Best entry-level amp?

[Shimakaze]

What would you guys say is the best amp with a clean, jazz sound on a low budget of around $100 to $200? I'm not looking to go gigging with one, just something to practice with at home.

Cheers

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Roland Cube amps are a good value. New in that price range, maybe a Cube 40XL.

But for a practice amp, I would look for a used amp, which means trying what's out there and seeing what you like, rather than looking for a specific model. In Vancouver, I've bought an amp from Bud at Prussin Music (on West Broadway), but I don't think they sell used amps. It's a great store to check out, anyway.

[rabbit]

I want one like this (inexpensive, too):

Fender Products: Mustangâ„¢ I

[mongrel]

Originally Posted by Shimakaze

What would you guys say is the best amp with a clean, jazz sound on a low budget of around $100 to $200? I'm not looking to go gigging with one, just something to practice with at home.

Cheers

My play at home everyday amp for the past two years has been and is a no-name solid state open back combo with a 15" speaker and three inputs marked "guitar", "bass" and "flat". I got it in a local pawn shop for $20.00. The pawnshop proprietor who is also a veteran guitarist said he thought the model was sold in the Montgomery Wards budget variety store chain in the 1960's as a keyboard amp. If I turn the volume above 3, it would hang with the silver face Twin Reverb I used to have. Sounds a bit dry straight through but turns nicely liquid through a DD-3 and can be anything through the P.O.D. 2.0. It is very light for a 15 incher, about the same weight as a Fender Champ. I bought another just like it for $30 a couple of months later but the amplifier section crapped out. That's OK because I'll use it as a cab when I get a low power tube head.

[docbop]

Like BigDaddy sez look for a good used amp if that is your budget you will get a lot more amp for your money. A used Peavey Bandit is a real versatile amp and they are build like tanks. If you play styles other than Jazz the Peavey Classic series are good tube amp that can find used for that kind of money. If you could come up to $200-$300 range that give you a lot more choices.

If you're living on a tight budget (and aren't we all these days) I would say go with a solid-state amp. Maintenance on a tube amps can get costly.

[Shimakaze]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely check out the used market. Those suggested amps are all 40+ watts, which seems to be a bit overkill for mostly solo-playing at home. I'm a total newbie when it comes to electric guitars, so here's another question: How much does the wattage and speaker size affect the tone? Would it be a good idea to go for a 20 or even 15 watt amp with, say, 8" speaker?

[docbop]

Originally Posted by Shimakaze

Thanks guys. I'll definitely check out the used market. Those suggested amps are all 40+ watts, which seems to be a bit overkill for mostly solo-playing at home. I'm a total newbie when it comes to electric guitars, so here's another question: How much does the wattage and speaker size affect the tone? Would it be a good idea to go for a 20 or even 15 watt amp with, say, 8" speaker?

The watts depends on if solid-state or tube. tubes are louder with less watts. Speakers affect tone depending on sound you are going for. If playing Jazz you want a speaker to stay clean and have bottom end.

[robertm2000]

I have a Roland MicroCube. 2 watts if I remember correctly.It's just the right volume to keep the neighbors from hearing. One unexpected side effect - I have a small drum set and I can see how a drummer works by playing with them and the MicroCube. Good drummers will play to the amp's level - if a drummer sneers, or just won't play quietly I don't bother.

[YocoYur]

Originally Posted by Shimakaze

Thanks guys. I'll definitely check out the used market. Those suggested amps are all 40+ watts, which seems to be a bit overkill for mostly solo-playing at home. I'm a total newbie when it comes to electric guitars, so here's another question: How much does the wattage and speaker size affect the tone? Would it be a good idea to go for a 20 or even 15 watt amp with, say, 8" speaker?

The best loud sounding 20-Watt amp with 8" speaker is Roland Cube 20-X or XL. It can compete with "normal" jazz drummer, but you can also practice at home on bedroom level with the best sound I`ve ever heard on SS amps.

[kawa]

Good Jazz Tone, Almost Same To '67 Vibrolux Reverb, Points are the Blue Marvel Speaker Unit and the TransTube Circuits.

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[spiral]

What about a Bugera v5?
8" speaker, tube, w/ reverb. Gain & volume controls plus power attenuator on the back for running at different wattages.

$150 new. $100 used.

[YocoYur]

I`ve tried it, very low headroom and very quiet, to quiet for 5W tube amp. And it lacks for chorus, reverb... it is one trick pony. Not suitable for jazz, but this is only my opinion.

[FWBO]

Shimakaze,

if looking to practice at home then a cheap SS amp (used) will do fine. A Cube 60 is a good amp to look for but the smaller models are equally as good and for jazz practice you don't need many watts. Don't get hung up on tubes as you will only be disappointed in this price range.

