Hi-end practice amp...

[cheopsnet]

Hi,
I posted this message in the Custom Shop section b/c I am looking for expert advice on Hi-End Small amps. Let me explain: I play by myself most of the time, yet I like very nice instruments and own quite a few (Gibson LP Slash VOS, Gibson LP Classic, PRS, James Trussart, Fender Strats..).
I think it is too bad for me to own these great instruments and have an amp that brings the overall quality down....
Please, hear me before saying "what a snob"! I own a Roland Cube and it is really good..But I was just wondering if I could have your opinion about very low power (0-30W max) great amps.

Here are my ONLY requirement:
- Possibility to plug headphones . It is necessary for me b/c of where I live and b/c of my neighbours

I play mostly classic blues/rock and jazz. So basically: Slash, Joe Perry, Allman Bros, Bonamassa, Montgomery, jeff beck..
I would be using the following pedals: Maxon OD808, Dunlop Wah, MXR carbon copy delay and ProCo rat2. Because of my pedals, I am mainly looking for amazing clean tones, as I can get really good crunch and disto with my pedals (moreover I doubt I can get really nice distortions out of an amp when using headphone at low volume)

I would appreciate any comment on what s out there. I would prefer comments on gear that you have tried, rather than just exchanging what we have read on the official websites. I am not necessarily looking for super expensive stuff, but I am ready to go over $1k for a small amp that would meet my requirement and tastes.

Should I go for bad cat? If yes, which one? If yes, how much
Tube? Is it worth it for such low volume?
Rivera sounded ok but nothing with headphones, so no


I REALLY REALLY appreciate your comments. Thanks

[paintanddestroy]

both the mesa boogie subway rocket and the tech 21 trade mark 30 are pretty darn good. i think both have headphone jacks or recording outs you can go into with headphones .
the mesa has a speaker mute switch , which is cool for recording direct . you can find the trademark 30s cheap , because people buy them thinking they are loud enough to keep up with drums and then sell them because they aren't.

[Zack Pomerleau]

Fender Reverb amp maybe?

[Gaetano]

Orange tiny terror combo..

[asmith9509]

I've heard good things about the Carr Mercury

[Twentythirdeye]

people might go crazy over this.... but...

i absolutley love marshall avts. they get great tone if you can take the time to tweak it correctly. but they are discontinued. but if you could find one id go for it. the avt275 would be the best combo out of the lineup.

[Djakop]

Why don't you try wit a Line 6 POD?. I has headphones output and you can pug it in your cheap amp. Sounds great too.

[cheopsnet]

Thanks for all your recommendations. Yes, I do use a Pod xt for the moment. I might actually stick to it until a time where I will not have to worry about volume. Then I might get a Hiwatt Custom head and/or a Marshall Vintage Modern head with some good cab..Until then, I will have to enjoy my guitars on my own, with headphones..
Here is a picture of my Gibson Slash VOS I took yesterday with my phone (sorry for the quality that is not the best).This one will have to wait to enjoy being plugged into a cool deserving amp..

[THRILLHO]

Originally Posted by gaetano

orange Tiny Terror Combo.. :d

+1

[john john]

I just happened to run across this on Ebay today: VHT Super 30

The Super 30 is one bad monkey! I'd be bidding on it if I could spare the funds. So many other things I shouldn't buy first, haha! I have no idea if there is a headphone jack or not though.

Originally Posted by THRILLHO

+1

+2... Can't go wrong with Orange either.

[brettk7]

Originally Posted by john john

+2... Can't go wrong with Orange either.

+3

I have NEVER herd a Tiny Terror sound bad, and I have herd a lot of them and a lot of settings in my quest for the ultimate amp.

[BigB]

www.reevesamps.com - Home

[UKyank]

See this thread, it's what I use and I am 100% happy.

Marshall studio 15=perfect practice amp

[jwc574]

I love my Zinky Blue Velvet 25w. Its has the best tone at low volumes that I've heard and sounds pretty damn good cranked too. It did take changing the speaker to weber blue dog alnico to really make it come alive. It was a big step up from my Blues Junior.

[steadyriot]

I really love vox amps.

[coxster]

Zinky. Period.

[st.bede]

what type of clean tone are you going for?

I own a pre cbs fender princton (not reverb) and it get a very nice warm clean tone...

I also own a valuve jr and on low settings it gets a really great warm but more soild then the fender tone...

I own a old kay class a amp (the one with the strange tubes and a 6in speaker) and it gets a very nice clean tone (but is very quiet), the tone is a bit more jazzy say then the fender, it has a little more warmth, it also is the amp I first try out new pedals with...I do not know why but there could be something intutive going on....

I also have a vox ac15cc and it has that bright clean tones on lower setting but, is not quiet...

last I have a roland jc120 and it gets that popy bright clean tone (almost sterile but pure in a good useable way..if that makes any sense)

two more clean tones to think about are fenders: 1972 twin and 1965 twin they did re-issue the 72 but no longer sell it and right now they have the 65 re-issued...not quite but maybe they would work well with a attenuator...I have played them both a bit and they are both on my to purchase in the furture list....I am still kicking myself for not buying the 72 re-issue before thry quit making them...

[Voxman23]

Orange Tiny Terror kicks ass...so does a vox ac30 w/blues...hell my vox ac15 w/ greenback sounds awsome

[mojofilter]

There is a slew of amps on the market these days,which could please the most critical tone freak.PEAVEY,CRATE,ORANGE,VOX ,FENDER,etc...PLAY them all before you decide!