Small Amps... Nah |
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Dec 2 2010, 12:56 PM
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for the longest time I've struggled with small amps for home use. I found that the Blackstar HT5 sounds pretty grown up while the other ~5 watters (Vox 4 watt and Laney cob 10 Watt) lack something.
Keeping my Switchblade and a 4x12 Marshall cab at home for a few days brought me to that insight. It's not fair by a long shot treating my(your)self with such small amps. It just doesn't measure up. I make use of the hi-gain channel(s), I don't call it metal but it's still heavy enough. Small amps for blues is way easier to motivate, they deliver. I'm going to rid of some stuff and get a Blackstar Clubster 40 watt for home or band use. Going the opposite way to what's popular now but for the sake of good sound i have to  Do you use small amps and are you happy with them? -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Dec 2 2010, 02:31 PM
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I'm loving my AC4TV Head + 12'' cab. But I don't play it loud enough to make it break, it would be too loud, even at 1 Watt, not to mention 4 Watts... Even at 1/4th Watt it's a bit too loud to make it break!
A 12'' cab / speaker is a must anyway. That's where most low watt amps fail for my taste, and that's where the AC4 wins, as I said it has a great sounding matching 12'' cab, perfect for home use. But I use a nice array of pedals in front to bring it to life, specially to get distortions, which sound awesome through this amp. Boss MT-2 in conjunction with a Vox Satchurator do the trick so far. Though I'd love to find a single distortion stomp tht could do the same as these two do when using them together. On top of that my good dely & chorus is all I need  With a more powerful valve amp, for home use (apartment), I doubt I could make it roar without going deaf or the neighbours killing me  , correct me if I'm wrong!
-------------------- Guitars:
Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Ibanez RG2570MZ, Epiphone SG G-400 Amp: Vox AC4TVH head + V112TV cab Effects: Vox Satchurator, Vox Time Machine, Dunlop CryBaby, Boss MT-2, Boss CE-5, Boss TU-2, Boss ME-70 Recording: Line-6 POD X3 + FBV-Express, Pandora PX5D GMC wants YOU to take part in our Guitar-Wikipedia! Have a good time reading great articles and writing your own with us in our GUITAR WIKI! Share your playing and get Pro-advice from our Instructors: Join REC |
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Dec 2 2010, 02:47 PM
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I use a Peavey Vypyr 15w at my music school to teach and it's the best small amp I've tried until now, with some nice amp simulations and fxs.
-------------------- ::: Main Gear ::: Guitars: Washburn N4 Vintage | Washburn N2 | Washburn WI67Pro | Washburn WG-587 | Washburn EA20B Amps: Laney GH50L (head) | Laney GS410 & GS212IE (cabinets) | Rocktron PROGAP Ultra (rack preamp) | Rocktron Velocity 150 (power amp) | Marshall VS230 (combo) FXs: Rocktron Intellifex + custom pedalboard (check my video demo) Other: Shredneck | Intellitouch PT10 tuner Picks: Esseti Picks Software & Recording Gear: Cubase 4 | Overloud TH1 | Mackie Onyx 400F | EZdrummer | Korg Pandora PX4D ------------------------------------------------------- myspace.com/jerryarcidiacono Check out my video lessons and instructor board! |
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Dec 6 2010, 08:55 PM
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I use to have a Peavey Practice Amp 10W, good and all to start off with, but the neighbours couldn't hear my talent so I upgraded to a Laney Hardcore 65W. Is it overkill, YES, they call it Hardcore Max for a reason! It's almost Marshall quality and I'm really happy with the difference. If you play heavy rock/metal a small amp would only go just so far. I got a great nick Les Paul Gibson, second hand for a good price, and well the upgrade for the amp was a no brainer.
--------------------  Play Games Arcade Take a break, Play Games! Play the best free online flash games at Aaron's Game Zone like Bloons Tower Defense 4! |
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Dec 6 2010, 10:02 PM
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well my favorite amp right now is the marshall class 5
, and i mean my favorite from all the other amps, i'm not sure why, and maybe it's just a phase, but put a couple of mics in front of it, and it's the best thing for the studio, takes pedals like all amps should.i heard that the phil x's "evil robot" is amazing too! --------------------  Check my Instructor Profile Rockers! Got a Blog too!, www.adriantracks.com Follow me on facebook and youtube! -Youtube   |
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Dec 7 2010, 09:41 AM
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QUOTE (Adrian Figallo @ Dec 6 2010, 10:02 PM)  well my favorite amp right now is the marshall class 5 , and i mean my favorite from all the other amps, i'm not sure why, and maybe it's just a phase, but put a couple of mics in front of it, and it's the best thing for the studio, takes pedals like all amps should.i heard that the phil x's "evil robot" is amazing too! I never tested that Marshall, I do like the fact it’s got an EL84 tube but I wish it came with a 12 inch speaker. The Evil Robot, which he had to change the name into is probably just as great as its price Will try to get my hands on a Marshall Class 5 though, for a test drive. EDIT: No I won't. I promised myself, no more small amps
-------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Dec 7 2010, 11:15 AM
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I play a Fender blues junior, and really dig it with my tele
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Dec 8 2010, 03:07 AM
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QUOTE (MickeM @ Dec 7 2010, 03:41 AM) I never tested that Marshall, I do like the fact it’s got an EL84 tube but I wish it came with a 12 inch speaker. The Evil Robot, which he had to change the name into is probably just as great as its price Will try to get my hands on a Marshall Class 5 though, for a test drive. EDIT: No I won't. I promised myself, no more small amps come on man!! give this one a try, if you like angus young, jimmy page, jimi hendrix or john frusciante kind of tone you will LOVE this little beast. -------------------- Check my Instructor Profile Rockers! Got a Blog too!, www.adriantracks.com Follow me on facebook and youtube! -Youtube |
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Dec 11 2010, 02:16 AM
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Well it's a tough question. I use one of the loudest made 100Watters (Hiwatt DR103 head). It's great, but I need to downsize. Now I've tried Vox 4W head, HT5, Night Train, but I'm not satisfied. It's great to have all these amps in the collection that's for sure, but for practical purposes it depends on the needs, even a good proc will do. If you know how to play, you can play through almost anything. Fingers do the work. haven't tried Hiwatt Custom 7W version, that would be interesting
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