from sterile to crunchy/punchy....the distortion is bRutAl also.
I have used this amp with heavy hitting drummers and it is always sufficiently LOUD!
I bought it at a pawn shop for 600, add another 150 for some fresh tubes and you got a mean tonebox that'll deliver jazzy cleans or nasty pick squealing leads that rival any 3000 dollar mesa booger.

I also have a JSX head and carvin 4x12 cabinet, but that'll run you about 1000 dollars.....trust me, don't short change your tone...I did at first and it took years to realize/admit it.

[verve92]

Originally Posted by texasguitar903

You might wanna give up on the half stack and look for a tube combo. Peavey 5150 combo's have a very nice clean channel that can go from sterile to crunchy/punchy....the distortion is bRutAl also.
I have used this amp with heavy hitting drummers and it is always sufficiently LOUD!
I bought it at a pawn shop for 600, add another 150 for some fresh tubes and you got a mean tonebox that'll deliver jazzy cleans or nasty pick squealing leads that rival any 3000 dollar mesa booger.

I also have a JSX head and carvin 4x12 cabinet, but that'll run you about 1000 dollars.....trust me, don't short change your tone...I did at first and it took years to realize/admit it.

Good option as well, but the OP looking to spend $300-500. Your recommending $750 total with the new tubes? More a loud hard rock/metal amp, no? Plus the Fender clean blows away the 5150, whose strong point is its overdrive. Just my experience.
Just try out amps and don't make snap decisions. If you get the wrong one return it or sell it, they don't depreciate much at all esp Fenders.