The age old question... bedroom amps?

Davey · #1 09-06-2007, 10:30 AM

Having gone through (bedroom amps we're talking here):

Marshall mini-stack
Vox Valvetronix
Line 6 Spider's (15w & 30w)

I'm still trying to find something I'm truly happy with at bedroom levels.

The Marshall has a really nice clean sound, not sparkling like I'd want, but still a nice clean sound. The gain for me is too fizzy. I can get nice sounds coupled up with effects, but I really want something I can just plug and play without having wires all over the show.

The Vox.. to me this amp was garbage, but that's just me personally. I think it'd suit other players but I couldn't get a nice tone which I put down to the speaker sounding like it was 'farting' the sound out of it. I tried a Jem, RG550, Gibson Les Paul and a couple of Jacksons through it and still couldn't find anything nice.

The Line 6's were great but not perfect. The tone seems far too 2-dimensional if that makes sense? The cleans just aren't sparkly/glassy enough for me but the gains with the right tweak-age are pretty good, especially if you boost it with a pedal of some sort.

Now then, all I want is a nice warm bedroom amp that I can get those glassy/sparkling cleans and nice thick lead tones. Without sounding like an arsehole, money is no object (so long as it's not going into silly money territory) just so long as I can get the tones I want and stick with it. I'd save money in the long run because I won't be losing money on amps that I have to sell on because I'm not happy with them.

Anyone got any recommendations for amps you've really been happy with?

Cheers

jb4674 · #2 09-06-2007, 10:37 AM

Have you tried a Peavey Mini Colossal?

Jimmy

Davey · #3 09-06-2007, 10:44 AM

Nope, but will check some sound clips later when I can have my speakers on

syxxstring · #4 09-06-2007, 10:47 AM

Valve Jr.
That and some decent pedals and life is great at low volumes. The bonus is you have little money wrapped up in the amp.

Davey · #5 09-06-2007, 01:04 PM

That'd be cool, but I really would love to get an amp that has the gain built in rather than using a load of pedals. Thanks though

Wild_Child · #6 09-06-2007, 01:15 PM

A Peavey Bandit 112? It's got some of the best valve simulation I've heard for clean tones and has a range of dirty tones with vintage, modern and high gain settings.

I have a discontinued model for sale if you'd like to buy it

Davey · #7 09-06-2007, 01:21 PM

Do you have any sound clips? Some nice glassy strat-like stuff and some smooth/thick lead gain would be awesome if you could manage it?

How much are you looking at for it?

Wild_Child · #8 09-06-2007, 01:29 PM

I can't record anything right now because the amp's in Reading and I'm in Cardiff...

I'll see if I can dig out any old clips of the amp I have lying around. I believe I recorded a rather tasty version of the power rangers theme tune with it while my pod was being fixed last year

That should demonstrate the lead and rhythm distortion sounds. Doubt I'll have any clean demos though.

I'll PM you if I can find clips.

Davey · #9 09-06-2007, 01:36 PM

lol, great stuff

PM me a price.

Martyr Machine · #10 09-06-2007, 02:15 PM

Despite what some people say, tube amps still sound perfectly fine at low volumes. I have my 50watt YCV50 for bedroom use and it sounds amazing.

Davey · #11 09-06-2007, 02:42 PM

A low tube amp would be good, but 50 watts is far too loud.

I had a Laney VC50 but the customers glasses rattled on the bar downstairs whenever I played it

**jono** · #12 09-06-2007, 03:03 PM

I use a Line 6 Spider. The tone isn't 100% there but it's good enough for distorted lead, distorted rhythm and generic clean sounds.

The main advantage to non-tube amps is that you can just switch them on and off without warm up and cool down and no fuss at all.

I only get 20 minutes here and there rather than 3 hours to "rehearse" so it makes a lot of sense to me

markg5150 · #13 09-06-2007, 04:51 PM

This is my dilemma as well at the moment

I'm tempted by a Cornford Harlequin but £650 is a lot of money and there is no effects loop. Has anybody got anybody got any experience with the Harlequin? FX wise will be covered by my GT8

What about the Laney 15W tube amps or the new 5W Lionheart?

It's a really tricky subject !!

Jaden · #14 09-06-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild_Child

A Peavey Bandit 112? It's got some of the best valve simulation I've heard for clean tones and has a range of dirty tones with vintage, modern and high gain settings.

I have a discontinued model for sale if you'd like to buy it

hey 249...

I have to disagree with this statement strongly, ive personally owned 2 bandits, both 112's (80W I think) an early model with the greensih trim and a later transtube model...
both sh1t - I cant be any fairer than that.
If you dont like fizzy overdrive you will hate the bandit, its the most fake "tube simulator" out there - I also have a marshall Vs100R - beats the pants off the peavey but still no good.

I would be inclined to get a Laney VC15 or similar.

BTW, if anyone has a 2x12 Laney VC50 - I would be very interested !