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Poxican · 10-06-2009, 08:36 PM

I currently play guitar in two places: At home and jamming once or twice a week with a mate at work. At home I plug into my M-Audio and use Waves GTR Solo for effects, and at work I just use a crappy little fender practice amp.

I've got a 15 watt Peaver Vypyr at home which does all kinds of amp and effects modelling but it never gets used. The Waves GTR effects sound better, are more customizable and are located in my DAW which is convenient.

So basically, I'm thinking of selling my Vypyr to put the cash towards some guitar GAS.

Longer term though, I'd like to replace it with something like a 5watt tube amp if I start jamming on a more regular basis. I guess the whole point of the thread (other than just to start a conversation :P) is to ask.... what kind of amp would you suggest?

thereformant · 10-06-2009, 08:55 PM

Are you looking for something that will be loud enough to play with a drummer? If so I'd go up some watts.

Dave_Mc · 10-06-2009, 09:38 PM

for what type of music?

Clecko · 10-06-2009, 09:56 PM

I tried one of those blue Laney Lionheart jobbies recently. Depends on your style of music of course, as it doesn't do really dirty stuff, but I thought it was surprisingly lovely. Not so cheap, though.

You must know all the obvious ones - Marshall Class 5, Blackstar HT-5 and so on. I use a Laney VC15 as my second amp cos it's small and light enough to just grab and take anywhere and it sounds pretty good. The clean channel is really very nice at the price and the drive channel sounds great until about half way on the gain knob - after that it sounds like a cheaper amp. I'd recommend it for classic, British tones at low volumes, not much money and a small footprint.

ESBlonde · 10-07-2009, 12:09 PM

Well if you got satisfactory tone in the multi pedal, any decent amplifier/combo will help get it out there. But if you are a tone searcher (they all end up with a minimal FX setup and an amp that contributes tone) then go directly to jail, do not collect £200 or have an ice cream.

At around 5w these blackstars etc are ideal for home/studio jams. If you need to indulge a drumist then 15 to 20w are nearer the minimum to get a clean tone that can cut it. If moving it is a binde then transistors save your back, but if tone is king then you almost have to have valves.

So assess your needs and desires, tell us a little more and the options will become clearer.

Poxican · 10-07-2009, 06:48 PM

I don't think I'll be playing with a drummer any time soon. I'm more of a bedroom guitarist for the time being. I'd hope that'll change one day, but for my current needs I think the important thing is good sound at low volume.

I play fuzzy blues rock predominantly, sort of from Mudhoney to QOTSA via White Stripes kind of stuff I guess.

When I think about it more though.... living so close to neighbours, I don't think I'll ever end up using it at home. As much as I'd like to mic an amp properly, it's just not really practical. So maybe the 5watt idea is redundant. Recording from the line-out on these things sort of defeats the purpose right?

Please excuse my thinking out loud

gibsender · 10-07-2009, 06:53 PM

I use a Fender Super Champ XD. 15 watts and some FX built in. I have used it to play at home (doesn't disturb the misses) and have played very small gigs with it (5 piece band). I would recommend it - valve tone low price. It has a voice switch - make it sound like Marshall / Vox / various Fenders / Mesa. It s great

Mercurial. · 10-07-2009, 07:54 PM

I use a blackstar ht-5 when i'm at home, which is a 5w tube head). I have a laney 1x12 that i plug into it, but to be honest, it is too loud for neighbour-concious playing. Simply remedied by plugging a £15 pair of headphones in (it has a headphone out socket), and it sounds bloody brilliant.

mcsdan · 10-07-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibsender

I use a Fender Super Champ XD. 15 watts and some FX built in. I have used it to play at home (doesn't disturb the misses) and have played very small gigs with it (5 piece band). I would recommend it - valve tone low price. It has a voice switch - make it sound like Marshall / Vox / various Fenders / Mesa. It s great

I'm just looking at these or the Vibro Champ which is only 5W. I want a small combo with valves that I can grab and go. I'm just about to start regular lessons again and don't fancy taking my marshall vintage modern combo out every week for just 1/2 an hour.

Did you demo the Vibro when you got the Super Champ? Any thoughts on either? The shop I'm buying from has both so will take a listen but any pointers helpful.

TIA

Dan

gibsender · 10-08-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcsdan

I'm just looking at these or the Vibro Champ which is only 5W. I want a small combo with valves that I can grab and go. I'm just about to start regular lessons again and don't fancy taking my marshall vintage modern combo out every week for just 1/2 an hour.

