good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

[CountFeedback]

I'm trying to put together a more portable system, that will work at home or a gig.
It seems like all of the "Lunchbox Amps" are not made for clean.
I like to work from a warm Marshall type clean and add everything else with pedals in the front.

I luv old 50watt EL34 Marshall master volume amps but they are big&heavy(especially in a 2x12 combo) and even at the lowest volume still a bit loud for home.
It doesn't help matters that I use 2 amps for stereo effects.
I'm leaning towards running a 2x12 cab in stereo with 2 heads.

Any Suggestions?
Preferably:
Price - New or Used under $1000 each, Under $700 would be better
Power - under 50 watts
Features - multi band EQ, but not a lot of switching and extras
weight - smaller and lighter would be nice

I've been considering:
Traynor - Dark Horse, YBA-1 BassMaster reissue & old 60s YBA-1
Marshall - 1987 reissue, DSL50, DSL15
Carvin - X60b, Vintage16 head
VHT Fayette - Deliverance 60
Fender - Prosonic

 

[Surgeon]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

I'm thinking anythin in the 20-30 watts should work well.
How about an Orange dual terror?
2 channels, nice brit-style od, power at 30/15/7 watts...

Plenty of other options of course...

 

[marcboomer]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is my go-to.

 

[Liko]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

I'm trying to put together a more portable system, that will work at home or a gig.
It seems like all of the "Lunchbox Amps" are not made for clean.
I like to work from a warm Marshall type clean and add everything else with pedals in the front.

How about one of those 18-Watt Marshall clones? There are schematics for the basic design all over the Web, with numerous variations to give you fine tuning of your toanz, and the power level sounds right up your alley. You can either buy the components and some sort of housing, and wire it together yourself, or you can find one on the 'Bay from a hobbyist.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is my go-to.

Hot Rod Deluxe works well for this purpose . . . but the volume knob is linear and very touchy at low volumes I found.

A Traynor bassmaster should work well for pedals and gigging, but is going to be loud for home usage.

 

[everdrone]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

I'm leaning towards running a 2x12 cab in stereo with 2 heads.

[ c

good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

that is really loud for the bedroom a tube amp is really loud if you want any sort of tube saturation. too loud for my ears if not in a band setting. dont forget earplugs

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

vht/fryette pittbull 45

 

[JeffB]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Rivera came out with a new 25w combo at NAMM that is designed to specifically be a pedal platform, and super portable. IIRC it is priced right at $1000.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

The VHT Specials are built for pedal guys. The 12/20 is 20 or 12w switchable, has an effects loop with mix levels, all tube... 1x12 or head. They make a 44w version and a 5w version too.

I'd also suggestion the Carvin Nomad or V3m.

 

[Aceman]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

The issue at hand here is NOT your rig. It is how it interacts with a PA/Board. You are looking at the problem from a "tool" issue. The thing to do is say "This is my little home rig, how do I get THAT sound into a PA?"

Today, all you NEED for playing out is a pod and two cords.
I can't tell you how many RP-250's I've seen used by serious guys.
You can mike a 30 watt amp with an SM58/57. You can mike ANYTHING with that.

What I see is a list that is all about "I want this amp or that amp" and this wattage or that wattage.

I'm seeing some really loud home setups here, as well as some ridiculous quiet/small ones.

For under 1k? Buy a rig for home, one for out and I assume the pedalboard remains the same either way.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Like Ace said, go for your tone and sound first... then mic it at the club...

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

I’m gigging everyone’s input so far. Thank You

Ace, what you are saying for some folks makes sense but not in my usual situations. Most of the bars & clubs I play in the U.S. have crappy P.A. and unqualified soundmen, that and even when the P.A. is good I prefer hearing a backline.

I’m not a loud player, most of the models I’m curious if any 2 x EL84/6V6 model has enough clean headroom or if there is a 50 watt that doesn’t go from zero to LOUD.

Also it seems like most of the newer small amps start giving you more channels and reverb as the models move up rather than ,what I’d prefer, better EQ, higher quality.

Surgeon, I’m somewhat interested in the Orange OR15H, I’m a little worried about clean, if Orange did the OR15h in a 30 at a reasonable price.. that might be the thing. Though I’ve heard tell if you’re not using an Orange for the gain you should get a different amp.

Marcboomer & guitar stv, I’ve gigged HR Deluxes before. I wish Fender did something like the HR Deluxe as a head, and that it didn’t go from zero to loud.

I’ve been thinking hard about getting a BassMaster, had one when I was a kid before I could appreciate it, worried it might be a zero to loud amp, like the Idea of the attenuator in the new Limmited Edition but am a little worried about reliability compared to the old ones.

JeffB, I’m interested in the new Rivera. Most of their stuff I checked before seemed a little overpriced.

