AMP Questions / Suggestions

[Voo]

So currently I am playing through a Bogner 20th Anniversary Head and 2x12 cab. The problem is that I am now in an apartment and well I am rather fond of my apt and do not want to get evicted for noise, at 80 watts even at low volumes it is quite loud.
So at this point I am looking for something in a single 12 Combo.
I personally, am not really a Boogie fan so those are pretty much out. What I am mainly looking for is something similar to the Bogner but no more than 20-30 watts.

Rock to blues, maybe some country thrown in

 

[kestrou]

Even a 20 or 30 watt amp is going to be plenty loud enough to rattle the neighbors - and doesn't sound like you need it to gig with...

So, coming out of left field...

How about an Axe/FX rig, or (an option I like even better)nan Avid ElevenRack?

Phenomenal tonal range, GREAT to record with, you can rock out in your headphones, and if you come up with some interesting stuff with it you can gig with it too.

Food for thought, my friend!

kestrou

 

[agt]

Depending on your apartment situation (construction, proximity of neighbors) 20 watts is plenty to get you into trouble unless you keep the master low. 5 watts (or less) or something scalable to that might be more appropriate if you plan to crank it. Then there is something like a Marshall power brake or THD Hot Plate, but I have always felt they adversely affected my tone. Good luck in your quest!

 

[Axis-of-Evil]

If you like the Bogner sound and aren't a Boogie fan, I assuming you like more of the Marshall sound. If so, go get your hands on one of the Marshall 1 watt anniversary amps. They sound great and are the best low volume amps out there. I have the JCM (80's) and JVM (2000) heads and they kick ass and can be used in an apartment setting better than anything out there. I have a Orange Dark Terror and even that thing at 7 watts can get kind of loud. I have 2 1x12 cabs. One has a Celestion G12 80 watt (for the JCM) and the other a Celestion vintage 30 (for the JVM). Check out the 5 different era's and see what is better for you.

 

[ozzyrules]

Egnater Tweaker 15 head. It will compliment your cab nicely. Still may be quite loud,though. I use the Renegade 65. It has an 18 watt option(switchable from 65 watts). I get great tones at very low volumes on 18 watts.

 

[Manxmusicman]

This sounds like something the Hughes and Kettner tubemeister 5, 18 or 36 can handle this, they also just released the Grandmeister which looks like changing the face of amps as we know it. All would be perfect for you as they have power soaks that can take them down to 1w if you want.

 

[Marcus2]

I know it's solid state modeling, but the Yamaha THR10 is a great bedroom practice amp. And at $300, it's hard to beat.

The reviews are also quite good.

Good luck.

 

[ksandvik]

Put Logic Pro X on a computer with decent external speakers, add drummer tracks, bass Apple loops and jam all night long. Or if you are more into jazz and pop R&B standards, then also get IReal Pro and jam along with thousands of tracks.

I have A Bogner Shiva, it's excellent for gigging, even at low-volume gigs as it scales down nicely to lower dB levels with the two-channel design. I switched to a Shiva after long years using Marshalls as I got tired of the high-mid-range sound where Shivas focus more on the lower-mid range so they are creamier (just my humble opinion.) That and hearing Justin Derrico playing Shivas with Pink on large venues where you could actually hear the guitar (thanks to the Shiva me thinks.)

 

[dkannen]

Does your Bogner have an FX loop? You can always consider getting a solid state poweramp (such as a Matrix GT800) and running the preamp of your bogner through a poweramp that doesn't get loud.

 

[ksandvik]

Bogner Shivas have a very good FX loop.

I've played Shivas with low volume, they are OK but like with Marshalls if you get the tubes gloving then the tone is nailed. I.e. a lot of tone has to do with pushing the power amp section so just using the pre-amp might not get the ultimate tone. BTW Shivas and many of Bogner designs are pretty much Marshall as the starting point and adding tweaks to it so it sounds more like an LA modded amp.

 

[DrKev]

I know it's solid state modeling, but the Yamaha THR10 is a great bedroom practice amp. And at $300, it's hard to beat.

+1!

If you want low low volume, the Yamah THR series are the cat's pyjamas. They won't punch you in the chest or make you pants flap about your legs if you stand too close, in fact most car radios are louder, but but for such a small amp the sounds are ridiculously good. And with the audio via standard minjack cable it will make the best sounding portable speakers for your iPod/iPhone/mp3 players.

