Which Practice Amp for Country Sound???

[Chas63]

Need some advice here, please. I know almost zero about amplifiers although I do have a VOX Pathfinder 15 amp practice amplifier with reverb and tremolo that is fairly good, IMHO.

I'm thinking of buying something that would give me a bit more "country" sound so I thought I'd ask for your advice. I know nothing about effects pedals or anything like that. Is there any practice amplifier under $250 that would give me more "country" sound than my Vox Pathfinder? I play only for my own enjoyment and listening pleasure.

Thanks for any suggestions and info.

BTW, I don't have a telecaster (yet) but I do have a cheap Squier Affinity stratocaster. My Squier has the SSH combo of pickups.

 

[workingman]

VHT Special 6

I recently bought the VHT Special 6 Ultra head, and I'm really enjoying it. Handwired in China, great clean and overdriven tones, and unbeatable price.

 

[Scrap_Iron]

A Tele would sound more "country" right away compared to a Strat with the bridge humbucker. Just dial in a "clean" tone on the amp. Add a compressor stomp-box and you're in the ball game.

 

[Papa Joe]

What's your interpretation of "country"?? Makes a big difference...Distortion?? or clean??

 

[telleutelleme]

You did say practice amp so presumably you aren't weeding out modeling amps. If that is the case I'd say look at a Fender Mustang or a Fender Gdec 3. Both run Fender's Fuse software which allows lots of amp setups and at least 4 pedal emulations. With the added benifit of loading and playing backing tracks, they have lots of flexibility for practicing. I have a Gdec and like it for practicing and I use it to play backing tracks when I'm recording off my other amps. The GDEC offers presets for County, Blues and Metal. Worth trying out to see if it fits what you need.

 

[superhand]

get a little Fender. Nothing says country twang like the big round full tone of a Fender tube amp. My little Pro Jr. can get real country when I want it to and a lot more, if you wanna go even smaller the new Champs are pretty nice too for a little bedroom amp. Gotta go with tubes though, IMO as cheap as they are nowadays. SS is just to plain sounding.

 

[KC]

honestly, I don't think it's the amp. save yr money and buy a CV 50s tele instead. the classic "country" sound is a telecaster bridge pickup and I don't think you can get close with an SSH strat.

never owned a Pathfinder but people love them, and a lot of contemporary country sounds seem to use a Vox-style amp. you ought to be able to get a fun workable country sound plugging a tele into it. good luck,

 

[mr.fitz]

Here's my humble submition:a champ 600,they can be had for about 160.00(new) out my way.
It is also a great way to jump into the world of tube amps,is easy to set-up/use(one volume knob) and is only 5 watts(which is plenty loud) great for jamming at home with your stereo or instructional videos.
With the other 90 or so dollars left in your budget,grab a compressor and you'll have all of your country bases covered from classic to top forty.
Happy shopping.K

 

[vishnu]

laney vc15

 

[tagruvto]

The biggest improvement to tone (IMHO) is a good amplifier.
Bang for the buck: a used Fender Blues Jr.

I occasionally still see them listed on CL near your price point.

 

[fezz parka]

The Pathfinder is fine. Get a Rogue Compressor, and play cleaner. A lot of country-style playing is your picking technique. Snap and pop them strings. Hybrid pick. Play 9's. Do the work with the equipment you've got, and it'll pay off big time.

 

[Mark Moore]

The Pathfinder is fine. Get a Rogue Compressor, and play cleaner. A lot of country-style playing is your picking technique. Snap and pop them strings. Hybrid pick. Play 9's. Do the work with the equipment you've got, and it'll pay off big time.

What he said.

 

[Justinvs]

The Pathfinder is fine. Get a Rogue Compressor, and play cleaner. A lot of country-style playing is your picking technique. Snap and pop them strings. Hybrid pick. Play 9's. Do the work with the equipment you've got, and it'll pay off big time.

+1

Any amp set clean is goign to get you in the neighborhood. Same with your guitar. It's all about pick attack and how you mute the notes. I have a friend who can play the most amazing country stuff with an ESP Explorer through a Crate head. And he does it at stage volume, too.

 

[Old Has Been]

I play country and occasional sixties rock. I have a little Fender Frontman 25R as a practice amp. Does everything I need it to do...and then some.

 

[eggman]

Howdy,

By "Country" do you mean today's Keith Richards type of tone or 60's Buck Owens? I suppose this is what is called "defining the mission".

 

[tele salivas]

Dano fish n chips is a pretty sweet EQ which can do a lot for your sound. It can add grit or clean up your varied frequencies. I think you have a pretty good little practice amplifier. Put a little EQ on that sucker and you can get some sounds that are pretty close to what's coming out of the record player.

 

[Scotty 2]

And Don't forget to sing "Blue Moon Of Kentucky".
And some of Roy Nickles stuff. ( Merle Haggards lead man)
Don't forget,,,the twang comes from the guitar,,,not the amp

 

[Warren Pederson]

I'd get a Squier Classic Vibe Tele and learn how to get that country sound with your hands.

 

[RawjerLee]

I have a Squier CV Tele and wasn't a fan of country twang until I played around on it. It really sounds terrific and you won't regret it. That being said, you can try out some of the Fender modeling amps, especially the Mustang since you can edit presets.

If you're going to stick with the amp you have now, get a compressor pedal and you'll do just fine.

Or, if you're willing to spend some more money and invest for the future, the Fender Pro Junior sounds amazing with the right compressor. Then again, the amp is $400+ depending on where you live.

 

[Beachbum]

I get everything from "Working Man Blues" chicken picken to "Gimme 3 Steps" Sounthern fried rock on my SCXD. Most versatile amp I've ever owned.