Portable S/S Amps with TONE

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by pontmercy

I played the Fender Mustang III today at guitar center after watching and reading many rave reviews. WAS IMPRESSED! really impressed. Sounded good. Couldn't believe it was only $299. With the addition of the 4 button switch and the expression pedal, I may just replace everything I have! I have never NEVER liked modeling amps before, but this thing is changing my mind!

Originally Posted by HOBBSTER01

Go Mustang. You will not regret it.

Originally Posted by musicalmartin

+1 ,especially if you use the Fuse software and make your own settings .I was amazed by the stock Fender and brit tones and even more when i set up a Champ 57 setting and downloaded a Vox patch or two .Not only some great tones but feel as well.

I got to Guitar Center tonight and the only Cubes they had were Micros - and they didn't have ANY Pathfinders. So, I walked right past the Mustang Series amps and Line 6 offerings, looking for something that might seem interesting, then turned the corner and walked out of the place, very disappointed.

When I got home, I got on the computer and started listening to the Fender Mustang II demo's on YouTube, since you guys had mentioned that they were worth a listen. Wow! The Fender Mustang has some VERY nice sounds, and I like that you can add/subtract EFXs to/from your preset sound. I also like that it seems fairly easy to use.

I gotta go back to GC tomorrow and PLAY one of those Mustangs!

[Jeff R]

Vox DA-20 if you can find one. Like a pathfinder, but some modelling, effects and 2 speakers. A little more portable, as it has two low-wattage modes which are battery powered. They were marketed as a "busker amp".
Oh yeah, there's a microphone input too.

[3 Chord]

The trouble with little amps is they sound good at home but when put into gig service, you are reminded that they are little amps.

I would try to find an amp with at least a 10" speaker, preferably a 12. And if you play clean, at least 30 watts.

But if you don't need big sound, the Pathfinder 15r is great but has limitations (speaker and watts) as you start to push it.

There are lots of good suggestions here so far but make sure you turn the amps up when you try them, everything sounds good at pratice volumes.

Also check out Fender SS stuff, used princeton 65, deluxe 85, champion 110, all can be good.. Depends on what small and portable is to you.

good luck.

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by LGOberean

My first thought was the Pathfinder, but I'm not so sure that it meets all of your criteria.

Tone? Oh, yeah, definitely.

Portability? Again, yeah, definitely.

Small footprint? Yup, absolutely.

Under $250? And to spare. You can even get the footswitch for it and still come in a C note under budget.

Handles rehearsals and small gigs? Well, maybe. That would depend on the levels at band rehearsal, and just how small the room of the small gig is. As a rule, I don't get large sized gigs, but of the three steady venues I play w/ my PF15R, it varies. At two of the venues, the Pathfinder is sufficient for the room. At another, it needs to be mic-ed. I have done the line out thing to a PA.

Do you use pedals with your PF15R?

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by jklotz

I've got a pathfinder & a cube 40xl. They are both nice. The cleans on the 40xl are a little more sterile sounding than the vox, but it has modeling. They both put out a lot of volume for what they are. Line out on the 40xl sounds better, but the vox has more character. Both are a good choice IMHO.

I like what I hear about the Pathfinder 15R, but I also like the Swiss Army Knife approach of the Cube 40XL (amp/fx models, lead/solo channels, tuner, looper).