Combo guitar amps

[Keef]

What would people recommend as a good combo amp, not too big, packing a punch, ideally with good built in distortion?

My amp (Marshall JCM2000 TSL head, and 4x12 cab) is rather large, and not always appropriate for smaller venues (plus it takes up a lot of space in the car!). I would like something that created a similar sound though, so if anyone has used something like that, I'd be grateful for the advise.

Putting this in the lounge, as I doubt I'd get any responses on this in the recommendations section.

[Brendan]

I would go for one of the smaller Marshalls. But that?s ?cos I?m not really an amp geek and I know I can trust Marshall so stick to them.

You probably know more about the subject than me though.

[Keef]

I too am a Marshall man. Not sure I do know any more than you though Brendan, I used to be a bass amp geek in my younger days, but I took a friend's advise on my guitar amp, and it was good advise, but it's just such a big b@stard!

Same friend has a great little Marshall combo, but it's on it's last legs, and I've never tried the newer models.

[Jeremy]

Why don't you just get a 1x12 or 2x12 cab to use with your existing head?

[Keef]

Have thought about that, and definitely an option...

Or I think they might do a combo version, so may trade in.

[Jeremy]

Unfortunately, the current range of cheaper Marshall combos aren't worth touching with a barge pole, unless you go north of ?500. If you want to go for a TSL (or DSL) combo I'm sure you'd be happy with that. Personally I always prefer a separate head and cab, but maybe that's just me...

[Keef]

I do too, but just thinking of simplicity. Problem with combos is that if your speaker goes wrong, the whole thing is out of action, same with the head section.

[Brendan]

Get a mini stack.

http://park11.wakwak.com/~blackmore/picture/Mini-marshall.JPG

[Keef]

Was wondering if anyone had much experience of Peavey amps? I used one at an open air gig we did, tiny little thing, but really really made a lot of noise!

[Keef]

Unfortunately, the current range of cheaper Marshall combos aren't worth touching with a barge pole, unless you go north of ?500.

Hmmm, our drummer told me today that he'd ordered the Marshall MG100DFX from ebay (without running it by me). It sounds good in theory, and he got it for a very good price, I juat worry that it's all going to be a bit too digital. That said, Marshalls are never going to be shite, they just might not always be great...

Will still stick to my amp where possible, but this will have to do for smaller venues / longer journeys.

Have you actually tried this one Jeremy?