Looking for: Clean Little AMP (very transportable)

[DivadYug]

Not bigger than a Vox AC4C1-BL.
For country and acoustic (with tele...) music. Nothing else. I need to hear twang very well :)

I know twin reverb and princeton very good but too big for me. I prefer little amp because I need to transport it very often.

I have a Tween Blues Jr at home, but it's all but not clean (even with master at 12) and a bit too big.

Every suggestion between $300 and $800 are welcome :)
I always play with my AM tele.

[Jeff_K]

I'll be the first to offer the obvious: ZT Lunchbox is an amazing little amp. Nine pounds and fits in an athletic bag. There simply IS no better amp for easy transport. You could even get the ZT Club which has a 12", 22 pounds and still small.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazin...mp_Review.aspx

[bossking7]

Fender champ.600

[DivadYug]

I already had a champ600 and sold it after 3months. Thank you anyway.

The ZT Lunchbox might be a good idea. I never hear this little amp in person (only on web). Over a Vox AC4C1-BL? Anyway, the review you give me sounds very good.

[misterbluesman]

Dr z mini.

[Controller]

Vox Pathfinder 15R, just give it a listen.

[RubyRae]

Never heard anyone mention Princeton amp as too big before. Now I can see that about a Twin Reverb... my Princeton rides shotgun in my VW and keeps it clean.

Might want to check out Allen Chihuahua...

[Scantron08]

My Sears Silvertone 1482 is the lightest amp I've ever had - I can have my Les Paul in its case in one hand, and my amp in the other, and my guitar is much heavier. 1x12, 15w. Obtainable for around $300, and, FWIW, oozes cool factor. Early breakup, though - so maybe not high in the clean category.

Is a Princeton really too small? A 110?

[LGOberean]

Originally Posted by Controller

Vox Pathfinder 15R, just give it a listen.

I must agree with Controller. You really should try out the Vox Pathfinder 15R. This amp has nice clean tones; it is surprisingly rich and warm.

And it's wonderfully light as well, just 8 kg (17.7lbs). Of course, it also has a small footprint; it measures just 396mm (15 1/2") in width, 400mm (15 3/4") in height, and 193mm (7 5/8") in depth. In short, it is a very portable amp.

And at $120, it is well within your budget. An optional foot-switch may be purchased separately for $25+. At this price, I would recommend getting the foot-switch as well.

[ludashoeless]

silverface champ

[dalandan]

Roland Cubes are a good bang for your buck

[spayne99]

Sounds like the perfect fit for a Princeton Reverb! Since that's too big, maybe the tiny ZT Lunchbox would be good. I was watching a video of Wilco warming up backstage and one of the ZT's was being used.

[mad dog]

Musicman RD 50 112. Sound and volume out of all proportion to the size. A very good sounding amp, sounds just as good at modest volumes. And quite reasonable.
MD

[Durtdog]

Jeez, if a Princeton's "too big," I say play acoustic.

[WireLine]

Originally Posted by mad dog

Musicman RD 50 112. Sound and volume out of all proportion to the size. A very good sounding amp, sounds just as good at modest volumes. And quite reasonable.
MD

Yup...Put an EV in it and it will outrun just about anyone else in the clean and great tone department.

[DivadYug]

Silverface champ amp has the perfect size. I remember one of my old friend has one.
I hear very good things about the Vox Pathfinder 15R too.

I love the Princeton Reverb for what I played on it, but it's a bit too big.
All my case are hand made by me. Thick and heavy cases. That why I want something small for easy transport.

At this moment I consider:
- Vox AC4C1-BL (hard to get 4 me)
- Vox Pathfinder 15R
- ZT Lunchbox
- Silverface champ
* Allen amp are interesting, but hard to get 4 me.

Case example:

[Tony474]

Lots of people seem very impressed with the ZT Lunchbox. I disagree. I trusted the hype and bought one, but I found that it doesn't have sufficient clean headroom for gigging without unacceptable distortion. It's OK at living-room volumes but even my Roland Cube 20X is much louder for clean sounds and is just about capable of doing small gigs.

The ZT Club 12, on the other hand, is small, light (10kg/22 lb) and loud, though with a slightly dark tonality, I found when I tried one.

Possibly your best compromise might be a Roland Cube 40X or XL. The Cube 60, 80X or 80XL will handle pretty much anything you can throw at them but they are round about the same size as a Princeton.

If you like the idea of a valve (tube) amp, the Laney VC15-110 may be worth investigating, but again, only a little smaller than a Princeton.

I've heard some good stuff about the Quilter MicroPro 200, but it's not cheap and I haven't tried one in person.

Bonne chance!

[DivadYug]

I am tired of amps where each time you crank up the volume a little bit you lose all your clean. Roland cube might be interesting. For sure the Quilter MicroPro 200 is more interesting, but pricey.

Sounds like Roland cube or Pathfinder 15R are the way to go for a small investment.
Otherwise, if someone know a little amp with the ac30 or twin reverb sound inside up to $800 lmk :)

[RCinMempho]

Solid state Fender. Mustang, Frontman, or one of the older SS models. If you want that Fender shimmering clean, that's the easiest way to get it clean in a small amp.

[Chiogtr4x]

^^ Fender Frontman 25R, "Fender Clean", Reverb
and a powerful little package for cheap ($100 more or less). I prefer using a TS or other OD with the clean channel, and stay away from the "dirt" side.