Decent Practice Amp???

[watchforpiranha]

I've been a drummer and guitarist for a really long time. I thought i knew enough about equipment to be able to find a simple practice amp for my guitar, but i chose wrong and my amp's fried. i don't use many effects, and i tend to prefer an amp's overdrive as opposed to an overdrive fx pedal (especially marshall's overdrive).

Anyway, i'm broke and i need a decent amp to practice with. i'd prefer one that comes with a footswitch, curious about the fender frontman 112's*, though i haven't had luck w/ them in the past. i'm not expecting to get dual rectifier sound out of a used combo amp that cost me 100$.. but i do need something that's not a crate with an 8" speaker that buzzes even at low volumes on the CLEAN channel (and no, turning it up, or any other tweaking did not fix it)!!

I like my line 6 USB amp modulator for recording, even though i haven't been able to get that pulsing sound you get from mic'ing a 4x12 cabinet with a decent head. So, that's my quandry. i'm not playing live, so i don't need something utterly loud. it'd be really nice if the amp's sound quality, clean & overdrive, were good enough that i could mic it if i wanted to. i would like to spend around 150.. and i know i'll get 20 responses saying "dude, you're gonna have to spend more money," but, i don't even have that much right now, so.. any help or advice you guys have is welcome! Thanks!

* - fender frontman 112.. any of you guys own one of these? i'm talking the 25 watt version cause that's the one that i see the most.. the one i played through sounded kinda crappy. it just sounded like a practice amp. you couldn't crank it up without the cabinet buzzing, etc.. but this was quite a while back. anyway, feedback is extremely encouraged.

[PeterR]

Hi

and welcome here!

You should try the Roland Cube series

and the VOX Valvtronix series.....

[captcoolaid]

I just got a Orange Cush 20ldx yesterday and I love it. The Rolands are great as well.

[captain tightpants]

Been digging the hell out of the little Mustang 1 I got about a month ago. Downloading the Fender Fuse software is essential, but you can dial in some outstanding tones for a $99 amp.

[Blues4U]

Rolland Cubes blow me away--I do not own one but a few of my friends do---Everytime I play through one i find myself asking the question "how do they do that" they are cool, sound great, bullet proof and affordable-

[EEF13]

I have a Roland Cube 20x and it's great for practicing or little jam sessions. I hear great things about the new Mustang amp series.

[SmokeyDopey]

I just got a Orange Cush 20ldx yesterday and I love it. The Rolands are great as well.

Can you smoke it?

[benjammin420]

Cush

Can you smoke it?

[watchforpiranha]

thanks for the input everyone. many of you mentioned the roland cubes. i'm familiar with them, but have not actually played thru one.. anybody know if there is a model (of the cube) that comes with a footswitch (or if they have clean/overdrive channels..)

[benjammin420]

the 30 and the 60 have footswitches

[watchforpiranha]

In case there's anyone else with this same question, as I know there are always beginners who know nothing about what type of amp to buy and guitarists of all exp levels who need a solid practice amp; I decided to go with the Fender Mustang I. I couldn't be happier with it. The Fuse software it comes with is what really sold me on it. Although when I'm just messing around, I don't plug it into my computer, it's an awesome option to have basically an infinite number of effects pedals (and you can actually use them like pedals on your computer, dialing the knobs, etc.), and you can really crank it without it distorting on clean channels (a problem I had ALWAYS had with small/practice amps).
Anyway, if you're looking for a good, solid practice amp, or even something to play an intimate gig, like a party, the Mustang is the way to go. There are five versions, each is larger than the one before, in wattage and size.. I struggled between the I (20W) and the II (40W), because i didn't figure an 8" speaker could handle decent volume without rattling the cab, but it works fine. The II is the EXACT same as the I as far as functionality/effects/knobs, it just pumps out more wattage through a 12" speaker.

One last thing: I like having a footswitch that's made for the amp I'm playing. Fender dealers make it slightly unclear that the mustang I & II can ONLY handle a single button latching footswitch (any will do; doesn't have to be fender). I had purchased the 2-button hoping to have more footswitching options, but it didn't work at all with the MI. I believe the MII comes with the single button switch. Anyway, I thought that might be some valuable time- & money- saving advice. Thanks again to all who gave advice.