Pignose and other microamps

[fusion101]

I accidentally posted this on the wrong forum before...any who. I'm in the market for a portable, battery powered amp. Pignose amps look like a good choice: there battery powered, some-what small but with power, and pretty damned sexy. But I don't know of their durablity, and I don't know how great their tone is compared to other small amps. I'm looking for small, battery powered, and at least more than 5 watts; what do you all suggest?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

There's a little 9v jobbie called a Tino that's not too shabby. It's all transistor and some of the settings really sound all transistor, but it's still a cool little amp.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

The Pignose (originals) were/are killer little amps. Unfortunately they don't have much variety in tone. The tone you get from them is very good, but more muddy/overdriven type of tone with no real headroom. Jeff Beck used one to record a few cuts on one of his early realeases. I don't remember which one.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

the smokey amps look cool.

probably not as much wattage as you'd want, but hella cool:
http://www.smokeyamps.com/

if you want louder, I'd go with the smallest roland microcube they make. i believe that one is battery powered.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

I've tried the smokey amps and they just don't ring my bell. They do sound very trashy and lo-fi, but not in a good way to me.

 

[Brow]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

Smokey amps on their own aren't so bad. I use a Treble Booster infront of mine for home practise and it really beefs the sound up

The Smokeys also sound great when plugged straight into a bigger cab too

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

A Smokey driving a 4X12 is freakin sweet.

I have a little Stone practice amp. The onboard tone is pretty much suck, but put a modeler in front, and it's pretty cool.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

http://www.jsdguitarshack.com/amplifiers/artec_amps/artec_tino.html

Here's the link to a site selling the tino amps. They aren't too bad. I like them better than the rest of the competition out there, though I haven't run a smokey into a 4x12 or 2x12 yet. In terms of hotel room amps, I think the Tino is pretty darned good.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

I think vox put out a very small portable amp last year called the DA-5 or something? It got good reviews . . .

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

Don't waste your money on anything battery operated except the Roland Microcube or the Vox DA-5. Although the pignose is pretty useable it is REALLY a one trick pony. All the other battery operated amps are toys/novelties.

The MICROCUBE and VOX DA5 have several amp models to choose from, several built in effects, tone control, etc. They can get pretty loud, but they are probably not the best thing to take to band practice. Both of them last a long time on batteries and also have an AC adaptor which is nice. I have found that I am in very few places which require me to actually waste batteries. They are both fantastic amps for what they do.

 

[thucydides]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

Roland Micro Cube. IMHO, the best "practice" amp around. I love mine!:yes11:

 

[lex666]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

I've got one of these:

Marshall MS4 mini stack...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-MS4-Micro-Stack?sku=482816

I've gotten some pretty good overdrive tones from it.

I like it cuz it fits just fine in my guitar case....

 

[Gamera]

Re: Pignose and other microamps

Vox DA5. I prefer it over the Roland. It sounds great for what it is, battery-operated and portable, and it has a 6.5" speaker to the Roland's 5".