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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Amp for bedroom use?

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:24:34

Tqi wrote:

Both my Vox ADVT's died within a week of each other, two years ago. It's why I have the Vaporizers.

Impressed yours are still going!

Were yours the chrome grill version? I had one of those at one point but my current one is the original blue grill cover. 200 bucks! The original version was over engineered and to expensive.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Firetiger93 wrote:

...and in the future eventually jam out with a band. I guess the 68 RI will do.

This is a different requirement than just "bedroom" amp. I don't mean this to be gruff-sounding, but in my view there's no such thing. Get a good amp for what you need & either turn it down, or practice unplugged. I do quite a bit of the latter, but both have value if you want effects on. I have found when practicing louder when the house is empty & doors open that tone settings are slightly different because a closed room in the typical human-built box will create low-freq waves that will drive you outta there - but as Jake has said many times before, tone controls are round & adjustable for a reason.

In addition to the excellent '68 Custom PR, there is the '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb as well. Advantages for not much more are 2 channels and a 12" spkr. One is voiced like a traditional BF Princeton (or PRRI), scooped mids, very musical, lovely. The other channel is just a bit more upper mids and Bassman-like, perfect for instrumental surf (this is the voicing on the '68 Custom PR as well). Either way, my recommendation if you're only getting one, is to get the amp that fills the more difficult of the 2 tasks. At home, just turn it down. That PR Jake mentioned is a go-to for me at Dave's when checking out a new guitar - they are really nice.
Smile

Otherwise get something that simply offers you a headphone jack. However, these can be a pain if you're trying to stand up & move around the room because you're locked in doing some vigorous staccato picking (I can't do it wrapped up in a ball in a sitting position, lol.)

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:24:29

I just got this little guy:
image
SS, sound profile kinda based off the AC-30. Loud with my 15" cab, enough for a 4*5 meter room. Works with all my effects as expected, just delivers.

Badger wrote:

Get a good amp for what you need

Ta daa!

As for bedroom/practice, plenty solutions:
How much good do you need to sound to yourself while practicing?

Unplugged
Same amp at lower vol / with attenuator / with less efficient speaker / cabinet turned back / stinky old blanket
In any case, have the cabinet decoupled from the floor.
Headphone amp that sits on the plug
Amp head with dummy load to some speaker sim box or software IR
Direct to computer using amp sims, from there to headphones or monitors
Or any of the many cheap low wattage amps, even solid state.

Last edited: Dec 12, 2016 08:08:07

Tqi wrote:

Ah yes, I was a chrome-griller. Those were ...under-engineered It burned through 12ax7 tubes surprisingly fast, and eventually some solid-state components just died. Given the complexity of the system and the age and value of the amps, I decided discretion was the better part of valor.

It was a little sad though, as this is what put me off the (supposedly far better) AC30VR; because it had a digital reverb module, and my experience with the AD series put me permanently off digital technology in amplifiers for repair-ability reasons. However, an interest in a twin-cone all-analogue valve amp with reverb and a little-bit-of-british led me to the Fender Vaporizer, which I liked so much that I ended up with three of them. So, I guess we can call it a best-outcome-in-the-end.

I had the Excelsior for awhile. As for as those modeling amps go I'm not saying it's the way to go but if found cheap and the tone isn't so important it's not a bad alternative. I liked the engineering on the original Valvestate. Combining the spring reverb preset with the tape echo pre gave me drip similar to a FRV which is not a comparison to a tank but for a cheap little amp that you can plug into it its not bad at all. I also like having the various Vox models available and sometimes I like to crunch without having to plug into my Marshall's. It's just nice to have under my desk.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

For my bedroom I use a Roland Micro Cube. It's very small, onboard digi spring reverb and plenty loud enough.

METEOR IV on reverbnation

Last edited: Dec 12, 2016 08:52:02

DreadInBabylon wrote:

I just got this little guy:
image
SS, sound profile kinda based off the AC-30. Loud with my 15" cab, enough for a 4*5 meter room. Works with all my effects as expected, just delivers.

Badger wrote:

Get a good amp for what you need

Ta daa!

As for bedroom/practice, plenty solutions:
How much good do you need to sound to yourself while practicing?

Unplugged
Same amp at lower vol / with attenuator / with less efficient speaker / cabinet turned back / stinky old blanket
In any case, have the cabinet decoupled from the floor.
Headphone amp that sits on the plug
Amp head with dummy load to some speaker sim box or software IR
Direct to computer using amp sims, from there to headphones or monitors
Or any of the many cheap low wattage amps, even solid state.

