Hello, I am after some good old fashioned amplification advice. I read lots of equipment reviews which are wonderful for specifications; price comparisons etc etc but mostly fail to let you know how it stands up when gigging. I currently use a Marshall MG100 watt combo amp, which is okish when mic’ed but sounds awfully thin when un mic’ed (and due to my band being new and playing everywhere and anywhere it can’t always be guaranteed my amp will be appropriately mic’ed). I saw that Marshall have a new valve combo coming out called the “Class 5” which is priced at around three hundred quid (which is about my price range at the minute) or would it be better to just buy a decent second hand head? (I would just be worried about turning up at a venue and finding they had no cab I could use). All advice would be greatly appreciated.

You can hear my band at www.myspace.com/deadspex (which might aid you in helping me with my predicament) I am after a cleanish tone with a slight dirty age which I then boost with my pedals.

Cheers again

xxx