Colin
Well-known member
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?
- Thread starter AVH
- Start date
Hey Jimi, you're talking about playing the guitar right?
robelinda2
Well-known member
my next amp will be a Laney VC30-112. i think its wonderful, great clean sounds, i was so impressed with it.
candid_x
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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
Well-known member
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
Well-known member
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
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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
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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
Well-known member
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
Active member
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
JC
cooper
New member
valvetronix fan
The Vox Valvetronix rocks, it can do super clean to down and dirty hi gain metal. You get your choice of 11 amp models, assorted effects (auto wah, compression, chorus, rotary speaker, etc). The controls are easy to use, no menus, just chicken head knobs. I'm not a huge fan of modeling amps but this thing has an organicity to it that I was totally not expecting. It BREATHES. It is a hybrid, so has a tube in the preamp to provide some sag and air to the sound. The clean amps don't quite get to Fender tube clean level, but are pretty good. The metal channels are awesome. And mind you they are cheap for what you get, a few hundred bucks for tons of tones.
One of the coolest features is the variable wattage knob in the back. I have the 30 watt amp that can be adjusted down to just one watt of power, great for saturating the tube at low volume and getting that baby to sing at low volume levels. My only regret is not getting the 50 watt version. The 30 watt can hang with a bass and drums at a medium sound level but gets drowned out when things get cranking.
Also have a Tech 21 Trademark 60, not a "small amp" but I can tell you the sound is a bit more solid state sounding than the Vox. Better than most solid states, but not as many options as the Valvetronix.
The Vox Valvetronix rocks, it can do super clean to down and dirty hi gain metal. You get your choice of 11 amp models, assorted effects (auto wah, compression, chorus, rotary speaker, etc). The controls are easy to use, no menus, just chicken head knobs. I'm not a huge fan of modeling amps but this thing has an organicity to it that I was totally not expecting. It BREATHES. It is a hybrid, so has a tube in the preamp to provide some sag and air to the sound. The clean amps don't quite get to Fender tube clean level, but are pretty good. The metal channels are awesome. And mind you they are cheap for what you get, a few hundred bucks for tons of tones.
One of the coolest features is the variable wattage knob in the back. I have the 30 watt amp that can be adjusted down to just one watt of power, great for saturating the tube at low volume and getting that baby to sing at low volume levels. My only regret is not getting the 50 watt version. The 30 watt can hang with a bass and drums at a medium sound level but gets drowned out when things get cranking.
Also have a Tech 21 Trademark 60, not a "small amp" but I can tell you the sound is a bit more solid state sounding than the Vox. Better than most solid states, but not as many options as the Valvetronix.
Brutus
Hi buddy. May I suggest you a product of my homeland (ehm....) ?
It is really gorgeous, I'm thinking of buying one for me, too.
The main thing is that sound is taken by a mic in a box that is isolated acoustically (hope this is clear, sorry for the language) so you got real high-volume drive and gain inside and a reasonable volume for the neighbors outside!
It's called Brutus, I'll send some links, hope they are helpful.
Let me know what you think....
ciao
marco
sound samples :
http://www.cicognani.com/download/audio sample/Donato Crunch.mp3
http://www.cicognani.com/download/audio sample/Loud_N_Proud.mp3
videoclip :
http://www.cicognani.com/download/video sample/BRUTUS CLIP.wma
Hi buddy. May I suggest you a product of my homeland (ehm....) ?
It is really gorgeous, I'm thinking of buying one for me, too.
The main thing is that sound is taken by a mic in a box that is isolated acoustically (hope this is clear, sorry for the language) so you got real high-volume drive and gain inside and a reasonable volume for the neighbors outside!
It's called Brutus, I'll send some links, hope they are helpful.
Let me know what you think....
ciao
marco
sound samples :
http://www.cicognani.com/download/audio sample/Donato Crunch.mp3
http://www.cicognani.com/download/audio sample/Loud_N_Proud.mp3
videoclip :
http://www.cicognani.com/download/video sample/BRUTUS CLIP.wma
58super
Well-known member
The mini Z is now discontinued.
If you're handy with a soldering iron Weber VST has some small amp kits that look interesting.
edensdad
Well-known member
My daughter has this little F*nd*r "Mini Tone Master" 9 volt thing that cranks - rippin' blue's/rock tone. Great with a slide.
No snobbery here - I don't care who made it or what it cost or what kind of electronics are in it as long as it sounds good.
