Looking for a new practice amp

[ThisIsSuchAPity]

Have a $200 budget...any recommendations?

[patrickhowell]

Have a $200 budget...any recommendations?

Although it's a little over your budget ($250), I would really recommend the Fender Vibro Champ XD. It is a modeling preamp with an all-tube power section. It's probably the best "practice amp" i've ever seen on the market. The amp models all sound great, and the tube power section makes it sound even better.

If you can't swing that 50 bucks, let us know what kind of things you need in the amp (headphone out? distortion? effects?) and we'll try and help you out.

[ThisIsSuchAPity]

I'm not very knowledgeable about amps, only guitars, so I don't know what preamp and all tube power section means. Would you mind explaining?

[Burn That Shit]

Essentially it means that it's a higher quality amp.

[patrickhowell]

I'm not very knowledgeable about amps, only guitars, so I don't know what preamp and all tube power section means. Would you mind explaining?

Alright, amplifiers all have two main sections: the Pre Amp and the Power Amp.

The pre amp takes the signal from your guitar - a very weak signal, and boosts it up a little louder, shaping the tone. The pre amp includes any EQ, Overdrive, Tone, etc.

The power amp basically takes this signal and boosts it up to the level necessary to drive your speakers. Sometimes the Master Volume control on an amp will be part of the power section, but it is often the last part of the pre amp.

Until the 1970s, almost all amplifiers - not just guitar amps, but radios, record players, TVs - were powered by vacuum tubes. Since then, a lot of amps have switched to solid-state technology, using transistors instead. Now tubes are mostly just used for professional guitar amps, recording preamps, and very high-end stereos. Tubes have a more organic sound, smoother dynamics, and when driven to the limit, very nice sounding distortion. Solid-state technology can do a decent job of faking it, but it never sounds quite as good as the real thing.

What the new Fender Super Champ XD and Vibro Champ XD do is use a modeling solid-state preamp - with settings for many different Fender amps, Marshall, Vox, etc - and they all sound really good. Then they take this signal and run it through a real all-tube power amp.

[ThisIsSuchAPity]

Alright, amplifiers all have two main sections: the Pre Amp and the Power Amp.

The pre amp takes the signal from your guitar - a very weak signal, and boosts it up a little louder, shaping the tone. The pre amp includes any EQ, Overdrive, Tone, etc.

The power amp basically takes this signal and boosts it up to the level necessary to drive your speakers. Sometimes the Master Volume control on an amp will be part of the power section, but it is often the last part of the pre amp.

Until the 1970s, almost all amplifiers - not just guitar amps, but radios, record players, TVs - were powered by vacuum tubes. Since then, a lot of amps have switched to solid-state technology, using transistors instead. Now tubes are mostly just used for professional guitar amps, recording preamps, and very high-end stereos. Tubes have a more organic sound, smoother dynamics, and when driven to the limit, very nice sounding distortion. Solid-state technology can do a decent job of faking it, but it never sounds quite as good as the real thing.

What the new Fender Super Champ XD and Vibro Champ XD do is use a modeling solid-state preamp - with settings for many different Fender amps, Marshall, Vox, etc - and they all sound really good. Then they take this signal and run it through a real all-tube power amp.

Thanks for clearing that up. Are there any disadvantages to tube amps besides cost? I have a Crate V-Series tube amp that I keep at my friends house for when I jam with him, I just didn't know much about why their tone is better than a solid state.

[patrickhowell]

Thanks for clearing that up. Are there any disadvantages to tube amps besides cost? I have a Crate V-Series tube amp that I keep at my friends house for when I jam with him, I just didn't know much about why their tone is better than a solid state.

There are a few disadvantages... All-Tube amps typically have to be played loud to get great tone, even a 5w amp is much too loud for bedroom levels if you want any overdrive at all. Also, solid-state amps are generally more reliable because tubes are somewhat fragile, and have a limited life. Really though, tube amps are the best way to go in most situations.

[ThisIsSuchAPity]

There are a few disadvantages... All-Tube amps typically have to be played loud to get great tone, even a 5w amp is much too loud for bedroom levels if you want any overdrive at all. Also, solid-state amps are generally more reliable because tubes are somewhat fragile, and have a limited life. Really though, tube amps are the best way to go in most situations.

I think I'll go with a solid state then, because I'll be playing it in my bedroom in a crowded house.

[patrickhowell]

I think I'll go with a solid state then, because I'll be playing it in my bedroom in a crowded house.

Yeah, I still recommend the Vibro Champ XD. It's really the best of both worlds for a practice amp. It has great tone at low volumes, with the warmth of a tube amp. I know it's a little over your price range, but I really think it's the best. If you can't afford that, there's some decent SS practice amps within your price range...

[ThisIsSuchAPity]

Yeah, I still recommend the Vibro Champ XD. It's really the best of both worlds for a practice amp. It has great tone at low volumes, with the warmth of a tube amp. I know it's a little over your price range, but I really think it's the best. If you can't afford that, there's some decent SS practice amps within your price range...

What are some of the SS amps? I was looking at a Fender 25-watt Frontman

[of_the_rose]

Have a $200 budget...any recommendations?

if you'd be willing to shell out a little bit more or trade in some gear, i would definitely recommend a Fender Champ or one of those Fender Deville combos. All tube.