[BobD]

I've got a micro cube and a Super Champ XD. I use both for home playing only. The cube is very satisfactory until I play the SCXD. That 10" speaker in the SCXD is just so much fuller and deeper sounding than the little 4 inch speaker in the cube. So if you're going to spend 100-200 I recommend getting at least an 8" speaker. If I were looking at getting an amp in this price range I'd get a Cube 40xl or a Vibro Champ XD or a used Super Champ XD. I actually got my SCXD used for 199 at Daddy's Junky Music. It is in like new condition too.

Oh, also the Cubes are really reliable if that matters to you.

[Shimakaze]

You guys have helped me narrow it down to either a new, small Cube (probably the 20X), or an used amp that's a bit larger. The prices here in Canada are a tad higher: a new 20X retails for almost $200. The new Cube XL models look interesting, but I don't know any stores that sell one here.

What about the Fender Mustang amps that just came out recently? Someone posted that he had difficulty getting a clean jazz tone out of one, but I'm wondering if it's just because the controls aren't that clear.

[robertm2000]

Be careful of the Fender Mustang amps. I bought one several weeks ago and it was a disaster. Tone was blah, lacking any character-certainly not tube like! I could never get the digital special effects to stay off, or at least stay on the one I had chosen - some kind of weird knob twisting controlled them. I returned the amp and got a Roland Micro Cube.

[FWBO]

Guitarist magazine has just reviewed the Mustang amps and the review was quite favourable. It suggested the Fender amp models (Bassman, Deluxe and 65 Twin) were good. Perhaps try one out??

[BobD]

Just an FYI, the Cube 20X is $199 at Musician's Friend but the newer 20XL is only $149 and the 40XL is $199. If I were going to spend the $199 on a new amp I'd go for the 40XL over the 20X. Don't worry about the 40 being too loud. These cubes sound geat at low volumes and the bigger speaker of the 40 will give you a fuller sound even at low volume.

[YocoYur]

Originally Posted by BobD

Just an FYI, the Cube 20X is $199 at Musician's Friend but the newer 20XL is only $149 and the 40XL is $199. If I were going to spend the $199 on a new amp I'dgo for the 40XL over the 20X. Don't worry about the 40 being too loud. These cubes sound geat at low volumes and the bigger speaker of the 40 will give you a fuller sound even at low volume.

[offhand35]

Originally Posted by mongrel

My play at home everyday amp for the past two years has been and is a no-name solid state open back combo with a 15" speaker and three inputs marked "guitar", "bass" and "flat". I got it in a local pawn shop for $20.00. The pawnshop proprietor who is also a veteran guitarist said he thought the model was sold in the Montgomery Wards budget variety store chain in the 1960's as a keyboard amp. If I turn the volume above 3, it would hang with the silver face Twin Reverb I used to have. Sounds a bit dry straight through but turns nicely liquid through a DD-3 and can be anything through the P.O.D. 2.0. It is very light for a 15 incher, about the same weight as a Fender Champ. I bought another just like it for $30 a couple of months later but the amplifier section crapped out. That's OK because I'll use it as a cab when I get a low power tube head.

I agree with Mongrel's advice re: the inexpensive used amp.
I had been bothering myself with trying to find the sound I wanted from scratch built and modified tube amps, when I encountered a BIG surprise!
I found an inexpensive used 15watt Excel 16R solid state combo amp with [spring] reverb and 3-band EQ for $30. I decided to buy it for the chassis for another scratch build.....but before I cannibalized it I decided that I had better try it out. It has a Celestion Super8 speaker in it, and boy was I surprised! In the rhythm channel with reverb, my Godin 5th Ave. Kingpin sounded just wonderful! My SX-tele with custom T-90 neck p/u sounded pretty fluid through it as well! And then I when I plugged the ext speaker jack into my 15" Eminence Red Coat Big Ben cab, I started to wonder why I had been wasting so much time not playing! It turns that it is a side brand made by KUSTOM.
I even played this rig at church against a piano, 2 violins, a sax, and a flute, with the volume set no higher than 12:00
The point being that if you can periodically stop by a shop that carries used equipment from time to time, you would eventually be sure to find what you need.
The 8" Celestion alone is quite adequate in my family room, and the tone really stands out with the amp sitting on a bar stool or low side table.
If you have time, a store or two in reach, and like the thrill of the hunt, this may be the way to go!

[offhand35]

There is a thread on this forum re: Peavey amps. I had forgotten about them, in case you need to be doing a brand name specific search. Prices are VERY affordable on these. Take a look here!

