Practice Amp purchasing help - who is top dog?

[DonP]

coming late to the party but I just wanted to make the suggestion that a small keyboard amp might work out well for people using a pod at 'bedroom' volume. They don't color or distort the modeler signals and produce something pretty close to what you hear through the headphones directly out the pod.

Yep, your late But you are probably correct as well.

The whole reason I started this thread is that I couldn't get the same "POD + headphones" effect with speakers. I was using PC speakers, and tried a very nice set of Altec Lansings from Gateway 2000 (separate woofer and tweeter), some cheap PC speakers, some Bose Companion 2 speakers, and just yesterday so Harmon Kardon PC speakers, which are ported and sound the best so far. The lack of bass response is what's killing it for the PC speakers - I haven't tried a set with a sub-woofer.

So now for modelling, I have a POD 2.3, a Fender G-DEC, and the VT15. Both the POD and the VT15 sound great for Metal in the apartment. The VT15 has that big sound in a small box thing going on. The POD still sounds great with headphones.

The G-DEC is very "fun", but the distortion settings so far (I'm still very new to it) suck compared to the Vox or POD. I'm taking the G-DEC home to Cinci today to give to the wife. She's into country, and since this thing can't do metal...The G-DEC has some great features for being an all-in-one amp. For someone not into metal, it would be a perfect first amp with all of the feature (like the tuner). I got it for $130. At this price it's a good deal, but I wouldn't pay the full price.

[DonP]

I at least didn't have to pay for shipping and no tax too. I like the 2 year extended warranty from them too. I wish one of our sponsoring dealers carried them.

Someone (The Guitar Store?) on ebay had been listing a VT15 for $169.95 free shipping. I called them up and got it.

[Tashtego]

I picked up a roland kc series amp a while ago for use with a pod xt and have been pretty happy with it. You might want to give one of these a listen at the store. See if they will hook up a pod to it for you or bring yours.

[DonP]

I picked up a roland kc series amp a while ago for use with a pod xt and have been pretty happy with it. You might want to give one of these a listen at the store. See if they will hook up a pod to it for you or bring yours.

At this point I'm pretty happy using the POD with headphones and the VT15 with speaker or headphones.

I think I might try a cheap set of PC speakers with a sub-woofer if I try again.

[oklaSTAR]

I bought one of those Peavey Viper 30's, and I love it. Killer sounding little amp. It is analog distortion with modeling for the effects. Sounds awesome.

[DonP]

I bought one of those Peavey Viper 30's, and I love it. Killer sounding little amp. It is analog distortion with modeling for the effects. Sounds awesome.

For the price you can't beat it. Like I said before, why couldn't they have had this stuff back in 1985 when I was stuck with a stupid Gorilla

One thing though - I'm home in Cinci over the weekends, and yesterday I aired out the DSL100 1/2 stack.

None of these will cut the mustard like a real amp, but for practicing in a small apartment they work quite nice.

[Rich#6]

finally got mine. really liking 2 of the distortions, but I need to mess with it a lot more. Only messed with it for about a half hour so far.
Yes the internal speaker doesn't work when a external cabinet is hooked up.

[Rich#6]

I am sending the voxvt50 back. can't use my uber pedal- no "clean", external speaker sounds like mudd, still only like 2 out of 66 settings. grrr!

[DonP]

I have two VT15's at the moment. I got the $170 on on ebay and I need to take back the Guitar Center one that was $220.

The one issue I have so far is that the distortion is a little "grainy" on "nasally" compared to my POD 2.3, but I can't open up the volume in the apartment. I'm going home today to try one balls out loud to see if it sounds better.

It bumms me out that even with a small amp, it's still too loud for an apartment. Headphones still are the best solution so far for me.

Oh, and I don't really use pedals. I do have an MT-2, a TS-10, and a Crybaby. I hardly use any of these.

[Cygnus X1]

Don-consider building a 5 watt SEL.
I have built two, both sound excellent at low volume.

[DonP]

Don-consider building a 5 watt SEL.
I have built two, both sound excellent at low volume.

I think I could. I have a 320-0-320 85ma tranny with 5v and 6.3v taps. I'm afraid the B+ amps isn't enought to run a push-pull pair.

Now that I've let the air out with the VT15 at my house, it's surprisingly loud. I think it had a very efficient speaker. The bass is very strong, almost boomy.

I'm finding I like the Fender G-DEC. It's no where near as loud as the VT15, which is good for apartment use.

[Cygnus X1]

Of course it doesn't have all the bells and whistles (modelling, headphone jack).
But really good tube tone doesn't need all those effects IMO.
I have been getting to the point where I just don't use effects any more.

[PowerTube]

Like I said before, why couldn't they have had this stuff back in 1985 when I was stuck with a stupid Gorilla

Sorry to hear that.



But what kind of amp did he play on?

[DonP]

Of course it doesn't have all the bells and whistles (modelling, headphone jack).
But really good tube tone doesn't need all those effects IMO.
I have been getting to the point where I just don't use effects any more.

I've never used effects but now I'm starting to get used to them with the modellers. I've always been a guitar into amp guy, too lazy to use pedals or the effect loop. I have a new Midiverb 4 I bought new in 1998 that hasn't been used but once. It's still in the original box.

[Spivonious]

So, Don, it's been a month. What amp ended up working out for you? Did the Vox go back?