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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | The last time I was into "electric" music was back in the mid-seventies and had a 1972 Les Paul Custom and played through a stock Kustom head and cabinet. It didn't provide an "overdrive" channel and the effects pedals were too expensive for me at the time.
Fast forward: I just scored my Ibanez Artcore Artcore Pics and was wondering what to lookfor in a small amp that will deliver great, smooth sustain/fuzz at LOW volumes? I know they are out there, but all I have played have been those that only really shine at high volumes....
I climb the Mountain seeking the Wisdom of the Sages.... ;) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Tim,
Fender makes several small amps which have a great sound and are not really expensive:
1. Fender Vibro Champ XD Guitar Combo Amp
2. Fender FM 25 DSP Frontman Combo Amp
3. Fender G-DEC series
You can find nice deals on these and other Fendar amps on eBay....
You might want to check out the POD line of guitar amps and stand alone effects which you can use with a set of headphones or hook into your signal path to the amp.
I have a HR Deluxe (available very reasonalbly on eBay), and a POD 2-0 w/pedalboard... |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | Thanks Mike.
I remember hearing a fellow playing on a small amp (didn't get the make) and he had the typical Santana 3-day-long-sustain at VERY LOW volume.
It sounded exactly like it sounds in an arena except it was very quiet.... will those you mentioned do that?
What is the "terminology" for that option? |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Check out some of the Vox stuff AD15VT has a 12AX7 tube, or the DA series all solid state.
Pauly |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Tim
I recommend this:
Line 6 Pocket POD
Combined with the 5 watt Epi Combo.
You can use the POD by itself for when you play at night, and then use it when going thru the amp.
If not that, then go with the G-DEC. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | The only way to get that "sound" you want at low volume is with a modeling amp or pedal. At the low end of the price spectrum is the Line 6
Spider series. The 15 watt is only $99. Moving up from there is the Vox Valvetronix series starting at $169 for the 15 watt. As for pedals, at the last Tour, Paul Templeman brought a Boss FDR-1, which is the Fender Deluxe Reverb modeling pedal. It really sounded great through my Epi Valve Junior combo. The pedal and amp cost about $300. Fender has a bunch of modeling amps too. Personally, I like the FDR/EVJ combination the best because it's small, well built and has a great tube amp sound. The Line 6 Spider and Valvetronix amps come close but the bulit in effects sound cheesey when compared with the FDR. |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | MAny Thanks! Much food for thought! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Hi Tim,
I agree with Mitch on the modeling comment, and have had good experience with his (and Paul's) recommendation, the Vox AD Valvetronics series. They're cheap and get some good tones.
We have one here in the house that my son uses.
I myself am a volume junkie and I hate my neighbors. 100 watt tubes are what I'm usually playing through. |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...checking out the Line 6 Pocket Pod... |
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October 2005
Posts: 4065
Location: Utah | Ditto on the modeling amp. Digital effects will do the trick. The Toneworks PX4D is a super box that will give you very nice sounds, and a lot of them, for not a lot of money. You can plug in headphones/earbuds and use it as a headphone amp, or you can plug it into an amp. The effects and tones are as good as any amp you're likely to buy and it has an enormous variety of sounds and effects in it. So, you could by just a basic amp and then buy the Px4D. Alternatively, buy an amp with decent built in effects. |
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August 2006
Posts: 122
Location: Tucson, AZ | ...I play both my '78 Balladeer with DeArmond HB in sound hole and my '04 EA68 Viper thru a '69 Fender Super-Reverb Amp with factory-installed JBL/D110F's with excellent results.
...I also get decent results thru a Line6 Spider 112. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...well I remembered that one of my friends had some sort of effect pedal and so I asked to borrow it last night. Turns out it was the DigiTech-something and it does indeed give the effects at any volume. Just the ticket!
I won't be getting the DigiTech- too cheap in construction and lousy effects, but I am leaning toward the Line 6 Pod series.
I also won't be buying another amp (I have a Rickenbacher, a Crate and a Kustom PA). It was a close call just slipping the Ibanez under the Spousal Radar. "But Honey, I really do need a 4th amp!" ...nah, won't work.
Thanks for the tips! |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Tim, after all my horsing around with amps for the past eight years, my suggestion is (1) an acoustic amp for the acoustics, (2) the best clean tube amp you can afford for the electrics, and (3) whatever effects pedals you want to spice up your tone. The pedals can then come and go, are relatively reasonable in price, and most fit right in your pocket as you walk in the house, but the amps will be keepers. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...uh, say Professor, could you call my wife and explain that to her? :rolleyes: Many Thanks! ;) |
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Ok, So I'm a Dummy: Amp Question