And then there is direct USB recording too. Awesome!

 

[acwild]

I'd also caution against just looking at wattage. I have a 20th Anniversary Shiva as well (the 90 watt version) and have to say that it has one of the best master volumes that I've used. It does low volumes much better than some of the lower wattage amps that I've had. As far as amp recommendations go with the Bogner sound in mind, that's a tough one. The Shiva has a unique mid frequency and super clear cleans with a very nice bass definition. Maybe a Fender with a Bogner XTC pedal?

 

[Cayman]

You should check out the Engl Ironball. It is 20 watts, all tube, with a powersoak that will let you run all the way down to 1 watt and it sounds great with the JP6. It goes from a very nice clean to a screaming gain ! The THR10 is also very nice for low volume, recording, playback... sounds great for $300, fits in a suit case and will run on batteries. If you want something to practice and play live its the Ironball. It will get very loud

 

[dannymusic]

for bedroom with no eviction? any amp with power scale or attenuation. OR get a power soak for your current amp.

there are way to many floor boards (my fav: Digitech GNX4) or computer based systems to mention. Bass frequencies in an apartment are your enemy. Those are hard to eliminate because those transmit all the sound to the neighbors.

head to the headphones. or find somewhere where you can really let loose...like someone elses place

 

[beej]

If you love your amp, keep it and get an attenuator. Lots of good ones on the market these days.

 

[skerwo]

This sounds like something the Hughes and Kettner tubemeister 5, 18 or 36 can handle this, they also just released the Grandmeister which looks like changing the face of amps as we know it. All would be perfect for you as they have power soaks that can take them down to 1w if you want.

I´m waiting to get my Grandmeister next weekend. I´m very curious about it.

 

[Bigpig]

Dude, I live with 3 other musicians and I'm always first up in the morning and use that time to rehearse. If you have an iphone, you can down load Gallien Krueger app that is pretty awesome. It has amp modulator, cabinet selection eq's and alot of eq's. I bought an iphone adapter from Guitar Center 35.00 and plugged in and haven't looked back yet! I think the app was 4.99.
Works with any headphones even your iphone earbuds.
Hell, I even use it now at my live venues as my tuner in the tools section of the app. Rock on!

 

[Del Preston]

The new Suhr Corso looks the nuts for home recording... 5 watts to 0 watts. Want one! Personally I've got a Maz 18 NR head that I juice with a Suhr Riot for those type of tones... The Riot reloaded would be even more suitable for the Bogner thing.

 

[Coffeemug]

I'd recommend checking out the Engl Gigmaster 15 (head or combo). Two channels, built-in attenuator, line out and still plenty loud if you shall need it (even at 1w!). Plus, it's built here in Germany...the quality is superb. Hard to find a better "bang for the buck" amp, IMO.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Just my opinions here. I have a 15 watt Blues Junior and an 8 watt WEM. Both are too loud in my house.
The Yamaha THR is a great amp and I'm hankering after one. They have a few in the THR range depending on the voaracity of the gain you want.
Have a great leaflet right now infront of me that explains all the options on this amp. I have tried one in a shop in London and it was great!!!

There are e.g. 50 watt amps out there that have a knob on the back that throttles back the volume like the Vox Valvetronix. You can even do the same thing with a modded lead in the send fx loop of my Mesa F50.
Don't poo poo these Vox amps because they are fantastic value for the money and can be bought cheaply second hand.
I've used a 50 watt valvetronics live and my mates look at me stupid and ask why I'm not using my Marshall/Mesa/MM amp.
I say that it's a fun thing and has very good effects built in too. Great for practice as you don't have the hasstle of setting up FX etc.

Attenuators work fine but remember you are driving the amp really hard all the time.

Interestingly enough I have been around my mates workshop.(One mate builds guitars the other mate is an amp repair man of very high regard.)
He's had a few of those Hughes and Kettner amps on his workbench lately. Why? Because he was staggered to read the voltage being delivered at the tube plates. In excess of 380 volts. People are wondering why these are chewing up tubes at a quick rate and blowing (excuse me I'm not electrically competant) resistors at the valve base. Even his own handbuilt amps don't deliver that much voltage. I'm not wishing to diss H & K amps 'cos thay sound great but Caveat Emptor when you choose that amp.

Axe fx would be great but you have to have deep pockets.