Did you demo the Vibro when you got the Super Champ? Any thoughts on either? The shop I'm buying from has both so will take a listen but any pointers helpful.

TIA

Dan

I did try them both and as I wanted to be able to rehearse with a drummer, I went for the 15 watter. I do actually prefer the sound too as my big amp is a hotrod Deville 410 and setting 11 on the voice switch is as close as it could get to my lead channel on the deville. The Super champ is just big enough to use on its own in a small venue, the Vibro will just get lost. I also like the higher wattage as a like my cleans to be clean even when loud, the Vibro breaks up too early

10-06-2009, 08:36 PM	#1
Poxican Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Posts: 657	Amp advice I currently play guitar in two places: At home and jamming once or twice a week with a mate at work. At home I plug into my M-Audio and use Waves GTR Solo for effects, and at work I just use a crappy little fender practice amp. I've got a 15 watt Peaver Vypyr at home which does all kinds of amp and effects modelling but it never gets used. The Waves GTR effects sound better, are more customizable and are located in my DAW which is convenient. So basically, I'm thinking of selling my Vypyr to put the cash towards some guitar GAS. Longer term though, I'd like to replace it with something like a 5watt tube amp if I start jamming on a more regular basis. I guess the whole point of the thread (other than just to start a conversation :P) is to ask.... what kind of amp would you suggest? __________________ Check out my 3/4 size acoustic guitar to resonator conversion. Total spend:Less than £20 Videos here...

10-06-2009, 08:55 PM	#2
thereformant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The (IV) Millenia Posts: 4,498	Are you looking for something that will be loud enough to play with a drummer? If so I'd go up some watts. __________________ No Forbidding Allowed

10-06-2009, 09:56 PM	#4
Clecko Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East of England Posts: 995	I tried one of those blue Laney Lionheart jobbies recently. Depends on your style of music of course, as it doesn't do really dirty stuff, but I thought it was surprisingly lovely. Not so cheap, though. You must know all the obvious ones - Marshall Class 5, Blackstar HT-5 and so on. I use a Laney VC15 as my second amp cos it's small and light enough to just grab and take anywhere and it sounds pretty good. The clean channel is really very nice at the price and the drive channel sounds great until about half way on the gain knob - after that it sounds like a cheaper amp. I'd recommend it for classic, British tones at low volumes, not much money and a small footprint. __________________ I listen to bands that don't even exist yet.

10-07-2009, 06:48 PM	#6
Poxican Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Posts: 657	I don't think I'll be playing with a drummer any time soon. I'm more of a bedroom guitarist for the time being. I'd hope that'll change one day, but for my current needs I think the important thing is good sound at low volume. I play fuzzy blues rock predominantly, sort of from Mudhoney to QOTSA via White Stripes kind of stuff I guess. When I think about it more though.... living so close to neighbours, I don't think I'll ever end up using it at home. As much as I'd like to mic an amp properly, it's just not really practical. So maybe the 5watt idea is redundant. Recording from the line-out on these things sort of defeats the purpose right? Please excuse my thinking out loud __________________ Check out my 3/4 size acoustic guitar to resonator conversion. Total spend:Less than £20 Videos here...

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10-06-2009, 09:38 PM	#3
Dave_Mc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,086	for what type of music?

10-07-2009, 12:09 PM	#5
ESBlonde Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 262	Well if you got satisfactory tone in the multi pedal, any decent amplifier/combo will help get it out there. But if you are a tone searcher (they all end up with a minimal FX setup and an amp that contributes tone) then go directly to jail, do not collect £200 or have an ice cream. At around 5w these blackstars etc are ideal for home/studio jams. If you need to indulge a drumist then 15 to 20w are nearer the minimum to get a clean tone that can cut it. If moving it is a binde then transistors save your back, but if tone is king then you almost have to have valves. So assess your needs and desires, tell us a little more and the options will become clearer.

10-07-2009, 06:53 PM	#7
gibsender Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 13	I use a Fender Super Champ XD. 15 watts and some FX built in. I have used it to play at home (doesn't disturb the misses) and have played very small gigs with it (5 piece band). I would recommend it - valve tone low price. It has a voice switch - make it sound like Marshall / Vox / various Fenders / Mesa. It s great

10-07-2009, 07:54 PM	#8
Mercurial. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98	I use a blackstar ht-5 when i'm at home, which is a 5w tube head). I have a laney 1x12 that i plug into it, but to be honest, it is too loud for neighbour-concious playing. Simply remedied by plugging a £15 pair of headphones in (it has a headphone out socket), and it sounds bloody brilliant.