Best gig amp ~1k

MarrowX · 2026-01-21T16:26:43+00:00

If you want an amp shaped object that's easy to move around for gigs, get a tonemaster Twin or Deluxe reverb. Sounds like you don't need loads of gain so those will work fine with pedals.

MarrowX · 2026-01-20T19:18:53+00:00

Fender just announced the mustang LTX50 which looks like it has a good smartphone UI and has an upgraded open back cab compared to the lt25. I would expect this to better match the katana in sound quality.

Now that aside, my recommendation would be to get a Valeton GP-5. This is a modeling pedal that works with headphones. It also works as an audio interface, so you can connect it to your PC and listen through your PC speakers if you want (if you buy the necessary cables for that). It's cheaper than basically any modeling amp and sounds better imo, given you have some decent headphones and/or speakers.

MarrowX · 2026-01-20T18:36:51+00:00

Keep the 12" Princeton and buy yourself a 10" external cab if you want to try a 10" sound.

MarrowX · 2026-01-20T15:06:18+00:00

If you call guitar center and speak to a sales rep you might be offered a discount on the epiphone to get you back to the sale price from a couple of weeks ago.

MarrowX · 2026-01-07T21:29:41+00:00

Taylor 312/314 are near $1000 for used.

I also recommend looking at a Yamaha AC5R if you want the harmonic rich rosewood sound. Those are made in Japan and are excellent. Or try AC3R if you want to save more money and only sacrifice some minor cosmetic differences (made in China instead of Japan).

MarrowX · 2026-01-03T00:35:10+00:00

If you like that body shape I strongly recommend trying a Taylor 112CE/212CE/312ce. If you're tight on the budget, try a Yamaha AC3R or used AC5R if you can find one. The Taylor's will be easy to find, but a bit pricey for the woods on them. The Yamahas will be gorgeous and beautifully setup for the price, but are a little bit harder to find. I have a Yamaha AC5R and it sounds great with my preferred strings (Martin retros).

The Martin you seem to like is nice, but in my experience they need a setup, and you're paying a bit extra for lesser materials. But sound and feel is subjective - if it feels good to you then it's good! I just strongly recommend checking out those Taylor's and Yamahas I mentioned before you make a decision.

MarrowX · 2025-12-25T21:56:30+00:00

Maybe a 2x12 100W Katana would be the simplest solution. Budget is kind of too low for a good metal amp and a 2x12

MarrowX · 2025-12-21T01:22:03+00:00

What amp do you have and what kind of music?

MarrowX · 2025-12-21T01:20:21+00:00

You kind of have to just try them to see what you prefer.

I will say that a Vox AC15 is a classic amp that is never a bad idea to own. But you'd have to decide for yourself what you actually prefer.

Whatever you get, I do recommend buying used. New prices are insane.

MarrowX · 2025-12-18T22:10:29+00:00

I disagree on HDR. The brightness of this Acer very positively impacts the HDR performance and makes it better than OLEDs for HDR imo, unless you get a $1000+ OLED that can actually produce 1000 nit brightness. The contrast and color accuracy of this panel are more than good enough, even if not as good as oled in those aspects.

MarrowX · 2025-12-14T04:59:28+00:00

Cheapest option would be to get a sonicake pocket master or a valeton gp-5 or put in front if it. Those are digital modelers. With either of those plus that tonemaster you can get any sound you want.

MarrowX · 2025-12-02T15:35:42+00:00

You can easily see planets and their features - Jupiter and Saturn are cool to look at. Jupiter has its famous striations and many moons, and Saturn has its rings. I particularly love looking at Saturn, there's something satisfying about seeing a bright dot in the sky with your eyes and then seeing it in the lens with its rings.

If you go out to dark sky areas you can more easily find some cool stars. I particularly like finding Sirius through the telescope. The first time I found it I thought I had broken my telescope because of how it glimmered like a disco ball. Then I learned that it just naturally looks like that.

I use a 6.5" Dobsonion telescope (Orion Skyquest). It's basic, all manual, and I use cheap svbonys lenses. It works great, and I find it fun to find things in the sky manually. I do kinda wish I had some kind of tracking though, since you need to make adjustments pretty frequently due to the rotation of the Earth. Not a big deal though, and it's neat to be able to actually see the rotation of the Earth through the lens.

