Home Amp Advice

[Sigmund451]

Sorry for more questions but you guys are the experts.

Ive ironed out my guitar situation but not the amp.
As the title says this is for in home use and I dont play loud. However, I like good tone (who doesnt).

Ive entertained a little fender tube head of 15 watts but Im guessing that is going to still be loud for practice and a good tone...yes, no?

Ive got nothing against solid state if it sounds good. Ive entertained driving 2x8 or 2x10 speakers but nothing is set in stone. I do like a wider presentation of tone as small practice amps seem to sometimes have a lazer beam focus and if you move off the central point where the speaker points the tone can change a drastically.

Im playing an archtop with a single coil. I like and need good string definition as I have hearing damage.

I realize part of the answer is "What sound do you want?" Honestly, I dont know for sure so a little versality is good. I dont need to take it to gig anytime soon or maybe never so Im looking for what can provide a really sweet tone.

Ive also entertained some of the Roland Cubes. Of course Fender has smaller solid state too. Its just difficult to decide with really limited places to try amps.

Im open to suggestions if you feel inclined.

thanks in advance!

[ruger9]

I own a Roland Cube Artist. They are great amps, especially considering they are non-tube. But for home play, not too loud, I'd still look at small tube amps. I'll admit I love tubes, but I'm no snob: my gigging amp is the Roland. For home play (where you can really become absorbed in the sound, and the nuances of "tone", my personal favorite is the Swart AST (which is a take-off on the Fender 5E3 Tweed Deluxe)... but a PRRI (Princeton Reverb Reissue) also sounds great. It would be helpful to know who's tone you like... Kenny Burrell or Johnny Smith... those would yield 2 different recommendations. Charlie Christian? Another different recommendation. All the recommendations would sound great, but it's hard to know what you're after?

[andrew]

Princeton Reverb.

[GuyBoden]

Take advice, then go to a shop and play thru each amp.

Find the amp that has the sound YOU like.

[starjasmine]

I'll add to Guy's very practical advice that you don't need to look at this decision as set in stone. Your ideal guitar and amp will change over time, so just get something that you like for now, with the awareness that what you like will probably be different in a year or two.

The other advice I'd give is "buy used." Your money will go twice as far. Many stores have consignment items - you get to try before you buy but still get the used price. You can also shop local items on ebay, reverb.com and craigslist. If you have a friend who is knowledgeable, ask them to come with you to evaluate used amps.

[Jx30510]

Yes. It's cool to take advice on forums. I created a thread on the Gear Page a few weeks ago. I was aiming to replace my Hot Rod Deluxe IV with a Pro Reverb 68..
I had no way to try it near my place.
The guys on the forum gave very good replies.
At the end, I ordered the PRO 68, gave it a try, and finally realized it wasn't better than the Hot Rod Deluxe IV. Just different. I was expecting an upgrade. Nope.
So I returned it.

If you have the opportunity, find a big store and try everything.. even the big amps.

My take is that a big amp sounds big at very low volumes.
A small amp will sound small at low volumes.
What I mean is that you can play a Hot Rod Deluxe IV, which is 40 watts, at bedroom volume.
You say you want an ample sound. You will get that with the Hot Rod Deluxe IV, which has now a very progressive master volume.

When I bought the Hot Rod Deluxe IV, l went in a big store and tried about 30 amps under 1000€.

The Hot Rod Deluxe IV was the best by a mile, with the Vox AC15 being very close (maybe better, but I wanted a the best pedal plateform).

The Roland Jazz Chorus 40w with 2x10 speakers was also very nice.

All these 3 amps work at bedroom volumes.
So my advice is, don't buy necesseraly a small amp.

[Bob_Ross]

Ive entertained a little fender tube head of 15 watts but Im guessing that is going to still be loud for practice and a good tone...yes, no?

I've never seen a guitar amp that didn't have a volume control. If it's too loud...turn that knob down (counterclockwise).

