Bedroom Practice Amp.

[absurdplanet]

Most players have a simple practice amp--nothing fancy.
Most players 'woodshed' at home--jam with records, cop a few licks, play in front of the TV and learn new tunes.

For a while, at home, I've been playing an early 70's SF Vibro Champ in mint condition--however, I am not really into it's tone. Strange coming from a vintage Fender amp guy--just not my cuppa tea.

Besides that I've got an old tweed Blues Jr. that I don't really like for home practicing--great for a rehearsal, a lot of guys I know bring them to gigs for a backup too--heck, I never play it at home; therefore, it's time for a change.

I probably going to 'off the Champ' and get into a Roland Cube 20X.

The question is: What amp do you play at home at TV volume or in the bedroom?
What's your 'low volume' practice amp?
What would you suggest other than what I just mentioned?

[silentactors]

You got it - mine is a tweed Blues Jr, made in USA. Durable, tone, versatile - perfect. I even play it out at small places. I highly recommend them.

[chknpckn]

I usually play unplugged, but I've been wanting to get one of those little Roland amps for a while.

[Joe-Bob]

Try out a Vox Pathfinder 15R

[rangercaster]

i like the Pignose 7-100 or my Crate Profiler ... the Roland Street Cube is similar and on closeout now ...

[TeleGlider]

PEAVEY CLASSIC 20 15 WATT ALL TUBE 1X10 COMBO

check out E-Bay

I got the following a few years ago and love it !!!!
( note I also have a Blues JR - which I like as well and sometimes slave for a dual amp set up )

Peavey Classic 20 Amp
12AT7 in V1 to give more clean ( less gain )
Peavey Tweed 1X12 Open-back Extension Cabinet with Celestion G12T-75
Above used with …
SRB808 Classic overdrive Pedal
Ibanez Delay Pedal

Good Luck

[jeremyb]

Practice amp is a Kustom tube 12W (12AX7 preamp) really nice clean little amp :)

[caytele]

...for me..its real hard to better the Behringer GMX110...this thing, for the measely sum of $150.00, sounds superb..and is accomodating of most "styles" of music. The clean channel alone is worth the mullah...and then there is the "other " channel, which has 3 different "models'(mimicing, Mesa, Marshall and fender Tweed) to choose from, along with three different "speaker' models...it has built in tuner( oh so handy!), built in high quality digital effects (reverb, delay, phase, flange, auto wah, tremolo...etc), included footswitch for the channel and tuner switching, send/return, tape in/tape out (RCA jacks) external speaker jack, and earphones!!!.. I use this lil' terror for practise AND for gigging..perfect for small clubs/restaurants on its own , and if the need arises, you can either mic the 10 inch Jensen speaker, or use the "send" as a line out... Honestly, this thing makes every guitar that i've stuck in it sound good!!...and its only 27lbs...
...I have also used 2 of them in stereo..with different /same effects on each one using the tape inputs to couple them, OR you can use the Behringer A/B switching pedal (24.00$ on ebay) to feed one/one/both.....KILLER!...and by the way..I know GOOD SOUND when I hear it,...(funny thing...i believe we ALL do..) having owned/played/listened to some very good tube amps.....
The Roland you mentioned is also a fine sounding setup, although a little more expensive..it is built with the customary Roland (built like a tank) attention to quality...
while the B'ringer is not as robust (you have to be careful and not bump the knobs , as the shafts are plastic and will snap right off if hit firmly!..)...and will "fart out" IF you MAX out BOTH the PRE AND POST volumes,(giving the max volume level associated with its rated 30 watt output )and bang those bass strings, while using a guitar with high output pickups, especially humbuckers...
..and if you are the bare bones type of player...who is satified with just sticking your guitar into a good sounding amp...and facing off with the world, then by golly..get yourself one of them Roland Blues Cubes...the 30 watter...search for them on Ebay...it don't get any better...classic tube amp sound..classic Roland transistor reliability....
...nuff said...

[Bill]

My practice amp is an old Super Champ. I think it's great, however I wouldn't recommend one since they are very expensive nowadays.

My other favorite practice amp is the software on my laptop through earphones. I used to use GarageBand on my Mac. About a year ago I bought something called Gearbox Gold Bundle for under a $100 from Musician's Friend. It comes with a little box you plug into the USB port of the computer that cuts out the latency (delay in processing the guitar). It has 80+ amp models, lots of speaker cabs, effects, etc.