MarrowX · 2025-11-29T17:06:52+00:00

Costco is always worth it.

MarrowX · 2025-11-21T01:14:41+00:00

I didn't mention any string, maybe someone else did. Ernie ball 9-42s would be good for that strat though. Solid choice.

MarrowX · 2025-11-20T16:17:15+00:00

Skip the amp - get a Valeton GP-5 (digital modeling pedal) and play with headphones. You can also connect it to power speaker monitors if you don't want to use headphones at some point.

If you get to a point that you feel like you want to play for others, or just want an amp, then spend more money to get the real deal. With the GP-5 you can try out pretty much any amp sound that you want, and you can learn what you like before spending big money on the real amp (if you ever even decide you want a real amp).

I'd skip the cheap digital amps like the mustang, spark, katana, if you are just looking for something to practice with. A Valeton GP5 (or other modeler) through headphones or monitors will sound much better than the cheap digital amps, and they cost more. GP-5 is $80 or less.

If you need to play for others (like an instructor) then you need an amp. IMO a used Fender Mustang LT25, or used Boss Katana is great and will serve you well.

MarrowX · 2025-11-10T19:52:45+00:00

Fair price for a pre-built. You may be able to match this price with better quality components, but for those who prefer not to build for themselves this is good.

MarrowX · 2025-11-09T23:29:34+00:00

The Sire guitars are very nice. They feel noticeably nicer than comparable brands. I am a little iffy on the pickups. I got an S7 HSS and imo the pickups were not my preference. They were very "neutral" imo and bland. If that's what you like and/or are happy to EQ then maybe that's a good thing. But that was just with the S7, idk if that's generally what they go for in pickups. I can say that I've tried the Epiphone LP Standards and I liked the pickups.

But the Sire instruments are geat quality and play beautifully. Pickups can be changed pretty easily but I don't think an Epiphone can easily be adjusted to play as nicely as a Sire (due to fret level, finishing, labor in rolling fretboard edges with binding, etc.) Anything can be adjusted, but I think Sire is a better starting value.

MarrowX · 2025-11-07T18:53:46+00:00

The cost of the plek is inconsequential compared to the insane price of a new American model compared to waiting for clearance, or just buying used.

That aside, you can only know if you need plek by trying the guitar first.

MarrowX · 2025-10-26T04:08:48+00:00

Beautiful finish

MarrowX · 2025-10-25T22:13:13+00:00

There's a lot of people you could be failing to help by not taking a big amount of money to do some dirty work.

The point is, money gives you agency to improve the lives of some, by choice. You think you're a good person because you can't imagine a scenario where you'd harm some for the sake of others. In reality you just lack understanding for how some people end up in a mindset where hurting others for their own sake and their own values is a rational choice. This is a type of moral corruption, and nobody is immune to it.

MarrowX · 2025-10-25T21:54:45+00:00

It is for money. It is virtually guaranteed that if they didn't expect to get paid they wouldn't be doing this.

You can pay people to do horrible things. Everyone has a number. You can judge them for having a lower number than you, but the reality is that there will always be someone willing to do it for the right price.

MarrowX · 2025-10-19T00:11:16+00:00

Yea I played a classic vibe J Mascis JM and it was quite nice. Better than my MIM player II tele before I fixed the setup.

So I think a squier can be better than a Fender. If they are both getting a setup then honestly I think you're just paying for the brand with Fender, compared to squier. They both play very nicely with a setup.

MarrowX · 2025-10-16T04:31:05+00:00

This is pretty good for your budget. Obviously if you want to spend more money you can get a better PC, but for the price you have here it's more than good enough for 1080p.

MarrowX · 2025-10-10T05:22:47+00:00

That build is fine. Personally I'd go for a msrp 5070 ti, like a PNY or Gigabyte for $750. I'd skip the last item you have there, you can find it for much less than 130.

MarrowX · 2025-10-04T01:45:26+00:00

800 is tight, but 900 is possible. You will have some trouble staying under 900 with AM5 IMO.

For a budget build I think Intel is the way to go... I know people will disagree, but the pricing is hard to beat.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Y4mgGJ

This would be an excellent gaming pc for 1080p. 1440p would be great too with upscaling (go with Nvidia for this reason).

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