Now, if turning the volume down causes the tone to suck, then yeah, that's probably not an amp you want for home use. Unless you want to get into load boxes/power soaks. Which is a reasonable idea for tone fanatics, but perhaps a bit too involved if it's just for practicing around the house. Lord knows I usually get a bit stressed if I even have to dig around for a cable when I'm playing at home, so I certainly advocate for the simplest, easiest rig for home use, where all you have to do is pick up the guitar and -- maybe -- turn on the amp.
But if you leave your rig all cabled up and ready to go at all times, even a finnicky "I-Must-Be-Loud" amp through a power soak can make an excellent, and quiet, at-home rig.

fwiw my dedicated At Home amp is the Polytone MiniBrute III that I got new in 1980. It was my main amp for decades, but now when I have a gig I prefer to carry an ultra-light 1x12" cabinet and a tiny Class D head, so the Polytone stays in my office, plugged into an AC outlet strip and with a guitar cable in the input, coiled & at the ready. Grab a guitar and go. Sounds pretty much the same at any volume level.

[Sigmund451]

Thanks all. I guess I had it in my head I need a little amp. It seems Im wrong.

I know I definitely dont want to spend a fortune on a designer amp at this point becuase Ive just picked this up after being away for 25 years. I make musical items for woodwinds so I do know tone. That said I also know that I do not have a sound concept at this juncture. IMHO that makes spending a huge amount of cash rather foolish. I simply want to get a variety of nice tones. Once I work my way into a sound concept I can entertain spending what it takes. I guess some trips the the city are going to be important.

[bluejaybill]

I have been using a DV Mark Little Jazz for this purpose.

I also have larger tube amps, but I prefer the LJ for its warmer jazz tone, and that it sounds good at low volumes.

i find that tube amps have to be turned up a bit to sound good, and often that is louder than I want to play.

The LJ is worth checking out if you can, plus it’s cheap.

I still use the tube amps in my bigger studio room, and the LJ stays in my office where I usually practice.

Good luck!

[yebdox]

You certainly don't have to follow anyone's advice, but if you are looking for a versatile amp that sounds good at home, but also is reasonably giggable, I would go with a 30 to 40 watt amp and a 2 x 12 cabinet, either head and separate cab or combo. A good clean tube amp will be quiet, but warm at those volumes, even up to and including a Twin Reverb, if it's in good shape. If I was starting out and could only have one reasonably priced amp to fill that need, I would probably go for something like the Mike Landau version of the Hot Rod Deville series or maybe a used Twin, Bandmasteror Bassman head and cab.

Princetons are lovely, but don't have the volume for every gig and if you're only going to have one amp, it might as well be versatile.

[rpjazzguitar]

A used Crate GFX15 will probably cost under $50 or so. It’s a very good sounding amp for home use.

[Sam Sherry]

Thanks all. I guess I had it in my head I need a little amp. It seems I'm wrong.

Oh, I don't know about that.

Guy's advice was sound: Bring your guitar to a store and play some amps. If you hear something you like then maybe you need an amp. If not, then you have empirically proven that you don't. You're ahead of the game either way.

If the price of a Princeton Reverb is daunting, consider checking out a Fender Super Champ X2. It's a mutt of a circuit -- solid state analog, digital and tube -- but you get fairly deep into Princeton country at a fraction of the price. A lot of people like them for home use.
(I like my 80s all-tube Super Champ but it's an entirely different amp.)

All the best with your quest.

[jads57]

Are you really needing an amp? I practice acoustically with even my
headless Alan Holdsworth Kiesel guitar to a IREAL APP on my IPad without any problems.

Actually playing into an amp is only for gigs at least for me.Playing without one really helps you learn how to actually play so much better.
I think most people depend on to much reverb,echo,etc
And that’s for the band situation,not practicing at home.

Again this is only my opinion. But I played professionally in many different styles,and various situations from live,to studio,to direct live with in ear monitors.
And I still like playing without any problems amp best!

[rpjazzguitar]

Are you really needing an amp? I practice acoustically with even my
headless Alan Holdsworth Kiesel guitar to a IREAL APP on my IPad !

How do the connections work?

[DawgBone]

Are you really needing an amp? I practice acoustically with even my
headless Alan Holdsworth Kiesel guitar to a IREAL APP on my IPad without any problems.

Actually playing into an amp is only for gigs at least for me.Playing without one really helps you learn how to actually play so much better.
I think most people depend on to much reverb,echo,etc
And that’s for the band situation,not practicing at home.

Again this is only my opinion. But I played professionally in many different styles,and various situations from live,to studio,to direct live with in ear monitors.
And I still like playing without any problems amp best!

I rarely play through an amp around the house. Using an amp=maintenance on amp sooner. A semi hollow or full hollow instrument is a great choice for me though I used to do the same with strats it's just not quite as loud unplugged

Otherwise a Vox AC4 or AC10 can get a pretty good sound at low volume but so can a Twin Reverb, lol. I tried out an AC10 special edition with a wider cab, really nice!

