what amp for me?

gazstaf · #1 June 6th, 2006

Hi strummers. Has anyone a recommendation for a small amp for home use, I recently tried a Fender blues junior around aus$900 it sounded very nice. Also the guitar guy told me about the Marshal blues breaker considerably a lot more expensive, any ideas?
Also any recommendation for guitar teachers in Sydneys' Eastern suburbs? I like all music styles (well nearly) Cheers

allthumbs · #2 June 6th, 2006

I love my little blues junior.

8LU3 · #3 June 6th, 2006

crate glx 212, 120 watts of power, and it has dsp effects. i love it!

Mr. Sinkhole · #4 June 7th, 2006

If you can find them, look for any amps by Orange. Their practice amps sound great and they look pretty darn cool to match.

They pump out the woot juice, yo.

Gibby/Sink

Ultimate Garage Band · #5 June 7th, 2006

I don't know of a tube amp that's low power enough for home use other than a kit or boutique amp like the Zvex nano head. For a small, cheap, fun amp it's really hard to beat the Roland Micro Cube.

USGold · #6 June 9th, 2006

I'd look at VOX, Traynor and Peavy amps, a bit under 900 $US , these Manufacturers all make all tube amps in your price range.

Yarr · #7 June 9th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

I love my little blues junior.

Ditto, the blues jr is a sweet amp, but it only has one channel

ishturkish · #8 June 15th, 2006

If all you need is a home practice amp, you may want to look at these cheaper options:
Roland Micro Cube. I have one of these, and the effects and sounds it can produce are quite impressive. It is surprisingly loud for such a small amp, and can even run on batteries.
Vox DA5 - is a rather recent release. It costs around the same as the Microcube, also tuns on batteries,and has even more power and more effects.
For a step up,
Look at the vox AD15Vt. This is a combo amp, with a 1W tube in there.
The Roland cube 30 is also recommended if you need a bit more power.

cshude · #9 June 15th, 2006

I've been hearing a lot of good things about the VOX amps. Might get one down the road myself.

metalkour · #10 June 16th, 2006

for practice amp i suggest a Drive cd200, 300
its cheap and it sounds good

bwleso · #11 June 16th, 2006

I'm really partial to my Crate Palomino V 16. It's actually V 1512. That's the Guitar Center "only" model Crate puts out for them. Difference is the Palomino series is Blonde with gold appointments. Built like a fortress, has real balls for for a 15 watt X 1 12" all tube home size amp. It's single channel but I have an easy time cleaning up the dirt just by rolling the volume. Has a lot of beef for a moderately low powered amp. Actually it's made by the people of Ampeg! Sounds great and has tone to the bone! It runs a pair of 12AX7's & a pair of EL84's. If you gig you can mic it. Excellent for blues, rock or whatever floats the boat. $399 US new. Hope it helps......

737blues · #12 June 17th, 2006

I bought a Fender Hotrod deluxe, which is the next model up from the blues junior, I think. It's a great amp with a really warm tone and I love it, but like UGB said, too big for home use. Can't play it at the sort of volume where it delivers the overdriven sound that class of amp is popular for. Still, I figure that's why they fit volume controls and it's beautifully crisp and clean played at lower volumes. I just figured I'd grab it while the price was right 'cos I've always wanted one but a smaller digital amp would probably have been a more practical choice.

bwleso · #13 June 17th, 2006

That's a great amp. Now if you want to get what you can out of it while used as a "home' or practice amp you'll need to invest in an attenuator. That could be something on the line of products such as the "Hot Plate", it allows you to push the tubes and your amp at LOW volume. Without a lower powered tube amp this is the way to go to experience your amp the way you should.

allthumbs · #14 June 17th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwleso

That's a great amp. Now if you want to get what you can out of it while used as a "home' or practice amp you'll need to invest in an attenuator. That could be something on the line of products such as the "Hot Plate", it allows you to push the tubes and your amp at LOW volume. Without a lower powered tube amp this is the way to go to experience your amp the way you should.

I have a Mini Mass atenuator. I have found that hot plates are more expensive.

737blues · #15 June 18th, 2006

bwleso and AT ... got my attention guys, thx. for the tip. I'll have a google and see what I can find out.