20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
- Thread starter Hoodster
- Start date
NegativeEase
New member
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
Well,.... so your conclusion for the best low volume amp is decided by selecting the amp that was actually one of the specific amps your guitar was designed from scratch to sound good with? no surprise there. The Fender Champ is a great amp, but it lives for a Strat -they were specifically paired to sell together in stores in the late 50s and 60s.
I think if you spoke on your video to some other guitar types you tried out with that nice list of amps (unless I missed you mentioning trying out other guitars) like classic tuneomatic PAF setup, active electronics, high gain pickups, centerblock guitars, p90s, J8s, Gretsch stylle DeArmond pickups, Teles etc you conclusion and video may be more empirical by nature and stronger.
Or some sound clips of other amps, or details on the differences you liked or didn't about your amps.
N=I just need more science and comparisons next time plz.
Thanks for posting.
Well,.... so your conclusion for the best low volume amp is decided by selecting the amp that was actually one of the specific amps your guitar was designed from scratch to sound good with? no surprise there. The Fender Champ is a great amp, but it lives for a Strat -they were specifically paired to sell together in stores in the late 50s and 60s.
I think if you spoke on your video to some other guitar types you tried out with that nice list of amps (unless I missed you mentioning trying out other guitars) like classic tuneomatic PAF setup, active electronics, high gain pickups, centerblock guitars, p90s, J8s, Gretsch stylle DeArmond pickups, Teles etc you conclusion and video may be more empirical by nature and stronger.
Or some sound clips of other amps, or details on the differences you liked or didn't about your amps.
N=I just need more science and comparisons next time plz.
Thanks for posting.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
The best low volume amp is a loud one, but far away.
The best low volume amp is a loud one, but far away.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
I have a champion 20 and don't use it that much except that I do really like the Champ setting on it! Mostly though it gets used with my headphones for late late night stuff
Things I don't like about it:
It has a bit of a problem when the guitar volume is really low like it's trying to decide if my signal is really guitar signal or not
The British settings don't really sound much like any British amps I've owned,
And the supersonic sounds like way darker than my actual supersonic
Stuff I like about it:
The Champ setting sounds kinda Layla-ish
The Princeton setting doesn't sound too far off
The reverb is actually good
My custom Princeton reverb and supersonic get far far more play time and I'm a bedroom jammer. The supersonic has good low volume preamp drive, and the Princeton well it's either pedals or wait till I'm alone in the house then crank the sucker.
Best is subjective but I believe the champion 20 is a freaking great amp if you like small speakers and modeling, and need low volume or headphone use and cheap price. The small speaker makes the Champ setting sound, to me, really good. Better than the mustang I, better than any software emulated Champ I've tried, sounds just a little darker/less harmonics than the real thing but the character is really there. Match the amp model to the speaker and cab...
For instance the twin setting on the champion 20 is not especially twin like in terms of real playing feel... But the champion 100 Twin setting is awesome but it can't do the "exploding Champ" sound, the cab and speakers are "wrong" for that
Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
I have a champion 20 and don't use it that much except that I do really like the Champ setting on it! Mostly though it gets used with my headphones for late late night stuff
Things I don't like about it:
It has a bit of a problem when the guitar volume is really low like it's trying to decide if my signal is really guitar signal or not
The British settings don't really sound much like any British amps I've owned,
And the supersonic sounds like way darker than my actual supersonic
Stuff I like about it:
The Champ setting sounds kinda Layla-ish
The Princeton setting doesn't sound too far off
The reverb is actually good
My custom Princeton reverb and supersonic get far far more play time and I'm a bedroom jammer. The supersonic has good low volume preamp drive, and the Princeton well it's either pedals or wait till I'm alone in the house then crank the sucker.
Best is subjective but I believe the champion 20 is a freaking great amp if you like small speakers and modeling, and need low volume or headphone use and cheap price. The small speaker makes the Champ setting sound, to me, really good. Better than the mustang I, better than any software emulated Champ I've tried, sounds just a little darker/less harmonics than the real thing but the character is really there. Match the amp model to the speaker and cab...
For instance the twin setting on the champion 20 is not especially twin like in terms of real playing feel... But the champion 100 Twin setting is awesome but it can't do the "exploding Champ" sound, the cab and speakers are "wrong" for that
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FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
Yep it's a forum, on the internet, lol therefore whenever you say "best" prepare for people to take issue with that lol
Some people take it for granted that "best" comes from the perspective of the poster and may not represent an objective best, indeed there probably is no "best" strictly speaking.
