Guitarists: Practice Amp?

Looking at a 15W (had a 30W, too big).

MG15CD
MG15CDR
MG15DFX

Opinions? Or do you think I look for a non-solid state (very costly)?

 

[NL5]

Get a small tube practice amp - I just sold a Mesa subway blues. Sounded awesome. Had a '54 Fender princeton before that - MIND BLOWING. I wasn't worthy. So I sold it for 1k.

 

[Platypus]

check this one out..

It really depends on what you want to play, I would always strive for a tube amp if it were up to me, but like I said it depends on what you want to play.

 

Looking at the AVT20 but $350 for a 20W?!? I'm not worthy myself!

 

[Fritzo]

Best practice amp I've ever owned- Roland Mini Cube

It's fairly loud for its size, it's VERY portable (you could wear the darned thing with a strap if you wanted to), has built in effects, and can even run up to 20 hrs on 6 AA batteries!

Check out the demo here. You'll be impressed.

 

[Colt45]

I used to have a cheap little 15w Peavy (Peavey? I forget the spelling)

Seemed pretty solid for a practice amp. I think it was called "Rage"

 

[Colt45]

Oh yeah.

I used to make tube amps occasionally. Well. I guess I still do I'm just busy. There is really not much to them and they shouldn't cost more than a SS one. I'm not sure why they do though.. hype?

Like the main circuit and transformers.. well everything but the case and speaker of a AC-30 is probably worth.. uh.. thinking
maybe $50 per transformer, x2, could be a little more, but generally guitar amps dont have awsome output transformers, because of guitar's limited bandwidth
$25 or less in passive parts
and tubes.. $free to $expensive, depending on where you get them and/or hype and/or quality
So $150-200 + case + speaker

And thats assuming that someone built it themselves, like not mass produced, and ordered single parts. if mass produced the cost goes down to cheap ass.

But they do sound nice.


To make something like a fender princeton could be done for <$50 3-4 cheap tubes, a couple $10-20 transformers, and $10 in passive parts..

 

[RaDragon]

Anyone have any feedback for these things

I just got a pickup for my acoustic guitar and I was wondering if the above linked is just a waste of money. They're so darn cute and tiny, though!

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: dwell
Looking at the AVT20 but $350 for a 20W?!? I'm not worthy myself!

I've got the AVT50 (marked at $525 at the Guitar Center but sold it to me for $480) and believe me when I tell you, you'll know where the extra money went. It is worth it for the sound.

Those who are saying to go full tube don't always understand the fact that you will be practicing at lower levels. In order to get a nice tube sound you have to flood the tubes (so to speak) and that can only be done at a louder level for the power amp. The Marshall AVT series has a pre-amp tube that is always flooded at all volumes b/c it is solid state power amp and tube pre-amp. Anyway, it kicks HARD! Take it from me, I like to wail HARD!!! and not even think twice about it!!!111!1

EDIT: BTW I'll sell you my Marshall VS65r amp if you want. $200 plus shipping.A small site with a pic and some settings

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: RaDragon
Anyone have any feedback for these things

I just got a pickup for my acoustic guitar and I was wondering if the above linked is just a waste of money. They're so darn cute and tiny, though!

They sound pretty tinny...not really much use.

 

[CptObvious]

I'd go with the Roland Cube series. They've gotten an overwhelming positive response from user reviews. Either the Microcube ($125) or the Cube 30 ($225) would be a great practice amp.

 

I am going to go with the MG15CDR or either the Roland Microcube or the 15W cube. I am going to check out the Microcube today at Sam Ash. 2W might not be loud enough but it looks like a really cool amp.

TheNinja: Thanks for the offer. I just sold a MG30DFX because it was too big (Manhattan apt) -- a 50W is going to kill my space

 

[DnetMHZ]

I have a 15W Crate amp with effects on it I can sell ya real cheap.

 

Originally posted by: DnetMHZ
I have a 15W Crate amp with effects on it I can sell ya real cheap.

Too late Picked up the Microcube at lunch. Sounds really good for the size. Perfect for what I was looking for. Thanks Fritzo &amp; CptObvious for pointing it out. I never heard of it before.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I suggest a M/B head with 2 4x12 cabinets, if it's only for practice; otherwise something bigger

Seriously though, if you don't mind spending a few bucks, you can find some awesome smaller tube amps around (whenever I've gone shopping, it's the used amps in some hole-in-the-wall store that sound best). 15W of tube will probably be just as loud as 30W SS though, and you normally have to turn up a tube amp to get better sound; it seems you need something really quiet.

I'm not a fan myself, but some of the smaller fender amps are pretty popular, at least with my guiar-playing friends; I'm partial to peavey amps, but I've never used one of their really small amps, so I don't know if they measure up to the larger ones.

 

[step-dawg]

i see you already got something, but i was gonna chime in with a vote for a fender blues junior or a fender pro junior. I've got a Blues Junior at home i use as a practice amp at home and amp i carry to rehearsals. Sounds great. It is all tube so it's gonna be louder than the solid state amps to get really nice tone, but it can still get pretty good tones at lower volumes. you can find used anywhere from $250-300.

 

[thirdlegstump]

I'm partial to Tech 21 amps when it comes to solid state. I had the 10 watt Trademark model and then bought another 60 watt version for live use. Amazing amps they are but the Marshall AVT amps aren't bad either. If you need versatility, go for a Flextone although I personally don't like digital amps.

Also for practice amps, you don't need nor really want any more than 5 watts. Believe me, even 10 watts can get freakishly loud in an apartment and especially with tube amps, they don't sound good until they're cranked to begin with. I've got a buddy who plays a 5 watt AX84 Octane tube amp for live rehearsals and that thing sounds great and is loud enough with a live drummer and bass player in the room.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Best practice amp I've ever owned- Roland Mini Cube

It's fairly loud for its size, it's VERY portable (you could wear the darned thing with a strap if you wanted to), has built in effects, and can even run up to 20 hrs on 6 AA batteries!

Check out the demo here. You'll be impressed.

my uncle just bought one and i was also very impressed at the sound, considering the size, weight, and battery-capability. i would either get this or one of the MG Marshalls.

personally, i think if you're just using it to practice and/or are just starting out, a tube amp is more trouble, weight, cost, heat, power consumption, and complication than you need. if you're playing for "real," a tube amp is the ONLY way to go. but for practice, tube amps are just a pain in the butt.

i have an older 20 watt crate that has served me well, although the tone leaves something to be desired. that's when i'm not playing my 100 watt, all-tube, custom Marshall stack at mind-blowing levels.

if you do go tube, remember that tube "watts" don't equal solid state "watts" in the real world. for instance, the 40 watt Marshall DSL tube combo is louder than the 150 watt AVT hybrid combo. also, a tube amp will sound better than a solid state amp at any volume, but they sound best at "10."