Small / Budget / "practice" Amps

TinLip

I'm in a similar position to you with a toddler and limited playing/ practice time. Invariably the best time to play is when the little 'un is asleep and you're not really going to crank an amp up just as they are nodding off.

I used to have a solid-state Peavey Transtube Rage 112 which was fine for just a quick switch on without worrying about tubes warming up but the sound was very one-dimensional. It also hummed like a mofo with a drive pedal plugged in.

I went with a Blackstar HT-5R which is brilliant. It's loud enough that if I want to take it to practice it can just about hold its own but it also has a headphone jack which does an emulated output. You can also flick the Standby switch on and play through the speaker output as normal. 

You can get the HT-5's for pretty decent money (without reverb) and the HT-5R's for about 40 quid more.

p90fool

@JookyChap has it arrived yet?

JookyChap

@p90fool said:

@JookyChap has it arrived yet?

Missed the courier this morning, so it'll be tomorrow now

Really looking forward to it though, crazy cheap innit?

p90fool

It is, and mine has taken some serious abuse over the last four years!

JookyChap

@p90fool ;

And it made it, driver took pity and dropped it in on his way back to the depot.

First impressions, it is solid. Only had five minutes with it, but the cleans are lovely and it does some nice dirty stuff too. Will give it a proper blast tomorrow though. Cheers man - so much more fun that a THRn

p90fool

It genuinely has the feel of a proper amp doesn't it?
It has that elusive "bounce" on the clean channel which allows you to dig in even on the bridge pickup.

The dirt channel definitely has a vintage flavour and is on the warm side, but if you don't try to fight it by turning the treble up too high it has some nice harmonic overtones.

JookyChap

It does have that proper amp feel, its quite odd and much more responsive than it deserves to be.

I'm resorting to the headfones now, and it still sounds good. Most bizarre

BigMonka

@JookyChap @p90fool quit your cryptic talking and tell us which amp it is! (please)

JookyChap

@BigMonka said:

@JookyChap @p90fool quit your cryptic talking and tell us which amp it is! (please)

Sorry - spilled over from another thread..

It is this from G4M. 

Of course @p90fool will tell you the new ones aren't a patch on the old ones

p90fool

JookyChap said:

Of course @p90fool will tell you the new ones aren't a patch on the old ones

Very true, 2011 was a vintage year for Chinese practice amps, your "reissue" won't be a patch on my real one.

BigMonka

JookyChap said:

@BigMonka said:

@JookyChap @p90fool quit your cryptic talking and tell us which amp it is! (please)

Sorry - spilled over from another thread..

It is this from G4M. 

Of course @p90fool will tell you the new ones aren't a patch on the old ones

oh ok, I thought by your description that it may have been something like this http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/SubZero-Tube-5W-Guitar-Amp/MHF ;

usedtobe

I was fancying one of their valve jobbies..

ennspek

Another vote for the Marshall 12 amp. Great fun and takes pedals really well. I got mine for £20 on ebay. The speaker is worth more than that. A Vox Pathfinder 15R is another good shout, still available and probably about £50 second hand I'd guess.

Rigid_Digits

Any more thoughts on the SubZero amp JookyChap? I'm thinking of trying one out. Is it too loud for house use?

Cheers.

sunshinewelly

i am also interested in these subzero amps 

p90fool

Well I love mine, c'mon @JookyChap, what do you think of it?

JookyChap

Its excellent. Already seen off a blackstar fly. Never knew solid-state could be sooo very,well valve- like

Rigid_Digits

Nice one. Thanks for your comments. I think I might go ahead and get one.