Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

Matt42

Matt42

New member
I'm looking for a desktop practice amp to leave by my computer. My 5w Valve King is too loud for practicing in my current living situation, so my g/f is going to buy me a little mini-amp for Christmas so I actually play my electric at home from time to time. I'm not going for exquisite tone here, just something I can do some practicing on. I'm thinking about the Fender Mini Tone-Master Amp or the Fender Mini Deluxe Amp. Anyone have any experience with these?
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

I recorded the clip in the first post of this thread in the link with a little 9v powered mini , the way I had my iPhone sitting might have muffled the recording which probably made it sound better. That's about all I use it for , I don't think I could actually sit down and just use it to jam for an hour but ymmv

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?250923-Guess-the-intro-riff-lick-thread
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

51501984 said:
I recorded the clip in the first post of this thread in the link with a little 9v powered mini , the way I had my iPhone sitting might have muffled the recording which probably made it sound better. That's about all I use it for , I don't think I could actually sit down and just use it to jam for an hour but ymmv

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?250923-Guess-the-intro-riff-lick-thread
Click to expand...

Would you say that is the best mini amp? The Marshall MS-2 is okay-ish, and I wonder if the MS-4 is any better as in more headroom and that it has a gain knob? I only use the mini amps for school stuff.
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

Myaccount876 said:
Would you say that is the best mini amp? The Marshall MS-2 is okay-ish, and I wonder if the MS-4 is any better as in more headroom and that it has a gain knob? I only use the mini amps for school stuff.
Click to expand...

I can't say its the best as it's the only one I've ever used and owned. The battery in it is probably 2yrs old LOL
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

I have one of those for practice from vox, even it's called mini3 (3 for 3 watts). It's not very mini in size but I don't think anything mini-er can sound good. Before I bought it, I have a/b it with roland cube and It blows roland hard in the ass for every setting I tried (well, roland is still better for chug but still!). I wonder why people still think roland is the best practice amp while I think this cover more bases and does it better. I think it's as small an amp can get to still sound kickass. I'm actually very happy with it and recommend it to anyone and for your situation I'll recommend it too. Its very good that I think I am able to gig with it mic'd! and it's only 90 bucks!
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

My desktop amp is a Vox Lil Night Train. This is a work-in-progress song I have been writing over the past month or so. Both the guitar and bass are tracked through the LNT, line out into my interface. The line out doubles as a headphone out as well. I love it for silent jamming and demo's, though it can get really fizzy @ high gain settings. For that purpose, I would use a distortion pedal.

 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

I have the Fender Mini Twin and the Danelectro Honeytone that I got for sitting-around-the-campfire use. They both sound surprisingly good for what they are - little solid state amps with teeny tiny speakers. You aren't going to get a lot of versatile tones out of either of them. They are just fine for helping you hear your electric for bedroom practice, but you may find that you quickly grow bored with the limited range of what this type of amp can do. They really do fall into the "toy" category.

I would recommend that you look at a modeling pedal like one of the Vox Tonelab units. These have great amp&cab modeling, onboard effects, headphone output, and can double as a very fine multi-fx unit in front of a larger amp. You can also connect them via USB to your computer for recording. They are 3X or 4X the price of the mini amps, but you'll likely get 10X more use out of them.
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

I'm not really interested in a modeling pedal, or a bigger amp. If I were looking for a bigger practice amp, I'd get the Roland Micro Cube to match my Cube 60 that lives at my band's rehearsal spot. I'm not really expecting this amp to have a great array of tones, and I don't expect it to sound as good as even a Frontman. I'm just after something that will make it so I can hear myself whilst practicing in my apartment. I think I'll roll with one of the little Fenders, and if I don't like it too much, then hey, it was only $40.
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

Check out the Fender Greta! It's quite good looking too!
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

I played a set-to-kill AMT P1 through an EHX 44Magnum and a DIY 1x8" speaker cab yesterday night while my 3-months old niece slept in the next room and crows were eating ice grapes outside before the window whatsoever and no one noticed that.
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

The Yamaha THR5 / THR10 kick all sorts of butt at $199 / $299 respectively

Main differences - the 10 has a flat model and a bass amp model and 3 knob EQ vs Tone and amybe a couple other features

I have and love the THR5. It is about the size of a loaf of bread
 
Re: Mini amps opinions? (not lunchbox amps, actual miniatures).

I've heard nothing but good things about the Orange Micro Crush, though I haven't used it personally.
 
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