Which micro amp for use with an 8/16 Ohm cab and a modeller MFX or conventional pedal board?

Voxman

Probably been asked here loads of times (sorry) but I've been toying with getting a micro-amp and been trying to figure out how good or not so good these are, how much clean volume levels you can get from them eg are they really loud enough for gigging?  Also, some seem quite basic whilst others have eg fx loop and vol and EQ controls too. 

Typically I use a powered FRFR speaker with my MFX, but sometimes I might want to use a pedal board but don't want to take a conventional guitar amp and where I want to keep weight and size down.

What are your thoughts and experience with these? Just OK as a backup or could they really be part of a bonafide gig rig for pubs/clubs?

steamabacus

I can't answer your micro amp question but it occurs to me that, if you're happy with your full range speaker for power and portability, you could just use a pre-amp pedal after your pedalboard. There's any number of options with both analogue and digital (IR) speaker emulation.

In your situation I would turn to my trusty Award-Session Sessionmaster JD-10 (no longer made but they turn up secondhand occasionally). I also have an AMT V-1 which would do the same job with a more Vox-y flavour.

Nerine

Yeah, if you’re happy with your FRFR monitoring, a Tonex One would probably be a good option. 

Voxman

Nerine said:

Yeah, if you’re happy with your FRFR monitoring, a Tonex One would probably be a good option. 

Thanks for that but I think that's more an amp modeller, which all my mfx have. I was looking more for an amp to power a guitar speaker.

ICBM

The Laney Loudpedal is easily loud enough for a proper gig, through a decent cab. It’s rated at 60W and is about as loud as a 30W valve amp - maybe a bit less at 16 ohms, but still plenty.

TheMarlin

I’ve got a Joyo Tweedy XL as a little bedroom amp. Does decent fendery cleans to 5E3, to  Marshall
like dirt. 

Two channels, effects loop. It’s nothing earth shattering, but feels much more than the sum of its cheap little parts. 

Was only £109 from Thomann, most people ask that for a used on eBay!

https://www.thomann.co.uk/joyo_tweedy.htm

Voxman

ICBM said:

The Laney Loudpedal is easily loud enough for a proper gig, through a decent cab. It’s rated at 60W and is about as loud as a 30W valve amp - maybe a bit less at 16 ohms, but still plenty.

Thanks for this. I do like Laney amps and these are effectively Laney Ironheart and Lionheart amps in a pedal format albeit theres a big price difference (£169 and £399 albeit the Lionheart has extra features inc reverb, but £400 is way more than I wanted to spend). 

I wasnt initially thinking of something that emulates a specific amp type, although you've certainly given me food for thought. I've just seen the H&K Spirit Ampman Classic that's 25w at 8 ohm or 50w at 4 ohm so should be loud enough, looks really well spec'd and only £129 albeit no reverb.

I was originally thinking just something to drive a guitar cab eg 44 Magnum (44w at 8/16 Ohm) or similar. I'm assuming these types of micro amp are fairly neutral and flatter sounding whereas the Laney and H&K will feel and sound much more like a tube amp. 

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

I'm a huge Quilter fan, they're probably the market leaders in terms of solid state amps. Their Microblock 45 would be ideal for what you're looking for. Can be neutral if you want, but you also get some EQ shaping and gain tweaking abilities if you need it too:

https://ebay.us/m/bQIphr

Dodge

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/295277/nad-hughes-and-kettner-stompman

I'm dead chuffed with the Stompman, which is a cut down Ampman.

flying_pie

Can you turn off the cab SIM on your Tonelab?

If so then a Harley Benton GPA100 (or more expensive SD equivalent) would be loud enough assuming you're not using a terribly inefficient speaker. They're 100w(ish) into 8 ohm.

Voxman

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

I'm a huge Quilter fan, they're probably the market leaders in terms of solid state amps. Their Microblock 45 would be ideal for what you're looking for. Can be neutral if you want, but you also get some EQ shaping and gain tweaking abilities if you need it too:

Thanks DGUYDJ - that looks a definite possible.

