Suggestions for Practice Amp

Brian B. · #1 01-29-2012, 01:55 PM

So with the same royalty check that I bought my guitar with last year (Peerless Monarch), I'm planning on getting a practice amp this year. The Fender Champ 600 is an obvious choice, but I wanted to see if anyone had other suggestions. Also, I'm willing to spend a bit more if I'll end up with an amp that in the future I'll be able to play in a small group with. I'm more interested in tone, though, than in volume. I don't think I'm stuck on tube either.

Here are the modeled sounds that I'm getting out of my computer now, to give you an idea of what I'm looking for:

Blues For Alican, Joe Pass (First Chorus) - YouTube

Last Night When We Were Young (arr. Barry Galbraith) - YouTube

Many thanks for any suggestions!

Brian

Brian B. · #2 01-29-2012, 01:59 PM

> Also, I'm willing to spend a bit more if I'll end up with an amp that in the future I'll be able to play in a small group with.

I'm probably willing to spend a few hundred dollars, if it will get me something really nice (which is probably not really a "practice" amp any more is it?). I'd rather get new, though, than used, in any case.

pingu · #3 01-29-2012, 02:02 PM

Don't be a square , get a cube

40 watt cube maybe the best bang for the buck out there

Smelodies · #4 01-29-2012, 02:49 PM

Fender Champ, haha. I thought I was the only one with a Champ. I find it strangely reassuring to know that it's an "obvious choice."

pghguitar · #5 01-29-2012, 05:15 PM

+1 on the cube, for an extra $70 you can get the 80 which will give you more headroom and better bass response with the 12in speaker. Also has a nice looper which is great for practice.

mambosun · #6 01-29-2012, 05:52 PM

The one I currently use at home: Superchamp XD

SamBooka · #7 01-29-2012, 06:40 PM

Cant really recommend the Champ 600.. I have one... it is fun and all but takes a little bit of choppin to get a useful tone out of it (unless you are in a neil young cover band.. even then...)

ruiner54 · #8 01-29-2012, 07:27 PM

i back the cube 40 as well...works well as a quiet practice amp but has some extra volume when you need it. Great tone for the price.

hallpass · #9 01-29-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambosun

The one I currently use at home: Superchamp XD

I recommend a SuperChamp XD. Or the new X2. Used XDs are very affordable.

kawa · #10 01-29-2012, 08:15 PM

Don't needs only for the practice amp, just needs the good amp for jazz life
Good amps given us good sounds from at the low volume.
Fender: from the about V2.2(1 is Min).

Just the volume settings

Home ; V 2,2　～　2.7

Stage ; V 2.7 ～　3 (with PA) ～　

Any good amps available, just set the enough lebel for good sounds and not loud levels.(not as rock music)
I'm using Twin Reverb, Vibrolux Reverb, Peterson P-100G MkⅡ, Polytone Mini brute Ⅱ, Peavey Envoy 110, etc same as not loud levels with good sounds.
A good way: always with same amps, stage and home, settings know how, conditions etc good for you.
Please get the good amps for your jazz life.

aniss1001 · #11 01-29-2012, 09:58 PM

I recently had a similar thread going that you may wanna check out: http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...ap-amps-2.html

I ended up buying a Cube40xl which I'm pretty happy with

kris · #12 01-30-2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian B.

So with the same royalty check that I bought my guitar with last year (Peerless Monarch), I'm planning on getting a practice amp this year. The Fender Champ 600 is an obvious choice, but I wanted to see if anyone had other suggestions. Also, I'm willing to spend a bit more if I'll end up with an amp that in the future I'll be able to play in a small group with. I'm more interested in tone, though, than in volume. I don't think I'm stuck on tube either.

Here are the modeled sounds that I'm getting out of my computer now, to give you an idea of what I'm looking for:

Blues For Alican, Joe Pass (First Chorus) - YouTube

Last Night When We Were Young (arr. Barry Galbraith) - YouTube

Many thanks for any suggestions!

Brian

I sugest AER Alfa.
Great small amp,very light.Exelent for practise and small gigs.Great clean sound.Great sound for solo guitar.

hans halmackenreuter · #13 01-30-2012, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruiner54

i back the cube 40 as well...works well as a quiet practice amp but has some extra volume when you need it. Great tone for the price.

and if you swap the speaker for an eminence delta demon for example, you can enhance the sound of the cube's.

burchyk · #14 01-30-2012, 04:54 PM

Make sure you check out VHT Special 6

Brian B. · #15 01-30-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pghguitar

+1 on the cube, for an extra $70 you can get the 80 which will give you more headroom and better bass response with the 12in speaker. Also has a nice looper which is great for practice.

>which will give you more headroom and better bass response with the 12in speaker.

I keep hearing "headroom" referred to in regard to amplifiers. I looked it up on Wiki, but still don't get it. Could someone explain?

Thanks!

Brian

jorgemg1984 · #16 01-30-2012, 06:15 PM

Fender News

hans halmackenreuter · #17 01-30-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian B.

>which will give you more headroom and better bass response with the 12in speaker.

I keep hearing "headroom" referred to in regard to amplifiers. I looked it up on Wiki, but still don't get it. Could someone explain?

Thanks!

Brian

well headroom describes the amount of clean-sound volume you have.

oldane · #18 01-31-2012, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hans halmackenreuter

and if you swap the speaker for an eminence delta demon for example, you can enhance the sound of the cube's.

I have a 30 years old Cube40 in which I swapped the speaker for an Eminence Lil' Buddy (hemp cone). It really the mellowed the highs and it now has a quite nice jazz tone. The 12" equivalent would be the Eminence Cannabis Rex, but it's rated at 40Watts so it may not be enough for some of the amps in which 12" speakers are used. Tone Tubby also has hemp cone speakers, but they are more expensive than the ones from Eminence (haven't heard or tried them, don't know if they are better).

hans halmackenreuter · #19 01-31-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldane

I have a 30 years old Cube40 in which I swapped the speaker for an Eminence Lil' Buddy (hemp cone). It really the mellowed the highs and it now has a quite nice jazz tone. The 12" equivalent would be the Eminence Cannabis Rex, but it's rated at 40Watts so it may not be enough for some of the amps in which 12" speakers are used. Tone Tubby also has hemp cone speakers, but they are more expensive than the ones from Eminence (haven't heard or tried them, don't know if they are better).

i like the lil' buddy too.