quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
Petrucci-like sounds require a true high gain amp (he's a Mesa Boogie guy as I recall). That sound is a bit hard to find in the Small and Inexpensive and Low Volume category as the sound itself is borne of high gain power amps driven to the point of the power tubes providing most of the distortion and faking that is all but impossible to do convincingly, at least convincingly and inexpensively.

Boogie amps are at the beginning of the expensive amps market, even for their small ones. And Edguy use Engl amps, another high gain variety from Germany. The least expensive amp I've seen lately that is of that ilk is the Mark Tremonti one from PRS, the little MT15 head, but even that is $500 used and doesn't include a speaker cab.

Figured as much. I'd say it's more of a long term goal; right now I'd happily settle for sounding somewhat coherent.

I'll run over to the local GC and see what they have on hand. Might even be worth trawling through some of the pawn shops around town. Who knows; I might find something interesting.

I'd set a budget, trawl the used inventory at GC.com, then check ones that seem to tickle your fancy against the opinions in the various guitar forums, then buy what suits you. "Best metal practice amp", "bedroom metal amp", "dream theatre sound on a budget" and so on will yield lots of comments I'm sure. The Gear Pages, the Telecaster forums, Gear Slutz, the Semour Duncan forums, and others will have decent opinions on guitar gear.

I hit local Pawn Shops once every few months, but I know exactly what I'm looking for. Right now you won't even know what you're looking at there, which will lead to lots of googling in the store - usually, and all that can be done from the comfort of home, IMO.

Either way, an afternoon of googling these things and watching YouTube videos will probably sort you out most efficiently. And visiting stores is usually fun, too. Enjoy.

And TC Polytune tuners can be had for ~$50 and are a great value. The only thing I like better for Tuners runs about $140 (ST300 Strobe Tuner pedals), but Polytunes are great too.

I bought a NIB Fender Black Equinox Jazz Bass three years ago, hoping I would fond the courage and commitment to reach deep and find the commitment to learn to play,....I only have around three full hours of scales on it. I gave up and have gone back to building model cars, I have The Bass (Perfect), a Fender Rumble Bass Amplifier. Straps, Tuner, a visit to the Luthier to make sure everything was as it Picks, Funk, Rock and Roll and others. Please ask me forthe questions, be, A Stack of New Bass Guitar Music. Its a Beautiful instrument, and everything you need, all brand new....
I also have a Fender Classic Tweed Case. Please send for photos over the Holiday and prepare yourself for a great Christmas gift. Much insurance is available and well pay that part of us.Please ask for photos.....This is every Bass Player interest. Please ask questions at your leisure. Lets be nice to one another and try not to embezzlement. If the photos dont cone up, look again....They will be there.

Zeb, sorry to hear you gave up the pursuit.