Practice Amp Solutions/Suggestions

andy1839

Ok, some advice needed please. 

I'm after an all in one practice amp for travel so it can't be too big, aux in for MP3 play along, headphone out, and a variety of tones.

Ive been looking at the Yamaha THR10 amps and the Boss GT-001 as a start, but was wondering what you use, what has worked for you? what hasn't? 

Any to avoid?

As a point of reference I have a Fender GDEC 3 30 which is great, but too big to be portable. 
I've also had a Fly3 which I didn't like at all, as well as a pocket Pod which I didn't like either.


A

Rocker

Andy, my 'stuck record' answer to your question is a Pignose.  Works fine from batteries, about as simple to use as you can get and a decent sound.  No built in FX or anything like that.  Just a good sound.

Fretwired

Roland Micro Cube .. I have the older version than this which I take around with me and play in the garden - batteries last for ages and tones are excellent. You can even stream backing tracks via a smart phone. Cheap as chips and built like a tank.

https://www.roland.com/uk/products/micro_cube_gx/

ICBM

Rocker said:

Andy, my 'stuck record' answer to your question is a Pignose.  Works fine from batteries, about as simple to use as you can get and a decent sound.  No built in FX or anything like that.  Just a good sound.

I've owned about three or four of them and I have to say I think they're awful. They have a distinctive sound, but you've got to really work to get anything decent out of them - careful positioning of the open case and use of the guitar controls. Not that that's a bad thing in some ways, but they're really not at all flexible or easy to use in most situations. They're also not very well-made.

Heresy I know!

Sorry, forgot to say - the Vox Mini3 or Mini5 Rhythm fit the requirements and sound genuinely good.

andy1839

Rocker said:

Andy, my 'stuck record' answer to your question is a Pignose.  Works fine from batteries, about as simple to use as you can get and a decent sound.  No built in FX or anything like that.  Just a good sound.

Cheers bud, it might be a bit 'bare bones' for me!

I've seen them, but am after fx (to cover up my shoddy playing) and an aux in and headphone out that cancels the speaker.


must admit they do look very cool though. 

Fretwired

Tones from the Roland Cube GX ...

andy1839

Fretwired said:

Tones from the Roland Cube GX ...

I remember a mate had a Roland cube and I was quite impressed with it, I'll have another look at them, cheers!

ICBM said:

Rocker said:

Andy, my 'stuck record' answer to your question is a Pignose.  Works fine from batteries, about as simple to use as you can get and a decent sound.  No built in FX or anything like that.  Just a good sound.

I've owned about three or four of them and I have to say I think they're awful. They have a distinctive sound, but you've got to really work to get anything decent out of them - careful positioning of the open case and use of the guitar controls. Not that that's a bad thing in some ways, but they're really not at all flexible or easy to use in most situations. They're also not very well-made.

Heresy I know!

Sorry, forgot to say - the Vox Mini3 or Mini5 Rhythm fit the requirements and sound genuinely good.

Don't know why but I never associated Vox with these type of things, I'll definitely check them out, they seem to have everything. 

slacker

I use a zvex nano with the internal speaker, set to thin man and not too loud, sounds great.

A mate has a pignose guitar, one stop shop sounds different.

Legionreturns

+1 For the cube. I have the gx, and run it with batteries and it's great. The fx aren't bad at all and it's surprisingly loud. 

I don't think you're too far from me if you want to borrow it for a trial.

57Deluxe

Whilst we are talking ss small amps - no-one has discussed the new EL84 voiced Blues Cube yet...?

https://www.roland.com/uk/products/blues_cube_hot_british_el84_modified/?_cldee=NTliYXNzbWFuQHRpc2NhbGkuY28udWs=&recipientid=contact-f635ce17aaeae111a533001ec9b77038-e2ce2ce2b4404d36af10cd5069a14a43&esid=a5f68c08-1b45-e711-80e8-000d3a28d719

andy1839

slacker said:

I use a zvex nano with the internal speaker, set to thin man and not too loud, sounds great.

A mate has a pignose guitar, one stop shop sounds different.

I had to research these. £500?!
wow. 
At that price I'm almost in reach of a used DV Mark Multiamp. 

I'm going to have to restrict myself to £250 tops (otherwise I'd go daft and end up with another kemper or Helix and that's more money than I want to spend on a practice amp!)

andy1839

Legionreturns said:

+1 For the cube. I have the gx, and run it with batteries and it's great. The fx aren't bad at all and it's surprisingly loud. 

I don't think you're too far from me if you want to borrow it for a trial.

Cheers for the offer mate, it's greatly appreciated.

I think PMT in t'Leeds should have them so I'll have a look down next week and see what they've got. 

Sassafras

andy1839 said:

slacker said:

I use a zvex nano with the internal speaker, set to thin man and not too loud, sounds great.

A mate has a pignose guitar, one stop shop sounds different.

I had to research these. £500?!
wow. 
At that price I'm almost in reach of a used DV Mark Multiamp. 

I'm going to have to restrict myself to £250 tops (otherwise I'd go daft and end up with another kemper or Helix and that's more money than I want to spend on a practice amp!)

I found my ZVex Nano for £200. Worth every penny although you do need an external cab. Unlike @slacker I think the internal speaker's a bit of a joke.

andy1839

Sassafras said:

andy1839 said:

slacker said:

I use a zvex nano with the internal speaker, set to thin man and not too loud, sounds great.

A mate has a pignose guitar, one stop shop sounds different.

I had to research these. £500?!
wow. 
At that price I'm almost in reach of a used DV Mark Multiamp. 

I'm going to have to restrict myself to £250 tops (otherwise I'd go daft and end up with another kemper or Helix and that's more money than I want to spend on a practice amp!)

I found my ZVex Nano for £200. Worth every penny although you do need an external cab. Unlike @slacker I think the internal speaker's a bit of a joke.

I have seen the cheap versions by Hotone is it for about £100. 
I'll keep an eye out, might be a nice toy to play with for a bit.