New Practice Amp Needed. What say you?

[BillStickers]

I need a new Practice Amp.

My current one is only bearable thanks to great pedals and keeping the HORRENDOUS Gain below 2. Not a good amp on that front at all that the Gain sucks like a ravenous swarm of mosquitoes and sounds similar too

I like:
-Vox
-Orange
-Marshall
-Fender

But all I can get is "the sales pitch". No tubes, I'm too cheap and too chicken sh*t.
What are the best solid state amps from these guys?

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANY BRAND PLEASE

I mean including any weird, obscure but phenomenally good amps that are not weighted with brand name price tags.
I don't care what pit it crawled out from or what poor bugger made it as long as it works.

First some recommendations THEN questions of morality and practicality.
Shoot!

[softwarejanitor]

Don't fear tubes...

They aren't that scary... or really that expensive.

[5thumbs]

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

Don't fear tubes...

They aren't that scary... or really that expensive.

+1 on the tubes. tubes=good

[GukkanGwnarkill]

Peavey Rage!!

Those are really good practice amps and have a really good price as well. Can prolly get one really cheap used too.

[BillStickers]

I know tubes are good... I'm just a little wary of them. I'm fully aware it's not particularly rational I just don't really like the idea of electrocution and I'm made further paranoid by London's uber ridiculous high voltage flowing around the place. There's also places where the wiring is notoriously bad... I'm living in such a place so I'd rather not kill myself and everything in the house while I'm at it.

But again, I don't know much about wiring a house, only guitars, so I don't truly know if I'm even at a fraction of risk.

Do try and convince me otherwise though, it can only benefit me barring the harsh coincidence I actually die the first time I try it at home See, told ya. Irrational.


Oh, and I like 3-band EQ with minimal gizmos. I really dislike amps with thousands of control knobs and or a digital interface; it's just trying to do too much that it's beyond retarded. I'm looking at Clean sounds capable of Jazz and Smiths Indie type tone or that clean Nirvana sound, got the FX nailed and settings but I don't have the amp to get it out properly. Dirty sounds are already accounted for so I only plan on using a little Gain for a little punch perfect for driving Blues. I just need an Amp that is great featuring Volume, Gain, Low, Mids and Treble or some variation on that.

[edandis]

I said it before and I'll say it again, "Vox Pathfinder 15R."

Cheap, with a tube like sound. For gain, not so much.

[BillStickers]

I like the Mid control feature on amps... I'm conflicted in my head with two thoughts:

-Mid control gives you control over it, you don't need the mid control to have Mids. There's nothing wrong with the Vox. GET THE FREAKING VOX!!!
and
-It doesn't have 3 band EQ! Runaway, it's not what you want! If you see one, bury it under a tree so the Earth may reclaim it's being and purge it of evil so it may spread amongst the children has fruit to be eaten whilst they dance the dance of joy from the land of milk and honey where they shall be free of the tyranny of the evil Vox with it's smelly socks! Ubel haben aan vox! Das ist verboten!!!

[BillStickers]

OMFG I sometimes have incredible moments of idiocy!!!

I HAD NO IDEA MARSHALL WAS A BRITISH COMPANY!!!

Holy shizzle!

So Bare Knuckle, IronGear, Orange, Marshall and Vox (only sort of though now, being owned by Korg...) are all British... well well there is one industry we look less utterly retarded and dubious in!

Oh and Laney it seems...

[GukkanGwnarkill]

What kinda music do u play and what's your price range?

[BillStickers]

Looking at £100 and under, nothing major, I'm not gigging... yet. Besides I share gear with a friend and he's got the big guns, so to speak... of amps...

Well... I kinda got my own style, I suppose, but maybe that's a statement that makes your mouth taste bad and your head shake. Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd, Buddy Guy, Cream, TONS OF OLD R&B, Hip-Hop, Middle Eastern, Classical, Jazz I know but don't often listen to and Smiths influences. I guess I'd be Grunge, British Blues and Alternative melded together... "GABB"? I guess Jerry Cantrell but with an interest in obscure R&B, Hip-Hop and Jazz.

