Help w/choosing new amp

Greetings pickers, pluckers, thrashers, etc.
I've got a wimpy crate ten watt with a loose input that rings and rattles while playing at even medium volumes and especially when playing rythm.
Sooo... I'm thinking of an amp upgrade, and I want to go bigger.
I also want to start playing in public and entering competitions.
Any suggestions? Price range about 300-350 (I'm 15, so I need nothing spectacular)

Also: I go to a battle of the bands, and I see 16 year old guitarists with massive 150 watt marshall cabinets... is this necessary?

Anyway, I must fly, Thanks for your help -eclecto

play till your figners bleed... then play some more

Fingers... I meant fingers...

Yes, half stacks are totally necessary for the future of our planet. Just kidding. Check out the line 6 spider II series. Specifically look at the Spider II 112 combo and the 210 combo and even the 212 combo. I have never owned one myself but I hear good things about these amps.

I have nothing bad to say about the SpiderII's...absolutely the best/most versatile amps in their price range...I dont have one, because I am a tube snob...but I wish I had a 30 watt...just for jams and such...really nice amps...

'oi there, thanks for the feedback!
-eclecto
play till your fingers bleed... then play some more

fender fm212R for $300.. I had one for about 6 months, amazingly good amp, amazing clean sound, the distortion was so-so, but you could just use a distortion pedal instead of that. it's insanely loud though.. so it won't work for in-bedroom practice stuff. but if you want to gig, it's what you want.

if you need something for use in bedroom, go with the spider II, I've got one, it's awesome, 30W is all you need for practice, with enough headroom to play with a band (but not for playing live shows, just a band practice type thing)