Practice Amps?

gball

gball

Ambassador of Boogie
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Here's the deal: I've been looking for a practice amp for years now that doesn't make me feel like I'd rather not be playing. I went through all the usual suspects - small Peavey, Crate, Orange, Marshall, Fender, etc. analog solid State amps. Then moved on to what turned into a relatively bewildering array of small modeling amps. Everything has been a compromise, and nothing was satisfying to play through. So I ordered a little Marshall DSL01 combo. It's the right size and power and most importantly it's a tube amp that has an effects loop. So, I have high hopes I'll finally find something that will give me something approaching portable good tone at modest volume.

What are y'all using?
 
Blackstar HTR 1 watt MKii-- what a fun little package
Lil Sexy Custom made tube yummy 5 watt boutique swamp lovely
or the BassBreaker 007 Combo 7 watter cl;ass A all tube -- al foogin killer

I have a DSL 15h -- Id be HAPPY to trade anyone for a DSL 01
or a TINY TERROR ORange...
Maybe a Bugera -- Or a blackheart....or Jet City (I have an ISSUE with 5 watt and under amps.........LOVE EM) Vox Night Train?? .........H&K Tubemeister?

Just a "heads up" if someone wants a different flavor or more watts
 
I did look at the Blackstar. Nice package but I liked the tone of the Marshall more.
Bassbreaker doesn't have enough gain or, more importantly, an effects loop.
Owned a Micro Terror for a while and hated it. In fact, I haven't liked any of the Oranges that I have owned.
Bugera has had iffy quality (though it sounds like they have been pretty solid lately)
Blackhart and Jet City are defunct so only used stuff
I think the Night Trains are only heads? I was looking for a grab and go combo
Tubemeisters are cool but nowhere I was able to check one out where I am
 
Cadorman said:
View attachment 58733
This little guy if the wife is around.

If she's not home I use this.
View attachment 58736
They are both fun.
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I got the little combo to have something small that I can move around the house or even take on the patio and get decent tone at low volume. I wanted something with enough gain to just plug in and go, and also an effects loop for when I am actually "practicing" and don't want to fire up the Boogie.
 
Session 5 said:
For portability and the option of battery power as well. My Vox Rhythm 5, and Blackstar Fly 3 perfect for my Summer home.


View attachment 58744View attachment 58745
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I have a little Vox (different model) and that same Fly. I really needed a tube amp. I realized that SS and modelers in particular are mojo killers for me, I just never feel comfortable playing through them.
 
eSGEe said:
Yeah...Im not much of a "new" buyer -- I spelunk in the opium dens and online CrapList --for gems in the turds.

I run about everything through the peavey Scheffield 12 anyway (even the Bassbreaker Combo) which I can tell you ios a flat SLAYER of a 10" combo ---

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Cool amps to be sure, but an effects loop was a must, and it's a pretty rare feature in a low-watt tube amp. Don't know why they wouldn't think players would want a loop but I find it essential and I am tired of using the onboard effects in modeling amps, they are just not the same.
 
Blsackstar had effects loop ---

I am going to be completely honest -------- I HAVE NEVER USED AN EFFECT LOOP --- ever ( I hate pedals as you know) -- gain and reverb (and a hush pedal for noise reduction) are all I need and most of the amps mentioned have those -- or I will ADD a reverb pedal .....if I MUST.....but that goes in the front -- no LOOP needed

I have had severl Micro terrors -- none stuck the TINY TERROR is all tube not a hybrid
 
eSGEe said:
Blsackstar had effects loop ---

I am going to be completely honest -------- I HAVE NEVER USED AN EFFECT LOOP --- ever ( I hate pedals as you know) -- gain and reverb (and a hush pedal for noise reduction) are all I need and most of the amps mentioned have those -- or I will ADD a reverb pedal .....if I MUST.....but that goes in the front -- no LOOP needed

I have had severl Micro terrors -- none stuck the TINY TERROR is all tube not a hybrid
Click to expand...
No loop here either..jam the front ender
 
Whats important to me when i travel to my trailer, is to have amps that also have battery power, Headphone jack, and aux port for my Mp3 player, as i play along with the music. These are a must for me. For my home amp Its my Orange Crush 35RT SS, which also comes with headphone jack, and Aux port for my Mp3 player, as i said a must for me. As far as the modelling features on the Vox, I will use the drum beat on occasion. other than that, i rarely use the other effects.
 
Ive "found" my speaker so most everything I get now -- is HEAD (sorry had to) -- and I run it through the same speaker -- and thus I get TRUE amp tone comparos -- the various speakers of combos dont "muddy" the results -- using the same speaker all the time gives me a level playing field to really find the specialness (or not) of a new head
 
eSGEe said:
Blsackstar had effects loop ---

I am going to be completely honest -------- I HAVE NEVER USED AN EFFECT LOOP --- ever ( I hate pedals as you know) -- gain and reverb (and a hush pedal for noise reduction) are all I need and most of the amps mentioned have those -- or I will ADD a reverb pedal .....if I MUST.....but that goes in the front -- no LOOP needed

I have had severl Micro terrors -- none stuck the TINY TERROR is all tube not a hybrid
Click to expand...


I am also not a pedal fan, I am happy with gain and reverb, Which my Orange covers very well i might add
 
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