Choice is difficult

[GukkanGwnarkill]

http://cgi.ebay.com/PEAVEY-158-RAGE-...item255c161322

That's the best bang for the buck your gonna get there(imho). I used to have one, and still have a Peavey Express112 in my bedroom. They have an excellent clean sound and some really good built in distortion channels as well.

[BillStickers]

Mhm...
Methinks something that sounds great clean and doesn't have Gain that's retarded would be a 100% improvement...

Thinking... thinking... sleeping... sleeping... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

(tiz 02:34AM in London )

[Squirr]

edandis is right BillStickers, You need a Pathfinder 15R
Take the weekend and read through this thread and You'll see why.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-owner...er-owners.html

[liem1983]

Originally Posted by BillStickers

I need a new Practice Amp.

My current one is only bearable thanks to great pedals and keeping the HORRENDOUS Gain below 2. Not a good amp on that front at all that the Gain sucks like a ravenous swarm of mosquitoes and sounds similar too

I like:
-Vox
-Orange
-Marshall
-Fender

But all I can get is "the sales pitch". No tubes, I'm too cheap and too chicken sh*t.
What are the best solid state amps from these guys?

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANY BRAND PLEASE

I mean including any weird, obscure but phenomenally good amps that are not weighted with brand name price tags.
I don't care what pit it crawled out from or what poor bugger made it as long as it works.

First some recommendations THEN questions of morality and practicality.
Shoot!

Originally Posted by BillStickers

Looking at £100 and under, nothing major, I'm not gigging... yet. Besides I share gear with a friend and he's got the big guns, so to speak... of amps...

Well... I kinda got my own style, I suppose, but maybe that's a statement that makes your mouth taste bad and your head shake. Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd, Buddy Guy, Cream, TONS OF OLD R&B, Hip-Hop, Middle Eastern, Classical, Jazz I know but don't often listen to and Smiths influences. I guess I'd be Grunge, British Blues and Alternative melded together... "GABB"? I guess Jerry Cantrell but with an interest in obscure R&B, Hip-Hop and Jazz.

Choice is difficult

All right Bill.. since you said that you only got £100.. which is actually quite limited for an Amp.. but for a 'practice' amp.. Hmm.. I think it's more than enough..

Since you said, that you like Orange, Marshall, Fender.... how about if you buy all those tones in 1 unit... There's a pretty interesting amp... A Behringer V-Tone Series..

let's see the amp, Behringer GM108 (15 Watts) around £ 80


this amp has only 1 channel... (you can trick it using your pedal actually)

but on this '1' channel, you'll get lots of options... except for the FX (you'll get nothing from this AMP, so you need your pedals for reverb, delay, phaser, chorus, etc)

there are 3 channel modeler :
1. TWEED -> Sounds like a Fender Amp
2. BRIT -> British Amp, such as Marshall, Orange...
3. CALIF -> Some American Amp style, just like Messa Boogie

& still, you'll get another options such as, CLEAN, HI-GAIN, HOT.
& 3 speaker voicings modeler :
1. UK -> simulates 4x 12" speakers in an enclosed cabinet
2. US -> simulates 2x12" speakers in an open casing
3. FLAT -> a special setting designed especially for the GMX108's 8" speaker

As I told you earlier, that this amp has only 1 channel.. so you could use some trips, such as using the Clean Channel on this amp, and put your favourite OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION to switch it or maybe, you want a pedal that sounds like this amp, you can try these Behringer pedals below:

The Behringer TM300 (Tube Amp Modeler) around £ 34


or The Behringer GDI21 (GUITAR DRIVER DI) around £ 46


They're both the same thing, the only things that makes it difference is the GDI21 is also a DI-BOX.


Eventhough this is only a 15-watts amp,.. it's pretty loud & clear...

If only you can raise your budget a little bit, you'll get better than this, the 30-watts version of this amp :
Behringer GMX110 (30-Watts) around £ 182

It has all the features from The previous 15-watts amp... and also :
+ 10" BUGERA guitar speaker
+ 2 channels: CLEAN & MODELING CHANNEL (TWEED/BRIT/CALIF)
+ 99 digital effect presets such as chorus, flanging, phasing, rotary, auto-wah, echo, delay, compressor and various effect combinations.
+ Footswitch
+ Integrated auto-chromatic tuner controllable via footswitch
+Additional loudspeaker and separate headphone output with integrated speaker simulation
+ Insert facility for external effects devices (SEND/RETURN)
+ MIDI Controller Input, AUX input, RCA input

Hope this infos help you...

