SMALL AMPS, TUBE v SOLID STATE

[JohnV8V]

Hi all

Am in the market for a small practice amp. Currently have a Line 6 modelling amp but the tones aren't doing it for me, so am looking for a conventional amp as a pedal platform.

What's the group wisdom on my top prospects -

Roland Blues Cube Hot
Palmer Fab 5
Marshall DSL 5
Vox AC10
Fender Blues Jr
Session BluesBaby 22

Any thoughts?

John

[Herkybird]

You could add the Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister to the list.
I sold my old Laney 100Watt beast and replaced it with the Tubemeister 18 Had and Cab (they do a combo version i do believe).
Can't fault it so far, never missed a beat, loud enough and has an effects loop as well.

[dojo]

What's your budget?

If you want a great sounding single channel cheap amp you should also consider the valve jnr

[JoeCastle]

https://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_bassbreaker_15_co... - £79 more than an AC10 - Don't think, just do

[JohnV8V]

dojo said:

What's your budget?

If you want a great sounding single channel cheap amp you should also consider the valve jnr

Budget - 500ish.

[maturin23]

Slightly left-field suggestion but if you want to learn something in the process you can do a lot worse than building one of these:

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/N5X-5W-British-overd...

I've built one up into a combo (using a Celestion G12H speaker) and it sounds absolutely lovely with just a reverb pedal. Nice juicy pre and power amp overdrive sound if you like it and a reasonable amount of headroom if you want it clean.

[Tom_C76]

Laney Cub 12R, would leve you budget for a couple of pedals or a speaker upgrade to a V30

[Honk]

Orange?

Tiny Terror / Dark Terror?

[vournikas]

JoeCastle said:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_bassbreaker_15_co... - £79 more than an AC10 - Don't think, just do

The lads at Anderton's rate this very highly indeed.

[JohnV8V]

Thanks all. Laney 12R is a great shout and one I hadn't thought of. Only £250 at GAK which looks like a steal. Will go try one out and report back!

John

[Loyly]

I've heard the Egnater tweaker combo and it sounds fantastic. Close to budget too. I'd look for used amps at that price range too, I got a barely used Fender Super Sonic 22 for £500 a couple of years ago. Best sounding cleans I've ever heard.

[Turn7]

Yamaha THR

[JoeCastle]

vournikas said:

The lads at Anderton's rate this very highly indeed.

As does Mr. Vennart from Oceansize/Vennart/Biffy Clyro

[dojo]

JohnV8V said:

Budget - 500ish.

Thats a funny amount - bang in the middle.

I'd say either go cheap and save a few coins (like Valve jnr I mentioned (I got one for £70 - with a few mods its a beast)

Or pump in some more and get something super decent - Tone king, Victory, Dr Z - Personally I would go for a Ceriatone.

[anonymous-user]

Go second hand.

What do you actually play though?

[developer]

We have a Blues Junior for smaller gigs and it's bloody loud and well suited to LP/pedals.

Edited by developer on Tuesday 1st November 17:00

[JohnV8V]

Egnater tweaker - tried it today. Amazingly versatile. Only flaw is no reverb but a pedal can do that. It's the one, I think....

[Tom_C76]

If budget creep were allowed, a Mesa Mini Rectifier would be an awesome option. Way over budget, but still awesome

[andy-xr]

There's an AC30 in my local guitar shop that's sold me a Telecaster and a hollowbody Ibanez in the last month

Just a really really nice tone out of it, much less 'clinical' or warmer than the Blues Jnr they have and less gainy than the Marshall

Personally prefer two channel amps rather than turning up the amp and using the volume on the guitar to vary the gain but that's a personal preference

[conkerman]

I'm considering going valve, and it would have to be a Bluesbreaker. Or one of the paisley FSR models.

Bluesbreaker looks Awesome.