14-year-old wants practice amp. What's good? Yamaha THR vs. Boss Dual Cube vs. what else?

[rxmoore]

Just about any 10-20 watt SS modeling amp should be fine. I currently own a Peavey and a Vox, I've had a couple of Fenders and Bosses and even a Pignose. The differences are about preferences, and at this stage, I can't imaging she really has any.

Another thought, I have a three-watt Blackstar Fly that's pretty cool. Portable and battery powered, bluetooth and line in/out, she can use headphones. I travel with mine and a Squire Telecaster and I stream Amazon Music to it from my phone. It sounds good enough with my guitar that I don't feel terribly handicapped by it when I travel. The Katana Mini is also nice but mine doesn't have the Bluetooth, so it stays home in my living room.

 

[JeffBlue]

Get her a Blackstar Fly 3. Quiet amp that is battery operated and/or buy the power supply. Very small and instead of lots of effects that can inhibit the way listening while learning to play. It does have an onboard delay and overdrive.

 

[Hobblegopter]

THR is a great choice. Looks great on a desk (I have an older THR10 that gets used as a TV soundbar & most people don't even know it's supposed to be a guitar amp).

The newer models have Bluetooth support which is very convenient for playing along or even just listening to music like a boombox. Controls on the amp are simple and intuitive enough to not be overwhelming, but if you wish, you can use the mobile or PC app to explore & edit even more.

The Spark looks very interesting as well, although I do not know anything about the ecosystem as far as saving/downloading patches goes.

I would ignore any suggestions to not buy her anything that can connect to a computer, that's just being spiteful.

 

[Tim S]

Don’t forget that the budding guitarist is already in the school’s music program. That means she likely already knows a drummer and a more experienced guitarist. If so, she could be jamming with these kids within a year and a Fly or Spark won’t cut that.

Just something to consider.

 

[MelodicBend]

40% off at fender.com right now on the smaller side of their amp line. Pretty ludicrous deals on Mustangs, Champions, and others. This one for example:

Mustang™ LT25 | Guitar Amplifiers

Mustang™ LT25, 120V

www.fender.com

14 year old me would have done just about anything to convince my parents to get me this amp.

 

[BlackASATClassic]

Haven't read through the whole thread, but I just got to say...Katana!

 

[JDB2]

40% off at fender.com right now on the smaller side of their amp line. Pretty ludicrous deals on Mustangs, Champions, and others. This one for example:

Mustang™ LT25 | Guitar Amplifiers

Mustang™ LT25, 120V

www.fender.com

14 year old me would have done just about anything to convince my parents to get me this amp.

My 15 year old daughter just took advantage of the 40% off to purchase a Mustang LT50, as a nice upgrade from her Champion 20.

 

[MelodicBend]

My 15 year old daughter just took advantage of the 40% off to purchase a Mustang LT50, as a nice upgrade from her Champion 20.

That's some good and generous parenting. Well done. You deserve something nice for yourself too!
Hats off to Fender on this sale too.

 

[hotraman]

Boss Katana or similar.
Fender would be my second choice.

 

[panzrwagn]

Having just watched Bill Kirchen and being completely blown away by his tones, I figured his pedal board would look pretty crazy. Nope. A Sweet Honey Overdrive, a Boss DM3 Delay and a D'Addario tuner fronting a Fender Deluxe Reverb. So for a practice amp, learning a Tele, learning tone and what a Telecaster can do, keep it simple, and keep it tube. A BlackStar HT1R MKII 1x8" 1-watt Tube Combo Amp with Reverb would be my choice. With only one tube watt and an 8", you can learn to work overdrive without risking immediate deafness or complaining neighbors. Actually, is my choice. My other Amp is a Fender Blues Jr., 15 watts and a single 12" is great for jamming with friends, but it's just too much for home. I tried an original Pignose, but I really wanted a tube. Likewise the Yamaha HTR will do about anything, but it's about itself, and what it can do, so it's a distraction from learning the Telecaster.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I recommended a Vox practice amp to a friend last year, and he likes it a lot.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Having just watched Bill Kirchen and being completely blown away by his tones, I figured his pedal board would look pretty crazy. Nope. A Sweet Honey Overdrive, a Boss DM3 Delay and a D'Addario tuner fronting a Fender Deluxe Reverb. So for a practice amp, learning a Tele, learning tone and what a Telecaster can do, keep it simple, and keep it tube. A BlackStar HT1R MKII 1x8" 1-watt Tube Combo Amp with Reverb would be my choice. With only one tube watt and an 8", you can learn to work overdrive without risking immediate deafness or complaining neighbors. Actually, is my choice. My other Amp is a Fender Blues Jr., 15 watts and a single 12" is great for jamming with friends, but it's just too much for home. I tried an original Pignose, but I really wanted a tube. Likewise the Yamaha HTR will do about anything, but it's about itself, and what it can do, so it's a distraction from learning the Telecaster.

That's more than he was using when I heard him. Sounds like he's gone hi-techy in his old age.

Young players want lots of features that don't have much to do with practicing. That's why cheap practice amps have 'em.

Best practice amp I ever had was a Fender Pro Junior. In fact, I liked it so much it became my main gig amp. Very mic-friendly.

 

[Honga Man]

OP here again.

At the strong encouragement of my wife who wants our daughter to have an amp be a wrapped gift under the tree, I went to Guitar Center and bought a Positive Grid Spark from a big stack they had for sale. And of course I will save the receipt in case it's The Wrong Thing, but I don't think it will be.

Right or wrong, that's the decision for now. And I really appreciate all the comments here. I had never heard of Positive Grid when I started this thread.

But, two days ago I stopped into a busy used gear store that I haven't been to for years and saw a used Roland MicroCube priced at $75. I'm thinking of going back and grabbing it and slipping it into my pile of gear in the basement.