It's totally quiet for my wife in the other room and I just turn on Pandora.com, call up any genre of music I like, and noodle along.

The thing I've found is that I tend to get ear fatigue from listening to modeled amps through earphones versus a real amp in my living room. Gearbox gives me the least fatigue, so I can play for an hour or so without being bothered.

[Columbus]

I use a 6G2 Princeton for practice. It sounds good at low and high volumes but I set the volume around 2-3 at home to keep everybody else happy.
It has also proven to be an excellent amp for practice and jams. I have not played a gig with it, but I think it would work if miked.
The only downside is that they are getting kind of pricey.

[studio1087]

Originally Posted by Joe-Bob

Try out a Vox Pathfinder 15R

+1

I also have a Champion 600.

When I want to play loud with a band (learn songs) I do this and it's fantastic.....



If you have an ipod and if you ever find a cheap used Pocket Pod or Pocket Pod Epress, buy the mini pod. I paid $65 for the Pocket Pod used/mint and the headphone jamming with MP3's is fantastic.

John

[bmcmusic]

I basically redesigned a Champ 5F1 adding a master volume and a tone but also an extra gain stage to the preamp I can get a huge sound a levels to practice but also bring the master up and really feel the vibe of the amp. It is a fun amp and loves pedals too.

Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PksSlPy56-o

Bob

[Michael Bolt-on]

Originally Posted by bmcmusic

I basically redesigned a Champ 5F1 adding a master volume and a tone but also an extra gain stage to the preamp I can get a huge sound a levels to practice but also bring the master up and really feel the vibe of the amp. It is a fun amp and loves pedals too.

Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PksSlPy56-o

Bob

Bob that amp sounds killer!!!!!! I want one lol!

[JNE]

I'm using an 80's Pignose 7-100 and loving it!

[absurdplanet]

Thanks for all of the advice!
I think for very low volume--the newer solid state modeling type amps like the Roland Blues Cubes may just work for me.
I swore I'd never play one--how times change.
Bob's amp sounds great too!
I'm in no hurry--some friends recommended them--fella's who really know their ahh . . .
well . . . amps

[klast]

I use a Vox AC15CC for low volume practice. Can provide some decent crunch, especially with LP/335, less so with Tele/Strat. For the latter, higher volume is required.

I also have en Epi VJ combo, which I bought specifically for home use. However, it doesn't get played much since it's way too loud for breakup at home.

Used to have a Vox AD30VT, but that didn't do it for me. A SuperChamp XD gives a bit more tube like sound.

I will probably test Vox AC4TV and Bugera V5 (will be launched in August?) to see whether they could fit the bill for home use. Both are all tube, with adjustable output (in fixed steps). The V5 also has gain/master and onboard reverb.

Klas

[Dirty Steve]

Originally Posted by studio1087

If you have an ipod and if you ever find a cheap used Pocket Pod or Pocket Pod Epress, buy the mini pod. I paid $65 for the Pocket Pod used/mint and the headphone jamming with MP3's is fantastic.

I heard they go thru batteries pretty fast. Is that your experience?

[telbert twang]

Roland MC - everybody is happy in the house

Laney VC15 - wife can bear it for a certain duration

Peavey Classic 50410 - besides me, it is by far not welcome to anybody else in living room :-)

[Sollophonic]

My Valve Jnr is just too loud for bedroom/home use, so I got a Vox DA5.

It is a pretty versatile amp IMO. It has a few nice modifyable effects, with the exception of the high gain ones, the amp models are very nice, it has a mic input so that my 12 year old daughter can run her guitar and her mic through it. It has a line in as well, and three different output settings too. Battery/mains power too.

Heres something else. I run the line out of this amp, into the Valve Jnr and a cab, and at volume get valve tone, and effects if I want to.

My DA5 is a great little amp. Sure its not a boutique valve combo, sure its a cheap practice amp, but I got it at a good price and it serves me well.

There is one downside to my amp.

Its the reason I got it cheap, I guess.

But I can live with it.






Ready for this






O.K.







I also have a couple of micro-amps as well, a Marshall, and a Dean Markley that I have squeezed a bigger speaker into. A Celestion speaker as well!!

[Ricky D.]

I use a Mission 5E3.

If the wife is watching TV, that's down a floor at the other end of the house. I can crank the amp to overdrive levels with no issues.