Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

After watching some reviews, I'm really liking that Bugera. There someone selling the 55 watt version on CL in town, so maybe we can plug into it and get an idea of the sound.

I'd love to find a Classic 30 to play through, unfortunately my town sucks for electric guitar shops.

 

[ModalMood]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

Has it been mentioned yet that Bugera is the same company as Behringer? Just sayin'.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

I've heard that, but I don't buy into the cheap = bad school of thought. I do want to try one before I buy it, as I do with all cheap amps, but if the sound is there, I might as well save myself a couple of hundred bucks over a DRRI. If not, we'll get a DRRI. My preference right now is for the Deluxe Reverb. But I have to admit, that's also so I could steal it from time to time . Unfortunately, it's looking like it's going to be hard to get a DRRI for under $500, where as a Bugera can be had for $250 easily.

This is all still research, though, as any purchase is going to be 3-5 months away, at the very least. We may come upon a great deal before then. Or we may find something better than anything mentioned here.

 

[ModalMood]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

That's why you shouldn't discount the Blues Junior. It's a poor man's Princeton Reverb. $350 used.

I wasn't suggesting that Bugera was bad by linking them to Behringer but Beringer doesn't have a track record of reliability. Read up on the problems people are having with their V22s. Of course they have their fans who swear by them. And there a LOT of them out there.

You're right DRRI's probably are out of your range. I've never seen on for $500. More like $600-650. Try a BJ. It's not as versatile as the Bugera but if you don't like it you can always take it back.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

The Blues Junior is definitely on our list as well. We will be practicing with one this weekend. Unfortunately the guy I was hoping to borrow one from is taking it with him on his trip. As long as it sounds fairly warm with the fiddle, I'd probably go for a Blues Junior over a V-22.

 

[ModalMood]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

We'd like to hear how this turns out.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

Oh, I'll keep everyone updated for sure.

 

[ModalMood]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

The Blues Junior is definitely on our list as well. We will be practicing with one this weekend. Unfortunately the guy I was hoping to borrow one from is taking it with him on his trip. As long as it sounds fairly warm with the fiddle, I'd probably go for a Blues Junior over a V-22.

Don't worry if the BJ too bright. (You said you wanted farely warm) Just roll back the treble on the amp and violin (if possible). If you need a speaker swap to tame the high end, most people go for an Eminence Cannibis Rex for this which is around $100 new. By many accounts it smokes the stock speaker. But there are others who think the stock speaker is fine. There' are bass, middle and treble controls on the Junor. You can dial out the highs if necessary by turning the treble down on the amp.

This was recorded with the Blues Junior.III It's guitar not violin. It's my son. He's 21 and studies guitar at Duqusne University in Pittsburgh. This is a BJ with the stock speaker. Actually it's just exuse to put a video of my son on youtube. I hope you like him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywdk_cfXkhA&feature=plcp

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

nice!

 

[lNllClK]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

That's why you shouldn't discount the Blues Junior. It's a poor man's Princeton Reverb. $350 used.

I wasn't suggesting that Bugera was bad by linking them to Behringer but Beringer doesn't have a track record of reliability. Read up on the problems people are having with their V22s. Of course they have their fans who swear by them. And there a LOT of them out there.

You're right DRRI's probably are out of your range. I've never seen on for $500. More like $600-650. Try a BJ. It's not as versatile as the Bugera but if you don't like it you can always take it back.

Yeah I'm one of those guys that swears by the Bugera, I think you'll be fine either way you choose. The bugera has no issues if you don't plug in the channel switching pedal (which I think the new ones have resolved this issue anyway) and the clean channel sounds superb out of the box with no mods. I think where the Blues Jr wins is its actual spring reverb, where the Bugera wins is with it's price:features ratio and I think the speaker is better also. Plus there's a ton of headroom on the clean channel, which you said is important. Just follow your ears, either way a tube amp will make the violin sound warmer and rounder unlike the PA....

