Guitar Gear Forum

Hi Guys -

Nice place!

Any suggestions on something fairly easy to move that will amplify my VG-88 modeler? I need about 50w per channel and 2 12" or 2 10" speakers in a cabinet.

Option 1: Buy a rack mount amp like a Rocktron and set it on top of a 2-12 cab. Anyone here use one of the Rocktron Velocity single rack space amps? What did you think of it? How heavy, enough clean gain? Sound good?

Option 2: Buy a stereo combo amp. The Roland JC-120 would probably sound pretty good, but it's really expensive and heavy, overkill for what I want. Any other amps that are fairly light and affordable, but reliable?

I have a Tech 21 Power Engine 60. It's OK, but I'd need two of them to go stereo and I'd like something simpler to set up. Just snap in the rack cables and play.

Ideas?

Thanks!!

Terry D.

The Rocktron Velocity 300 packs a whole lot of clean power (2x150W). It's really good, but it's a heavy unit (9 kg). You need a solid 4x12" to fully benefit of the sheer power of this power amp. The Velocity 100 is inferior. It lacks the definition and reactance controls of its big brother, and I'm not sure about its clean headroom, I wouldn't recommend.

Out of the three options presented, I'd choose to get another Power Engine 60 and be done with it. I've used a pair, in stereo, for years, with very satisfying results. And you can always use only one of them if you can't/don't want to go stereo.

Mr. Knobs!!!
Welcome.

Your epic story posted on HC is what got me there - and ultimately to the amp forum!
I can't even remember the details - but I know it was about some crazy chick.

Do you have a link to that (if you even know the one I am talking about)?

Any - for your question - I got nothing...........

Welcome! Glad to see you here

I have a mesa 50/50 that I love. It also does 15 watts on low power for practice.

if the JC120 is too much look into the JC77. These amps are a good match for the VG88,

mamberg wrote:Mr. Knobs!!!
Welcome.

Your epic story posted on HC is what got me there - and ultimately to the amp forum!
I can't even remember the details - but I know it was about some crazy chick.

Do you have a link to that (if you even know the one I am talking about)?

Any - for your question - I got nothing...........

I deleted my groupie story from HC before the migration, thinking I might not have the ability to delete it on the new forum if I wanted to. I still have it on my hard drive of course. I'm thinking I might flesh it out to true novel size and post it on my own website ( www.mrknobs.com ).

Terry D.

guitarbilly74 wrote:if the JC120 is too much look into the JC77. These amps are a good match for the VG88,

Wow! I had no idea that a JC77 existed! Now if I could find one in good shape....

Terry D.

guitarbilly74 wrote:if the JC120 is too much look into the JC77. These amps are a good match for the VG88,

Found one on EBay, but it looks like it might not have stereo inputs.

Terry D.

I am not sure, I played one a while ago and it was a perfect miniature of the JC120, same exact tone, only lighter. But I plugged a single guitar into it so I did not pay too much attention to its stereo capabilities.


Another option would be a good keyboard amp. Peavey, Carvin ect have some great sounding keyboard amps that are true stereo or multiple channels. They would be really good for a modeler actually, because they tend to have a flatter response than guitar amps.

Looks like I will go back to what I used years ago and use a rack mount head with a 2-12 speaker cab. I have a 2-12 cab and I just purchased a Rocktron Velocity 300 amp and Furman power strip to go in my existing 2 space SKB rack.

If I don't like the Rocktron, I'll return it to MF. Lately they've been assessing a charge if you return something that isn't broken (i.e. you just don't like it). That's pissing me off a bit as I bought a Crown X1000 amp that they told me was 8 pound and it turned out to be 26 lbs! $7 charge to return it for their mistake.

Terry D.