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Mesa Mini Rec in my case - mentally loud even on 10w setting
Fender Pro Junior, also a 10w amp & 10" speaker, great tone and also mentally loud - knocks the Blues Junior out of the park.
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My back is definatly happier with me!
are you looking for portability?
or are you trying to get natural breakup at lower volume? (less headroom)
I personally prefer a head and cab vs Combo, because for anything outside of home playing i much prefer at least 2x12, and in combo format its too heavy to carry around. So if you go combo, only 1x12 combo's give you any upside when if comes to portability in my opinion.
luckily so far most gigs and rehearsals have 4x12's as part of the back line, and i just take a head...but if i had to drag my 4x12 on a regular basis, i would consider going with a 2x12 cab for sure, and as far as heads go, i luckily scored an old Acoustic 150, so that saves me lugging around my matamp head...otherwise, one of the quilter heads are great. They sound great...take pedals well, and light as anything.
I have a space problem, my wife is the drummer and I also own most of the PA so my days of being a lone guitarist with a 4x12 in the back of the car are long gone.
I've use various different cabs since my 4x12 days and for me a pair of 20w 1x12 combos has been the best solution in terms of spread, 3D-ness (if that's a word) and built-in backup.
For me the main reason was that I never got to open up the master on my amp to the point where it sounded best. Even at bigger gigs I had to keep it pretty quiet and was mic'd anyway. I just don't think loud stage volume for guitarists is a thing any more, depending on your venue/PA of course. For me 20w EL34 and a 2x12 is the sweet spot of volume and tone. Loud enough to get above drums (even in my loud stoner rock band!) but quiet enough to get the power valves working at their best. There's a little compromise in low end response compared to a bigger amp but you soon get used to that and if you don't need true clean tones I think it's a way better option.
Lugging a big amp just doesn't appeal to me any more, can't be arsed!
for info , I’m wanting downsize for both portability and being able to get more breakup than a 100 watt amp gives at the volumes most of us play at .
my tone now is the best I’ve ever had
However if I'm on my own doing gigs in a covers band or playing as a session guy for an artist perhaps, I'd want something I can load in and out quick esp as alot of venues cleverly like to be built with shit loads of stairs and tight corners.
I could go down the 2x12 route but that'd still mean lugging the amp head which is really really heavy for an amp!
So I think something like a 40 watt combo would be easiest. Can fit in the back of a car easy as well. And as Timmy said, usually at backline share shows we usually get a shitty Marshall 4x12 with stock G12T-75 speakers which sound awful with my amp. Worse still we've had other cheap shit to play through.
Typical gig rig is either an HRD or a marshall 50w head and 2x12 cab. But I always take a folding sack barrow like this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/VonHaus-90kg-Folding-Hand-Sack-Truck-Lightweight-Aluminium-Alloy-Heavy-Duty-Cart/25008851795?iid=302518087794
They are sometimes available from Aldi for £15 or other places as much a £55 for the same thing.
Heres a used one in Oxfordshire for £5
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Workzone-aluminium-hand-sack-truck-Collection-form-Oxford-area-/401488010457
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*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
I prefer open back sounds these days, I’m not playing anything hugely heavy though.
My band - Crimson on Silver For sale - Blackstar HT-5S
Gear - Guitars, amps, effects and shizz. Edited for Phil_aka_Pip, who is allergic to big long lists.
I agree with everything that TTBZ said earlier - actually having a smaller amp working a little bit gives a way better tone to my ears, plus they're much easier to lug around!
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself