Looking to get a clean, inexpensive amp for home use and recording

hobbio

I've currently got a Jet City 50w head, through a Jettenuator, into a 2 x 12 cab. I love the dirt it gives, but I really play much more clean these days and use pedals for dirt. I'm after a clean head that takes pedals well, doesn't need to be loud as I don't gig and I can't see me suddenly starting.

What I do want to use it for is recording into my iPad through a Focusrite iTrack Solo, so it needs to have an emulated out of some sort, XLR or 1/4 inch jack. Aux in and headphone socket would be nice too. Totally ok with solid state as long as it sounds the part with a Rat and a klone.

Budget is quite tight, I'd be looking to fund it by selling the Jet City amp and Jettenuator plus a few pedals. I can probs chuck a bit of cash in there too, so maybe £200-£250 all in?

Any suggestions from you knowledgeable people? 

octatonic

Boss Katana or a Line 6 Spider V.

ThePrettyDamned

If you're lucky you might find a Laney lc50, lc15 or vc30... They often go cheap. 

mani

Take a look at the Trademark 60, perfect for recording - it has a sansamp xlr out for & 1/4 headphone socket, superb cleans, it's a combo though.

hobbio

Hmmm, just watching the Anderton's vids for the Katana and Spider V. I think it'll be one of those two, I'd rather go new with this than second hand.

There's a lot that appeals with both of them, but I think the 30w Spider is just edging it for me. Seems perfect for what I need it for. Cheers people!

hobbio

Actually, it'll be the Boss. The Spider won't work with my iPad and I'd have to record through the 1/8 inch headphone jack. The Boss suits my set up better, I think.

darthed1981

Boss Katana is a superb amp for the money and for a solid state full stop

ecc83

Seems to me Hobbio that you have everything except an 'emulator'? Can I suggest an HT-Dual pedal? This could take the line output of the Jettenuator and deliver an emulated output for recording. You might EVEN find guitar just into Dual and Emm'ed out suits your needs?

Dave.

Mickeyji

You may also want to check out the Fender Mustang head - it's got USB and stereo XLR out and sounds very good if you're after the classic Fender clean tones.

prowla

A Trace Elliot combo; a used one will leave you money to buy a couple more pedals!

JonHosker

Yamaha THR10C.....just great

tony99

JonHosker said:

Yamaha THR10C.....just great

I made a very similar thread a few weeks ago, and choice was coming down to this or the boss kat 50,

went with the boss and so far so good ! 

thecolourbox

Why do you need emulated output if you have the jettenuator?

hobbio

Thanks for the great suggestions people, I'm really keen on the Katana 50 or maybe even the 100 1x12 for the fx loop if I can stretch to it. I'll nip out on Friday to try one out before I buy it. @tony99 do you miss the loop on the 50? I use a lot of effects, like a Zoom CDR and a Trelicopter that I'm not sure the onboard fx will cover so they'd have to go in the front end.

hobbio

thecolourbox said:

Why do you need emulated output if you have the jettenuator?

The XLR mic sim sounds horrible, nothing like the sound coming out of the speaker, and the line out needs a cab sim that I don't have available on my iPad GarageBand. Besides, the amp itself isn't really clean enough for what I want to do. 

tony99

hobbio said:

Thanks for the great suggestions people, I'm really keen on the Katana 50 or maybe even the 100 1x12 for the fx loop if I can stretch to it. I'll nip out on Friday to try one out before I buy it. @tony99 do you miss the loop on the 50? I use a lot of effects, like a Zoom CDR and a Trelicopter that I'm not sure the onboard fx will cover so they'd have to go in the front end.

TBH honest with you mate, I don't miss it because I never had one. From the advice I've had on here though it seems pretty much like it's something you will need if you're looking to get the full experience from one of these Katanas. Myself I only really wanted a better amp than I had previously, plus some effects, and for me it's fine.

To put it in context though, when I went to get my Kat 50, there was a guy bringing a 50 back into the shop to exchange for a 100 for the very reason of the FX loop.

Cabicular

hobbio said:

Actually, it'll be the Boss. The Spider won't work with my iPad and I'd have to record through the 1/8 inch headphone jack. The Boss suits my set up better, I think.

Really? 
I don't understand that. The spider works into iOS via USB as far as I can see (2:20 in )

JMP220478

til you get sorted - have you tried any of the ios apps - amplitube etc 

Exorcist

If you want one for recording and takes pedals well, check out the little palmer Eins - (mine happens to be for sale - sorry shocking self promotion) but even new they are a bargain.

hobbio

Cabicular said:

hobbio said:

Actually, it'll be the Boss. The Spider won't work with my iPad and I'd have to record through the 1/8 inch headphone jack. The Boss suits my set up better, I think.

Really? 
I don't understand that. The spider works into iOS via USB as far as I can see (2:20 in )

It only works with the lightning connection iPads according to the specs I've seen. 

hobbio

Right, just got the Katana home after trying it out in the shop. I went for the 100w 1x12 because a) it has the fx loop and b) it was the only one they had in. I'm just going to get it set up now, and then play it for a few hours.