[YeahDoIt]

My local pawn shop has lots of used amps various models for less than USA $ 50.

[stonie]

Sorry, I can't recommend any solid state amps apart from the little fenders, however I did have a play on a friends Laney Lionheart 5w tube combo last night.
Fantastic little amp, great clean channel, as good as any fender clean given the output wattage, the drive channel will give you zepplin type drive sounds.

He paid £300 used, it's unmarked!

People are buying these thinking they are a loud enough for little gigs and rehearsals, so they are appearing on the 2nd hand market, but this one is a definatly a home/studio amp.


Make the leap into tubes, you will not regret it!

[squierjosh]

Good luck finding one of those. Discontinued at most of the online retailers. I did find a used one for a mere $600! For a 5w practice amp.

Originally Posted by stonie

Sorry, I can't recommend any solid state amps apart from the little fenders, however I did have a play on a friends Laney Lionheart 5w tube combo last night.
Fantastic little amp, great clean channel, as good as any fender clean given the output wattage, the drive channel will give you zepplin type drive sounds.

He paid £300 used, it's unmarked!

People are buying these thinking they are a loud enough for little gigs and rehearsals, so they are appearing on the 2nd hand market, but this one is a definatly a home/studio amp.


Make the leap into tubes, you will not regret it!

[softwarejanitor]

Originally Posted by BillStickers

I know tubes are good... I'm just a little wary of them. I'm fully aware it's not particularly rational I just don't really like the idea of electrocution and I'm made further paranoid by London's uber ridiculous high voltage flowing around the place. There's also places where the wiring is notoriously bad... I'm living in such a place so I'd rather not kill myself and everything in the house while I'm at it.

But again, I don't know much about wiring a house, only guitars, so I don't truly know if I'm even at a fraction of risk.

Do try and convince me otherwise though, it can only benefit me barring the harsh coincidence I actually die the first time I try it at home See, told ya. Irrational.


Oh, and I like 3-band EQ with minimal gizmos. I really dislike amps with thousands of control knobs and or a digital interface; it's just trying to do too much that it's beyond retarded. I'm looking at Clean sounds capable of Jazz and Smiths Indie type tone or that clean Nirvana sound, got the FX nailed and settings but I don't have the amp to get it out properly. Dirty sounds are already accounted for so I only plan on using a little Gain for a little punch perfect for driving Blues. I just need an Amp that is great featuring Volume, Gain, Low, Mids and Treble or some variation on that.

Just don't open up your tube amp and you have little to no chance of getting electrocuted. Even changing tubes isn't dangerous. All the high voltages should be kept inside the chassis.

[softwarejanitor]

Originally Posted by BillStickers

OMFG I sometimes have incredible moments of idiocy!!!

I HAD NO IDEA MARSHALL WAS A BRITISH COMPANY!!!

Holy shizzle!

So Bare Knuckle, IronGear, Orange, Marshall and Vox (only sort of though now, being owned by Korg...) are all British... well well there is one industry we look less utterly retarded and dubious in!

Oh and Laney it seems...

And related, one of the most respected speaker makers, Celestion is also British based...

[BillStickers]

Wow didn't know that! Hooray we still have a manufacturing industry for some stuff! We also make Plane engines really well. Rolls-Royce Jet Engines

I'm a teenager and I don't plan on doing gigs any time soon. I don't need a big ass badass amp. I did actually look at that Laney and thought "wait, do I need that RIGHT NOW... no"

After giving it some thought... I'm thinking I'd better enjoy and spend my practice time with some tubes... though I'm still a little skittish, but I know I'm not exactly being realistic

So far these look like runners for a final choice:
-Vox Pathfinder 10
-Some Orange Crush... there's an ad for a Orange Crush 30R, I'm going to check it out... but I gotta say I'm skeptical.