[alltunes]

Headstrong Santa Cruz….mine has a 10” but the wide pine cab can house a 12”. Single ended and you can swap power tubes without a re-bias. Gorgeous low volume tones but can hang with a drummer too. Reverb has a wide range unlike a Princeton.

Edit: the above is a “designer” amp

[Bob_Ross]

Actually playing into an amp is only for gigs at least for me.Playing without one really helps you learn how to actually play so much better.
I think most people depend on to much reverb,echo,etc

I must confess, you are the first guitarist I have ever encountered in my ~53 years of playing the instrument who has claimed that playing without an amp makes one a better electric guitarist.

Every other player who has weighed in on the topic* has opined that the guitar+amp is a single symbiote whose behavior and nuance must be learned. Practicing electric guitar without an amp is like a brass player who only ever practices with a bucket mute, or a sax player who only ever practiced on a Lyricon: The fingering technique to get the right note to happen at the right time is getting addressed, but the aspects of timbre that the player needs to control are not.

Note, I'm not talking about dependence on "reverb, echo,etc." I'm talking about the sound of electric guitar. Amps and guitars interact, and unless you are accustomed to how they work together you will never be able to fully anticipate and control how your instrument will sound when you get on the bandstand and plug in.

*And it's been my empirical experience too.

[Sigmund451]

Thanks for all the responses.

I just want an amp...I practice plenty acoustically and enjoy it. I also like plugging in.
I dont find that I sound better on an amp. It actually illustrates sloppy things I need to work on.

I only have one functional ear and I miss things. Outside of the issue of just enjoying the plugged in tone equally the amp simply lets me hear what Im doing better. Heck, if I want to think I sound great I DONT plug in haha!

Ive got a little practice amp but it has very small speaker and if I even move my head the tone dramatically changes. Its kinda irritating so I need a little more spread presentation. Due to the hearing issue Id really like to add a second speaker. I dont need surround sound but Id get a bigger wall of sound...so to speak. Of course if I dont need to do that Im good.

Here are some posibilies in my area. Again, Im not up for spending a grand on an amp at this juncture. Im just not that set on the vibe I want.

Ive found these in my area used.

Fender champ xd

Roland Cubes of various sizes (I think Id want a decent size speaker and/or add second speaker if it can be done.
I have a shop so making an enclosure is not a big deal.

On the upper range there are:

Fender Blues Junior

Fender Hot Rods but years ago I had one and found the bass overpowering and flabby.

On the Fender solid state size there is a Deluxe Reverb Tonemaster for sale and it looks in very good condition. I can probably grab it for under 400. I think the guy just used it at home and for recording. I dont see a scratch on it. Its got a ton of power but it does have an atteunator.

There are also various vox amps, solid state, hybrid, and tube. Some AC15s are not too expensive but reviews suggest they might be slanted towards rock and roll more than jazz...but I dont know from experience.

Of course there is one last option. I could get a powered speaker for my little moding amp but Im not sure I want to throw money that direction. It would, at least for the time address the issue of the lazer beam range of the small speakers. I do have fun with it but like I said, Im really bothered by having to be in just the right spot to get any consistency of tone

[marcwhy]

I must confess, you are the first guitarist I have ever encountered in my ~53 years of playing the instrument who has claimed that playing without an amp makes one a better electric guitarist.

Every other player who has weighed in on the topic* has opined that the guitar+amp is a single symbiote whose behavior and nuance must be learned. Practicing electric guitar without an amp is like a brass player who only ever practices with a bucket mute, or a sax player who only ever practiced on a Lyricon: The fingering technique to get the right note to happen at the right time is getting addressed, but the aspects of timbre that the player needs to control are not.

Note, I'm not talking about dependence on "reverb, echo,etc." I'm talking about the sound of electric guitar. Amps and guitars interact, and unless you are accustomed to how they work together you will never be able to fully anticipate and control how your instrument will sound when you get on the bandstand and plug in.

*And it's been my empirical experience too.

Brief vid by Sheryl Bailey on this (I believe the longer version is on her "Dojo" class, but you get the message):

[Sigmund451]

There is also a low cost Fender Champ XD which I gather is the before the x2.
It has an eminence speaker upgrade.