Your best bet is a used music shop. Check them religiously and research prices and all that on ebay. Generally, you can get people to come down a few bucks if you offer to pay cash up front, kind of give them the "Well, I only got $250 cash, can ya do anything for the price?"

[Siren Silently]

What are some of the SS amps? I was looking at a Fender 25-watt Frontman

The cleans on that amp are usable, the distortion is awful awful awful.Try a Vox Valvetronix, Roland Cube or the new Peavey Vyrpyr if you are dead set on solid state, I'd still recommend tube anyhow.

[patrickhowell]

if you'd be willing to shell out a little bit more or trade in some gear, i would definitely recommend a Fender Champ or one of those Fender Deville combos. All tube.

Your best bet is a used music shop. Check them religiously and research prices and all that on ebay. Generally, you can get people to come down a few bucks if you offer to pay cash up front, kind of give them the "Well, I only got $250 cash, can ya do anything for the price?"

Fender hot rods have some quality issues, and I consider them WAY too powerful for a practice amp, but they sound pretty good. The Champion 600 isn't really any good, 6" speakers are just too small. Really, having incredible tone isn't vital to a practice amp. You can probably get a good enough practice amp for under $100.

[bassdrummer2333]

Links to all the good amps mentioned here? Just so I know exactly what were talking, i'm in the market for a new amp.

[patrickhowell]

Links to all the good amps mentioned here? Just so I know exactly what were talking, i'm in the market for a new amp.

What do you want to use the amp for? bedroom practice? playing with a drummer? recording ?

This is the amp I was recommending for his situation: Fender Vibro Champ XD (http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=2331000000)

[bassdrummer2333]

Hmmm. Well probably recording the most, but if it's good for practice too that would be great! And i'm probably pushing it but what kind of amp would be good for live?

[patrickhowell]

Hmmm. Well probably recording the most, but if it's good for practice too that would be great! And i'm probably pushing it but what kind of amp would be good for live?

What's your budget? How clean do you need to be for live?

[bassdrummer2333]

Something with good distortion and nice cleans/reverb. My budget is about $300 although I can put out some extra since i'm going to making a fund for this.

[The Boathouse]

Blues Junior! I got one used for fucking $270. Sweet! Throw some sweet as preamp tubes in there (mullards, yea!) and you'll sound like bluesadellicfunkacide!

[sinktylersink]

Just throwing this out there as a general small practice amp recommendation, the Vox Pathfinder. Can't say I have any first hand experience with it but I've read good things about them and even remember reading in a Guitar One a while back that Brand New used one a little bit on their last record (a long with a ton of other stuff, but hey it was in there). I'm thinking about picking one up for my apartment at school next year just because it's pretty inexpensive ($119 on Musician's Friend).

[patrickhowell]

Just throwing this out there as a general small practice amp recommendation, the Vox Pathfinder. Can't say I have any first hand experience with it but I've read good things about them and even remember reading in a Guitar One a while back that Brand New used one a little bit on their last record (a long with a ton of other stuff, but hey it was in there). I'm thinking about picking one up for my apartment at school next year just because it's pretty inexpensive ($119 on Musician's Friend).

I haven't heard the Pathfinder, but I can't say I liked anything Vox has been up to recently...

[YouAteMyDog182]

Vox valvetronix series are awesome.
or the Peavey Bandits.
Yup.

[ThisIsSuchAPity]

I was thinking about a Raven...

[patrickhowell]

I was thinking about a Raven...

I've never heard one of those, so I can't comment on that... but my recommendation is to either

1) Get the Fender Vibro Champ XD - it will be a great sounding amp that you could use for practice and recording

or

2) Go to your local music store, try out a few used combos and buy whichever one sounds the best - there are tons of cheap used solid-state combos available, and I doubt that any new one will sound much better than what they've got sitting around in the used section anyways... there's no reason to shell out a ton of money on a SS practice amp, you'd be better off saving your cash for something else

[YouAteMyDog182]

2) Go to your local music store, try out a few used combos and buy whichever one sounds the best - there are tons of cheap used solid-state combos available, and I doubt that any new one will sound much better than what they've got sitting around in the used section anyways... there's no reason to shell out a ton of money on a SS practice amp, you'd be better off saving your cash for something else


The only thing I'd suggest is staying away from Line 6 amps.
I mean, they are good amps, but I find that they are incredibly cheap, as in how its made.
Though they are good combo amps...
So maybe I'm just being biased?

[patrickhowell]

The only thing I'd suggest is staying away from Line 6 amps.
I mean, they are good amps, but I find that they are incredibly cheap, as in how its made.
Though they are good combo amps...
So maybe I'm just being biased?

If you get a good price on a used combo, there's no reason not to. They're not great amps, but definitely good enough to practice on...

[patrickhowell]

Something with good distortion and nice cleans/reverb. My budget is about $300 although I can put out some extra since i'm going to making a fund for this.

What amp do you have now, what don't you like about it, and whose guitar tones do you like ?

[alex.parent]

Roland cubes sound great for the size and price. Also, have you considered getting a cheap usb interface? most of them come with software.

[of_the_rose]

I haven't heard the Pathfinder, but I can't say I liked anything Vox has been up to recently...

Yeah, Vox has really lamed itself down over the years. Of course, a vintage Vox would be killer to have.