Simple amp to use with Helix?

RandallFlagg

What simple amp with a good effects loop would you recommend I check out for use as a Helix platform? Mainly home playing but loud enough for playing out if required?

I don't need multi channel, prefer single channel. I had a Victory V40 which sounded great but needed a bit of volume to get it sounding good as it sounded a bit dark at low volume. I should it to end the Helix and now want an amp again!  

£500-£750 budget

or do I wait util I have the funds available to buy a Mesa Boogie Mark V 35! 

John_A

Why buy an amp at all?  Haven't even thought about buying one since I got my Helix.

RandallFlagg

John_A said:

Why buy an amp at all?  Haven't even thought about buying one since I got my Helix.

I play the Helix through near fields but miss a real amp. I tried a Yamaha DXR10 but didn't get on with it

John_A

Is say stick with the DXR, you really do get more out of the helix FRFR even though the bung it through a valve amp approach may be more instantly gratifying 

Cabicular

Why not a Fryette power station?
or quilter block if you don't mind a bit of solid state
but after years of denial even I've gone frfr 

John_A

FRFR really Is the future, I've played valve amps for 20 years and was always very sceptical about modellers, had a Helix 6 months or so now and I'm 100% converted

RandallFlagg

2 channels but the Orange Rockerverb 32 looks very interesting with the stereo set up and stereo fx loop.

ICBM

Anything old, solid-state and reasonably powerful. Not as neutral as FRFR, but still with the natural top-end roll-off of having no tweeter, and the punch of a normal guitar-type 12" speaker.

Peavey, Laney, Carlsbro, HH, Yamaha etc all make various models that will fit the bill, or if you're feeling like spending all of that money instead of only about the first hundred quid, Roland.

ThePrettyDamned

Seriously, have a go with a cheaper, older solid state amp. My old Bandit loved having modellers, both in front of the amp and into the power amp. Worked brilliantly well. 

For 50-100 quid, it's worth a go I reckon. 

digitalscream

The Bandit's a good call, or just a Jet City JCA22H - plug into the effects return and use the Helix amp models. Cheap as chips, and loud as you like - they have a phenomenal amount of power amp headroom which isn't readily apparent when you use the amp on its own.

I do exactly this with my preamp-based pedalboard, and it sounds immense. What I've also noticed is that while the presence control is absolutely horrible when you use the JCA22H's preamp, it suddenly becomes awesomely useful when you're just using the amp's power section.

Dominic

Some great ideas here
The solid state solution seems worth a go for pin money
Trace Elliott tramp /supertrampSS  ?

DesVegas

All hail the bandit!

ICBM

Dominic said:

Trace Elliott tramp /supertrampSS  ?

One of the few of this sort of amp that's relatively unreliable.

I did forget to mention solid-state Fenders too, which aren't bad.