Keith7940236 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I am interested in finding a smaller amp that I can use with my Golden Eagle and H-575. Currently I have a'66 Ampeg Rocket 2 and Polytone Mini Brute II. Both are fairly large amps that are a little overkill for playing in my living room in the evening I'd like a little advice on finding a nice fat, rich, clean tone from a smaller unit. I have to say, I really like the sound of the Ampeg over the Polytone. Is tube the way to go? As is probably very obvious, I know very little about amps and need all the direction I can get. I've got a stand alone reverb on the way from KBP810, can't wait to hear how it sounds with the Ampeg!! I appreciate all of the help that I've gotten in the past from the HOC. Great group of people!! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Fender is the King of clean... Pro Jr, Blues Jr, something like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I've become a firm believer in small modelling amps for playing around the house at everything from low volumes to pretty stinkin' loud. Clean fat tone? Cube 30 or so, or a Mustang II, as it has the 12 inch speaker, but I get pretty loud and clean with my itty bitty Mustang I, at pretty loud volumes. Cheap, maintenance free. Oh, and I love tube amps, too, but not for playing quietly. To me, this is where the modelling/Solid State stuff shines. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue might do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue might do the trick. Oooh, Baby... I'd love one of those. HOWEVER, I already had a Fender Super Champ XD, and it got me close enough, without spending another $900. I still have it, still love it, and, when it dies, I'll be sad. Here's a good demo of the Super Champ XD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I've become a firm believer in small modelling amps for playing around the house at everything from low volumes to pretty stinkin' loud. Clean fat tone? Cube 30 or so, or a Mustang II, as it has the 12 inch speaker, but I get pretty loud and clean with my itty bitty Mustang I, at pretty loud volumes. Cheap, maintenance free. Oh, and I love tube amps, too, but not for playing quietly. To me, this is where the modelling/Solid State stuff shines. Good luck! But why a modeling amp? It doesnt sound like Keith wants to model anything, he just wants a portable good sounding amp! I love my little Rage158 for playing around the house. PLENTY loud. And as far as modeling goes, it does have a vintage and modern switch. I suppose if I played a little more through it I could get Marie to model some lingerie for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericmusic Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I've become a firm believer in small modelling amps for playing around the house at everything from low volumes to pretty stinkin' loud. Clean fat tone? Cube 30 or so, or a Mustang II, as it has the 12 inch speaker, but I get pretty loud and clean with my itty bitty Mustang I, at pretty loud volumes. Cheap, maintenance free. Oh, and I love tube amps, too, but not for playing quietly. To me, this is where the modelling/Solid State stuff shines. Good luck! +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 But why a modeling amp? It doesnt sound like Keith wants to model anything, he just wants a portable good sounding amp! I love my little Rage158 for playing around the house. PLENTY loud. And as far as modeling goes, it does have a vintage and modern switch. I suppose if I played a little more through it I could get Marie to model some lingerie for me! The Mustangs, for about the same money used, give you a lot more than the Peavey Rage 158; Many different voicings, both clean and raging, chorus, delay, reverb, etc. I'm not sure I'd put the Mustang up against the Peavey for long term reliability, but Hell, for $50 for either?! There simply isn't a wrong choice. The Super Champ steps it up a notch, with the clean channel being tube driven, and the modelling side being digital. Great little amp for a little more money. The thought of YOU (or ME) modelling, Will gives me the shivers.... haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 The Mustangs, for about the same money used, give you a lot more than the Peavey Rage 158; Many different voicings, both clean and raging, chorus, delay, reverb, etc. I'm not sure I'd put the Mustang up against the Peavey for long term reliability, but Hell, for $50 for either?! There simply isn't a wrong choice. The Super Champ steps it up a notch, with the clean channel being tube driven, and the modelling side being digital. Great little amp for a little more money. The thought of YOU (or ME) modelling, Will gives me the shivers.... haha Hee hee but maybe Marie.....think back to PSPIV in the parking lot of the Country Inn.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Hee hee but maybe Marie.....think back to PSPIV in the parking lot of the Country Inn.