"Oh, this old thing? Sure, try it out!"

I have a bunch of stuff down there that I haven't looked through in a long time. Who knows what else I might find? ;-)

Don’t forget that the budding guitarist is already in the school’s music program. That means she likely already knows a drummer and a more experienced guitarist. If so, she could be jamming with these kids within a year and a Fly or Spark won’t cut that.

Just something to consider.

Yes, that's a good point. She certainly does know kids who play drums and bass in the various school bands (marching band, jazz band, concert band, orchestra, etc.) and there must be a bunch of guitarists. But, I have larger amps she can use if that happens, and I'd love to go buy her something she wants for that purpose when the time is right.

40% off at fender.com right now on the smaller side of their amp line. Pretty ludicrous deals on Mustangs, Champions, and others.

Whoa, Fender sells direct now? I guess I've been away from guitars and this forum for too long. Had no idea.

Thanks to everyone for all the good ideas and things to think about in this thread. Happy Holidays.

 

[Jim85IROC]

Spark gets my vote. I've got a THR10 (which I like), a Katana 50 that I hated and got rid of, and the Spark. The spark is far and away the most versatile and will suit pretty much any playing style. It's also a great practice tool, and I find it inspiring because finding certain tones makes me want to play more.

Smaller practice amps may not cut it when they start playing out with others, but getting a bigger higher power amp introduces more than enough compromises as a practice amp that I think it makes way more sense to focus on the practice amp for now and worry about a gigging amp when the need arises. Even then, the practice amp will be a more suitable option at home for practice. Also, the Spark will get surprisingly loud. My son and I have used it for live performances more than once, albeit not with other amplified musicians or a drummer.

 

[blowtorch]

I went to Guitar Center and bought a Positive Grid Spark from a big stack they had for sale.

AWESOME

 

[Honga Man]

OP here for one last update.

But, two days ago I stopped into a busy used gear store that I haven't been to for years and saw a used Roland MicroCube priced at $75. I'm thinking of going back and grabbing it and slipping it into my pile of gear in the basement.

"Oh, this old thing? Sure, try it out!"

I have a bunch of stuff down there that I haven't looked through in a long time. Who knows what else I might find? ;-)

I bought the MicroCube today on my way to work. It even came with what appears to be the original Roland power adapter.

And, I just completed a Strat parts-caster that I've been slowly acquiring parts for since 2014!

My New Year's resolution is more guitar playing and as much guitar & bass teaching and jamming as my kids would like. It's fun to be thinking about playing guitar again going into a long weekend.

It feels like old times, and I'm glad to be back. Thanks, everyone.

 

[McGoldTopp]

I have the positive grid and I just plug in and play it, the app and amp modeling is too much for me… but mostly it collects dust on the nightstand.

I do like my Marshall DSL1C even more… 1w switchable to 0.1w.

If she keeps up with playing the $599 Marshall would be an awesome upgrade… for next Christmas.

my next Christmas gift may be the 22w Roland Jazz chorus…

 

[GearGeek01]

Being an apartment dweller most of my life, get her some good headphones and an amp that has a headphone jack. She can jam secretly with headphones any time day or night. My fave headphones are a pair of AKG K-240... they don't eat your ears like the typical set of ear buds... and they are comfy, sound great, and not that expensive...

AKG K240 Studio Semi-open Pro Studio Headphones

Professional Semi-open, Circumaural Studio Headphones

www.sweetwater.com

These last a long time... and the cord for them has a mini 3-pin (looks like a small XLR) connector, so if the cord fails, you can buy a new replacement in many different lengths. I have a shorter one I use with my laptop. Also, look for the cables that are stranded material on the outside, those are pretty tough

Amazon.com : akg k240 replacement cable

Most of the small amps folks will suggest will have a 1/8" plug for headphones (sometimes a 1/4")... the AKG headphone set comes with an 1/8" to 1/2" gold tipped adapter.

My suggestions would be one of the Blackstar ID:CORE amps. They have a 10w, 20w and 40w version(s).

ID:CORE V3 - Blackstar

The ultimate feature-packed home practice amps for beginners or professionals.

blackstaramps.com

You might be surprised how loud their 20w version is... The 20-watter is $209.99

Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 2x5-inch, 2x10-watt Stereo Combo Amp with Effects

20W (2 x 10W) Modeling 2x5" Guitar Combo Amplifier with 6 Voices, Onboard Effects, USB Output, TRRS Aux Input, and 1/8" Cab-emulated Line/Headphone Output

www.sweetwater.com

and the 40-watter is $229.99

Blackstar ID:Core 40 V3 2x6.5"-inch, 2 x 20-watt Stereo Combo Amp with Effects

40W (2 x 20W) Modeling 2x6.5" Guitar Combo Amplifier with 6 Voices, Onboard Effects, USB Output, TRRS Aux Input, and 1/8" Cab-emulated Line/Headphone Output

www.sweetwater.com

The 10w, 20w, and 40w all have similar controls and features... effects, etc, etc... and a headphone jack (of course)... Plus these amps are very light and super easily portable. AND they run on batteries or a power supply.

 

[ASATKat]

In the 60s for a 13 yr old, the common response to wanting a guitar was "we'll get you the $35 classical and if you stick to it we'll get something better, if you learn to read music. (but I just want to rock)

That is the worst way to go. You are not setting them up to win, they wanted electric. In today's world a great beginners amp would be a Boss Katana 50. That's great tone and very inexpensive.

Make the win happen with good appropriate gear..

 

[ASATKat]

If you're looking at the Roland Jazz Chorus I suggest you also strongly look at the Boss Katana Mk2 amps. A record breaking best seller.