These get me inquisitive:
-Laney Cubs
-Fender Champ
Basically those little Tube Amp thangs

The BEHRINGER intrigues me, I will check that out, I don't like the others because of the numerous fiddly digital bits. Digital interfaces that are as primitive as a Digital watch trying to be part fancy computer is really stupid IMO. If I want Digital fiddly bits, I prefer software on my computer as it's less retarded. Digital substitutes for perfectly adequate analog equipment is a silly thing to do when it only manages to be the equivalent of a calculator with most of the buttons missing. I dislike such anal tasks.
So
-Robot Guitars; cool, convenient but futile in their attempt to be useful.
-Digital Amps; amazing, convenient, cool but too fiddly when you want to do your own thing without needing to learn how it works. I've yet to be convinced that any Digital Amp is as easy to use and understand as say an iPod.

The Teen that hates the modern Digital BS. Yup. I'm not into many such indulgent stupid things and by stupid I mean their programming sucks i.e like rubbish AI and by indulgent I mean I don't need every bloody setting under the sun in front of me stuffed into one thing i.e like a Luther Burger.

No dumb digital stuff and no "Luther Burgers".

How bout some Tube Amps? Show me some
Also, does anyone have an obscure but cool amp, something that goes cheap because of it's anonymity.

[softwarejanitor]

Check out the Epiphone Valve Jr. and Valve Jr. Hot Rod. Not bad little amps for the $$$.
They are very simple. The Valve Special starts getting into some of the fancy stuff you don't like.

[BillStickers]

Oh yh, I remember you mentioning the Epi Valve Jr. that thing definitely intrigued me esp. as ppl had been modding them I'll check out the range...

A few mins later...

Oh jeez choices choices...
BTW there's a Fender Champ on Gumtree which I could check out... worth it?
http://www.gumtree.com/london/69/62653269.html

I think I'm starting to get past the whole silly billy no want tubes thing... GIVE US TUBES MY PRECIOUSSSSSS!!!

[edandis]

I'll back the Epi valve jr. It's pretty hard to beat for the money, nothing fancy but sounds great clean or overdriven.

[BillStickers]

Does it beat this?
http://www.gumtree.com/london/69/62653269.html


...I had a crazy idea. EDIT. No.

Anywho... opinions on the Fender Champ 600.

[edandis]

Originally Posted by BillStickers

Does it beat this?
http://www.gumtree.com/london/69/62653269.html


...I had a crazy idea. EDIT. No.

Anywho... opinions on the Fender Champ 600.

To be fair, I've never heard the Champ 600, so I can't compare them. I will say this, I think you'll get a better deal out of the Epi.

[BillStickers]

OK... this is getting a little annoying. The Champion 600 has reviews on Harmony Central that say it's great and then there's one where the guy insists on mods as well as supporting evidence that it goes icky with time based FX e.g Delay pedals and Chorus. Which sucks as I use both of them.
I don't really know at all if one guy's word is enough. But it has kinda made me go "I don't want a piece of crap useless for my FX, how the hell would I practice with FX if I wanted"

One guy also said that the Champion is nicer than the Epi Valve Jr. which spirals me into more indecision. So-no-fab-itch what will I do.

Maybe Tubes should still be something for the future... I really dunno. Grrrrrr annoyed. I shall remedy with sleep.

[5thumbs]

The epi V.J. has a 8" speaker the fender champ 600 a 6" speaker. I have the V.J. combo and love it. DON'T WORRY ABOUT TUBE DANGER ! If thay were that dangerous thay would not sell them, youll be fine with TUBES.

[Teleblooz]

Bill, I've been getting a real kick out of reading your stream-of-consciousness posts on this topic, mostly because I've gone down the same mental paths more times than I care to remember.

I share your distrust of the high-tech digital gizmos (which is kind of ironic since I work in the industry) and amps that try to be everything to everybody and end up satisfying nobody. Make the leap into the valve realm - you won't regret it. It's only scary because it's unfamiliar.

My advice is this: Keep it simple. I think either the Valve Junior or the Champ 600 would probably do the trick for you, and I don't think you'd have a problem with pedal compatibility unless you drive the thing full-out, in which case it would distort everything you feed into it, including the "sweetening" your pedals provide.

In a "bedroom" type home practice situation, 5 tube watts can be PLENTY loud. I gigged for a couple of years using a 15W Blues Junior in a 5-piece band, and volume was never an issue (except when they'd tell me to turn down - go figure).

