Sick Of Digital Modeling

[Drunken Bowling]

I'm at a point where modeling and multiple amp sims isn't doing it for me anymore. I miss playing through simple, b@llsy analog amps with 10" and 12" speakers. Living in a duplex next to two elderly people and a baby means I cant get a tube amp up to a usable volume. I've been intrigued by the newer Orange Crush line ever since they came out last year but I've been hesitant to pull the trigger because of not-so-good experiences with ss amps in the past. However, I keep reading rave reviews about the Crush 35rt. It's just making me want one even more. To be honest, it's becoming a bit of an obsession, like an itch that's begging to be scratched.

Has anyone here ever played through one? Are they worth the price? There isn't a GC close by, so I can't go try one out.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

You can't achieve rocknroll tone without living a rocknroll lifestyle; you're going to have to face the facts and sell the old people and probably the baby.

Having played both, the Micro Terror is way closer to "analog tube monster" than their solidstate stuff is.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

Are you in a band? Cant you crank up a tube amp in a rehearsal space or gigs?

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

Having played both, the Micro Terror is way closer to "analog tube monster" than their solidstate stuff is.

+1 The MT can sound just as good at whisper volume or blowing the windows out. It delivers real tone. It can even be used using headphones although I have never tried it. A MT and good 10" or 12" speaker is the better solution this situation.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

EVH 5150iii 1x12. I live in a patio home in a restricted community and I jam on that mofo with the power scaling at 1 watt.
Fantastic tube option for those who live in apartments and such..

 

[dystrust]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

You'd have to find one used, but I love my Lead 12. I scored mine for $200 which was a steal, but black ones can be had pretty easily for $250ish.

Throw a TS in front and it's like a mini JCM 800. It sounds good at low volume and will get surprisingly loud for its size / wattage.

 

[Condemnedsoul]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

Just get a freaking Orange CR60 and since the factory 'news of the world' speaker sounds muffled. Swap it out for a better speaker and you have an awesome amp. Yes the Orange CR's are good amps for the price. Having lived with real SS amps - mostly cheap but some had names and finally a Kustom HV-65. After a few years I really grew bored of the amp. It was replaced by the CR60. There was no comparison between my Kustom and the CR60.

If volume is a key factor - the CR60 [ with a better speaker ] sounds clear and musical at low volumes and it does have some guts. Takes pedals really well and has a loop. The clean channel will break up nicely. The gain channel is pure Orange.

And ...... it doesn't need tubes.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

After a lot of consideration, I've gone back to my original plan of getting a Mini Jubilee when they become available. I've been working like a dog lately (even lost about 15 pounds in the process) and the thought of playing through that little gem is the one thing that's been getting me through my shifts.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

^^ Good call. I never got a Crush to sound good, and man did I try (used to sell them)

 

[jmh151]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

EVH 5150iii 1x12. I live in a patio home in a restricted community and I jam on that mofo with the power scaling at 1 watt.
Fantastic tube option for those who live in apartments and such..

Another option is the EVH 5150 III LBX. I have both the 50 watt and the LBX, both are equally good for home use but the power tube distortion is a bit better on the LBX as you can crank it more on the low watt setting

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

Even another option would be to get a power attenuator to crank the amp but be able to play it at lower volumes.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

You'd have to find one used, but I love my Lead 12. I scored mine for $200 which was a steal, but black ones can be had pretty easily for $250ish.

Throw a TS in front and it's like a mini JCM 800. It sounds good at low volume and will get surprisingly loud for its size / wattage.

Man, that brings me back. I had one of those in red, too. Plenty ballsy and loud, both sonically and visually.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

Even another option would be to get a power attenuator to crank the amp but be able to play it at lower volumes.

In my case, it was attenuators and iso cabs that turned me to the digital side. For me, a good digital amp sounds better at any volume than a tube amp at family-friendly volume.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

In my case, it was attenuators and iso cabs that turned me to the digital side. For me, a good digital amp sounds better at any volume than a tube amp at family-friendly volume.

Agreed. Part of the allure of an amp with a physical speaker and cabinet is the overall sound, and a decent modeler will get you closer to that than a lunchbox or micro stack.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

I put a good bit of money and effort into creating an analog(*) headphone rig. I got sick of the volume jumps and not being able to turn all the knobs on the fly like I did with my regular rig.



(*) Analog until I put a digital pedal in the mix.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

The Tom Scholz Rockman remains a safe "go to" rig for me while in my office and late at night and early mornings while everyone else is asleep. Not for everyone but if you are cool with the 80's sound and a decent amount of "mids" as in Tom Scholz/Boston mids, you will probably enjoy this one. I think you can pick them up for between 75 and 100 dollars.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

I used to have a Rockman II I think. you could run direct into a board with that thing and it sounded very full. Especially if you could run it in stereo.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

I used to use a Rockman plugged into my car amp and through an mtx speaker box under the bridge next to Chargers stadium in San Diego with my buddy and his drums all setup. Great acoustics and free practice space. Rockmans are great.

I like my hybrid Mahaffay Plexi for cranked low volume sounds. It's a 1/4 watt tube power amp with a 33 watt solid state booster. Plenty ballsy at low volume. Only three controls - volume, tone, booster volume. Has two way toggle in back for high gain or low gain that is footswitchable.

 

[DeadandBuried]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

I've been considering getting an Axe Fx or a Kemper recently. For years I've owned a half stack and with my current 6505+ head I'm lucky if I get to turn the post-gain knob above 2 without pissing the sound man off. 4 x 12's are a ****er to lug around and fit into small cars, and storage is also tricky.

I've always liked the idea of emulating my studio tone live, and an amp modeller would help do that, not to mention be easier to transport, and store!

 

[aleclee]

Re: Sick Of Digital Modeling

I've been considering getting an Axe Fx or a Kemper recently.

Atomic Amplifire and L6 Helix are worth considering too if you're not averse to a floorboard. The Amplifire replaced the AxeFx in my live rig because it sounded great but was way more convenient to carry.