Amp dilemma

We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Amp dilemma
Topic Started: Oct 23 2009, 12:48 PM (321 Views)
Rampant	Oct 23 2009, 12:48 PM Post #1
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	Guys I've been agonising over a new amp for a long time, now. Current thoughts: 1. Cheapest option - Vox VT30 plus footswitch. Versatile (but complicated!) setup. Sounds good, but not blow your pants off great! 2. Less cheap option - Blackstar HT5 combo with footswitch. Assume my effects box would work in the effects loop, making a versatile setup. Haven't heard this amp, yet, but assume it would beat the Vox for tone... 3. Wedge of dough - (possibly used) Fender Blues Junior with footswitch. Would probably hanker after proper pedal effects with this one. I would love to stretch to the Fender and pedals. As a pure learner/improver/hobbyist I'm looking for something with lovely tones but footswitchable into at least OD and possibly other effects... Suggestions.....
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


voodoorider	Oct 23 2009, 02:47 PM Post #2
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	HT-5 get's my vote! But.. to get it cooking you'll have to wind that volume up, and it's a louuuuuud amp! What about the Orange tiny terror?
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


Rampant	Oct 24 2009, 09:25 AM Post #3
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	Hey Garry Have you played/heard the HT-5 combo??? How does the tone compare with others??
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


voodoorider	Oct 24 2009, 11:08 AM Post #4
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	Better than the vox tone wise, more rock orientated than a blues jnr, and i think probably sounds better, and it's a whisker more angry than a tiny terror, a tiny terror is a better tone i think though! It's just having to crank them to get them really cooking that's the problem! Aaaaaaand.. the tiny terror combo is quite a lot more btw :/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKmrPenPRqA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq8IshRNuis If you want an awesome bedroom(ish) valve amp, it's between these 2 MAYBE 3 There is also a new Marshall 5 watt combo, but i don't think it's AS good, but you might. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtFRmlPw3cY
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


Rampant	Oct 24 2009, 12:52 PM Post #5
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	I'm currently swaying toward the Blackstar HT-5 combo... (Will it be too powerful for the small room where I practice, though???)
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


voodoorider	Oct 24 2009, 10:39 PM Post #6
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	Probably yes lol! I don't know if it's overkill to get an attenuator (i think they're called) it basically runs the amp at full tilt, but only allows it to deliver small volume, like having it cranked but quitely, they're about another �100 though :/ Trouble is, any 5 watt valve amp is gonna be loud, it just depends how loud you can get away with playing it! I have a 40 watt valve amp which i rarely turn up past 3 on the master volume and that is feckin loud! But.. luckily i can get away with it being semi detached and based on the un attached side of the house, where i work the shifts too, quite often I'm here alone so it's not a problem in that respect either! I'd probably think a 5watt valve is ok, as long as you get the chance to crank it now and again, best thing to do i think is find somewhere that will let you see just how loud one is when it's cookin, then you have some idea! The other great thing is, when you do get to crank a decent valve amp, it is very very sweet >:)
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


monwobobbo	Oct 24 2009, 11:16 PM Post #7
Posts: 1,032 Group: Moderator Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	as long as you don't lose your mind with the volume control you'll be fine. you will need to put an overdrive or distortion pedal out front for a more metal sound. i played several guitars thru one a t a little shop here and its pretty decent.
	and now for something completely different


Rampant	Oct 25 2009, 10:38 AM Post #8
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	Does "pretty decent" pass as a recommendation, Bob??? LOL Do you reckon that most 5W tube amps put out a similar volume??? My current (budget!) 5W Crate rarely goes past "2-3" on the volume. It lacks any form of O/D and only has 1 tone knob, so it's pretty basic. However, it does give up a wonderful tone when pushing harder. After 7 it begins to break up into a mild driven tone - but there's no option to clean it up, so it's clean and warm at 5 and then mildly driven after 7... In that respect the HT-5 would be a definite upgrade with it's multi EQ controls and built-in footswitchable O/D. Another option might be to invest in a O/D pedal and keep the amp I've got! Any more thoughts on that???
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


monwobobbo	Oct 26 2009, 03:57 PM Post #9
Posts: 1,032 Group: Moderator Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	LOL yeah i guess it would be a recomendation. yes most 5 watt amps are probably about the same volume wise. better tone controls will yield better sound although if you got a distortion pedal like a Metal Muff that has a nice EQ section thenyou may be able to squeeze more from your current amp. oh and i only said pretty decent to be honest. if you're looking for spectacular tone its really doesn't have it (but most smll amps like that don't) i've found alot of guys over the years that expect somethig like Mesa duel Rectifier quality sound out of these small amps and get pissed when you say they are good but of course they don't sound "that" good if you know what i mean.
	and now for something completely different


voodoorider	Oct 26 2009, 07:48 PM Post #10
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	I think if you like the crate how it is, maybe look into a nice pedal like an Ibanez Tube Screamer, Digitech do a hardwire series and i tried their valve/tube overdrive pedal, that was fackin aweeeeeessome! �100 though, for either of those, and you can even go boutique for real elite stuff although personally i think that's overkill, blackstar also do awesome pedals!! The guitar you use will affect the break up too, if you use something with bare knuckle nail bombs through your Crate at 7 on the volume, i expect it'd scream pretty well! lol If you use something vintage then it will be harder to get break up!
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


voodoorider	Oct 26 2009, 08:12 PM Post #11
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	Just read through your last 2 blog entries Mark, sounds like you're starting to move up a notch!! it's much more fun once you can do some simple lead stuff, especially once you've built up a little blues lick repertoire!! And yes, it all get's easier with practice It's just the learning curve get's more and more shallow the better you get! It can sometimes feel like you're not making any progress, if you ever get frustrated with something, walk away from it for a while and do something else! You'll be surprised when you go back to something and it seems easier than when you tried before
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


Rampant	Oct 27 2009, 06:56 AM Post #12
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	Yeah, Ive been through days when no progress seems to be coming. As you suggest, I do practice the Da Vinci ethos.... "Now and then go away, for when you return your judgement shall be surer."
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


Rampant	Oct 27 2009, 07:03 AM Post #13
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	I've been looking at a DIY mod thread for my Crate on thefret.net and am tempted to go down this route... But then I'm also temted by the HT-5 - I know it won't do knee-tremblingly spectacular tone, but-grin-on-the-face respectable tone would do me just fine. Mod my Crate and buy pedals. But Vox VT-30. Buy Blackstar HT-5. Still undecided... Such pain to decide, LOL Kinda like writing poetry. There's nothing like suffering for your art
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


« Previous Topic · Amplification · Next Topic »