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericmusic Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 http://www.rolandus.com/products/category/503 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Oooh, Baby... I'd love one of those. HOWEVER, I already had a Fender Super Champ XD, and it got me close enough, without spending another $900. I still have it, still love it, and, when it dies, I'll be sad. Here's a good demo of the Super Champ XD. That's the video that sold me on the SCXD when I bought one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 you're going to have a hard time finding anything that sounds better than that Ampeg!! those are legendary amps if you're playing mostly clean, you should still be able to get great sounds at low volume? I have become a big fan of the Vox AC4TV as a small practice amp...you can buy them for $200 all day long on craigslist etc, it's a killer little tube amp. Fernando was getting big warm jazz tones out of one at PSPIV they take pedals extremely well, too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 you're going to have a hard time finding anything that sounds better than that Ampeg!! those are legendary amps if you're playing mostly clean, you should still be able to get great sounds at low volume? I have become a big fan of the Vox AC4TV as a small practice amp...you can buy them for $200 all day long on craigslist etc, it's a killer little tube amp. Fernando was getting big warm jazz tones out of one at PSPIV they take pedals extremely well, too +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthpawGuy Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Another vote for the SCXD, very small and compact and great tones. The only downsides are, for me, lack of low end from the 10" speaker and no way of using headphones or mp3 etc. So about two months ago I finally took the plunge and got a Cube 80XL. It has bags of bass, way more than I will ever need, and lots of clean headroom. It also has an auxiliary input and headphone output which is very handy. I connect up a Yamaha QY sequencer for play along, (the sound is excellent), and can then use headphones when necessary. As for size / weight it's bigger than the SCXD but smaller than a Blues Jnr, and because it's a Roland it will basically last forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 You might consider a swart atom. Or any of the fender champ clones that run 6l6s. Marsh makes one, as dose Victoria, lil dawg, Mission, or you could build your own, it is quite easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad dog Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 You've got some classy guitars there. That being the case, you need a classy amp. I'd go for a Victoria Ivy League, their take on the classic tweed vibrolux, with a 10" speaker. My buddy has one and totally loves it. Lots of clean here. Since you have a stand alone reverb, you can easily go tweed at this point. MD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Another vote for the Roland Cube 80XL. A buddy of mine plays his 575 through one and it sounds amazing for the size. I plugged my 525 into it and almost fell off my chair it sounded so good. If I wanted a solid state amp's reliability but with tube tone, and plenty of cleans, this would be very high on the list. http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1122/503 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 if I'm not mistaken that Apemg with 2x7591 output tubes puts out 20w or so, and it's a 1x12 combo so if he wants something smaller, it's probably going to be a single power tube circuit...however even a tweed champ gets pretty darn loud if you crank it which is why the Vox with it's 1/4 watt, 1 watt, 3 watt settings is kinda useful but honestly I could easily survive with a 20w bedroom amp Keith what kind of sounds are you after? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Huge variety in choices. Guess it boils down to the economics... How much are you willing to spend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith7940236 Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 I'd like to stay under $1000.00 I appreciate all of the help from everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsp17 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I played a Fender Blues Jr. the other day and was really impressed for the money. BillM has some mods that could make it even better more versatile and gig worthy. Buying used and even adding the mods you'd be well under $1,000. i am thinking about going this route myself. He's got a jazz mod that makes it a 5881 or 6L6 amp with nice full lush tone. But the above comments about solid state and modeling for low volume clarity, reliability and value are spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjsanders Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 if you like yr Ampeg, then maybe an old Ampeg Jet. maybe Fender Pro Jr. SCXD would work for me in a living room. today i might go for a Lil Dawg Mutt or Champster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunote Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I think a Blues Junior with a pedal to provide crunch at lower volume levels could work, but that still may be too much if you're playing in your living room and others are trying to do things as well. Personally, I'm biased toward tube amps, so I'd probably lean towards a Champ or Champ clone, or maybe even a Princeton clone. Too bad Brian is out of the amp business. Or, keep the amps you already have and like an buy an attenuator to use with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koula901 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 you're going to have a hard time finding anything that sounds better than that Ampeg!! those are legendary amps if you're playing mostly clean, you should still be able to get great sounds at low volume? I have become a big fan of the Vox AC4TV as a small practice amp...you can buy them for $200 all day long on craigslist etc, it's a killer little tube amp. Fernando was getting big warm jazz tones out of one at PSPIV they take pedals extremely well, too I just picked one of these up today - it sounds killer with the H 535! Thanks for turning me onto it, Bolero! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.