Amps for Bedroom + Small Gigs??

[contiContiCONTI]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to invest im a tube amp. I use the amp mainly clean and the main type of sound i go for is inspired by John Mayer, Philip Sayce, SRV.

I'm playing 50% of the time in a bedroom, 30% in rehearsals and the other 20% in small bar gigs.

The main amps I'm considering are:

- Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue
- Fender Blues Junior
- Fender PRinceton
- FFender Hot Rod Deluxe
- Vox AC15

The DRRI is my favourite for now but I'm slightly worried about not being able to use it to its full potential volume-wise.

Budget is around 1300 euros.

Any opinions / suggestions / recommendations?

 

[beaubrummels]

I think the Deluxe Reverb and Blues Junior are designed to distort at lower volumes. If you want more cleans with more volume I'd probably go Hot Rod Deluxe (which has more range IME) or maybe the Princeton (though personally I don't like Princetons, they seem darker sounding to me). The AC15 would be great sounding but it might not have the volume without mic-ing it up.

 

[contiContiCONTI]

I think the Deluxe Reverb and Blues Junior are designed to distort at lower volumes. If you want more cleans with more volume I'd probably go Hot Rod Deluxe (which has more range IME) or maybe the Princeton (though personally I don't like Princetons, they seem darker sounding to me). The AC15 would be great sounding but it might not have the volume without mic-ing it up.

Hey! Thanks for the reply. Surely the Deluxe reverb would break up later than a Princeton? Considering it’s double the wattage.

 

[Ascension]

The Best I have ever played for what you're talking about is the Mezzabarbara Z 18. I played one that was in the used section of my local Guitar Center, and it floored me. Still regret not buying that amp on the spot. I made them an offer that didn't fly now wish I would have just paid for it on the spot. Blows away every small amp like that I have ever heard!!
This demo does not do the amp Justice, they are jaw dropping when you are in the same room!

 

[Securb]

I see the Fender Deluxe as the almost perfect amp. Light, portable, loud enough to get over the drums, a great pedal platform I am not sure why I don't own one.

 

[jeremy]

Hey! Thanks for the reply. Surely the Deluxe reverb would break up later than a Princeton? Considering it’s double the wattage.

absolutely, the princeton will break up at a lower volume than a deluxe reverb. i use a '66 deluxe reverb as my main gigging amp. if i do 100 gigs a year, its on 90+ of them. from small bar gigs to big festival stages, it works great. a blues jr with a very efficient speaker can be nice too since it has a master volume. the hrd is fine, i have one of those as well, but i much prefer the tone of my old dr. im not a huge vox fan, but ive used an ac15 as a backline amp and managed to make it work ok.

 

[Mincer]

Another vote for the DR, as it does what you want and sounds fantastic doing it. There is very little to fuss with, and most soundpeople are good at getting a great live sound. In a small room, they sound magnificent.

 

[uOpt]

Dual Recto \m/

 

[ehdwuld]

I vote with Ascension and Uopt

Something other

I have a H&K Tubemeister 20 head
It has a switchable attenuation from 20 to 5 to 1 to no speaker

An emulated direct box out
Emulated headphone out

And sounds awesome at every watt range

Since your in Europe. Get a greenback loaded Harley Benton cab and call it a day

 

[playas]

I have a princeton (reverb 65 ri) and have found it slightly lacking clean headroom when it wasn't possible to mic it up...so a drri should do the trick.

 

[Gold star]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to invest im a tube amp. I use the amp mainly clean and the main type of sound i go for is inspired by John Mayer, Philip Sayce, SRV.

I'm playing 50% of the time in a bedroom, 30% in rehearsals and the other 20% in small bar gigs.

The main amps I'm considering are:

- Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue
- Fender Blues Junior
- Fender PRinceton
- FFender Hot Rod Deluxe
- Vox AC15

The DRRI is my favourite for now but I'm slightly worried about not being able to use it to its full potential volume-wise.

Budget is around 1300 euros.

Any opinions / suggestions / recommendations?

If 50% of your playing is in a bedroom, get something solid state for that. As things are no one needs a tube amp for that. Something from Quilter, BOSS, Yamaha, Roland. On stage you might go for a tube amp,.

 

[jeremy]

if i ever plug in at home, i always use a tube amp. i have them, why not use em?

 

[Mincer]

I think small-wattage tube amps are great for playing at home.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I wouldn't say the Blues Junior would be a great choice.

I wouldn't say it's a fantastic bedroom amp unless you control the volume with a pedal. It goes from 0 to 100 in like no travel of the master volume. It's really touchy.

And it's LOUD for band practice, but forget any clean headroom at those volumes. It does sound nice, though. Amp about to explode kinda deal. Great sound, but it might not be for everyone.

So really, at band practice levels it kinda becomes a totally different amp than at bedroom volume.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Deluxe Reverb is a great amp - sounds fantastic, a classic tone for sure.
But part of what makes it great is the way it breaks up when it's turned up.
If you need cleans at gig volume - even smallish bar gigs - it's not powerful enough IMO.
Not for rock/blues, anyway. If your drummer plays softly - jazz or light blues style - it'd be enough.

I'm with beaubrummels on this one - I'd vote the Hot Rod Deluxe.

 

[contiContiCONTI]

The Best I have ever played for what you're talking about is the Mezzabarbara Z 18. I played one that was in the used section of my local Guitar Center, and it floored me. Still regret not buying that amp on the spot. I made them an offer that didn't fly now wish I would have just paid for it on the spot. Blows away every small amp like that I have ever heard!!
This demo does not do the amp Justice, they are jaw dropping when you are in the same room!

Thank you for the suggestion. Will need to try one of these out. Unfortunately there are no Mezzbarba retailers in my city

 

[jeremy]

i currently own or have owned all these amps, other than the ac15 but ive played through those plenty over the years and use one at my buddies place whenever i play there.

i play blues rock and as i said above, i use my old dr on almost all my gigs. if you dont find the stock drri loud enough, swap the speaker for a celestion g12h or eminence cannabis rex, for example. the stock speaker is ok, but not my favorite. the hrd is fine, but i much prefer the tone of the dr

 

[contiContiCONTI]

i currently own or have owned all these amps, other than the ac15 but ive played through those plenty over the years and use one at my buddies place whenever i play there.

i play blues rock and as i said above, i use my old dr on almost all my gigs. if you dont find the stock drri loud enough, swap the speaker for a celestion g12h or eminence cannabis rex, for example. the stock speaker is ok, but not my favorite. the hrd is fine, but i much prefer the tone of the dr

Thank you for the replies! Do you have trouble using the Deluxe at home?

 

[contiContiCONTI]

Deluxe Reverb is a great amp - sounds fantastic, a classic tone for sure.
But part of what makes it great is the way it breaks up when it's turned up.
If you need cleans at gig volume - even smallish bar gigs - it's not powerful enough IMO.
Not for rock/blues, anyway. If your drummer plays softly - jazz or light blues style - it'd be enough.

I'm with beaubrummels on this one - I'd vote the Hot Rod Deluxe.

Thank you for the reply!

I was attracted to the Hot Rod, mainly because its about half the price as the Deluxe. My only worry there is the volume. 40W is a lot for bedroom practice!

 

[Securb]

if i ever plug in at home, i always use a tube amp. i have them, why not use em?

I typically use a tube amp at home my Peavy Classic 20 is my go-to just because it is right next to my desk. If I go downstairs I am still in the honeymoon phase with the AC30. Still, I do love my solid-state JC120 and Fender M-80. And the solid State Fender B100 Bassman I bought is a beast. Best bang for your buck amp I have ever bought.