[Greywolf]

I have a Blues Jr. 3oth anni , it's got a celestion creamback in it and works well for home and Cafe' use .
I also use a Fender SFX II which is great , digi 100w /ch suround sound XLR outs and a headphone jack , it's the main amp I use for hosting the weekly Open Mic.

[John A.]

…. Here are some posibilies …

Fender champ xd

I’ve played through one a lot, and I have a Champion 20 (current production is called Champion 25). In my opinion the Champion 20/5 sounds better and it’s dirt cheap new.

Roland Cubes of various sizes (I think Id want a decent size speaker and/or add second speaker if it can be done.
I have a shop so making an enclosure is not a big deal.

The Cubes with either a10” or 12” sound quite good with good dispersion. I don’t see why you’d need another speaker with one.

On the upper range there are:

Fender Blues Junior

I like these a lot

On the Fender solid state size there is a Deluxe Reverb Tonemaster for sale and it looks in very good condition. I can probably grab it for under 400. I think the guy just used it at home and for recording. I dont see a scratch on it. It’s got a ton of power but it does have an atteunator.

Not really a ton of power, though certainly plenty loud for home use and many group situations. For $400, I’d take one over anything else you’ve listed if it’s in the budget.

DV Mark Little Jazz is very good (and cheap), as isthe Quilter Aviator Cub ($550-ish used, which might be over your budget).

Regarding beaminess and speaker size, smaller speakers are usually less beamy than larger ones and easier to hear relatively up close (though the design of the enclosure is also a factor). I wouldn’t rule out 8” or 10” speakers or assume a 12” will work better with your hearing issues.

[Sigmund451]

Thanks

I took a hard pass on a Blues Jr today. It just wanted to scream. Now, that said, I could coax a really nice tone from it but to do so really bottomed out the treble on the amp and floored the tone knob on my guitar. If I owned one Id be happy but I dont see the sense in buying something where Im feeling pretty locked in with adjustments. I bet it doese what its made to do really great but its not really what Im looking for. There is no point in my buying a race car when i want to slowly cruise the blvd.

So Im back to either the Fender Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb solid state or some cheaper used versions of hybrid Fenders...or a Cube.
Those are the immediate posibilites...but if anyone has more suggestions Im sure open to considering them

I think I might go look at the tonemaster. Condition appears amazing and it already has a 12 inch speaker. The attenuator is a good selling point for home. I hesitate a litte anyway with tube amps becuase Id have to find someone to work on them that doesnt want to rip me off and knows what they are doing. I can just plug in a solid state and be fine....in theory.

[bluejaybill]

I must confess, you are the first guitarist I have ever encountered in my ~53 years of playing the instrument who has claimed that playing without an amp makes one a better electric guitarist.

Every other player who has weighed in on the topic* has opined that the guitar+amp is a single symbiote whose behavior and nuance must be learned. Practicing electric guitar without an amp is like a brass player who only ever practices with a bucket mute, or a sax player who only ever practiced on a Lyricon: The fingering technique to get the right note to happen at the right time is getting addressed, but the aspects of timbre that the player needs to control are not.

Note, I'm not talking about dependence on "reverb, echo,etc." I'm talking about the sound of electric guitar. Amps and guitars interact, and unless you are accustomed to how they work together you will never be able to fully anticipate and control how your instrument will sound when you get on the bandstand and plug in.

*And it's been my empirical experience too.

I totally agree. My touch on acoustic, even an acoustic arch top, is stronger than it would be on an electric. I try for a lighter, even touch on electric, with something left over for accents. I find when I practice acoustically a lot, I develop habits that I then have to "forget" when I go back to electric.

Back in the day, when I was playing a lot more on an acoustic (Martin), a person (good guitar player) said to me "whoa, why are you playing that strat so hard?". I didn't think much about it then, but I see now that he had a point. I was choking off the notes and sustain by laying too hard into the electrics. It actually took the nuances of strats and telecasters to bring out a different touch for me, my electric Gibson were different and more compressed.

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't practice acoustically, which I still do. But if I am practicing electric jazz guitar, I am at least usually having an amp running low. I just consider acoustic now to be kind of its own thing.

Like the OP, I have some hearing damage, and that may affect my decisions here. BTW I seem to remember hearing Joe Pass say the same thing, anyone remember that? Or maybe he just said he doesn't need to practice.

[2bornot2bop]

My favorite small amp is a Sequel Skoter ii. Same amp as below. Had it for a year. Thx to Jack for demoing it!