SORTED: A decent home amp for up to 800(ish)

melod

“Help an amp less person” (says the cardboard sign).

So, I have been driven a bit tired with all the options out there so wanted to see what’s out there with the following “specs”:

- Compact combo
- suitable for the now occasional home playing
- In London


I could make an exception price wise for a Friedman mini dirty Shirley. Cornell plexi 7 also considered.

I tried researching the Kemper route for an all rounder option but fell into the usual rabbit hole regarding speakers cabs etc so it’s back to a small combo for me.

Thank you all

spark240

Might be better in the Amps section bud. ;-)

melod

spark240 said:

Might be better in the Amps section bud. ;-)

Oops! Thanks 

merlin

I may be selling my Abbott 5e3. It's got the Rob Robinette Mod, cheeky three way switch for different negative feedback circuitry, so allowing less breakup, more headroom and seriously less flub. 

It also has the secret weapon of 2x10" speakers. I'd want £650 plus delivery. I'm in Brighton so easily collectible from London! 

Fuengi

I've got a magnificent 1x12 Mesa Maverick that I'm still flip flopping about selling. I think I'll move it on eventually but it sounds amazing. I'm using the Blackface / Tweed voice of my Tone King more but for a warm clean voice it's unbeatable. 

I have a withdrawn thread on on it you can read through if interested. 

welshboyo

Slightly over budget - Bogner Atma?

hamfists

Over budget but how about a tone king falcon?

GoldenEraGuitars

A (not so) orderly queue emerges of keen sellers trying to flog their amps  

For some context, what sort of sound are you after? The two amps you mentioned would suggest anything fender based is off the table? Is clean more important than distortion or vice versa? Any other features you want? Reverb? FX loop? More than one channel?

TheMarlin

There is a Vyse 5E3 for sale somewhere in the board, that would be my first port of call. Celestion Blue would be a fab upgrade for it. 

Otherwise, something like a Lightly used Fender Mustang modelling amp (Vox Handbag etc) will get you nice tones at neighbour friendly volumes, for not too much money

melod

GoldenEraGuitars said:

A (not so) orderly queue emerges of keen sellers trying to flog their amps  

For some context, what sort of sound are you after? The two amps you mentioned would suggest anything fender based is off the table? Is clean more important than distortion or vice versa? Any other features you want? Reverb? FX loop? More than one channel?

No, a fender/American  flavoured amp is not off the table.

As for features: A master volume is nice. Reverb also very welcome. Channel switching not really something I am after.

Size, as mentioned a bit of an issue, but if I could  afford a matchless amp I would happily toss the coffee table out of the window

melod

TheMarlin said:

There is a Vyse 5E3 for sale somewhere in the board, that would be my first port of call. Celestion Blue would be a fab upgrade for it. 

Otherwise, something like a Lightly used Fender Mustang modelling amp (Vox Handbag etc) will get you nice tones at neighbour friendly volumes, for not too much money

Thought about the handbag. A bit unbearable to watch but may end up there or upgrade my studio monitors and rely on s-gear which sounds great on my good headphones.

TheMarlin

If you have monitors, then maybe a Line 6 Amofi TT would do the job for you. You can pick up a tidy used one for well under £100 on eBay. Often as low as £50. 

darthed1981

Boss Katana, and £600 for hookers and blow.

melod

darthed1981 said:

Boss Katana, and £600 for hookers and blow.

I could only award wisdom only once  ... sorry

merlin

melod said:

No, a fender/American  flavoured amp is not off the table.

As for features: A master volume is nice. Reverb also very welcome. Channel switching not really something I am after.

I can chuck in a small homemade (by @poopot) attenuator if you like. Makes it function at bedroom levels easily. 

GoldenEraGuitars

@melod in that case @merlin ’s amp looks smashing for the price and a nice pedal platform too

mattacjones

TheMarlin said:

There is a Vyse 5E3 for sale somewhere in the board, that would be my first port of call. Celestion Blue would be a fab upgrade for it. 

Otherwise, something like a Lightly used Fender Mustang modelling amp (Vox Handbag etc) will get you nice tones at neighbour friendly volumes, for not too much money

That'd be mine, Amersham nay but a short hop from London

melod

Succumbed  for a Cornell plexi 7. Used to have it’s bigger brother so full circle there.

A bit simple and won’t ever play it it too loud but does nice semi cleans with a brutish flavour. Maybe a Kemper in 1-2 years.