Best Possible Amp For Home Use? |
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Best Possible Amp For Home Use? |
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May 19 2008, 03:52 PM |
Hello!
I'm thinking of upgrading my current amp (Fender G-DEC Jr), and get something much better. What I'm looking for is an amp for home use (apartment), and I was thinking of getting a valve amp, but they get really loud, so I'm not sure if it would be wise getting a real good 33W-60W tube amp if I'm not going to be able to make the valves break without having my neighbors want to kill me... I'm open to any suggestions, solid state and hybrids welcome too, as long as they really have a nice sound that is so much better than my current Fender to justify the upgrade. I'd also like the amp to be suitable for any style, from blues to metal, of course I consider adding any stomp box that might be needed. So far I've though about many, many possibilities, with a huge variety of price ranges. I don't mind waiting a little bit to save enough as long as the amp is really worth it. There are many awesome valve amps out there, but they have too much power for home use, and I've heard that attenuators eat the tone, so that might not be an option. 5-15W tube amps rarely have a 12'' cone, which is something I was kind of hoping to get. I thought about: Fender Blues Junior: Already quite loud, I'm afraid it won't suit metal even with a stomp box/multi-fx in front Blackheart Little Giant: Have never tried one, heard good reviews though. Roland Cube 60: Might be too loud? But it's solid state. Is it really worth upgrading from a cheap Fender to this? Not sure... Fender Champ 600: Nice, but not so much for heavy, plus the cone is so small... Ibanez valbee: The same as the fender champ 600 Fender Super Champ: Seems really nice, but being Fender might not be good at high gain settings. Not really looking for another modeling amp either. VOX AD50VT112: Not sure if these ones are reliable, I read may of them fail after some time. Again not really looking for another modeling amp. Vox Ac30/Fender twin reverb/Fender Deluxe reverb: Expensive, awesome cleans, too loud, maybe not suitable for high gain stuff? As you can see they are all quite different, some are good in their cleans, some are awesome but too loud, some are suitable for high gain... but none seems to be the perfect buy. Of all those maybe the Little Giant is the best choice to play at home. But maybe there are many other models much better. So, what versatile & quality amp would you get for home use? This post has been edited by Fran: May 19 2008, 03:54 PM -------------------- 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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May 19 2008, 04:32 PM |
Maybe Marshall AVT50 or Randall RG75DG3 G3 ...
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May 19 2008, 04:34 PM |
Is that the same as the Marshall AVT50XT ?
I'll check it out. -------------------- 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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May 19 2008, 04:43 PM |
Thanks O.C. I'll keep that in mind.
Both amps Bogdan suggested look awesome, but the randall is 75W, might be way too much power. Though a solid state amp should deliver great tone even at volume 1 right? -------------------- 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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May 19 2008, 04:48 PM |
You want no more than a 50W solid state or 30W tube for home use in my opinion. I have a 50 W tube amp and it is too loud for home use. IF you only want it for home use then I'd agree with OC that a 50W tube will be way too loud for home use - partly since tube amps only arguably start to sound their best when run flat out. I'd suggest more 5-15W would give a reasonable volume without making you go deaf. If you can only get a tube amp over 30W then I think you really need to think about attenuation/power soaking of some sort or look at those where you can switch between pentode and triode to reduce W's. Cheers, Tony -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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May 19 2008, 04:49 PM |
Something like this
http://www.orange-amps.com/products.asp?Ac...=View&ID=70 It has a 12" speaker also This post has been edited by OrganisedConfusion: May 19 2008, 04:51 PM -------------------- Gear Guitars:- Caparison Horus Snowcloud, Parker Nitefly M, Parker Nitefly SA, Gibson SG, Parker P10e, 40 Year Old Spanish Acoustic Amps:- Framus Ruby Riot 2x12" stack |
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May 19 2008, 04:52 PM |
...Though a solid state amp should deliver great tone even at volume 1 right? Yes Fran - tube amps need to run hot but Trannies tend to be able to produce their particular sound across their volume range. Minor note - power soaks/attenuation doesn't work on trannies btw. Might be worth looking at a hybrid - tube pre and a tranny power in this case - I think Carvin and Randall do them. That way you could use low volume at home and still have power if you went out gigging? Cheers, Tony -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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May 19 2008, 06:01 PM |
Thanks O.C. I'll keep that in mind. Both amps Bogdan suggested look awesome, but the randall is 75W, might be way too much power. Though a solid state amp should deliver great tone even at volume 1 right? Yeah it should sound cool on low volumes too I don't know , extra power may come in handy in future -------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
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May 19 2008, 06:08 PM |
I am looking for a similar amp and so far I am really liking this one...(Kustom HV30 or Kustom HV65). It comes with a solid state power amp and a 12ax7 tube preamp. Both models come with a 12" Celestion speaker.
