Mini Guitar Amps

[Silentwiz]

I have a Cube 30x and a ZT Lunchbox.

I find that the Cube 30x tends to offer a lot more variety in tones, built in tuner, some reasonable effects and enough volume to play in a respectably small venue.

The ZT Lunchbox offers a lesser range of tones -- but dramatically more volume (like big gig, hard hitting drummer volume), it's a bit easier to schlep around.

Right now, I have a humbucking guitar in one room with the Roland and a single coil in another room with the ZT. I find that the ZT in that combination makes quite a bit of ambient hiss/noise -- which is a bit frustrating for practicing. I've ordered a replacement neck single coil for the guitar that's paired with the ZT because of my frustration with this matter. I may also toss the ZT in my car as a pure gigging amp and buy a second cube for practicing in that room.

If I had a jazz gig where there was a drummer, I would unquestionably favor the ZT. If I was playing a smaller gig and wanted some tonal varieties (maybe a little distortion, now clean, now some effects, etc), I'd favor the Roland.

[Davidh]

Hi everyone.

I haven't visited in quite a while (or played my guitar much either).
A house-move to a new-build in May last year meant that most of my time has been spoken for .

However - In December I found that some of the chords I had been having mucho difficulty with (sore finger-ends/painful joints - combination of newbie to the instrument, and old guy) were easier, and starting to sound better, so I bought myself a little 2nd-hand amp - unseen, from ebay.

This is a Laney Cub 8 5 watt tube amp. The amp has only been out for a year or so -
you can see and hear the Laney demo

It cost me £88 in total - about what they go for on UK ebay, and looks and sounds (with a single humbucker) a good piece of kit. You can also run a cab through the amp if you want more sound. This cuts off the built-in 8" Celestion speaker.

No drawbacks as far as I can see - one word of warning though.
Laney are a well-respected UK company who trade on their name. The amp, although designed and engineered in the UK, is chinese-built, as is the Celestion speaker.
I don't have a problem with this, but I know some here like to buy home-built (I don't have a problem with that either of course).

Nice to be back.

Davidh

[elrond]

Well the Mini3 was sold out, I never tried one but they look good.
I bought a Ipod touch instead, and while it dosn't fulfill my miniamp needs (the search is over for now, but not finished) I found the Ipod had more 'cool per $' than anything I could find for me at this point in time.
Apps like Irealbook and pocket guitar (being restricted to 5 frets) should help my playing whereas a mini amp would provide nothing new just amplified sucking on the guitar -which I already had! was interesting to look at the options 'amp can' ac1' etc maybe in the future ZT will make a lower wattage battery amp? ,
Who knows, but with the many discontinued battery amps I found I think the 'street cube' seemed like a lone survivor while I didnt try one I would be trying that next.

[mr. beaumont]

I have a Cube 30x and a ZT Lunchbox.

I find that the Cube 30x tends to offer a lot more variety in tones, built in tuner, some reasonable effects and enough volume to play in a respectably small venue.

The ZT Lunchbox offers a lesser range of tones -- but dramatically more volume (like big gig, hard hitting drummer volume), it's a bit easier to schlep around.

Right now, I have a humbucking guitar in one room with the Roland and a single coil in another room with the ZT. I find that the ZT in that combination makes quite a bit of ambient hiss/noise -- which is a bit frustrating for practicing. I've ordered a replacement neck single coil for the guitar that's paired with the ZT because of my frustration with this matter. I may also toss the ZT in my car as a pure gigging amp and buy a second cube for practicing in that room.

If I had a jazz gig where there was a drummer, I would unquestionably favor the ZT. If I was playing a smaller gig and wanted some tonal varieties (maybe a little distortion, now clean, now some effects, etc), I'd favor the Roland.

I think this is a very good assessment of these amps.

I've found the hiss on the lunchbox is much better if you run the gain higher and the volume lower. I set the gain as high as I can without getting any distortion on a hard-hit note, then adjust the volume from there.

I've played a 600 seat theater un-mic'd with a lunchbox. Pretty darn cool.

[YocoYur]

I was made 1W mini amp Ruby by myself, I use to run it with Korg PANDORA or Digitech RP 80 and that is super combination for home practice. It can run 4x12" also


http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_ruby.pdf


Look at here:
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

[gkorm]

I'm thinking of getting a used ZT Lunchbox. I understand the current model is version 2 (with a bit better bass). Anyone know how I might be able to distinguish between version 1 and 2 when buying used?

Thanks!

George