Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

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symptom

New member
Hi everybody, I'm here with an apparently dumb question, but let's see if you get my point.

In most of time, I play at home, at a small apartment. I just sold my Marshall MG30DFX to get an amp with a better sound for my tastes (basically classic rock and blues). So I ran into a dillemma: I was decided on get one tube amp, like a Vox AC4, a Marshall Class 5 or even a Blackheart Handsome Devil (15w/7w). The thing is I've tried for a few weeks a Vox Pathfinder 15r and was absolutely amazed with how it sounds.

Now, I don't know if it's worth it to spend the extra money on the other amps or just get a Pathfinder. The Blackheart just went out of the equation, since I don't think it's worth spending that money. Have in mind that I'm in Brazil. So the difference in price is a lot higher. The VOX AC4 is like 2,3x the price of the pathfinder and the class 5 is 3x the price of the pathfinder. The Blackheart is about 3,4x the price of the pathfinder.

Can someone help me, or I'm just asking a question that I already know the answer? Please keep in mind that is going to be my main and only amp, for a nice time...

Thanks!
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

symptom said:
Hi everybody, I'm here with an apparently dumb question, but let's see if you get my point.

In most of time, I play at home, at a small apartment. I just sold my Marshall MG30DFX to get an amp with a better sound for my tastes (basically classic rock and blues). So I ran into a dillemma: I was decided on get one tube amp, like a Vox AC4, a Marshall Class 5 or even a Blackheart Handsome Devil (15w/7w). The thing is I've tried for a few weeks a Vox Pathfinder 15r and was absolutely amazed with how it sounds.

Now, I don't know if it's worth it to spend the extra money on the other amps or just get a Pathfinder. The Blackheart just went out of the equation, since I don't think it's worth spending that money. Have in mind that I'm in Brazil. So the difference in price is a lot higher. The VOX AC4 is like 2,3x the price of the pathfinder and the class 5 is 3x the price of the pathfinder. The Blackheart is about 3,4x the price of the pathfinder.

Can someone help me, or I'm just asking a question that I already know the answer? Please keep in mind that is going to be my main and only amp, for a nice time...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have a Pathfinder and would choose it over many many amps I have owned. It is simply awesome. I don't know what secret juice they put in that amp but I use it for practice and recording often. I have musician friends here in Austin who gig with it! No kidding.
I can't suggest anything for you not knowing your needs and not being familiar with the other small amps, but the Vox is a great amp (except the reverb). Plus there are some mods to smooth out the distortion circuit. It is a win for me and I have some nice amps.
Cheers and good luck!
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

It's tough to not fall prey to the Tube Tone Mafia. They just beat don every and anything that isn't tube pure. what's funny is half the sounds they think are tube on record are probably solid state, Boss pedals, amp sims and who knows what....

If it sounds awesome, and makes the sounds you want, don't look any further. If it sounds good, it is good.

Unless the next option is something that is tonal Nirvana, at no more than 20% of the cost, go Pathfinder. Even if you upgrade later, a good little practice amp is always good to have - Bedroom, garage, quiet little jam, trip or whatever.

If all you need is a little amp, then just get that.
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

Bedroom is an ideal time to practice playing clean.Nice amp with woody tone; I use an old small Kawaski, oh wait..Yamaha.. Once i crank up the gain, its living room level.
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

I'm a valve (tube) guy and I build amps, but I own 2 Vox pathfinders, both the 10 and 15 watt models. To my ear, the 10 sounds better than the 15, although both sound disgusting if you use the built-in overdrive ... the cleans are fine.

let me just say that I don't care where and how people play their guitars .... they are always entitled to enjoy great sound and spend as much as they want. My main amp for use around the house is a Laney VC15 tube combo. If I was in your position, I'd look for a second-hand VC15 ... they've sold a huge amount so they should be easily enough available. The reason i say s/h is not only for cost, but to ensure you get a 'Made in the UK' one ... I believe they have recently started making them in China.

As you've noticed, tube amps cost a lot more, but there are reasons why they still sell ... they simply sound and feel better (and like i said, i own 2 Pathfinders and a bunch of tube amps, so i should know). A lot depends on the styles you want to play ... if you play with heavy distortion most of the time, s/s amps may be okay for you. If you enjoy the cleaner sounds and 'classic rock' type overdrive, you will come to appreciate the differences and how the tubes add another dimension that s/s doesn't have.

The Pathfinder will do the job okay (check out the 10 watt model and see if you agree that they sound better than the 15), but also try a couple of small tube amps to see if you can hear and feel the extra dimension and depth of the tube sound.

The tube amps will always cost 2 or 3 times what the equivalent s/s amp does, it's the nature of the beast .... and there are good reasons why that has always been that way. There are a lot of very cheap Chinese tube amps now, but many of them are not that wonderful. That's why I suggest the Laney ... until recently they've been made in the UK, and are great value for the money, esp second-hand. If it's going to be your only amp for some time to come, you owe it to yourself to be happy. A little extra spending now will keep a big smile on your face for a long time to come, long after the extra expense is forgotten.
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

Play whatever inspires you to play, whether it's SS, digital, or tube. Within your financial abilities, buy whatever inspires you to play.

These days, I'm mostly a "bedroom player". I don't get much opportunity to unleash the beast when most of my playing time comes after Mini Me's bedtime. My journey to find gear that was satisfying at modest volume was a long one. It's been more or less documented here and on TGP but now that I've found something that works for me, it's wonderful. I'm playing a lot more and enjoying it way more.
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

Thanks for all the inputs. I really don't use much distortion. The heavier thing I'm going to play is something like Slash. I know there's a lot of benefits coming from tube amps in comparison with the Pathfinder. But my main question is if it worths spend so much more. Keep in mind, that here in Brazil, a Pathfinder costs around 250 dollars, so something 3x that is a lot expesive than in the us or in the uk. That's the core of my question. Today I'm gonna try some amps in the store. Lately I'll let you know. Thank you again.
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

Aceman said:
It's tough to not fall prey to the Tube Tone Mafia. They just beat don every and anything that isn't tube pure. what's funny is half the sounds they think are tube on record are probably solid state, Boss pedals, amp sims and who knows what....

If it sounds awesome, and makes the sounds you want, don't look any further. If it sounds good, it is good.

Unless the next option is something that is tonal Nirvana, at no more than 20% of the cost, go Pathfinder. Even if you upgrade later, a good little practice amp is always good to have - Bedroom, garage, quiet little jam, trip or whatever.

If all you need is a little amp, then just get that.
Click to expand...


This...

I use a Fender 100 dollar Mustang 1 for quiet practice with good sony headphones....sounds freaking amazing and very responsive for a solid state amp.. mind you the speaker in it sucks for anything but cleans but with headphones its wicked and so much versatility with the Fuse program
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

Just an update:

I bought the Vox Pathfinder and I couldn't be happier. Everything I need to play at home, works really nice with pedals and I didn't spend much money. Now I can get the money I have left to invest in new pedals and a pedalboard.
 
Re: Bedroom playing - To spend or not to spend

symptom said:
Just an update:

I bought the Vox Pathfinder and I couldn't be happier. Everything I need to play at home, works really nice with pedals and I didn't spend much money. Now I can get the money I have left to invest in new pedals and a pedalboard.
Click to expand...

good to hear! I have heard that those Pathfinders are real killer amps... have fun!
 
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