Best small combo for under $400

[fritzreiser]

I need a small, portable combo, on the order of 10 - 30 watts, capable of doing some pretty good cleans and great distortion. I am probably thinking solid state with modeling capabilities. I've read other threads about the Roland Cubes, 15 & 30, and the Tech 21 TM 10. Any other recommendations?

[jgcable]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

Crate DXJ112 modeling amp. I paid less than $300.00 and it included the full size foot board and has 128 presets. It has great cleans and great distortion. 1 x 12 60 watts SS. Light and portable and pretty darn loud. Anything from Soldano to Fender to Vox. It has a great Mesa and a nice hot rodded Marshall too. Cheap and fun. Great effects too including auto-wah.

[Hotrodder]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

The hell with modeling!

Marshall JCM 800 1x12 50 watt Combo.

Or a Traynor YBA-1 head

[prsk87]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

to have it all get the line 6 spider 2.i dont know how much its worth but that or the first one

[fritzreiser]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

Originally posted by Hotrodder:
Marshall JCM 800 1x12 50 watt Combo.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hotrodder: I had a white JCM 800 1 x 12 a few months ago, I think it was a 4010. It was a cool amp, but it weighed a ton! Plus, I never could find a distortion pedal to give me quite the tone I wanted. I want one of them there modeling amps so that I don't have to carry any pedals around.

[blindmuddy]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

I picked up a Mesa DC 3 as a backup and its incredible. 35 watts great clean and distortion and sounds killer through a 4 x 12 when needed. It has 2 channels and a switchable eq. Used it was 450. Definitely worth it.
Chris

[Jimi D]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

I have a Mesa Studio .22+ and a Tech21 Trademark 10. Both are cool amps, but if you want to jam, the Studio .22+ is a far more practical amp. On the flip side, the Mesa doesn't sound as good at bedroom levels - you want to push the EL84s a little to get it to sound it's best. If I were looking for a light, portable amp that would sound as good in the bedroom as on stage, I'd go for the Tech21 Trademark 60. I think it breathes a lot better and has better dynamics than any digital modelling amp I've listened to...

[RacerX]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

its best

[BigDaddyD]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

You must be a very busy man

[toejam]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

I hear the Mesa F-30 is pretty good, and I've been thinking about getting one of those eventually. Also, check out Carvin's amps.

[Deneb]

Re: Best small combo for under $400

Mesa stuff is pretty nice, I can speak for them on more than a few occasions.