I've had everything from 20 watt 1x10 combos to 100 watt tube stacks and had good and bad in either category - I've paid $$$ for big name amps that sounded like **** and for others that sounded great.
My next purchase will be a Rivera 1 x12 tube thingy (don't remember the model, but it was tan or green) - sweet and silky with a little bit of ground up whoop - as* in there for fun.
>^..^<
No snobbery here - I don't care who made it or what it cost or what kind of electronics are in it as long as it sounds good.
I've had everything from 20 watt 1x10 combos to 100 watt tube stacks and had good and bad in either category - I've paid $$$ for big name amps that sounded like **** and for others that sounded great.
My next purchase will be a Rivera 1 x12 tube thingy (don't remember the model, but it was tan or green) - sweet and silky with a little bit of ground up whoop - as* in there for fun.
>^..^<
TonyEVH5150
Well-known member
I tried one of these yesterday. I was surprised how liitle gain to speaker could take. Then the amp guy plugged the amp output into a 2x12, and it sang. I was amazed that a 5 watt amp could drive a 2x12 seaker cab.
I'll add to the kudos for the Roland Micro Cube. Very flexible amp, amp modeling, built in effects.
I bought a Peavey Valveking 50 watt 1x12. Great sounding, great features, nice price point for a 50 watt all-tube amp.
fsmith
Well-known member
I have the Roland MicroCube. That thing flat out kicks @ss for what it is. I take it with me when we go camping etc. It travels really well with only having to pack batteries.
I recently placed an order for one of the Songworks 3350's after hearing about Glenn's 1/4 watt amp. It's due to arrive in November.
I recently placed an order for one of the Songworks 3350's after hearing about Glenn's 1/4 watt amp. It's due to arrive in November.
Elmer Imperial
Well-known member
Very cool! Please post up a review or your thoughts on this little guy once you get it! I'm very interested in this amp, it sounds ideal for what I'm looking for.
candid_x
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2006
- Messages
- 3,272
I have my Valve Jr plugged into 2x12 Fender cabinet loaded with Celestion V30's. I still haven't put a pedal in front of that amp, I'm having way too much fun just messing with volume controls!!!
This one ain't goin' back
Gary
The Epi Valve Jr. is an amazing little amp for $99, and the speaker/cab makes all the difference in the end result you get. As far as volume goes, the Eminence Wizard is THE loudest speaker I’ve ever used, and it sounds like a weighty train of blues. It made a huge difference in pure magnitude the tiny VJ delivers. For something a little more along Allman Bros. tone, the Eminence GB128 (like a Cel Greenback only WAY better, and rated for 50 watts) adds a nice bit of green grit.
I don’t use pedals in my other rigs, but I’ve been toying with the idea of getting either a reverb or digi-delay for it, as that’s the only thing I miss through the Epi.
The one who sold me on getting one of these is Doug from Doug’s Tubes. He was telling me that, though he’s got some very high end amps, i.e. two Divided by 13 combos, Matchless Chieftain, Bogner Shiva, etc, he spends most of his time playing through his little Epi Valve Jr. Say what? This I had to hear for myself!
One of the things I like most about it is, the simple, direct circuit gives an immediate response, intimate and direct connection to your guitar, like listening through earphones, but though the speakers.
I wouldn’t get the combo, cuz the little speaker won’t do the amp justice. I’m told it sounds great through a quad cab, and I don’t doubt it.
For the price of an average stomp box, you get a well designed and constructed tube amp. Best deal out there, imo.
Btw, you can see the Epi sitting on top of my usual rig in my avatar, where I can plug into one of the two cabs. I may get a splitter and try both cabs soon.
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Vox AD-30 or Fender Cyber Champ
My friend bought a Fender Cyber Champ last year that is 100 watts or so and has truly incredible sound (they are discontinued now).
I just dropped $230 on a Vox-AD-30 modelling amp and it has been growing on me ever since. For a 30 watt amp, it has good versitility, great sound, and is lightweight. I never play my Pod II anymore and don't need to hastle with pedals.
I think the modelling amps have brought a mini renaissance in guitar sound for average folks.
My friend bought a Fender Cyber Champ last year that is 100 watts or so and has truly incredible sound (they are discontinued now).
I just dropped $230 on a Vox-AD-30 modelling amp and it has been growing on me ever since. For a 30 watt amp, it has good versitility, great sound, and is lightweight. I never play my Pod II anymore and don't need to hastle with pedals.
I think the modelling amps have brought a mini renaissance in guitar sound for average folks.
