Good bedroom amp?

Empty Pockets

Empty Pockets

BadHairDayologist
Well last night I did some cosmetic changes to my girlfriend's Strat that'd just been collecting dust -- new black pearloid pickguard, removed the white pickup covers to match, new knobs, et cetera...and she said it's inspired her to play music again.

The biggest problem now is her amp -- little 15 watt Fender solid state. Are there any moderately-priced, low- to mid-watt amps that'll sound good to get her back on track? She's into kind of heavy music (Eighteen Visions, Bleeding Through, and other bands with spooky names) so I'm thinkin some smaller Randall combos or something?
 
I would get a modeling amp for her (and you :D ). They sound good at bedroom volumes and with the right model can get really good tones.


Jason
 
JfromHouston said:
I would get a modeling amp for her (and you :D ). They sound good at bedroom volumes and with the right model can get really good tones.


Jason
Click to expand...
Agreed.....personally I wouldn't opt for a modeling amp for live purposes (must my preference) but I use the Digitech GNX3 at home in the condo due to noise limitations.
 
I agree; modeling will be quieter, and give you more tonal options. At home (NYC apartment) I have the simplest setup: Just a Korg PXR-4 and computer speakers. Perfect for practicing and writing, and I can play very low and still have screaming distortion.
 
TwilightOdyssey said:
I agree; modeling will be quieter, and give you more tonal options. At home (NYC apartment) I have the simplest setup: Just a Korg PXR-4 and computer speakers. Perfect for practicing and writing, and I can play very low and still have screaming distortion.
Click to expand...
That's my setup with the GNX3....I just dump it right into the soundcard and go from there. I still get my distortion fix and it's great to capture/record licks when I come up with them by firing up Cakewalk on the spot.
 
CHC, where about in Yardley are you? My parents live in Bristol, and I have great friends that live in Fallsington.
 
My MG series marshall is ok. Can do reasonable sounds throught the gain ranges at low volume. There are probably better options out there though, i would have thought some multi effect or a modelling amp would have been the way.
 
TwilightOdyssey said:
CHC, where about in Yardley are you? My parents live in Bristol, and I have great friends that live in Fallsington.
Click to expand...

I live about a mile or so from the Oxford Valley Mall right off Oxford Valley Rd.
 
chcjunior said:
I live about a mile or so from the Oxford Valley Mall right off Oxford Valley Rd.
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Whoa, cool! There's a great record store by you called Positively Records. It's better than 90% of the CD stores in NYC, and they have a LOT of underground metal, as well as the BEST used CD selection for metal!
 
TwilightOdyssey said:
Whoa, cool! There's a great record store by you called Positively Records. It's better than 90% of the CD stores in NYC, and they have a LOT of underground metal, as well as the BEST used CD selection for metal!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip. I'm "working from home" today so I might venture out once UPS makes their deliver. If not then, soon.
 
chcjunior said:
Thanks for the tip. I'm "working from home" today so I might venture out once UPS makes their deliver. If not then, soon.
Click to expand...

LOL! That's great!

It's located @ 5 Points, right between the the drug store and the comic book store.
 
chcjunior said:
So we're talking "Tattle Tales Too" area? :D
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Yep, right across the street!

Dude, do you rememeber when they tried to make that place into a proper club?? I played a gig there in, like '89! LOL
 
Tell her guitars are for men, and to just go to the fridge and fetch you a sandwich and beer. LOL

JUST KIDDING! I really dig the Vox Valvetronix head on a higher quality cabinet. The heavy tones are great at low volumes,
and the selectable output of 6, 15, 30, or 60W, as well as the headphone and recording outs, are perfect for apt. playing.
 
Oh yeah, the Vox AD60 head can be bought NEW for as little as
$420 out the door. That means even cheaper, if you can find one used. Since it's the same circuitry as a Tonelab, it's darn near equal to a much more expensive Vetta.
 
Gearjoneser said:
Tell her guitars are for men, and to just go to the fridge and fetch you a sandwich and beer. LOL

JUST KIDDING! I really dig the Vox Valvetronix head on a higher quality cabinet. The heavy tones are great at low volumes,
and the selectable output of 6, 15, 30, or 60W, as well as the headphone and recording outs, are perfect for apt. playing.
Click to expand...

I played a Valvetronix recently and was fairly blown away! Better than the Korg Pandora (but much larger), and better than the BOSS GT3 (which I also own) ... not the be all end all of modelling (that's the VG 88), but perfect for the situation we're describing!
 
Like most modeling amps, you really discover what they're capable of after bringing them home and dialing them in.

In the store, I was pretty happy with what I was hearing outta the Vox, but not blown away. I bought it because I needed something with adjustable headphone/rec. outs, and it needed
to sound good at whisper-like volumes.

The Valvetronix stuff is VERY tweakeable. The feature of having OD models in front of the amp makes it easy to dial in EXACT
distortion sounds. The only complaints I have about the amp
are that, like most modeling amps, the reverb kinda sucks
and if it were used at high volumes, it's a bit hissy.
 
Have you checked out a TradeMark 10 from Tech 21?

IMHO it's an amazing little box. It's not a modelling amp in the sense of being able to click in #42 Mesa xxxx, but it has 3 amp modes (Tweed-Fender, British-Marshall, & California-Mesa) and 3 speaker models (flat, U.K., & U.S.) XLR direct out for recording, speaker out for a cab, and headphone jack. No footswitch, but for about $250 it's got great tone.

Black Rose Customs carries them BTW.

Chip
 
Another vote for the Valvetronix! I recently bought the 60 watt 1x12 combo at GC for $300 and it RIPS! The wattage is adjustable 1/15/30/60 and it sounds great at all levels. I honestly think the 12ax7 makes a HUGE difference.

Check out my mini review of it HERE
 
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