deciding on first amp(probably modeling)

[the main man]

I'm a fairly new guitar player and I'm try todecide on my first amp to get. I want to be able to have some effects and aound editing. I've done some research and I'm deciding mostly between a vox valvetronix, a peavy vipyr, or maybe a line 6. I don't want to spend over 4 or 5 hundred, so i was hopping for some advice on which direction to go in.

[mrmuzikhead]

the Vox valvetronics sound pretty decent for way less than you plan to spend

[SamsDaddy]

Of the ones you mentioned, the Vox Valvetronix amps would be my recommendation. I have not played the Peavey, but I had used both the Vox AD50VT and the Line 6 Spider III quite a bit a couple years ago. The tone of the Line 6 was pretty lacking for me; I just couldn't get a sound I liked really well out of it. The Vox was very nice on the other hand. The AC15, AC30, Boutique, and Blackface models all sounded very good. I didn't spend a lot of time on the higher gain models so I can't speak a lot about those. But overall, the Valvetronix stuff was quite nice.

The newer line of Valvetronix amps could be quite different (labeled VT instead of ADVT), but I have not played them at all. Unless Vox drastically changed them from the ADVT series then I can't imagine they are too bad at all.

Here is another idea for you that you might not have considered; get a good modeler and a small PA system to run it through. I have a Digitech GNX4 that I run through a Yamaha Stagepas 500, and I can also use it with headphones for silent practice at home. This option will cost more than 500, and may not work depending on your needs, but I thought I would throw it out there for consideration.