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A LIttle Help Picking Out an Amp

Keith7940236

By Keith7940236
in Amplification and Effects

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Keith7940236 Collaborator

Keith7940236

Posted
Posted

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

schundog Mentor

schundog

Posted
Posted

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!

schundog Mentor

schundog

Posted
Posted

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.

 

Guest HRB853370

Guest HRB853370

Posted
Posted

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!

Genericmusic Mentor

Genericmusic

Posted
Posted

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

schundog Mentor

schundog

Posted
Posted

 

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

Guest HRB853370

Guest HRB853370

Posted
Posted

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..

DetroitBlues Rookie Copy

DetroitBlues

Posted
Posted

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...

bolero Veteran

bolero

Posted
Posted

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

Steiner Community Regular

Steiner

Posted
Posted

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

SouthpawGuy Veteran

SouthpawGuy

Posted
Posted

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.

big bob Veteran

big bob

Posted
Posted

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.

mad dog Rookie

mad dog

Posted
Posted

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

bolero Veteran

bolero

Posted
Posted

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?

tsp17 Proficient

tsp17

Posted
Posted

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.

rjsanders Community Regular

rjsanders

Posted
Posted

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.

Blunote Community Regular

Blunote

Posted
Posted

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

koula901 Mentor

koula901

Posted
Posted

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!

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