Looking for a Small Combo Amp

[ericmeyer4]

I'm looking for a small combo amp for bed room recordings.

I don't need somthing with a bunch options. I just need a good sounding clean channel. I don't care if it is tube or solid state. Under 300. I'm a poor college student.

I've owned a Peavey Classic 50 (sold it... don't play out anymore), Tube Rack setup (sold it... don't play out anymore) and a Fender Blackface Vibrochamp (sold it... hated it) before this. I'm currently using my old practice amp an Marshal MG10. I think its time I get something that sounds a bit better again.

I've played the Fender Blues Junior and I did not like it at all. Plus 15 watts tube is way to much for my needs. I don't like that I can't control how much gain like on the Fender Pro Junior.

I like the Crate V58.... Vol, Gain, Tone. 2 Tubes. This is my ideal amp if it sounds good. Its got just enough options with out going overboard and its in my price range!

How are the cleans and how noisy is it? Anything else I should know about it. The nearest one is 80 miles away and I don't want to make the drive if its going to totally suck.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[rockman23]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

I havn't tried the CRATE--what about the CARVIN Vintage 16(you can use 16watts or choose 5 watts, same amp)--I havn't tried the carvin but I've heard good things, it'll be my next purchase...I think.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

I havn't tried the CRATE--what about the CARVIN Vintage 16(you can use 16watts or choose 5 watts, same amp)--I havn't tried the carvin but I've heard good things, it'll be my next purchase...I think.

I've though about it, but I can't get to california to try one....

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

If you didn't like the blues junior, you probably won't like the carvin. They're similar. Have you considered a modeling amp, like Line 6 or Vox Valvetronix. They're good for home playing. What style of music do you want to play?

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

If you didn't like the blues junior, you probably won't like the carvin. They're similar. Have you considered a modeling amp, like Line 6 or Vox Valvetronix. They're good for home playing. What style of music do you want to play?

I play a little of everything. I really don't want a modeling amp.... I would be doing to much tweeking and not enough playing. Plus I would only use one sound from it so I would rather take the money I spend on a modeling amp and put it into a amp that can do one sound really well.

I really just need a good clean sound. Like the Beatles. I would get an AC30, but 30 watts tube would be way to much for me. Also thought about the AC15, but that would be too much too.

I've looked at Bad Cat Mini, but it starts to break up around 3 oclock and I really don't want that.

I had a Fender Vibrochamp with a Weber speaker, but it always sounded like the tone control was rolled back on the guitar and the bass knob made little too no difference.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

I'm not sure what to recommend, but I would say stay away from the new Vox AC15 Custom Classic. I've played two and hated the reverb. Sounds very digital. Weird because I do like the AC30 Custom Classic. I've heard people rave about the Fender Pro Junior. You might try that. I'd say, if you live near one, go to guitar center and try some amps. If one is promising, buy it and try it at home. If you don't like it, just bring it back before 30 days. I kind of like the Palamino amps from crate, but they might be too gritty for Beatles.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

I'm not sure what to recommend, but I would say stay away from the new Vox AC15 Custom Classic. I've played two and hated the reverb. Sounds very digital. Weird because I do like the AC30 Custom Classic. I've heard people rave about the Fender Pro Junior. You might try that. I'd say, if you live near one, go to guitar center and try some amps. If one is promising, buy it and try it at home. If you don't like it, just bring it back before 30 days. I kind of like the Palamino amps from crate, but they might be too gritty for Beatles.

On the Pro Junior I don't like that I can't control how much distortion they have.

I would look into an AC15, but its going to be way to loud for me.

 

[Corbic]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

I tried the Crate V58, the Palomino one from Guitar Center. I thought it was a very nice amp. The cleans are good, the gain is good, and it's small. Give it a try if you like vintage Marshall-type distortion and a clean thats somewhere between a blackface Fender and a Vox AC30.

 

[FenderStratRock3]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

Played the V58 and and I own it's big brother.

I really liked the amp starting out (and it still is a good one, just not my taste), but in terms of the V58, the amp is best for gain. The cleans aren't really there too much (or for too long).

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

Thanks for the info.

I thought about checking out the Vox AC15, but I read a review of the AC30 in an old guitar player and it said you had to unsolder the speaker and pull the entire chassie out to get to the tubes... that does not sound worth it at all, especially for the price.

I might have to go try a pro junior and a V58. Maybe a 12AU7 tube will get me the cleans I'm after....

 

[flipside]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

try a Laney LC-15. I know its 15 watts, but its worth a try.

 

[rockman23]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

I STILL SAY---CARVIN VINTAGE 16---

Has anyone here tried it??

REMEMBER---Carvin has a 10 day return policy...you still gotta pay S&H though...

It's gonna be my NEXT purchase. You can choose 5 or 16 watt setting & it's got 1x12" vintage30 speaker----$379.00

It's got 5 tubes---2--el84(these 2 tubes are used for 16 watt setting)

The (3)12xx----(these 3 tubes are used for the 5 watt setting)

I'm not too knowlidgable about tube types so I proly misspelled the tube-types...

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

if you ain't got a budget, I would suggest the Cornford Harlequin. 6 watts amp but roars like a lion and sings like a hummingbird

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Looking for a Small Combo Amp

if you ain't got a budget, I would suggest the Cornford Harlequin. 6 watts amp but roars like a lion and sings like a hummingbird

I deffinatly have a budget. Thanks for the suggestion