Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
- Thread starter guitarkid
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Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
small tube amp would be better-sounding
the mustang's a modeling amp tho dude -- it's not designed to run pedals because it's got tons of effects and sounds in it already. get the controller pedal for it, plug it into your USB and use the included software to dial in a bunch of presets with all the effects you need.
small tube amp would be better-sounding
the mustang's a modeling amp tho dude -- it's not designed to run pedals because it's got tons of effects and sounds in it already. get the controller pedal for it, plug it into your USB and use the included software to dial in a bunch of presets with all the effects you need.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
small tube combos usually can't take a *ton* of boost from a gain pedal, especially at high volumes. EL84s especially get mushy and blurry when you do that, so beware. But, I'm sure you'd find your pedals to work pretty well with most tube amps.
small tube combos usually can't take a *ton* of boost from a gain pedal, especially at high volumes. EL84s especially get mushy and blurry when you do that, so beware. But, I'm sure you'd find your pedals to work pretty well with most tube amps.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
^ for bedroom levels, i would disagree with this
i slam my Class 5 with all kinds of pedals...responds just fine cuz in the apartment i keep that thing at like 0-2
as you crank up the gain of the amp, tho, you're right...eventually you just get more mess.
^ for bedroom levels, i would disagree with this
i slam my Class 5 with all kinds of pedals...responds just fine cuz in the apartment i keep that thing at like 0-2
as you crank up the gain of the amp, tho, you're right...eventually you just get more mess.
Mattr4president
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
Yeah I posted a follow up to my JCA100H NAD last night and now that thread is completely gone... doesn't even say "deleted by..."
I agree. I've never had a SS combo take a distortion pedal well at all. just a buzzy mess. Check out the blackstar's and jet city's. nice little combos for home use and they're very reasonable in the price.
Yeah I posted a follow up to my JCA100H NAD last night and now that thread is completely gone... doesn't even say "deleted by..."
I agree. I've never had a SS combo take a distortion pedal well at all. just a buzzy mess. Check out the blackstar's and jet city's. nice little combos for home use and they're very reasonable in the price.
Mattr4president
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
Yeah the jca20h's are $250 new. check some used prices and i bet you could find a steal.
Yeah the jca20h's are $250 new. check some used prices and i bet you could find a steal.
guitarkid
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
Ya I think you can find a used head for around $200. I've also considered maybe just a little Epiphone Valve Jr. or a Blackheart Little Giant...
Ya I think you can find a used head for around $200. I've also considered maybe just a little Epiphone Valve Jr. or a Blackheart Little Giant...
TeleJr24
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
I would go with a small tube amp as well, but to answer you question...
I have a Peavey Transtube Special 212 that has one clean channel, and two drive channels. Each of the drive channels have 3 different kinds of distrotion so for about 5 years I never put a stomp box in front of it. I did not long ago and they sound great. I have the clean channel selected and all of my overdrives and distrotions sound great!
I would go with a small tube amp as well, but to answer you question...
I have a Peavey Transtube Special 212 that has one clean channel, and two drive channels. Each of the drive channels have 3 different kinds of distrotion so for about 5 years I never put a stomp box in front of it. I did not long ago and they sound great. I have the clean channel selected and all of my overdrives and distrotions sound great!
guitarkid
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
I forgot about those amps, ya one kid that I teach guitar got one of those a while back and I was actually impressed with it. Might see what a used one goes for...
I forgot about those amps, ya one kid that I teach guitar got one of those a while back and I was actually impressed with it. Might see what a used one goes for...
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
The little giant was my first tube amp.
The best sound on it is with the master between 5 and 7, for just a light to pretty moderate crunch, and then step on a pedal. Getting the master above 8 and things start to get kinda harsh and muddy. It's not a gain machine LOL (If you want a lil more preamp gain though, try the 15W one.) Btw 5 is loud on that BH5. So if you want a cleaner practice amp, it could work, cuz it's dead clean until you clear apartment-friendly volumes, and that works well with a lot of dirt pedals.
The little giant was my first tube amp.
The best sound on it is with the master between 5 and 7, for just a light to pretty moderate crunch, and then step on a pedal. Getting the master above 8 and things start to get kinda harsh and muddy. It's not a gain machine LOL (If you want a lil more preamp gain though, try the 15W one.) Btw 5 is loud on that BH5. So if you want a cleaner practice amp, it could work, cuz it's dead clean until you clear apartment-friendly volumes, and that works well with a lot of dirt pedals.
Diego
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
My Roland Cube 60 isn't too bad at this, actually.
But the default clean channel (JC120 model) is terrible and I first fell for that.
It should be used for cleans and nothing else.
It's too clean and too sterile to have dirt pedals in front, they get buzzy, tiny and fizzy very quickly. Almost like going straight to the PA or something.
The Fender Blackface model it's where it's at. Warmer and thicker, it loves pedals.
And since this model has a gain knob (because it's on the lead channel), you can set it for a tiny bit of "power amp" saturation (simulated, of course),
just a hint of breakup when the right hand gets heavy.
And then you can adjust and balance between the preamp gain from your pedals and the power amp saturation in the amp.
