Best "apartment " amp?

[noth]

Guys, I'm still pretty green in the guitar playing world. Home player only, with only a Fender GDEC, so I'm pretty sure I've yet to experience what it's like for a guitar and amp to really get it together.

What would you say is the best and smallest amp I could get that would give the experience of really playing, without having to turn it up too much. I'd like to experience real overdrive and feedback.

Thanks,
Noth

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

Are you looking for a Tube amp or is S.S. OK?

 

[brisk]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

Get a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier Full stack. Your neighbors would know who's in charge. j/k

Marshall AVT50 1x12 was fun to play even at a low volume.

 

[noth]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

Are you looking for a Tube amp or is S.S. OK?

Because it would be a relatively small amp, I'd be willing to go tube.

Noth

 

[esandes]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

i have just bought a line 6 spider 2. it's a 30 watt amp with a 12" speaker. great sounds from it and great price.

http://www.line6.com/store/hardware.html?modelID=2

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

For strictly apartment playing and no live use at all, I would stick with modellers these days, seriously. Even a 5 watt tube amp would be too loud in an apartment.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

Well, I always say that nothing beats Marshall Major as your ultimate closet amp, however they are hard to find these days. I really don't get the idea of small tube amp, to me that's just waste of the an idea, so for solid states, I can't even describe how happy I am with my 15watter Kustom .... hmm may be I should include him in my signature too .... that'll get some people pissed.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

For strictly apartment playing and no live use at all, I would stick with modellers these days, seriously. Even a 5 watt tube amp would be too loud in an apartment.

+1 to that. I had a Fender Vibrochamp 6 watts and I kept trying to turn it down when it was on 1-2.

Personally I would look for something with headphones.

 

[noth]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

For strictly apartment playing and no live use at all, I would stick with modellers these days, seriously. Even a 5 watt tube amp would be too loud in an apartment.

I was wondering about that. Appreciate your comment. The GDEC is a modeller also. I was kind of wondering if there's any way I can play at home without them. Somehow, don't know if I'll ever be taken seriously without exposure to "effects free" playing. Does that make any sense?

BTW, I'm predominantly a classic rock player.

Noth

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

I was wondering about that. Appreciate your comment. The GDEC is a modeller also. I was kind of wondering if there's any way I can play at home without them. Somehow, don't know if I'll ever be taken seriously without exposure to "effects free" playing. Does that make any sense?

BTW, I'm predominantly a classic rock player.

Noth

I hear ya. You make perfect sense. I use a modeller too, a 50 watt modeller, but a modeller nontheless. I have one with that much power because I use it at home and with the band. It performs great and the guys that the singer and I play with now (we were in another band together) have commented on my sound numerous times. The only effect I use in the thing is the reverb. A wah and phase 90 are out front. If you use a few effects, that's fine.

 

[baritone]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

Generally, solid state amps are better for appartments since the volume is more controllable. I just got a 5 watt tube Epiphone Valve Jr. head a few days ago. It may be because my cabs are kind of big, but this amp still gets pretty loud. You might want to try out one of the combo versions from that line and see if the volume is acceptable to you. If it is, and you are willing to spend a lot more, there is a 5 watt tube 1x8 combo from Dr. Z called the Mini Z, which looks awesome. Otherwise, solid state and hybrid amps are the way to go. I really wish Vox didn't discontinue the VR-30. It was a hybrid amp that used the same technology as their modelers but without all the effects and bells and whistles. I can't find any on eBay either.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

The best low volume amp setup I've had is my Vox AD60VTH head with Bogner 2-12 cab. It's control layout is really easy to navigate, it has a built in tuner, FX, OD models, headphone/recording out, variable wattage selector on back, so I can scale it down to a whisper. Since the Valvetronix has a 12AX7 feeding the SS power section, it has more of a tube feel under the fingers, unlike the L6 Flextone II I had before.

Plus, the rig is loud enough to use for anything else. I paid about $420 new for the head, and it's been one of the most useful pieces of gear I've ever bought. Getting the head version and running it into a good Vin 30 cab is the best way I've heard a modeler sound.

 

[brit84]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

crate powerblock, use headphones

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

PodXT + Sennheiser HD-280 headphones is my apartment rig.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

I really don't get the idea of small tube amp, to me that's just waste of the an idea.

im not sure how a small tube amp is a waste. some of the best tones ive ever heard were from a 3-4w single ended class a amp.

i heard a gary gerhart 2w amp that i thought would be perfect for bedroom use and they guy that owned it said he bought it used for like $200. ive never seen another one or heard of him before but it was a cool little open head

 

[saladin]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

Marshall Major

It's only 200 watts, the neighbors shouldn't complain too much!

 

[Davey]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

PodXT + Sennheiser HD-280 headphones is my apartment rig.

the man said it.








if that's not enough, start playing bass and get an SVT full stack

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

PodXT + Sennheiser HD-280 headphones is my apartment rig.

I definitely love the Sennheiser HD-280 Pro headphones. One of the best $100's I've spent. I gave away my other pairs of headphones. :fing2:

 

[firebirdV]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

I definitely love the Sennheiser HD-280 Pro headphones. One of the best $100's I've spent. I gave away my other pairs of headphones. :fing2:

HD580, $50 more (if you shop), but the best headphones I've ever had the pleasure of owning. Replaceable foam parts too.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Best "apartment " amp?

If you want something tube I kow that the ENGL Screamer 50 combo is a powerful beast, and it sounds good at any volume. You don't need to crank it to get awesome real tube tones out of it, from sparkling cleans to crunch to searing high gain...it'll do it at any volume.

Of course it will get better sounding even as you turn it up