Guitar World did a review (link below) of the KV65 and it really seems great for its price point. http://www.kustom.com/player.aspx?MediaID=1130 And here is Guitar One's review of the KV30... http://www.kustom.com/player.aspx?MediaID=1133 This post has been edited by M-P: May 19 2008, 06:11 PM -------------------- Guitars
-2006 Jackson DKMG Dinky (Transparent Red) --Stock EMG 81/85 Setup -2004 Ibanez SZ520QM (Gold Amber Burst) --Dimarzio PAF Pro (Neck), Dimarzio Super Distortion (Bridge) |
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May 19 2008, 07:05 PM |
I have AVT50XT and it does sound thin in bedroom volumes. You do need to crank it. Also the Randall has great cleans, but the drive is little synthetic if you ask me. If you need a tube amp, I would definitely tryout Blackheart or Orange Tiny Terror.
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May 19 2008, 08:06 PM |
wow, loads of input here, thanks guys
Something like this http://www.orange-amps.com/products.asp?Ac...=View&ID=70 It has a 12" speaker also That one looks really good, but hearing that even the Blackheart 5W gets a bit too loud for apartment use I guess it will be a bit overkill, damn sometimes I wish I lived in an abandoned house in the middle of the forest Might be worth looking at a hybrid - tube pre and a tranny power in this case - I think Carvin and Randall do them. That way you could use low volume at home and still have power if you went out gigging? I'm researching some VOX and I believe the Randall Bogdan suggested is hybrid with a tube driven MOSFET power circuit. Too may watts though. Orange Tiny Terror and PPC112, I have 1 and it is just about starting to sing at apartment levels. Zvex Nano: Even lower wattage so should be coming to life at pretty low volume. This one is similar to the one O.C. suggested. The tiny terror seems cool with the 15W/7W switch. I wonder if it has nice cleans. I've never seen an Orange amp in my local shop, I wish i could try one. I really like the 'PEAVEY ENVOY 110' Its an hybrid amp with an awesome clean sound. I believe I've see this one in shops, might give it a trt, though its a 10'' cone, and for some reason I'm stubborn about the 12''. I am looking for a similar amp and so far I am really liking this one...(Kustom HV30 or Kustom HV65). It comes with a solid state power amp and a 12ax7 tube preamp. Both models come with a 12" Celestion speaker. Wow, didn't know about Kustom amps, and they come wit 12'' celestion speakers? Nice. never seenan amp with such a good cone so cheap. Will have to ask in my local shop if they can get one to try it. The "hot" small tube amps now are the Blackheart Little Giant and the Epiphone Valve Jr. Their head versions have a 4/8/16 ohm outputs so you can drive a variety of cabinets with them. 5 watts so they can get loud, but aren't hugely too loud with a smaller cabinet when cranked. Blackheart is a solid candidate. Shame I can't try one, if I order it online it will be a leap of faith, though they are cheap. EVjr seems to be the perfect amp to tweak, BUT, I don't know much about tweaking, so it's out of the list. Besides I don't think it handles metal very well, though I heard it's cleans and they are nice. Small cone too. Blackheart is perfect for apartment use imo, possibly even still a little too loud. At 5watts with the volume past 12 o'clock I'm starting to shake the walls in my practice room. Another possibility if you're at all mechanically inclined would potentially be a Gilmore Jr. or Ardmore from www.guytronix.com. Both sound amazing and are designed for apartment level playing as well as recording. Those guytronix certainly look different, remind me of some expensive boutique small tubes I've seen reviewed in the past. Too special, looking for something more "standard". I have AVT50XT and it does sound thin in bedroom volumes. You do need to crank it. Also the Randall has great cleans, but the drive is little synthetic if you ask me. If you need a tube amp, I would definitely tryout Blackheart or Orange Tiny Terror. A shame! AVT50XT really was a solid candidate along with the Blackheart and the Tiny terror so far. If only my local shop would bring all three so I could try them out! Oh well, my head is going to explode. Better eat some dinner and think about it later At least I have a cool list of amps in my pocket now -------------------- 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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May 19 2008, 08:58 PM |
Well you definitly got a good list Now if you could go to store to test some amps , and you can play them at low volume to see how they sound to you that way
-------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
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