I've been thinking about getting one of these Hotones. For less than the price of a pedal why not mess round?

Since my wife won't let me play guitar in the bedroom, I use this tube Marshall DSL5C in the living room when I'm not using my DRRI in the den. It's switchable between 1W and 5W.

image

I'm using Quilter Steelaire for everything including apartment practice. At 0.5 master the volume is just right.

-Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:23:43

I have a living room amp albeit not one that is conventional.
I use an Effectrode Blackbird tube preamp (clean channel is based on the Fender Twin) and Two Notes Torpedo C.A.B. as the power amp simulator which includes room reverb. Along with my Surfy Bear reverb, it goes into my Steinberg UR22 USB interface and either out to my headphones or to my M-Audio active monitors.

Most of the time when I use this system, I am woodshedding my parts for an upcoming show and other times for the sheer love of the reverb drip. While not portable (at all!), this system has the tube preamp for a nice, full, natural tone and it can be used for recording demos. And because my Vibrolux and Fender RI reverb are not involved in this setup, there is less to tear down and set back up again for taking it away to gigs and rehearsals. Less wear & tear, too.

Before I went to this rather expensive, elaborate extent, my 'practice amp' was a Tech 21 Character pedal (the "Blonde") and my trusty FRV-1, again into my USB soundcard and out to monitor speakers/headphones. At least the Tech 21 units are all-analogue. This 2-pedal setup along with a DI is my backup amp for gigs.
For home use, I don't want to use a digital amp or PODs, etc. (as I used to use for several years of ear-fatiguing frustration) because for clean tones I really feel that the tube component is important.

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Last edited: Dec 14, 2016 14:44:57

Tqi wrote:

taijiguy wrote:

Since my wife won't let me play guitar in the bedroom, I use this tube Marshall DSL5C in the living room when I'm not using my DRRI in the den. It's switchable between 1W and 5W.

Until the Bassbreaker came out, these seemed to be the standard 'home tube amp' that guitar shops were pushing. It's not 'surfy' in that it's not designed directly towards that sound or aesthetic, but what it is, is a really nice, well-rounded tube amp that sounds good and works for just most things.

Good taste. Smile

I had never heard of the Bassbreakers until very recently. The 007 looks very interesting to me.

Supro 1616T and sometimes a Fender Champ.
image

I use the AC4 that Jake mentioned (the blue one with the ac15/30 top boost tone controls) and really like it. I changed the speaker to an alnico Weber blue pup and clipped the bright cap and really like the results. It sounded good before, but that much better now. It's 4watts through a 10" speaker. The ac4tv is a bit darker sounding with less control over tone but has the option of attenuating the output. People seem to like those as well.

I got mine through an employee/dealer deal which saves a ton of money. They're great little amps but cost more than many of their competitors.

That being said, you can find some SF vibrochamps going for about $500. That might be a good route since you can always sell it for at least what you paid for it. Plus, you get tremolo and a great little recording amp.

If you're thinking about playing with more people in the future and budgeting one amp, I'm going to second what others said about getting the amp that fills the more difficult role (or louder in this case). Princetons are sweet and might be loud enough depending on your group and space, the drri or vibrolux ri might be better if you think you'll really need the extra volume or channels.

-Eric

New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify

Also:
https://theverb.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 12:23:38

I'd recommend a Fender Vibro Champ XD. Single tube with 5W output. Surprisingly loud at full whack. It's a tube modelling amp so a huge range of sounds are available rather than dragging out a load of pedals. I have one and it gets an awful lot of use. The reverb's not too bad so you just plug in and play.
I'm really impressed with mine, I got it for under £100 and it sounds great at bedroom levels. Not very big either.

There is a 15W Super Champ version which is probably a bit more versatile as you could probably play a small bar with that, but the 5W version is small, portable and sounds very very good.

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Only one you'll ever need:
Vox vt40x or vt100x.

I have belcat amp, maybe made in china or indonesia, sounds horrible but it's okay since it just for self practice

Umar
The Mentawais
The Rentones

I am still really digging my Quilter 101 head for low volume playing (loud as well)
It has the uncanny ability to sound very similar to my low wattage vintage amps that I use for practice or around the house playing.

Cheers,
Jeff

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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