Electric Guitar Practice amp advice (My first amp question)
Discussion
I'm looking at buying my first 'leccy guitar and will need some sort of amplification.
As I see it, I have a couple of options:
Any thoughts/advice?
Thanks
As I see it, I have a couple of options:
- Plug in headphone amp like the Vox Amplug with a reasonable set of headphones
- iPad/iPhone adapter and use one of the various apps plus headphones
- Small practice amp and then a pair of headphones when wanting to keep the noise down
Any thoughts/advice?
Thanks
Line 6 stuff is pretty good for that and caters for most budgets, from Pocket pod through to pod HD if you want flexibility of playing through head phones or into a desk, through to interfaces that run through your computer and you get sound through your speakers or headphones, my mate does them at our local store and he uses it through speakers to do his lessons.
Have a look at the VOX DA5. I've been playing for a few years and don't have the funds for a larger amp at the minute, but this little amp still gives a great sound.
It's a 5 watt amp which isn't too loud, I can play it comfortably on high gain with the volume about a fifth of the way up. This is quite loud, however I like it loud. There's a watt selection on the back so you can switch between 0.5, 1.5 and 5 watts. There is also headphone support, although you need a jack.
It's got some very good presets loaded into it which are easy to select. Overdrive in particular is good. I was a bit confused at first as I wasn't getting any distortion but you need to have high gain. The tone knob is also good.
It also has a variety of different effects loaded into it. Auto wah, reverb, chorus, delay, rotary reverb, etc. All very cool and it is easy to adjust the amount with the edit 1 knob.
Has battery support so you can take it busking. Is very ideal for this as it is quite loud on high settings. You can also plug a microphone into it, as well as say an MP3 player for playing backing tracks, very good for busking and doing gigs by yourself.
Sadly there is no EQ options but that is okay, you can use your guitar or pedals to do that.
All in all, a very cheap option and you get a lot for your money.
Out of curiosity, what guitar are you going with? Post so we can pick apart your preferred option and convert you to the goddess of a guitar that is the Les Paul
It's a 5 watt amp which isn't too loud, I can play it comfortably on high gain with the volume about a fifth of the way up. This is quite loud, however I like it loud. There's a watt selection on the back so you can switch between 0.5, 1.5 and 5 watts. There is also headphone support, although you need a jack.
It's got some very good presets loaded into it which are easy to select. Overdrive in particular is good. I was a bit confused at first as I wasn't getting any distortion but you need to have high gain. The tone knob is also good.
It also has a variety of different effects loaded into it. Auto wah, reverb, chorus, delay, rotary reverb, etc. All very cool and it is easy to adjust the amount with the edit 1 knob.
Has battery support so you can take it busking. Is very ideal for this as it is quite loud on high settings. You can also plug a microphone into it, as well as say an MP3 player for playing backing tracks, very good for busking and doing gigs by yourself.
Sadly there is no EQ options but that is okay, you can use your guitar or pedals to do that.
All in all, a very cheap option and you get a lot for your money.
Out of curiosity, what guitar are you going with? Post so we can pick apart your preferred option and convert you to the goddess of a guitar that is the Les Paul
V100 said:
Have a look at the VOX DA5. I've been playing for a few years and don't have the funds for a larger amp at the minute, but this little amp still gives a great sound.
It's a 5 watt amp which isn't too loud, I can play it comfortably on high gain with the volume about a fifth of the way up. This is quite loud, however I like it loud. There's a watt selection on the back so you can switch between 0.5, 1.5 and 5 watts. There is also headphone support, although you need a jack.
It's got some very good presets loaded into it which are easy to select. Overdrive in particular is good. I was a bit confused at first as I wasn't getting any distortion but you need to have high gain. The tone knob is also good.
It also has a variety of different effects loaded into it. Auto wah, reverb, chorus, delay, rotary reverb, etc. All very cool and it is easy to adjust the amount with the edit 1 knob.
Has battery support so you can take it busking. Is very ideal for this as it is quite loud on high settings. You can also plug a microphone into it, as well as say an MP3 player for playing backing tracks, very good for busking and doing gigs by yourself.
Sadly there is no EQ options but that is okay, you can use your guitar or pedals to do that.
All in all, a very cheap option and you get a lot for your money.
Out of curiosity, what guitar are you going with? Post so we can pick apart your preferred option and convert you to the goddess of a guitar that is the Les Paul
Thanks for that, also very useful! It's a 5 watt amp which isn't too loud, I can play it comfortably on high gain with the volume about a fifth of the way up. This is quite loud, however I like it loud. There's a watt selection on the back so you can switch between 0.5, 1.5 and 5 watts. There is also headphone support, although you need a jack.
It's got some very good presets loaded into it which are easy to select. Overdrive in particular is good. I was a bit confused at first as I wasn't getting any distortion but you need to have high gain. The tone knob is also good.
It also has a variety of different effects loaded into it. Auto wah, reverb, chorus, delay, rotary reverb, etc. All very cool and it is easy to adjust the amount with the edit 1 knob.
Has battery support so you can take it busking. Is very ideal for this as it is quite loud on high settings. You can also plug a microphone into it, as well as say an MP3 player for playing backing tracks, very good for busking and doing gigs by yourself.
Sadly there is no EQ options but that is okay, you can use your guitar or pedals to do that.
All in all, a very cheap option and you get a lot for your money.
