Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

[aleclee]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

Do you play out (or jam out) on any regular sort of basis? I don't really get the impression that you have a chance to open up the Bassman more than a few times a year. If that's the case, much as you might like it, it's not really gonna be your "main" amp. If an attenuator doesn't do it (and IME it won't), then I'd suggest getting a new #1 amp that is more conducive to low-volume work. An amp that you don't really get to play isn't very useful or satisfying.

Much as I liked my Two Rock, I gave it up in favor of a rig that is more conducive to low volume/no volume tonal happiness. It's a lot easier to add volume to a not-loud-enough amp (e.g., running through a PA) than it is to get good "domestic volume" tone from a too-loud amp.

I have a buddy who's building custom low-wattage amps. I think his prices are pretty reasonable, especially for what you're getting.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

Two words: Valvetronix.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

Do you play out (or jam out) on any regular sort of basis? I don't really get the impression that you have a chance to open up the Bassman more than a few times a year. If that's the case, much as you might like it, it's not really gonna be your "main" amp. If an attenuator doesn't do it (and IME it won't), then I'd suggest getting a new #1 amp that is more conducive to low-volume work. An amp that you don't really get to play isn't very useful or satisfying.

Much as I liked my Two Rock, I gave it up in favor of a rig that is more conducive to low volume/no volume tonal happiness. It's a lot easier to add volume to a not-loud-enough amp (e.g., running through a PA) than it is to get good "domestic volume" tone from a too-loud amp.

I have a buddy who's building custom low-wattage amps. I think his prices are pretty reasonable, especially for what you're getting.

Sadly, you are spot on in your analysis. I don't get to play out often at all. I am hoping to change that, but as of now it just me in my bedroom. My main rig is not really worth all that much so I might just hang on to it and save up to get myself something more along the lines of what I truly need.

Two words: Valvetronix.

Point taken. I'll find a store that carries them this week and make it my mission to give them a whirl. This truly sounds like my best option.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

I still think you might be surprised at the Killer Ant.

 

[crguti]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

I don't think the wattage is going to make much difference. I have a 5W Peavey Valve King Royal 8 in my office at work. It is VERY LOUD! So I don't use it much(but I rarely play at work). If you are looking at something to just practice with don't worry too much about the tone. I have a Beringher Vamp that I use to record some ideas with and for that its fine. The nice thing about these modeling amps is you can get up at 3am and plug and play with headphones. When inspiration hits you you need to get it out!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

tried em all. Keep it simple. keep it analog.
the fender 15g or 15r sounds way better than any of the cheaper 5watt tube amps ou there - and you can have reverb too for very little $$$.

 

[cronnin]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

Valvetronix are nice. Something like VT30.
But if you're used to tube amps, you'll find any other tuber much better sounding than it.

NightTrain is like 10x better, but it also 10x louder.
But if you're into cleans, it will probably do good for you.

My only problem is for it not having a reverb. Neither does Tiny Terror.
I would be satisfied with any kind of digital reverb, but they missed it.

So, do you need power tube saturation or not?

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

tried em all. Keep it simple. keep it analog.
the fender 15g or 15r sounds way better than any of the cheaper 5watt tube amps ou there - and you can have reverb too for very little $$$.

i dunno man, i certainly liked the blackheart cranked vs the frontman 25R cranked. I owned both.

when the blackheart was at around 5, and it did that "really punchy clean with a lil breakup" thing, wow there was no setting on the frontman that could touch that sound.

also, I've owned and used a night train with an attenuator. Clean at conversation volume is a lil thin w/o the attenuator, and a lot of the best sounds from the night train come from pairing it with a greenback and using all 15+ watts to get the greenback to give in.
The night train is best played LOUD, I would not recommend it for a "bedroom amp"

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

Valvetronix are nice. Something like VT30.
But if you're used to tube amps, you'll find any other tuber much better sounding than it.

NightTrain is like 10x better, but it also 10x louder.
But if you're into cleans, it will probably do good for you.

My only problem is for it not having a reverb. Neither does Tiny Terror.
I would be satisfied with any kind of digital reverb, but they missed it.

So, do you need power tube saturation or not?

I'm actually mostly a clean player. I do use pedals for the little bit of dirt that I use. As for reverb, my 69 Bassman doesn't have it and honestly I haven't missed it. Sometimes I'll kick on my delay pedal with a bit of a slapback if I need a little something dripping off my tone.
The NightTrain, and the some of the Blackstar amps look interesting in a 112 halfstack config. I guess I'm a little torn as to what I really need.
Am I really wanting a practice amp, or do I merely want a lower powered tube amp that I could possibly use at home, but something that would work for smaller gigs?

 

[cronnin]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

As for me, I'd go for the best sound possible.
If you don't have a quality sound, you don't get inspiration to play or practice.
It's even more important for me to have HQ sound at home than in public.
The audience don't hear the difference between C7 and C9, and they are drunk on the top of that.

Modelers can appear real when you are playing dirty amp models, sound is over saturated and compressed, just like the originals on the recording.
But when it's up to clean sounds they can't match.

Valvetronix is one of the best, go check it out. If you don't like your amps sim there, chances are you won't on any other modeling amp.
As I recall:

2. Black 2x12 = '65 Fender Twin
3. Tweed 4x10 = Tweed Bassman

That will give you the idea what to do next

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

i really like the roland cube 30 for playing at home. It has some great sounding models, the reverb and delay are ok and it also has great features for late night practice - i.e. Aux in & headphone out!

The smaller tech 21s sound great too by all accounts (i've only had a tm-60 and a triac) but i don't think they have the aux in.

+1

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

IMO you should try an attenuator, if you like it, you're golden. if you don't like it, sell the thing on ebay and get 80-90% of what you paid for it. Then, you'll at least have crossed a major item off your list of things to consider.
As long as you're not taking the full output of your amp and turning it down to around conversation volume, it should be ok.

 

[cronnin]

Re: Do I need a practice amp, or just something smaller?

@Fuse4G

That sounds like a reasonable advice.
Since he's not that much into speaker distortion, he can try an attenuator. May even find out to like it