What's a good small amp?

[robelinda2]

the peavey had a slighty closed kinda sound, i dunno, hard to describe. lacked a bit of spark, but i liked it enough to use it for a few years, but never loved it.

[Jimi D]

30 Watts tube power for an "at home only" amp? woah...

I use a little Tech 21 Trademark 10 amp for home practice - it sounds great and is really versatile, but it ain't loud... which is good for me, because I have kids, and pets, and a wife who prefers that I not rattle the windows when I noodle in front of the computer...

[edensdad]

Roland Cube 60

[DrKev]

Laney LC15R

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Hey man don't forget about the Roland Micro Cube, everybody swears by them.

They have a limited edition red one, kind of cool looking.

Hope this also helps, Glenn |B)

+1! I am a transistor snob!

[Colin]

and a wife who prefers that I not rattle the windows when I noodle in front of the computer...

Hey Jimi, you're talking about playing the guitar right?

[candid_x]

Seconds the Soldano Astroverb head and Laney LC15. For cheap and surprisingly decent tube tone, don’t write off the Epi Valve Junior head. For 99 bucks, it rocks as a practice 5 watt amp.

[robelinda2]

my next amp will be a Laney VC30-112. i think its wonderful, great clean sounds, i was so impressed with it.

[candid_x]

my next amp will be a Laney VC30-112. i think its wonderful, great clean sounds, i was so impressed with it.

Voxy goodness. Nice amps. Not being an EL84 guy, I still prefer the LH and LC 50 though. I guess they no longer make the head only version (LH50) and the newer LC50-II has a deeper cab, which I personally don't care for. I had an LC30-II in the same deep cab and found it boomy.

[robelinda2]

as soon as i played the VC30-112 i was in love. nothing ground breaking, just a nice sound my ears love. not expensive either which is great!

[Tim O'Sullivan]

as soon as i played the VC30-112 i was in love. nothing ground breaking, just a nice sound my ears love. not expensive either which is great!

If you put some better speakers in the Laney combos it really opens them up. The HH drivers they supply coul be better. I know someone who has an EV in his LC-30 and it really screams!

[candid_x]

If you put some better speakers in the Laney combos it really opens them up. The HH drivers they supply coul be better. I know someone who has an EV in his LC-30 and it really screams!

Agrees, the HH's are harsh and not very good. I find EV's sterile sounding and power rated too high for a 50 or 30 watt Laney. I've tried a mess of different speakers in the Laneys. My favorite is the Eminence Wizard, second being the Eminence GB128. Their alnico Red Fang also sounds good but compresses too much to stand out in a band setting. I loaded them with Celestion V30's for a year but they stole the Brit chime from the amp, too midrange sounding.

[candid_x]

I just got one Thursday, and it really is a cool little amp. It won't do metal, which I believe is what the original poster is after, but it is a great little blues amp. I have mine connected to a closed back 2x12 cabinet and it is quite loud. It stays fairly clean at lower volumes using single coils. For $99, what the heck

It's a kick, ain't it? Yes, not really for metal, but then I haven't tried pedals through it. There's something about the direct simple circuit that's intimate sounding, very direct and immediate response, and also pick attack dynamics is exceptional. Have you tried dropping a JJ ECC803S or 83S into the premap? Makes a huge difference in tone, smooths it out. ECC803S fattens the tone up a lot, if you like that sound.

[scottie]

30 Watts tube power for an "at home only" amp? woah...

I use a little Tech 21 Trademark 10 amp for home practice - it sounds great and is really versatile, but it ain't loud... which is good for me, because I have kids, and pets, and a wife who prefers that I not rattle the windows when I noodle in front of the computer...

+1 on the Tech 21 Trademark 10.

I remember asking this question a while back and that was the same advice Jimi D gave me. I took it and am very happy with it. Thanks Jimi!

--scottie

[squege]

No joke here, but you may be interested in a Epiphone Valve Junior head (5 watts $99), for the price you could afford to add a cab with a Celestion Blue and have a great small rig that LOVES pedals in front. I know it may not be thought of as the high end but...; I play a Top Hat Super Deluxe and at living room volume you cannot hear a $1,700 difference. Just a suggestion.
JC