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...avey-amps.html

[Olric]

I would second the Fender Super Champ XD sugegstion, very nice little amp.

[Eddie Lang]

I went and purchased a Fender Champion 600 today. New, $160 at Long & McQuade (in Canada). I spent some time before trying out a used Gibson Les Paul Junior amp (reissue) at a vintage shop here in town. The Gibson was clearly a superior amp but also much more expensive. Frankly, for the price, I am very satisfied with the Fender. It sounds good and it looks cool too. And right within what you want to spend, Shimakaze. Nice for just playing around the house and compact and light enough to bring to a small jam (no drummer).

Champion 600 at Long & McQuade

Champion 600 details and specs at Fender.com

[Tom Karol]

That Champion 600 is really pretty! But I've heard good things about the VOX Pathfinder 15R (15 watts, 8" speaker, reverb and tremolo); they sell for about $120. Think I'll put it on my holiday gift list - my birthday is in December as well, and I don't need more socks!

[82Benedetto]

zt lunchbox?

[mr. beaumont]

I'd imagine you could find a used lunchbox in your budget...what's cool then, is, it's a perfectly cool amp for gigging too, so you won't "outgrow" it.

And yes, I know you said you weren't interested in gigging, but it's always nice to have an amp that can hang in case your buddy comes over and brings his boogie, or you meet a trumpet player who's a big Maynard Ferguson fan, or somebody says "hey there's this organ player I ant you to meet..."

And just a word on the champion 600-- my well intentioned but guitar-ded wife (her term, not mine) bought me one of those for christmas a few years ago after hearing me talk about champs (we were talking SF) with a buddy.

It was such sweet well-thought out gift I decided to hang onto it, and my take on it is that it is one horrible sounding amp---for it's marketed purpose (rock cats wanting dirty tone at bedroom volume--cranked, it sounds like a muffler being dragged behind a pickup truck) but at a reasonable volume, it's a mighty fine jazz amp! Plug in a hollowbody and it's very "1957" if ya dig.

Of my guitars, it seems to like my Godin Kingpin the best...there's a budget classic jazz rig right there.

[Eddie Lang]

Interesting take on the Champion 600, Mr. Beaumont. I haven't tried rock on it and I probably won't, but I do like it for its nice clean tone. Though it is not nearly as warm as the Les Paul Junior reissue that I played, it was also not even 1/4 of the price. If I am going to start spending more for a small "specialty" amp, I am going to throw in a bit more and get a real vintage amp, not a reissue, or even something much nicer although contemporary, but that's only my take on it.

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Of my guitars, it seems to like my Godin Kingpin the best...there's a budget classic jazz rig right there.

Very interesting too. Doesn't the Kingpin have a P-90? I ask because the only guitar I've played so far with my new Champion is my 1956-57 ES-225 and a P-90 is what's on it. Makes me wish I had bought a Kingpin too instead of the acoustic 5h Avenue for a travel guitar.

[mr. beaumont]

Yeah, to me P90's are sooooo classic jazz. They can be a pretty rude sounding pickup when cranked up, but at lower volumes, there's just tons of woody warmth.

They're a little less "hot" than a standard humbucker, which makes them such a nice pair with a small tube amp--you can get the volume up pretty high before the amp distorts.

As for small specialty amps, I tend to agree--vintage is where it's at. I have a silverface princeton non-reverb (the unsung hero of clean fender amps--essentially clean DIMED evenwith a humbucker) that is the bee's knees. It also took me 6 months to find one in good shape at a good price!

So I think the small amps ike the champion 600 fill a niche...I do giggle when I see cats spending 1k or more on a "boutique" amp makers "champ" type model, considering you can find a SF champ for 3-400 bucks that has all the vibe and tone in maybe (by some standards) a not-as-pretty package. But again, you have to hunt--there's a reissue champ 600 sitting in every music store in the country, methinks!

[Will Chen]

If your just looking for clean, maybe just a hair of breakup. Check out the Vox Pathfinder 15r. Its the biggest sleeper of an amp I've ever played. Can go from jazzier cleans to a pretty decent Voxy chime, sounds way fuller than you could ever imagine out of a low wattage ss amp with an 8 inch speaker. Brand new they're just over $100, you should be able to pick up a used one for next to nothing. Its the darling practice amp (some even gig it, but it doesn't stay clean at gig volume) at another forum.

I'd also give a +1 to a ZT Lunchbox if you can find a deal on a second hand one.

[zovanou]

Vox Pathfinder Is The Sleeper , Have Been Playing Mine For 5 Years , Was Able To Fit A 10 Inch Speaker Into It , Great Practice Amp