Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

[Baltar]

Howdy!

i need a combo for our practice room. it shouldn't be of value,
so i can leave it there. i'd say the limit is 250EUR (~320$), but it i'm not
sad if it costs less.
please help decide ...

i don't care if it is a 110 210 or 112. it should have two channels and
should deliver practice room volume. we're 2 guitars w bass and drums.

besides a useable clean and crunch -sound, it would be nice if i could run
a western guitar through it also.
my taste of sound is rather crate like - i made bad expirience with marshall mg
series ...

in sight so far ....

- orange crush 30r
- fender fm210r
- crate gt30
- crate gt65
- hughes&kettner edition blue 30 r
- hughes&kettner edition blue 60 r

better ideas? -thanks-

cheers
Martin

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

I'd say check out the Vox Valvetronix series, the AD15 and AD30 for your purposes. You should be able to get some good, switchable tones out of that at a range of volume levels.

- Keith

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

I'd say check out the Vox Valvetronix series, the AD15 and AD30 for your purposes. You should be able to get some good, switchable tones out of that at a range of volume levels.

- Keith

hmm, interesting idea - i'm going to testdrive a used one tomorrow, but ...

besides it's a little to feature-overequipped for me, .. did you read the
horrorstories on harmony central. there is at least two dozen of
posters, which reported unsolved buzz/noise-problems and effect
malfunctions on this one. this scares me a little :-\

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

I've got a Vox Valvetronix AD100 head. I've only had it for a month or so, but I haven't heard any odd buzzing. Nonetheless, if you get it from a reputable dealer, they'll let you return it after X days.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

well, where i live it's price is over my budget for that project. i can get a
used one. if it stands band practice on wednesday (i can borrow it before
i buy it), i may take it. if not first try on e FM210R is very charming

more input?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

One of the Roland Cubes would be my choice.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

One of the Roland Cubes would be my choice.

the cube-30 would be my price range - do you know if it's loud enough (clean)
for band practice ?

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

hmm, i have 3 in my closer selection ...

- h&k edition blue 60 r (dunno, can't test - just order, has a great reputation)
- vox ad30 vt (i'll test it on wed, reliability fears)
- fender fm210r (also can't test it - just order, i am sure that the clean channel and loudness
is veery ok for me, but heard horrors about sound of crunch channel)

cheers
martin

 

[greco]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

Many players, me included, feel that the distortion on Fender solid state amps is not very good at all.

I use a Roland Cube 30 in a jam room (they supply the amps) and it is loud enough but doesn't sound that great...however, I'm used to expensive tube amps, so I'm biased. It might be fine for what you need/want.

Good Luck

Dave

 

[baritone]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

If you want a simple hybrid amp, look around for a used Vox VR30. It was discontinued earlier this year, but it is a cool little amp, if you can find one, and they weren't too expensive. It uses the same technology as the Vox modeling units, but without the bells and whistles.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

- do you know if it's loud enough (clean)
for band practice ?

That all depends on your drummer.

I've played with some drummers where I could get away with a Kustom Tube 12 watter and some where I needed 100 watts tube power to punch through the way I like it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

Love the cube....

Or, Think Peavy Envoy?? 40 watt???, or Studio pro 65wt??? Very flexible, solid state, cheap and sturdy - good sounds all around. Check out their site..

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

Many players, me included, feel that the distortion on Fender solid state amps is not very good at all.

right, in that case something like a zoom g2 would be required

I use a Roland Cube 30 in a jam room (they supply the amps) and it is loud enough but doesn't sound that great...however, I'm used to expensive tube amps, so I'm biased. It might be fine for what you need/want.

i have two engl tube amps wich deliver a specific very good crunch sound.
i'm afraid, that i may anyway not going to be very happy with any ss or
modeling distortion

Good Luck

thanks, in that case i need it

If you want a simple hybrid amp, look around for a used Vox VR30. It was discontinued earlier this year, but it is a cool little amp, if you can find one, and they weren't too expensive. It uses the same technology as the Vox modeling units, but without the bells and whistles.

ah, i remember that i was interested in that one in the past.
interesting alternative thanks

That all depends on your drummer.