Too much gain on the amp and it gets farty and messy, too clean on the amp and you lose a bit of flavor.
Get the balance right and you'll squeeze the best tones this budget amp can give you.
It feels very lively.
I'm confident that a small tube amp would be better anyway.
My Roland Cube 60 isn't too bad at this, actually.
But the default clean channel (JC120 model) is terrible and I first fell for that.
It should be used for cleans and nothing else.
It's too clean and too sterile to have dirt pedals in front, they get buzzy, tiny and fizzy very quickly. Almost like going straight to the PA or something.
The Fender Blackface model it's where it's at. Warmer and thicker, it loves pedals.
And since this model has a gain knob (because it's on the lead channel), you can set it for a tiny bit of "power amp" saturation (simulated, of course),
just a hint of breakup when the right hand gets heavy.
And then you can adjust and balance between the preamp gain from your pedals and the power amp saturation in the amp.
Too much gain on the amp and it gets farty and messy, too clean on the amp and you lose a bit of flavor.
Get the balance right and you'll squeeze the best tones this budget amp can give you.
It feels very lively.
I'm confident that a small tube amp would be better anyway.
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Maynardo
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
Laney LV200 or LV300, LX.... they all take distortion pedals really, really well.... small
Pedals work better with very pristine cleans, considering that a small tube amp has very little headroom, I don't think it's the best alternative, I have an 18watts DIY amp A/B class with EL84s, and the clean channel takes pedals like crap... the dirty channel it's amazing though.
Laney LV200 or LV300, LX.... they all take distortion pedals really, really well.... small
Pedals work better with very pristine cleans, considering that a small tube amp has very little headroom, I don't think it's the best alternative, I have an 18watts DIY amp A/B class with EL84s, and the clean channel takes pedals like crap... the dirty channel it's amazing though.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
I've got a little Marshall Lead 12 1X10 SS combo that does GREAT with pedals like the TS9 and OCD in front of it. When I use it though, I run it into my Bogner 4X12 cab because I really don't care for the sound of a single 10" speaker. I should try running the Lead 12 into my new Bogner 2X12 -- haven't tried that yet.
I've got a little Marshall Lead 12 1X10 SS combo that does GREAT with pedals like the TS9 and OCD in front of it. When I use it though, I run it into my Bogner 4X12 cab because I really don't care for the sound of a single 10" speaker. I should try running the Lead 12 into my new Bogner 2X12 -- haven't tried that yet.
Kam
Shaftologist
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
I can vouch for this, though technically it's a hybrid amp and not a true solid state. I'm doing most of my playing through an LV300 Twin at the minute.
I actually quite like the drive channel on it for punk rock and stuff like that. The trick I've found is that, if you're using pedals for dirt, you should use them through the first gain channel instead of the clean channel. Turn the gain on the amp down so that it's almost completely clean and use the pedals for your dirt. It tends to give much warmer, smoother and fatter results than using them with the dedicated clean channel.
The LV series has two 12ax7 tubes in the preamp but they're only involved in the circuit for the overdrive channels, not the clean. I really don't know how much of an effect they have on the sound and how much is just a gimmick to sell amps, but those two tubes are the only explanation I really have for preferring to use the second channel as a clean tone. Plus, with the footswitch, you can still use the 'real' clean channel on the amp for really pristine tones or a different clean tone AND you still have the second gain channel for either a different sound or as a sort of pseudo-boost when you're using pedals. They're pretty sweet amps.
Although, if it was me, I'd probably still go with a smaller tube combo. I think you're likely to get better results with something like that.
I can vouch for this, though technically it's a hybrid amp and not a true solid state. I'm doing most of my playing through an LV300 Twin at the minute.
I actually quite like the drive channel on it for punk rock and stuff like that. The trick I've found is that, if you're using pedals for dirt, you should use them through the first gain channel instead of the clean channel. Turn the gain on the amp down so that it's almost completely clean and use the pedals for your dirt. It tends to give much warmer, smoother and fatter results than using them with the dedicated clean channel.
The LV series has two 12ax7 tubes in the preamp but they're only involved in the circuit for the overdrive channels, not the clean. I really don't know how much of an effect they have on the sound and how much is just a gimmick to sell amps, but those two tubes are the only explanation I really have for preferring to use the second channel as a clean tone. Plus, with the footswitch, you can still use the 'real' clean channel on the amp for really pristine tones or a different clean tone AND you still have the second gain channel for either a different sound or as a sort of pseudo-boost when you're using pedals. They're pretty sweet amps.
Although, if it was me, I'd probably still go with a smaller tube combo. I think you're likely to get better results with something like that.
eschoendorff
New member
Re: Solid State Amps That Take Pedals Well?
I'm finding that the old Marshall Valvestates take pedals pretty well too (as far as a mostly-solid-state amp goes). An old VS100R head willhave an FX loop for you time and mod pedals as well.
I'm finding that the old Marshall Valvestates take pedals pretty well too (as far as a mostly-solid-state amp goes). An old VS100R head willhave an FX loop for you time and mod pedals as well.
