What amp for home use?

[MM90TB]

any orange love here? I had a tiny terror for a while, amazing little amp, I play through a rockerverb 50, 2 x 12/4 x 12, and sounds equally good at bedroom levels as it does in a band situation, also have a Dual Rec. Roadster 2 x 12 as a backup and it also does bedroom levels fairly well.

The Orange Rockerverbs are great amps covering alot of tonal ground! And while their cleans really surprised me on how nice they are, it was overdriven tone that was more of the Rockerverb's sweet spot. It's cleans were only missing that extra high end Fendery chime/bell tone you get in say a DRRI, Twin and other like amps. That of course is only important if your sound demands that your tone be at that high end Fendery bellish chimey sound. I could certainly live quite happily though with a Rockerverb though.

 

[Cayman]

I have the Yamaha THR10 and recently purchased the ENGL Ironball. The THR10 is a super home use amp and I highly recommend it for all that it does ! The Ironball is in a league by itself. The sound is awesome and matchs my JP-6 perfectly. The clean is great with the piezos and the high gain is the best.

 

[dojo]

Roland Cube 40XL with a Steve Morse, Axis Sport and Silhouette Special

Here's my Roland Cube 40XL no pedals just foot switch.

Steve Morse
Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse MusicMan Demo Brian Baggett - YouTube

Axis Sport Piezo
Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special Brian Baggett MusicMan Demo - YouTube

Silhouette Special
Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special Brian Baggett MusicMan Demo - YouTube

 

[BrickGlass]

Since I brought up the farty bass, I'll comment here. I agree to some levels with your statement. The micro cube does sound really good if you keep the volume down pretty low. When I first got it, I was using it as a late night amp in my office while my wife and kid were sleeping. At midnight volumes it sounded great. I clearly remember a few blissful nights spent drinking some red wine and loving the Microcube's sound. My issues with the Microcube were when I started to use it in the daytime at normal volumes. It just didn't cut it (for me) at volumes above what I would consider pretty quiet. It has it's applications for sure, but I don't know why you just wouldn't jump up to one of the larger cubes for the same or a little more money. I love the cubes....I have the 40xl as my portable amp and I am more than satisfied with it. I sold off the Microcube and haven't missed it since. If I remember correctly, I didn't have a problem with the low E, it was other notes played on the low E string that were giving me fits.

It truly is a "midnight" amp. That little sucker just sounds great at a nice quite volume but you go past a certain point volume wise and it turns to useless crap. The bigger Cube amps are indeed a better solution for not much more money. It just depends on the volume you will need to play at. Some mighty fine amps for a very reasonable price.

 

[MM90TB]

I have the Yamaha THR10 and recently purchased the ENGL Ironball. The THR10 is a super home use amp and I highly recommend it for all that it does ! The Ironball is in a league by itself. The sound is awesome and matchs my JP-6 perfectly. The clean is great with the piezos and the high gain is the best.

Cool little amp! But unless you needed it's small size, compartively the field gets crowded at it's price point. And for one example, you could buy a Peavey Vyper VIP2 40 for $100 +\- less that seemingly offers a little more, no? Glad we have all these nice choices though.

 

[lessthanone]

I just ordered a 5153 combo from gc. Should be here before weeks end. I'll let you all know how it is!

 

[MM90TB]

The 5150 III 2 x 12 50 watter?

 

[lessthanone]

The 5150 III 2 x 12 50 watter?

yes sir. Sold my AXE FX II and monitors and went on a shopping spree. Couple new guitars and the amp

 

[MM90TB]

Very nice amp, congrats! But sticking with the OP's theme of home use, don't you find that more of a gigging/jams amp than home practice amp? 50 Watts seems to be too much for home use/practice, no?

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

the 5150III can scale down to 1w. One could be in my near future, we'll see.

 

[lessthanone]

Very nice amp, congrats! But sticking with the OP's theme of home use, don't you find that more of a gigging/jams amp than home practice amp? 50 Watts seems to be too much for home use/practice, no?

its got built in power scaling which makes it a very versatile everywhere amp! BTW, I used to use a VHT Pittbull clx for bedroom use

 

[coldsummer]

I have been seriously considering getting a 5150 III combo as it seems quite versatile tone-wise and the built in attenuator is a really attractive option.

 

[wired]

Egnater Rebel 30 head & 1x12 cab.

 

[acwild]

The 5150 III combo sounds great at all volumes. As far as a gigging amp goes, it weighs a lot! I get my band mates to help me lug it around as it's kind of bulky.
It's currently one if my favorite amps (next to my Mark V). The Mark V has a bit more of "punch in the gut" feel when paired with a closed back cab loaded with V30s. With the 5150, I get more of the Marshally volume rollback characteristics that I love. I can't decide which amp I'm going to use for an upcoming gig.
Both are great at low volumes but I'd give the 5150 the edge in this realm.

 

[MM90TB]

the 5150III can scale down to 1w. One could be in my near future, we'll see.

That's a nice feature. I wasn't aware the variable power went down to 1 watt. The claim is it won't effect tone, but I'd be curious how loud that one watt in the 2x12 combo would be at breakup level (unless employing an od pedal which I suppose could be a solution i helping keep volumes low). Seems worth checking out...

 

[MM90TB]

The 5150 III combo sounds great at all volumes. As far as a gigging amp goes, it weighs a lot! I get my band mates to help me lug it around as it's kind of bulky.

Yes, the 5150 III 2x12 combo is listed at 84lbs. LIke you, I also like Boogie Mark V, and the smaller Boogie Express 5:25 offers a powerhouse of tone in a more portable 1x12 combo. But the price is prohibitive for many, especially if for just home use. But the one (non-plus) I played through was able to get quite loud and would be able more than suitable for live use, especially if mic'd up to a house p.a. in a even larger setting. The 5:25 express is probalaby at the top of the heap for the best sounding 1x12 combo I ever tried.

 

[acwild]

That's a nice feature. I wasn't aware the variable power went down to 1 watt. The claim is it won't effect tone, but I'd be curious how loud that one watt in the 2x12 combo would be at breakup level (unless employing an od pedal which I suppose could be a solution i helping keep volumes low). Seems worth checking out...

At 1 watt with the volume down, I still keep Channel 2 gain at about a quarter and Channel 3 gain at an eighth. This amp is all about gain. No pedals needed and the volume can be kept low enough so that my wife can watch tv without complaining. The amp still sounds great. With that in mind, at 1 watt and the volume turned less than halfway up, I can keep up with my drummer. He's a hard hitter too.
There's so much available gain that I'm amazed the people turn Channel 3 gain past a quarter way up. Even with low output pickups it gets pretty insane.

 

[MM90TB]

Good to know, AC. Thanks for sharing your experience with it, that info will be helpful in making comparisons.

 

[lessthanone]

OK, got the 5153 combo today and after spending a few hours with it...not impressed. Out of the box brand new I had to clean scuffs and grime off of it. The cab has divets you can clearly tell were there BEFORE they tolexed it and the just covered right over it. Sound wise, For some reason I feel the head and cab sounded better. Lots of idle noise with the gain up just a little(maybe Im just used to the axe fx II being so quiet) I think the Peavey 5150 sounds better and this may be going back for a used 5150.

 

[Roberto Rivera]

I use the THR for home practice. great sounding little amp! but sometimes I use my Mark V with 10 watts