 

[Gypsyblue]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

Maybe she needs a good preamp designed to enhance acoustic instruments. The Red Eye is a really good sounding one and simple. Read about a violinist who uses one here: http://www.fire-eye.com/welcomepage.htm

Then she should be able to plug her violin into any good amp or PA and get a good tone. Seems to me you should be looking into used acoustic guitar amps like the Ultrasound or SWR California Blonde or something other than tube guitar amps.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

I might go PA, too. Use the Fishman pickup through the amp, and then a mic with a Shure sm57 on a boom. She can step back from the mic when she's not soloing, then into it for solos. A 57 will add some fatness--might be better than a condenser mic in this case.

Or you could hook her up with something like her own amp head and cab. Like a old used Peavey XR600C/D/E PA top box. Good eq, good power, flexible patching. Speaker? SP-2 or SP-5; or a floor monitor like the Yamaha SM15IV. You can go 12" in or 15" woofer, whichever sounds best.

Or you could try one of the small PV, Mackie or Behringer non-powered mixers into a POWERED PA cab--Peavey, JBL EON, EV, QSC, Mackie, Tapco, Carvin and Behringer, etc. They can usually be tilted back into a floor monitor. Add whatever processor you need--EQ, reverb, delay, compression--between the mixer and the power speaker.

Another option is use a bass or keyboard amp, like a PV KB-300 or a TNT150 or the all-purpose Nashville mentioned above. I think a guitar amp has too much top end emphasis to use with the Fishman and the violin.

Here's another sleeper--the 50 watt Acoustic Control AB50 has a 10" and a piezo tweeter. Designed for an acoustic bass, very portable and versatle little amp--but no effects. I have two of them for use with an Alesis Drum Machine, but have used them for PA, guitar, mandolin and electric bass. Available at Guitar Center. Inexpensive and highly recommended.

Have you tried the Fishman acoustic guitar amps like the Loudbox--they are voiced for their pickups. They should be able to cut through; but you could also mic it or use the DI. I wonder if Fishman has an AURA patch for the violin? Hmmm? THAT would be very cool and useful.

And take a look at the Radial Tonebone PZ Pre-amp--it's designed for piezo pickups.

There's lots of ways to get it done. Good luck!

Bill

 

[Ascension]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

Headroom for DAYS built like a tank and used is solid in the price range.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

I'm not looking for another preamp. The LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI is a preamp designed for acoustic instruments, and it's just not cutting it. It squishes all the life out of her tone, and eats all of her dynamics.

I've thought about the keyboard amp or a Peavey Nashville, but I want to try a couple of tube amps out first, as I think they will be a bit more responsive to her playing dynamics. I've tried the Fishman Loudbox at a local store, and I want one for my guitar, but it was still falling short for the fiddle, just not enough dynamic response. There is an Aura patch for the violin, but I don't really feel like pay that much for another pre-amp when I can get a guitar amp for around the same cost.

Also, I'm looking at an amp over add ons to our PA system for a variety of reasons, number 1 being portability, it's alot easier to carry a 10" or 12" combo amp than a mixer, speakers, etc. Number 2 is we never use our own PA stuff at gigs, and I don't want to make our set up more complicated than it already is, it's a lot easier to get a sound guy to mic an amp than patch in some gear he's not used to.

Lastly, a mic is pretty much out, as we play with a drummer, and it would be almost impossible to keep the drums out of the mic. If micing were an option, this problem would have been solved a long time ago.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

Just a quick update, after three practices with the borrowed Blues Junior, we decided that a Blues Junior isn't the amp for us. However, it was a valuable experience, as it was much much closer to the sound she is after. It was alot more full and using her EQ pedal, she's able to provide a bit of a boost for solos.

We are leaning towards a DRRI right now. Its just a matter of saving and finding a good price on one.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

yeh DR! doo eeeet! ....then steal it from her and keep it for yourself!

 

[Matt42]

Re: Doing some research, looking for an under 30w tube amp

That's the plan, but shhhh! gotta keep that on the downlow!