Bedroom-level studio amp

[palindrome]

Squash balls and small tires are a brilliant, cost-effective solution. Never thought of that!

But I got one of these Gramma isolation risers recently and I've been favorably impressed. I think the guy downstairs likes it even better.

http://www.amazon.com/Auralex-GRAMMA.../dp/B0002D0B4U

Wonderful!

[palindrome]

Ah yes, that is definitely a barrier. A Princeton or Deluxe Reverb (or equivalent clone) would be a great studio or gig partner … The Tone King Falcon is not the amp you want if you like the Princeton's sound.

ased on your amp search, you shouldn't even think about getting into recording: preamps, converters, mics, mic placement, room treatment, plugins, latency, monitors, cabling, noise ...

There is a difference. I was obsessive about recording at a much larger scale a few years back. I can tell a semi-parametric from a fully parametic EQ and do know about three-band compressors for mastering. I have a Tascam 2488 and an EMU1616-M interface (so much for “latency”), knew pretty much everything about its dreaded Patchmix mixer the last time I used it, and can find my way around Cubase all right, although I can think of more pleasant pastimes. What I have always neglected (aside from becoming a good guitarist) is amps, microphones and monitors, i.e. how to convey sounds to the outside world. I am currently too disorganized to make any recordings (I work from home, but full time) but do have most of the space, equipment, and furniture handy, so I hope I will be ready by the end of the year.

At this point, I do not think I'm being excessively indecisive about amps. Only 3 weeks or so ago, I had to research on the Internet what “DRRI” was. So I’m just beginning to learn. As to my liking the Princeton’s sound, I guess it was one specific example that I liked, although I do love the whole concept. From modelers, I do know that I somewhat prefer Bassman/Tweed sounds to Blackface sounds. This is why I brought up the point about the new Princeton 68 Custom (which only became available here in the last few days) being based on a Bassman tone stack.

If you get a Princeton Reverb Reissue i highly recommend upgrading the output transformer, it makes the amp sound much better / tighter.

Interesting. I’ll get back to you, if I may, once the decision has been made. I am currently deeply torn between a Princeton and a hefty 50 watter which I am not going to mention here for fear that I’d be getting flak on counts of overkill.

full sound for recording and playing at home are the same thing. An amp that sounds good at bedroom levels is the exact amp you want for recording, with the added need for low noise.>

Be careful what you say -- I may take your word for it and hold you liable for any consequences!

[palindrome]

Read my last statement with a smiley attached (was a joke, of course).

[palindrome]

The die has been cast. I just pulled the trigger on a Koch Studiotone 22 Head and a Vox V112NT cabinet.

This was the first time during my search that all things spontaneously fell into place, so I’m happy now.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread!

[bluefonia]

Bluefonia, thanks, great. I’d be interested in why you are suggesting the head versions of all those amps: is it because (a) separate units are easier to haul around; (b) the speakers used in the combo versions are generally poor; (c) there are better speaker options specifically to meet low-volume needs; or (d) separate units sound differently than combos for jazz?

(b) yes, i.m.o speakers in smaller combos are generally not very good,- and especially not for clean jazz. A 12" Cannabis Rex or a Warehouse ET65 are both very good loudspeakers for jazz (and many other styles I should say). You can get the Cannabis Rex in a nice box here http://www.musicstore.de/dk_DK/DKK/P...GIT0021861-000

I have this box. I also have an extension cabinet with 2*12" Warehouse ET65 (and my Brunetti Singleman 35 combo is equipped with one ET65. All of them sounds awesome.

I would not say heads as such are better than combos. But for your needs I would prefer a head and a cabinet, + an Ampeg or a Tubemeister or a Blackstar head ...

[newsense]

The die has been cast. I just pulled the trigger on a Koch Studiotone 22 Head and a Vox V112NT cabinet.

This was the first time during my search that all things spontaneously fell into place, so I’m happy now.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread!

Congratulations ! Of course, we will all expect a review of the new gear ASAP, so you can't close the thread until then !

[palindrome]

Thanks, I have just (less than an hour ago) ordered a Studiotone 22 Head and a Vox V112NT from Thomann.

I did see the Palmer cabinet you just mentioned (remembering that you were recommending the Cannabis Rex), but since I had to accommodate a width limitation, I eventually went with this one:

http://www.thomann.de/de/vox_v112nt.htm

Hope it will not be too weak, but I won't be playing loud. And I can still swap out the speaker down the road.

[palindrome]

Congratulations ! Of course, we will all expect a review of the new gear ASAP, so you can't close the thread until then !

It is beyond my authority to close a thread here and will happily report back!

[palindrome]

My last but one post was addressed to bluefonia (forgot to quote).