Some people are so wary of the arguments that ensue after naming something best or worst, that in many places "best" has to be qualified with "in my opinion" unless you want to start an argument.
Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
Yep it's a forum, on the internet, lol therefore whenever you say "best" prepare for people to take issue with that lol
Some people take it for granted that "best" comes from the perspective of the poster and may not represent an objective best, indeed there probably is no "best" strictly speaking.
Some people are so wary of the arguments that ensue after naming something best or worst, that in many places "best" has to be qualified with "in my opinion" unless you want to start an argument.
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
I found that by replacing several of my preamp tubes with those Jet City blue low volume tube replacements I can get a decent low volume sound from my 40 watt Traynor YCV40. I just swap the real tubes back in when I need to play out somewhere.
I found that by replacing several of my preamp tubes with those Jet City blue low volume tube replacements I can get a decent low volume sound from my 40 watt Traynor YCV40. I just swap the real tubes back in when I need to play out somewhere.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
You have a Traynor? Awesome -keep it on the down low -we don't want people buying them all up and inflating prices!!
You have a Traynor? Awesome -keep it on the down low -we don't want people buying them all up and inflating prices!!
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
Find a cheap Epiphone Valve Special (like a Valve Junior, but with EQ and MV) if you're good with something that only does late 60s thru 70s tones
Only really does one thing, but does it damn well
Best plug-and-play-fun bang for your buck amp. Almost zero knob twiddling, just plug in and enjoy
Find a cheap Epiphone Valve Special (like a Valve Junior, but with EQ and MV) if you're good with something that only does late 60s thru 70s tones
Only really does one thing, but does it damn well
Best plug-and-play-fun bang for your buck amp. Almost zero knob twiddling, just plug in and enjoy
Last edited:
Laughing Kookaburra
Active member
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
Enjoyed the vid Hoodster. As for best, I assume that you do mean best for you, so no quibbles there!
I have a Laney LC15 1x10 combo that I use out at small room blues gigs. It actually can get a decent tone at bedroom levels if needed. However, I usually don't use effects, unless I'm using a boost of some sort when playing out, and the Laney has only reverb.
Also have the Microcube, and yes, it is small sounding. But, since I'm practicing with it, I just use my imagination! :bigok:
Enjoyed the vid Hoodster. As for best, I assume that you do mean best for you, so no quibbles there!
I have a Laney LC15 1x10 combo that I use out at small room blues gigs. It actually can get a decent tone at bedroom levels if needed. However, I usually don't use effects, unless I'm using a boost of some sort when playing out, and the Laney has only reverb.
Also have the Microcube, and yes, it is small sounding. But, since I'm practicing with it, I just use my imagination! :bigok:
Jacew
New member
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
I just listened this through in blind test manner:
My verdict:
JMP1H was a quite clearly the best overall. Seems to do everything very well.
Tweaker had the best riffing tone (with a respectable margin!), and best cleans. Surprisingly it didn't fare as well with in-between tones.
For edge of break up tones I call the Bassbreaker best. That was another easy choice.
Blackstar was the worst. So notably so it made me suspect if they really used a cab for every amp (I thouhgt that since TT was taken apart for the test), and not blackstars own speaker...
I just listened this through in blind test manner:
My verdict:
JMP1H was a quite clearly the best overall. Seems to do everything very well.
Tweaker had the best riffing tone (with a respectable margin!), and best cleans. Surprisingly it didn't fare as well with in-between tones.
For edge of break up tones I call the Bassbreaker best. That was another easy choice.
Blackstar was the worst. So notably so it made me suspect if they really used a cab for every amp (I thouhgt that since TT was taken apart for the test), and not blackstars own speaker...
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: 20-Year Quest for the Best Low-Volume Amp
Only difference at that point is the Fuse software (which can be fun but it's not necessary for pulling out decent tones) and the ten inch speaker, and the price
Given the OP's needs the champion 20 is basically the same utility for 1/3 the cost.
If you can play loud the scxd is marginally better but I've owned both and you really do need to have it loud before the tubes do anything special to the sound. That's my experience.
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Super Champ and champion series have basically the same amp models. Plus on the scxd you aren't getting the 6v6 smoothing out the tone and dynamics until the volume is louder than many people would want for bedroom/home.
Only difference at that point is the Fuse software (which can be fun but it's not necessary for pulling out decent tones) and the ten inch speaker, and the price
Given the OP's needs the champion 20 is basically the same utility for 1/3 the cost.
If you can play loud the scxd is marginally better but I've owned both and you really do need to have it loud before the tubes do anything special to the sound. That's my experience.
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