I've played with some drummers where I could get away with a Kustom Tube 12 watter and some where I needed 100 watts tube power to punch through the way I like it.

well, the power of my engl jive combo would be enough by far to keep
my drummer in balance. but the jive is quite loud for a 112 30watter indeed.

Love the cube....

Or, Think Peavy Envoy?? 40 watt???, or Studio pro 65wt??? Very flexible, solid state, cheap and sturdy - good sounds all around. Check out their site..

hmm, the envoy is definately not my thing in terms of personal sound
preference. the studio pro may be more interesting.


thanks for all the input ... 2bcontinued after i tested the vox

 

[WORSHIPTEAM]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

I say Go with the Fender "r" series amp. It is cheap and has a great clean sound. I play with one and I replaced the speakers with a set o JBL's and mine sounds fine on the "crunch" channel.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

The Valvetronix issues are resolved. Read the dates of those reviews. I have one that was made earlier this year (AD50). I've been playing it loudly in a band setting for the past several months at least twice a week. Not one rattle. The only rattle I heard was my slide leaning against the grill.

There is a fan to take care of the overheating problem. The back panel fits very tight so there is no rattle. There are something like 8 screws that hold the chasis in place securely, again, no rattle.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

I'd say check out the Vox Valvetronix series, the AD15 and AD30 for your purposes. You should be able to get some good, switchable tones out of that at a range of volume levels.

- Keith

+1

I was comming to this thread to post this.


I'd get the AD30VT model. That way you can go down to 1 watt. The AD15 is 15 watt full time.

the cube-30 would be my price range - do you know if it's loud enough (clean)
for band practice ?

I had a cube 60 for awhile and it was more than enough to damage your hearing. I'm sure a 30 would be fine for band practice unless you practice in a MASSIVE room.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

yesterday was a sad day for the borrowed vox 30watter.
it did survive, but it wasn't present enough -
especially i like to hear what i play when practicing

i liked to take it, due it also would have been a nice used deal
(the amp is from a friend of mine ... unused and half price)

so guys, forget the ss 30watters with 10inches for bandpractice.
it may work for lower volumes, but not for two guitarists and a drummer
playing rock

it's not worse, it's just slightly not enough .... some songs, specially the overdriven ones we're 90% ok. but the clean volume of this baby rather
sucks. the bass fundament is definately missing. if you want to compensate
it with the eq, it sounds ugly.

so i'm in a mess. currently the big store next to me has list and is drifting.
there's no senseful chance for me to test combos. ordering from germany is
easily and cheap possible, so i have to decide if i either go for
a Crate GT65 ( a friend of mine has the previous model which is quite ok),
or a H&K edition blue 60r (great reputation) or just go for the GT1200H
top and build me a 112 or 212 cab.
any guru rating for one of these?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

Baltar, are you referring to the Vox Valvetronix AD30?

 

[Baltar]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

Baltar, are you referring to the Vox Valvetronix AD30?

yes, and i was already looking forward to take it, because it's been recommended
here and a friend of mine liked to sell his, but it didn't bring the clean
volume i needed. i was silly enough not to take my engl with me, so i had to
practice yesterday for 4 hours without proper amplifiation.

i'm quite sure to my pa expirience, that the way it distorted was real ss-poweramp distortion
on the one hand *yuck* and the speaker didn't reproduce the basssignal at the volume i desired
it.

(btw. i had not used the power break on the back, it was set to 30W)

the amp does deliver beautiful distortion modeling sounds and is loud enough if you're not
2 guitars in the band and the drummer is not that motivated

 

[ErikH]

Re: Backup Amp, decision help appreciated

Get the 50 watt combo (AD50) or the 100 watt head (AD100). I use the 50 in a band setting without a problem and I have the wattage selector nowhere near up full. That 12" speaker in the 50 watter makes a world of difference.