[Jekyll]

Sorry if this has been covered before but I am looking to buy a small practice amp. Never having amplified anything before I have no idea where to start.

It has to be suitable for an electro acoustic guitar and will be used at home only - I live in a first floor apartment so need something that will sound good at low volume. Both my upstairs and downstairs neighbours play guitar and we are very tolerant of each other. I would like it to stay that way.

So something small, sounds good but not too expensive.

Any ideas?



Jekyll

[allthumbs]

Harder to find clean small amps. I would still go with a 10 watt cube. Maybe someone else can give you some more recommendations.

[Jekyll]

Thanks for your response Allthumbs, I just looked at a few Roland X series Cubes online.

There are a few models in this series. Do you know of any advantge opting for 20X or 30X models or will it be a disadvantage having more power when I just want a low volume.

It's just that they are cheaper than I expected so if it's better to spend a bit more for more power than I need it may last longer or something. I don't know much about these things.

Any help much appreciated.

[Stratrat]

+1 on the Roland Cubes. Great little amps.

You said "small" and "practice" - given those parameters, I'd take the Micro Cube. It gets more than plenty loud enough for home use, and will also run on batteries so you can play in places where you don't happen to be near an electrical outlet. Very handy feature IMO, and none of the other models in the Cube series have it.

[Dewy]

Up to 30 watts won't be a problem, and would have many advantages. You can easily keep the volume turned lower, and also use the headphone out for near silent practice.

The additional wattage will allow you to get louder if needed, before distorting. Also better trade in value on the higher wattage models.

[scott58]

Not sure how much you wanted to spend, but about a year ago I was asking about something for my acoustic on this forum and someone recommended this:

Buy Phonic Power Pod 620/SEM710 PA System online at Musician's Friend

I absolutely love this thing. It plays great at low volumes (and high). The EQ is great to have and the onboard effects are usable. If your looking for good cleans this is it on the cheap. It does things I wasn't even thinking about at the time and I still have no thoughts to upgrade. The other big plus is, you can invite your upstairs and downstairs neighbor over and they can plug right in. I've played on this thing a minimum of 1 hr a day since I got it and it's always ready to go. It also likes my POD xtl so I imagine it would accept other pedals as well, so if you ever buy an electric guitar you can plug right in with that too.

[Dewy]

Haha, I think that was me. And I still agree with me for an acoustic amp. the Pod is a great clean amp, and works well with guitar modelers for a multitude of guitar sounds, as well as good blending of pre-recorded music for rehearsal.

I was responding to his question about the smaller cube vs the bigger cube.

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by scott58

Not sure how much you wanted to spend, but about a year ago I was asking about something for my acoustic on this forum and someone recommended this:

Buy Phonic Power Pod 620/SEM710 PA System online at Musician's Friend

This seems to be a lot of kit for the money. I'm kind of split now.

I'm having one of those days where every time I see something shiney I want to order it.

Thanks for advice. Thanks everyone. I honestly didn't know where to start. Choosing an amps are more confusing than choosing a guitar. Theres a whole new vocabulary to learn!

[scott58]

Originally Posted by Dewy

Haha, I think that was me. And I still agree with me for an acoustic amp. the Pod is a great clean amp, and works well with guitar modelers for a multitude of guitar sounds, as well as good blending of pre-recorded music for rehearsal.

I was responding to his question about the smaller cube vs the bigger cube.

Ha, I think it was too and you should keep agreeing with yourself. This thing is just great! I am so grateful for that suggestion. Thanks!!

To Jekyll: It is alot of kit for the money. I place it firmly in the best bang for the buck catagory. Like you I didn't know much about this stuff when I was asking either (still don't) but I know alot more now then what I did. The key here is your acoustic and not wanting to "color" your tone to much. With an acoustic you want to stay clean out the gate so the tone of your guitar does most of the talking and add effects and what not as you see fit. The real winner on this PA (besides the price) is the onboard EQ I can take the naturally bright sound of my laminate Dean and take it down to an almost Taylor like sound. That alone really made me love this setup. It will breath new life into your guitar and with everything else it does you'll be busy for a long long time. I'm not saying this is the end all beat all of tone and there is certainly alot of equipment out there that's alot better, but for $270 I'm not sure where I would find it. Good luck

[cush66]

Another vote here for the Roland Micro Cube. To me me this is the best bang for the buck if we're talking small practice amps. Even if you out grow this amp, you can still use it for the effects by connecting it to a larger amp. Dont believe me. Go to a music store and find a sales person that can play and tell him to show you what that amp can do. I promise you will be amazed. I paid $119.00 new for mine and thats here in Hawaii so I know you can find it cheaper. I especially like when you crank up the gain and get that crunchy grunge metal sound. It drives me insane ahahahaha!! Then turn down the gain, put some reverb and chorus and switch to brit combo or acoustic and you get the sweetest clean acoustic sound.

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

Thanks for advice. Thanks everyone. I honestly didn't know where to start. Choosing an amps are more confusing than choosing a guitar. Theres a whole new vocabulary to learn!

perhaps time to brush up on my grammar also

[cush66]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

perhaps time to brush up on my grammar also

Why? Ever read the words to songs..talk about grammar ahahahaha!!

[hb]

Here's another vote for the Rowland Micro-cube. I doubt that you'll be disappointed.
hb

[Jekyll]

thanks for all the avice guys I'm going to try and check out this micro cube, Seems to plenty of happy micro cubers here... I'll keep you posted.


Jekyll

[737blues]

Well, I've been trying to make up my mind between a Roland Cube and the Vox ADV's for a while too. Then a couple of couple of days ago I had an impromptu look at one of these and bought it home.

Crate - The Best Value In Professional Tone :: Products

Very inexpensive, nice and simple and I think a great sound for it's class. You might like to have a look.