[GukkanGwnarkill]

Originally Posted by Teleblooz

In a "bedroom" type home practice situation, 5 tube watts can be PLENTY loud. I gigged for a couple of years using a 15W Blues Junior in a 5-piece band, and volume was never an issue (except when they'd tell me to turn down - go figure).

Yea, 5tube watts will surprise you. I have a 5watt BlackHeart head that gets loud way before 12o'clock.

[5thumbs]

Yep 5 watts plenty loud with my V.J. i use it with a ext. cab. with a 12" speaker it was a little to loud. My wife was givin me the harry eyeball so i made a attenuator for it prob. solved. I forgot about BlackHeart Amps. ive heard nothing but GOOD things about them.

[YeahDoIt]

Originally Posted by BillStickers

The Champion 600 has reviews on Harmony Central that say it's great and then there's one where the guy insists on mods

Part of the problem might be that different amps of the same model can sound different, especially if they are older. Parts age. The parts inside might not be the same. Different people have different opinions of what sounds good.

You might buy equipment and sell the things that you don't use.

[Squirr]

I'm sure You're aware of it already BillStickers, but unfortunately a lot of tube amps don't have a headphone out. So if that is of importance to You, it can be worth to keep in mind.
Anyway, if You're curious about what's out there, here's a pretty extensive list of low-watt tube amps. Enjoy!
http://www.jedistar.com/low_watt_amps.htm

( Edit: Oh, and I would still recommend having a look at the Pathfinder 15R, of course... )

[googledude416]

I recently bought a Bugera bc15, and am thrilled with it. Cost me around $125 , and it's not a true tube amp...has a pre amp built in, and it has a killer vintage look to it, that can't be beat. Check em out...you won't be dissappointed!!

[mkgearhead]

I like my Champion 600. It's not really loud (until I modded it slightly), and it seems to respond well to pedals.

[telepath]

Originally Posted by edandis

I said it before and I'll say it again, "Vox Pathfinder 15R."

Cheap, with a tube like sound. For gain, not so much.

Yep - Pathfinder 15R is the one you want.
Best thing under £90 - for sure!

or .. a Roland Micro Cube - if its truly a practice amp, and you dont need too much volume, nad dont worry about 'traditional looks'.

[squierjosh]

Yeah, I always wanted headphones in a tube practice amp. I have a nice big basement to play in, but also have a baby in the house. That's how I ended up with a Frontman 15G. 3-band EQ and a CD input so I can jam along with backing tracks or real songs...quietly. I only use the clean channel and my multi-effects pedal, and it sounds ok. I think my headphones may suck though, so that might be the next investment.

Originally Posted by Squirr

I'm sure You're aware of it already BillStickers, but unfortunately a lot of tube amps don't have a headphone out. So if that is of importance to You, it can be worth to keep in mind.
Anyway, if You're curious about what's out there, here's a pretty extensive list of low-watt tube amps. Enjoy!
http://www.jedistar.com/low_watt_amps.htm

( Edit: Oh, and I would still recommend having a look at the Pathfinder 15R, of course... )

[BillStickers]

WOW Laughing Gnomes!!! Wow!

Overwhelmed with suggestions... (why didn't they appear in my mail box when I asked for instant notification... oh well)...

Bugera looks uber intriguing and suiting for my "obscure but fantastic non-mainstream" tastes.

The Vox Pathfinder stills tickles.
For some reason, the Fender Champion is no longer clicking interest.
The Epi Valve Jr. still intrigues but it seems to lack something... which makes no sense because I can't actually back that up with any evidence.
Laneys are nice but... but I dunno, I got no comment.

My Brain hurts...

YouTube- Mr Gumby Monty Python

[stratcross]

I like my Vox VT15 and its easy to use.

[turbokev]

I've been pondering this same question for a couple months now.. reading reviews, looking at YouTube clips, playing at the local music outlet..

I scored a used Pathfinder 15R today on eBay for $55.00

For that money, and based on the glowing reviews, I pretty much can't go wrong

Vox Pathfinder 15R


Kev

[BillStickers]

I'm leaning towards the Bugera BC15... it's a fantastic package for the price here!

But I can still be swayed...

Keep 'em coming this thread may be handy for other folks too!