[ChrisDowning]

The nice thing about that VOX cab is they've installed a decent pro level speaker, the Celestion G12H, so it will be plenty loud if you want it to be. Should handle the bass of jazz without getting muddy. Nice buy - tell us all about it when it arrives. I presume you are in Germany since you gave us the German language link? Thomann deliveries are quick - mine have always come via DHL from Germany to the UK in two days. So no worries about delivery either.

[bluefonia]

Congratulations, - that seems to be a very nice set you get there. The Studiotone is really good amp - especially for cleans. I have never heard the Vox V112NT, which is loaded with a Greenback speaker, but I guess it will be very good.

[palindrome]

Congratulations, - that seems to be a very nice set you get there. The Studiotone is really good amp - especially for cleans. I have never heard the Vox V112NT, which is loaded with a Greenback speaker, but I guess it will be very good.

Thanks, I was seriously toying with the idea of snatching the B-stock Twintone III currently on offer at Thomann.de, but I don't think I'll be looking back now, given that all pieces of the jigsaw are now in place.

As an aside, the Vox cabinet would make a perfect match with this little beast, as a contingency plan (so there was something else going on in the back of my mind):

http://www.thomann.de/de/vox_nighttrain_nt15h_g2.htm

I suspect the guy even has an effects loop, just like its combo counterpart:

http://www.thomann.de/de/vox_nighttr...1_g2_combo.htm

By the way, I'm sure that your Brunetti sounds great, but I'm even surer that it looks great -- not to mention the head, which is sheer beauty.

[palindrome]

The nice thing about that VOX cab is they've installed a decent pro level speaker, the Celestion G12H, so it will be plenty loud if you want it to be. Should handle the bass of jazz without getting muddy. Nice buy - tell us all about it when it arrives. I presume you are in Germany since you gave us the German language link? Thomann deliveries are quick - mine have always come via DHL from Germany to the UK in two days. So no worries about delivery either.

Just received their notification that the goodies have been dispatched, but, speaking from experience, I wouldn't necessarily expect them to arrive by the end of the week (I'm in Austria).

[ChrisDowning]

Of course, we shall be out here on the web asking,"Is it there yet?"

[Woody Sound]

Carvin V3M?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwFvKrKqtcU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKtrpDV7oTQ

[palindrome]

Two pics for a starter...

[ChrisDowning]

Looking great - how does it sound?

[palindrome]

Looking great - how does it sound?

Well, I'm trying to provide a sample. Don't know if this link will work for anyone but me (it's the first time I'm doing this).

https://audioboo.fm/boos/1692723-test.mp3

Forget my playing, this is just for illustration. Recorded through the Recording/PA output with both switches pointing downward (see image below), using Koch's recommended settings for jazz. Telecaster-type guitar with a humbucker in the neck position, volume and tone at 10.

Currently I don't have a microphone for recording, plus there's a stable baseline hum through the Vox cabinet (should I blame this on the relatively inexpensive speaker cable?) which is totally absent through the phones or recording outputs.

[palindrome]

I should add that all those outputs carry not the preamp but the power-amp signal.

[ChrisDowning]

Are you sure you are using a speaker cable? Loads of guys use just a spare guitar coax, which isn't what you should be using. I would definately talk tothe Koch guys who will give you a steer on the hum issue. Most amp manufacturers are way more responsive than players expect. After all your customers are part of your R&D giving you info on all sorts of new set ups. Just email them for a start, but don't be surprised is they want you to telephone them for a talk.

[palindrome]

Thanks, the cable says "Loudspeaker Cable 2 x 2,5 mm²". I wouldn't be bold enough to use a guitar cable.
Obviously, I'm only in the exploration phase. It's taken me a couple of hours, but the sound of the amp is now growing on me. I'm still fine with the volume control down to 1 as far as sound, but the hum is very noticeable. Before I contact the manufacturer or something like that, I guess I'll have to try different wall outlets around the apartment, different positions of the amp and the cabinet relative to each other, and buy another cable.

[Sean65]

You could improve the cab by lining the inside panels with cloth. I used some old t shirts and glued them in place. It helps reduce the boxiness and gives a slightly more focused sound. I also dropped a little polyfill in the cab as well which improved the sound but careful not to put too much in or you'll end up with a 'lifeless' sound.

You could also experiment by removing the back panel of the cab as well. Depends where you locate to cab. Is it against the wall or standing in the middle of the room etc… just experiment a bit.

There's plenty of fine tuning you can do to tweak your sound. It's a pretty good setup you've got.

The hum might be something else in the room. A lamp or something?

[palindrome]

Great suggestions, thank you!

(On reading your post, I immediately went to check whether the lamp I placed next to the amp was to blame, but it wasn't. Then I disconnected all other electric devices on the same circuit one by one, but to no avail. Other experiments will have to wait until tomorrow.)