Small Gigging Amp--Suggestions?

[adamjn]

I'm working on the third in a series of modelling amps that I'm using for gigging with my duo/trio. First a Mustang, then a Vox, now a Line 6. They all sound basically fine, for the most part, but 1) I really don't use them to their potential, 2) I've grown tired of tweaking, reprogramming, etc., and 3) I find that I still need/want a few pedals anyway.

We play a wide variety of tunes, from pop, country, trop rock through blues and some classic rock. So I tend to favor cleaner tones--don't really need any high gain stuff. Some gigs are very, very quiet, almost bedroom volume, so I don;t need anything big. I'm using a Dyna Comp and a Bad Monkey already, and am looking at a BB Booster and probably a delay of some type.

Anybody have an idea of an amp I should check out?

 

[Paulbiz]

Marshall Class 5

Fender Blues Junior

 

[barellano]

If you're on a budget, the Super Champ XD might fit the bill.

 

[orcslayer]

Roland Cube 30X

 

[jimiraz]

My question would be are you thinking another ss or a tube amp.
If a tube amp you may want to go with a higher wattage seing you use pedals for a little grit.
At least you will have plenty of clean headroom that way.
Not sure a Class 5 as paulbiz states would fit what your needs sound to be.

 

[ShaneRingo]

+1 on Blues Junior

 

[TSims1]

Blues Junior. Peavey Classic Series........Vox AC15............these are the one's I would personally take a serious look at.

 

[Nickdsmith]

+1 on Blues Junior

+1 from me as well. I reckon I could get all the styles you are after from my Blues Jr and my Blackstar HT Dual stompbox.

 

[STRANDMAN]

If you're on a budget, the Super Champ XD might fit the bill.

+1 on the SCXD. I run my pedals through the clean channel and set the DSP channel for a nice alternate overdrive or whatever. Add a 1X12 cab and it'll do it all.

 

[Bangbang]

The roland cube will do it.

 

[DosMIMstrats]

Mesa/Boogie F-50

 

[oakhills]

+2 on the SCXD

 

[stratopogo]

If you want small and LOUD for the size, a Fender Pro Junior will do it- electronically related to the Blues Junior, but if both are stock, the Pro Junior is louder and rawer sounding. The right tubes are crucial to this amp- I've had both JJ and Electroharmonix EL84s innit, and liked them both... DID NOT like the stock Sovteks.
The v1 tube determines the flavor- I've liked either an Electroharmonix 12AX7 or a NOS JAN 5771. I like JJ's, but JJ's in v1 have made the amp too bright. The v2 tube determines how quiet it's going to be- I use a JJ ECC82 which has been very quiet.
Swapping out the 10" speaker can make a huge difference, but don't get anything with a huge magnet- there is NOT a lot of room. And don't use any tubes like a JJ ECC803S that tend to have rattling issues... the tubes are so close to the speaker that such issues WILL show up FOR SURE. If you are careful of these things, the small size is great, and so is the sound.

 

[adamjn]

Thanks for the input everyone. Also glad to see no one suggested a Victoria or some other god-awfully expensive amp!

 

[AWH-NJ]

VOX AC-15, great clean tone and great with pedals...

Peavey Classic 30, great all around amp....

 

[Marco]

If none of the DSP amps are getting it done for you the guys over on the Jazz guitar forum like the ZT Club, the Hennriksen and Ibanez has come out with an intriguing amp called the Wholetone WT 80. At Forty Five you must be wanting to keep it on the lighter side. If not a Roland JC 120 would be perfect.

 

[muzzaman]

Epiphone BC30 would be a great little gigging amp, fairly cheap too!

Muzza

 

[mechanic]

Traynor ycv20 maybe? Good clean, great grit and loves pedals.
just my 2 cents.

 

[louis cyfer]

the modeling amps sound good on their own, but disappear in a band situation. an ampeg jet 20 would be perfect. point to point hand wired. used to sell for 299 new. 20 watts.

 

[Pappy]

louis - I agree on the little Ampeg.
An upgraded Blues Jr works nice, too
I really like the Mesa Boogie 5:25 Express.