Best hi gain practice amp?

[paulbag]

Hey guys...been researching and whatnot before making my next major amp purchase...everything from the 6505, 5150 III, Mesa's...and quite possibly parting with a guitar to go the Axe FX route. I don't want to make a hasty decision and I'm trying to take my time and be sure to make the right choice. In the meantime...I need a good hi gain practice tone...I have an XT Live with the metal pack which is ok, but I'd like a more modern hi gain/low watt solution that won't require me using headphones all the time. So what can you guys suggest for inexpensive/low watt/hi gain? Thanks in advance for letting me pick your brains!

[DonP]

Inexpensive? Get some PC speakers to run the XT Live out on? Get the ones with a subwoofer.

[Hellbat]

Check out the Yamaha THR10X for a relatively inexpensive practice amp.

[STLKINGV]

I have a Peavey XXX 212 combo that I play.... Shit-loads of crunch at low volume and a GREAT clean channel!!

[markD]

in all seriousness, the BEST hi-gain practice amp i ever had was a mesa MKIV. to my ears, it sounded best at lower volumes and with simul-class it could be run at lower output levels than the 85 watts they are rated at. i thought the amp SUCKED at stage volumes, but was super sweet at bedroom volumes...

[jgcable]

Practice at home at bedroom levels or practice with a band?

I use a Fender G-Dec 3 at home for home practice and a Peavey Triple XXX 60w 1 x 12 combo for band rehearsal and small gigs.

Tons of gain for any genre of music from either.

[Tex]

There is this new little monster from Marshall......

http://www.marshallamps.com/product.asp?productCode=DSL15C

All tube (6V6), 15 watt or 7.5 watt switchable with a 12" speaker. Tons of gain.

I tried one out last week and it was pretty amazing. I bought it's big brother, the DSL40C

[walshula]

If using any tube amp, I would get a THD Hotplate to match your ohms for low volume playing. You can piss off your tubes while being able to control the level down to silent. Simple solution for a huge issue.

[clifffclaven]

any modeling amp. you've already got what you need with the xt. just get a powered monitor or computer speakers.

[paulbag]

Practice at home at bedroom levels or practice with a band?

This is for practice @ home with a metronome and playing with cd's etc.

[mjtripper]

Yamaha thr10 is probably the best practice amp I've found yet.

[jgcable]

Anything from Line 6. Any of the Fender G-Dec Series. Any modeling amp period would be perfect.

[AussieTerry84]

Orange Dark Terror 15 or 7 watts extremely high gain!

[Wizard of Ozz]

Line 6 Spider IV. Cheap and effective.

[84sups]

The Peavey Vypyr 30 is pretty nice. Played the 75 watt and it nails the 6505 and JSX tone pretty good.

You can get a head and and a cabinet with that or the Vox AD50VT-XL is high gain. Just stay away from the regular unless you're okay using pedals.

The new MG series Marshalls sound a whole lot nicer than they used to.