Out of curiosity, what guitar are you going with? Post so we can pick apart your preferred option and convert you to the goddess of a guitar that is the Les Paul
Before I get a slagging, I've just had a bit of a windfall in the form of a tax refund so I'm looking to spend more than I normally would because a) I can afford to
and b) I won't get the opportunity for a long while 
I quite fancy a PRS Santana SE or maybe... if there are any left, a PRS Santana SE Limited Run (with the Quilted Top). As they say, the more expensive the guitar the better it makes the guitarist (or that might just be in my head
). By all means I'm open to suggestions and of course I won't be buying blindMagicalTrevor said:
V100 said:
blah blah blah
Thanks for that, also very useful! Before I get a slagging, I've just had a bit of a windfall in the form of a tax refund so I'm looking to spend more than I normally would because a) I can afford to
and b) I won't get the opportunity for a long while I quite fancy a PRS Santana SE or maybe... if there are any left, a PRS Santana SE Limited Run (with the Quilted Top). As they say, the more expensive the guitar the better it makes the guitarist (or that might just be in my head
). By all means I'm open to suggestions and of course I won't be buying blindAt the minute, I am stuck with this guitar and whilst it is very pretty... meh
Telecasters play like a dream and are so nice and light
. Maybe that's just because I've been playing with a 10lb piece of wood around my neck.MagicalTrevor said:
The 'Pod' looks interesting, I wasn't aware of it and whilst it's more expensive than an Amplug or iPhone interface it does have quite a few neat features for geeks like me
Yep, some of the on-board effects are quite batty (I absolutely love the Jet Phaser - still trying to source an actual pedal version but they're very expensive). When I want to practise, and make some noise, I run it through my studio monitors. I'd imagine you could run it through anything, really. Boombox, iPod docking speakers, black and white TV...Greenwich Ross said:
MagicalTrevor said:
The 'Pod' looks interesting, I wasn't aware of it and whilst it's more expensive than an Amplug or iPhone interface it does have quite a few neat features for geeks like me
Yep, some of the on-board effects are quite batty (I absolutely love the Jet Phaser - still trying to source an actual pedal version but they're very expensive). When I want to practise, and make some noise, I run it through my studio monitors. I'd imagine you could run it through anything, really. Boombox, iPod docking speakers, black and white TV...MagicalTrevor said:
Greenwich Ross said:
MagicalTrevor said:
The 'Pod' looks interesting, I wasn't aware of it and whilst it's more expensive than an Amplug or iPhone interface it does have quite a few neat features for geeks like me
Yep, some of the on-board effects are quite batty (I absolutely love the Jet Phaser - still trying to source an actual pedal version but they're very expensive). When I want to practise, and make some noise, I run it through my studio monitors. I'd imagine you could run it through anything, really. Boombox, iPod docking speakers, black and white TV...
V100 said:
PRS are very nice. I see you have taste. However, if you have a large budget, may I suggest this
At the minute, I am stuck with this guitar and whilst it is very pretty... meh
Telecasters play like a dream and are so nice and light. Maybe that's just because I've been playing with a 10lb piece of wood around my neck.
My budget is half that and even then I'm pushing it. This is a massive indulgence for me so please don't think that I normally have bags of money to throw at a guitar for a beginner (well second guitar as I have a Yamaha FG700MS acoustic). I realise there a plenty of other guitars out there that would be cheaper and yet still too good for me at this stage!At the minute, I am stuck with this guitar and whilst it is very pretty... meh
Telecasters play like a dream and are so nice and light
. Maybe that's just because I've been playing with a 10lb piece of wood around my neck.For "Bedroom" playing, a 15w transistor/5w valve amp will be plenty (maximum volume is still a bit too loud).
Incidentally the apparent volume of a valve amp is 3 times that of a transistor amp at the same wattage, due to the way the wave is formed. Go for the valve amp if you can, it'll cost a little more but you'll never need another practice amp.
Incidentally the apparent volume of a valve amp is 3 times that of a transistor amp at the same wattage, due to the way the wave is formed. Go for the valve amp if you can, it'll cost a little more but you'll never need another practice amp.
I Have a couple of PRS's and have to say the USA built ones are fantastic!!
Did a search for a local player recently, he was on a pretty limited budget, and was surprised at the number of used US Prs's that were around for reasonable prices, have a look at the Mira Prs range as well, my local shop had one for only a little bit more than an SE.
http://www.guitar-mania.com/product_info.php/pName...
This is the one at my locals place.
Did a search for a local player recently, he was on a pretty limited budget, and was surprised at the number of used US Prs's that were around for reasonable prices, have a look at the Mira Prs range as well, my local shop had one for only a little bit more than an SE.
http://www.guitar-mania.com/product_info.php/pName...
This is the one at my locals place.
just1 said:
I Have a couple of PRS's and have to say the USA built ones are fantastic!!
Did a search for a local player recently, he was on a pretty limited budget, and was surprised at the number of used US Prs's that were around for reasonable prices, have a look at the Mira Prs range as well, my local shop had one for only a little bit more than an SE.
http://www.guitar-mania.com/product_info.php/pName...
This is the one at my locals place.
Would you choose a US PRS over, what I assume to be, Korean? What makes a US model better or different to the non-US version? Doesn't look quite as fancy as the Santana though Did a search for a local player recently, he was on a pretty limited budget, and was surprised at the number of used US Prs's that were around for reasonable prices, have a look at the Mira Prs range as well, my local shop had one for only a little bit more than an SE.
http://www.guitar-mania.com/product_info.php/pName...
This is the one at my locals place.
MagicalTrevor said:
Would you choose a US PRS over, what I assume to be, Korean? What makes a US model better or different to the non-US version? Doesn't look quite as fancy as the Santana though
It's made out of nicer wood, and will have better quality hardware, and probably better fit and finish. The wood is the important bit though.Worth watching the factory tour detail to see the level of perfection!!!! Its a good evenings viewing!!
http://www.prsguitars.com/detail/
They have been giving away freebees with USA guitars, T shirt, strings, cables.
http://www.prsguitars.com/detail/
They have been giving away freebees with USA guitars, T shirt, strings, cables.
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