Liko, I’ve thought about doing something custom, getting it exactly how I want, but it’s hard for me to commit to something that would have no re-sale value.

SteveAlysis, PittBull 45 looks interesting I didn’t know about that one. Just recently the Deliverance 60 caught my attention. I like the single channel layout of the Deliverance, a little worried it’s a zero to loud amp, and I think I’d be more excited if it ran EL34s.

jon the art guy, I like the look of the EQ and Watt adjust on the 44, may have to try and check that out.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

I’m gigging everyone’s input so far. Thank You

Ace, what you are saying for some folks makes sense but not in my usual situations. Most of the bars & clubs I play in the U.S. have crappy P.A. and unqualified soundmen, that and even when the P.A. is good I prefer hearing a backline.

I’m not a loud player, most of the models I’m curious if any 2 x EL84/6V6 model has enough clean headroom or if there is a 50 watt that doesn’t go from zero to LOUD.

Also it seems like most of the newer small amps start giving you more channels and reverb as the models move up rather than ,what I’d prefer, better EQ, higher quality.

Surgeon, I’m somewhat interested in the Orange OR15H, I’m a little worried about clean, if Orange did the OR15h in a 30 at a reasonable price.. that might be the thing. Though I’ve heard tell if you’re not using an Orange for the gain you should get a different amp.

Marcboomer & guitar stv, I’ve gigged HR Deluxes before. I wish Fender did something like the HR Deluxe as a head, and that it didn’t go from zero to loud.

I’ve been thinking hard about getting a BassMaster, had one when I was a kid before I could appreciate it, worried it might be a zero to loud amp, like the Idea of the attenuator in the new Limmited Edition but am a little worried about reliability compared to the old ones.

JeffB, I’m interested in the new Rivera. Most of their stuff I checked before seemed a little overpriced.

Liko, I’ve thought about doing something custom, getting it exactly how I want, but it’s hard for me to commit to something that would have no re-sale value.

SteveAlysis, PittBull 45 looks interesting I didn’t know about that one. Just recently the Deliverance 60 caught my attention. I like the single channel layout of the Deliverance, a little worried it’s a zero to loud amp, and I think I’d be more excited if it ran EL34s.

jon the art guy, I like the look of the EQ and Watt adjust on the 44, may have to try and check that out.

Forgot to mention that the Specials have a 9v tap for running pedals. So there's something. No good demos out there though unfortunately.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Coupla Tech 21s...

edit:
Dunno if the stereo Marshall Valvestate combo has a stereo in or not...

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Dumb question, why not an attenuator on your club amp when you use it at home?

OR - why not one of those little Crate Monoblock SS amps at home and your club amp for gigs? (If you're taking a tube amp home you must be getting the core tone from pedals, right?)

Also, I saw H&K has a lunchbox (18W or 36W model) that goes down to 5W and 1W. (TubeMeister series)

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Or just try to find a low wattage tube stereo power amp,like 1 of the Boogies.
I've been using an older Carvin for years now...

.02

 

[Liko]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Forgot to mention that the Specials have a 9v tap for running pedals. So there's something. No good demos out there though unfortunately.

That doesn't sound like much of a plus to me, really. A one-spot and a surge protector will do the same job and give you some additional layout flexibility besides.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

That doesn't sound like much of a plus to me, really. A one-spot and a surge protector will do the same job and give you some additional layout flexibility besides.

to each their own. I'd rather have less cables to pack.

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Coupla Tech 21s...

edit:
Dunno if the stereo Marshall Valvestate combo has a stereo in or not...

I like Tech21 stuff I'm not a fan of Valvestate.
To some extent I've considered doing a two amp rig with one Roland or Tech21 and one Marshall type tube amp. I think my mind is set on 2 heads and a Stereo Cab to distribute the weight up a little, and hopefully shrink it a little for the car.

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: good platform for pedals? bedroom to club

Dumb question, why not an attenuator on your club amp when you use it at home?

OR - why not one of those little Crate Monoblock SS amps at home and your club amp for gigs? (If you're taking a tube amp home you must be getting the core tone from pedals, right?)

Also, I saw H&K has a lunchbox (18W or 36W model) that goes down to 5W and 1W. (TubeMeister series)

I'm not ruling attenuators out, but I am interested in lightening up my live rig if I can.
I am interested in the little H&K heads. Do you know if the clean sound is any good, and if it has ok clean headroom.

I get my Distortion/Drive mostly from an old Rat with the distortion kept pretty low or sometimes an SD-1 the amps set pretty clean. Those old boxes love a tube amp, into Solid State or Digital they are fizz makers. Also I love the feel and interaction with tubes.

I've thought about Stereo Tube racks... but I need 2 preamps I like all my effects up front and I don't want to rebuild the effect board to work with what amps are at the gig when I have to fly in.