Dodge said:

I'm dead chuffed with the Stompman, which is a cut down Ampman.

Thanks Dodge, didn't know there was a cut down version which looks much more compact. I like that albeit its single channel. Just a shame there's no built in reverb to the Ampman pedals but I suppose it's to be expected at this price point. As I don't have a reverb pedal I might need to get one

flying_pie said:

Can you turn off the cab SIM on your Tonelab?

If so then a Harley Benton GPA100 (or more expensive SD equivalent) would be loud enough assuming you're not using a terribly inefficient speaker. They're 100w(ish) into 8 ohm.

Thanks FP, yes I can turn off cab sims on all my mfx. However, I think the micro-amp solution is more for use with my normal pedalboard. I've heard good things re the GPA100 so will look into that one too. Re turning off cab sims, whilst conventional wisdom is to turn these off when going through a real guitar cab, my experience in practice is that sometimes it can sound better with the cab on. 

 

flying_pie

@Voxman I use either Tonex or Friedman IR-J with my usual pedals and it's easy to switch between GPA cab or FRFR (or both) without needing multiple boards or different setups. And I'd agree that sometimes cabs on can work fine - you just dial in the sound differently

But if you want a single unit for a pedalboard then they're are loads of options like the Laneys, H&K or a second hand Victory Jack or BlugAmp

Dodge

Voxman said:

Dodge said:

I'm dead chuffed with the Stompman, which is a cut down Ampman.

Thanks Dodge, didn't know there was a cut down version which looks much more compact. I like that albeit its single channel. Just a shame there's no built in reverb to the Ampman pedals but I suppose it's to be expected at this price point. As I don't have a reverb pedal I might need to get one

I did ponder the two channel one, but all of my 'proper' amps are single channel and I use boost / gain pedals when I feel like it.  It really does sound decent and responds like a good amp does.  For my use case (bought as a backup live amp, but it's now also my first choice for rehearsals), I don't need reverb but it could have been nice for home.

Still, there are some very cheap reverb pedals on the market which when set subtly will do the job in the loop  (the TC Skysurfer and Mosky spring reverb pedal er... spring to mind) if reverb is part of your live sound.

Fez

Voxman said:

ICBM said:

The Laney Loudpedal is easily loud enough for a proper gig, through a decent cab. It’s rated at 60W and is about as loud as a 30W valve amp - maybe a bit less at 16 ohms, but still plenty.

Thanks for this. I do like Laney amps and these are effectively Laney Ironheart and Lionheart amps in a pedal format albeit theres a big price difference (£169 and £399 albeit the Lionheart has extra features inc reverb, but £400 is way more than I wanted to spend). 

I wasnt initially thinking of something that emulates a specific amp type, although you've certainly given me food for thought. I've just seen the H&K Spirit Ampman Classic that's 25w at 8 ohm or 50w at 4 ohm so should be loud enough, looks really well spec'd and only £129 albeit no reverb.

I was originally thinking just something to drive a guitar cab eg 44 Magnum (44w at 8/16 Ohm) or similar. I'm assuming these types of micro amp are fairly neutral and flatter sounding whereas the Laney and H&K will feel and sound much more like a tube amp. 

I use a V1 loudpedal on gigs where it is more practical than taking a valve amp and it works really well and sounds great (clean sound isn't fantastic but is quite useable).
I did manage to pick up a second hand Blackstar cab with a 100w 8ohm Celestion speaker cab which is plenty loud.

newi123

Voxman said:

I was originally thinking just something to drive a guitar cab eg 44 Magnum (44w at 8/16 Ohm) or similar. I'm assuming these types of micro amp are fairly neutral and flatter sounding whereas the Laney and H&K will feel and sound much more like a tube amp. 

Ive carried an EHX 44 for years as a backup  and have also gigged and practiced with it using both standard pedals, a tech 21 fly rig and a POD Go. I find it fine and very usable. I know others have had reliability issues, mine is fine after many, many years.

I like how simple and boring it is, and with a modeller I preffered it to the orange pedal baby (?) Which imparted too much character.