depends
last year, on average I spent about £800 on guitars (1) and about £350 on amps

over the last 5 years I've averaged £250 a year on guitars (2)

over my lifetime, £58 per year
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:27, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Heavy habit you have there, my man.

( Larry Vest One day at a time, sweet Jesus, FFS., Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:30, Reply)

it's getting worse
the next one I want is £1200
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:34, Reply)

I've been offered a marshall x4 cab and peavey head for £280
about 7 years old, the valves have been changed recently.

good deal, fair price, shit deal, impossible to tell....?
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:39, Reply)

I'm not really familiar with peavey amps, particularly the valve ones
any idea what model or anything? if you can find out I'll happily take a look and make you a recommendation.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:42, Reply)

Thank you sir, I'll get more info
I've never got beyond the integrated practice amp stage before, and tbh the tiny Roland one I have is fine for my house, I just want Marshall bigness for purely 'I just want it' reasons.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:45, Reply)

the 4x12 cabs weigh a ton.
Never pleasent having to lugg them around.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:47, Reply)

I will point out that my valve amp is 15w
and is fucking loud

the 40w version is almost unusable for a mainly play at home amp because it is so loud.

as our colleague below says, the cab should be good, as long as it isn't fucked.

if the head is any good you could probably sell it on for most of the £280, if not for a profit.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:48, Reply)

You see the 4x12s going for £200 on ebay
so selling the head for something more suitable to your needs/wamts might not be a bad idea, if you can be bothered.

I finally got round to selling my bass via gumtree, sold in hours.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:54, Reply)

this sounds like sense
what was the bass?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:56, Reply)

MIM Jazz
£290. I'd swapped it for the Marshall stack when I joined the last band I was in. So I'm up £90, but would have prefered the chance to swap back.
Was I ripped off?
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:00, Reply)

hmmm
think I'd rather the marshall stack. I'm not keen on those basses though. I've got a Stingray copy which considering it cost me £109 is superb.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:04, Reply)

was in a band with a female bass player who had a five string sting ray
she was drawfed by it and play two notes on it for each song.

The bass sounded alright, but I'ma guitar man, despite sharing my birthday with umpteen bass players.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:07, Reply)

bit of a waste considering how much they cost
I find it hard to get too excited about basses myself. Guitars on the other hand....

*drools*

one of these will be my next purchase
www.electricguitarplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/gibson_firebird_v.jpg
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:12, Reply)

very nice.
My favourite is my Squier Supersonic, which at one point I had three of.

right, home time!
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:16, Reply)

Does it have Bowie stickers all over it?

( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:43, Reply)

One day I really will run you through with one of my swords.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:46, Reply)

Does it have Bowie stickers all over it?

( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:47, Reply)

That day is getting sooner and sooner with alarming rapidity.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:48, Reply)

Will Bowie be your second?

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:48, Reply)

He'll be my third.
Victim, that is, after CavernVadger and you if you keep up Montybaiting like this.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:52, Reply)

Me and TGB
aren't keeping it up. I think Bowie is the one doing that
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:56, Reply)

YAY MONTY BAITING

( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:57, Reply)

Monty is definitely
drooling with anticipation in that picture
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:59, Reply)

That's beautiful.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:01, Reply)

Is that day Bowie's birthday?

( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:49, Reply)

Can't say I'm taken with Peavey heads
though I've never actually used them. The cab should be alright.

I bought a Marshall JCM 800 with 4x12 cab for £200. The head alone sold for £450 on ebay, sadly not by me.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:45, Reply)

but at first glance do you think the price is at least reasonable?
It's not off someone I know, but someone who lives in my block who is switching to drums.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:47, Reply)

it seems reasonable to me
I might even got so far as to say it is cheap
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:49, Reply)

Valves can be expensive
My mates Vox has just come back from repair needing all the valves replaced costing £100, he was told to expect this yearly.

If it's a valve sound you want and are prepaired to pay for the maintenance, it then comes down to how it sounds. You'll need to play it before making that decision. I may be too much of a snob, and it may be a decent deal.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:51, Reply)

£100 yearly?
that seems excessive. Tell him to get his valves here www.hotroxuk.com

my initial impression is that a valve head and a 4x12 cab will be way too fucking loud for use in a flat. I've never played a gig that would require an amp that powerful.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:53, Reply)

my marshall was 50watt and never
was on full. I'd not noticed he was talking for home use, definetly not need that much.

The guy who repaired it is very trusted but I'll take note, as he's just bought a JCM800.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:58, Reply)

I've got a Fender Blues Junior
which sounds sublime, and is incredibly loud for a 15w amp. Louder than my Marshall 100w transistor job I reckon.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:00, Reply)

i picked up a Hughes and Kettner 60R (60 watt)
which sounds fantastic for a solid state amp. That died after the guy with the vox used it. I think he breaks everything.
( Holly Would long wheel based tranny, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:03, Reply)

I hate people like that
solid states have their place. Started using my marshall to play some rock and metal stuff that I'm recording with a mate and the distortion on it is awesome.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:05, Reply)

Need, no, want, yes.
I am taking steps to get back 'out there' and start playing properly again, though. I've been talking to a pal who's been rather successful in the past who wants to get something together. To do that I'd need something more heavy duty and that's the excuse I'm giving myself to even consider this purchase.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:02, Reply)

is this that pal who I know about?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:10, Reply)

It is. We want to get a kind of space rock thing going.
Mainly because neither of us fancies singing much.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:15, Reply)

that sounds like great fun
I'll have to bung you a copy of the latest of the Red Squirrel / Grey Squirrel Scenario Part 2 to get your views. We're working on it this weekend, so maybe I'll send you one after that.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:18, Reply)

Definitely - loved the last one, as you know

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:30, Reply)

the new one is technically better
not quite as flowing yet. it's a lot more inspired by wolfmother.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:32, Reply)

A chum of mine
has one of these AC30 reissues, I have to say it does sound great.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 15:59, Reply)

I was toying with the idea of one of those when I got my Fender
pleased I went with what I did though. it's a superb little amp.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:05, Reply)

Peavey Head?
I've heard the clean sound isn't so hot on their normal guitar amps, but that might just be the cheaper solid state ones. It's probably worth typing the amp's name into www.harmony-central.com to see if the great unwashed have posted any reviews about it. All the same £280 with a fresh set of valves does sound pretty good...
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:23, Reply)

Okey dokey
I'm swinging slightly towards making the purchase now.

Thank you all for the opinions, I'm well out of the game and need all the help I can get.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 16:31, Reply)