#34

@NamedUser Afaik the problem is more about ‘desktop size’ combo amps: the kind that follow the Yamaha THR form factor with 4-6” speakers, calibrated to sound good even at low volume, almost never have fx loops. There are plenty of ‘practice’ combos in the same price range with effects loops but they tend to have 10”+ speakers. (The bigger size Boss Katana, Orange Crush, Line 6, Fender (etc etc).) And those larger speaker combos are rarely calibrated/designed to sound great at truly low volumes.

Part of the issue is that the selling point of those quiet desktop amps over a custom chain that ends with studio monitors and/or headphones is plug and play simplicity. For users that are committed to using a setup with their own fx loop chains, there just isn’t as much obvious upside to these ‘desktop practice amps’ over sticking a modeler in your effects chain, and playing through studio monitors or headphones…

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#35

The Roland Jazz Chorus 22 has a pair of 6.5" speakers and a stereo effects return: can’t say how good it sounds at practice levels but seems like a good choice if an fx loop is a requirement.

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#36

Guess there’s also options like the new badcat paw (not modeling though): https://badcatamps.com/product-category/amplifiers/the-paw/

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#37

I haven’t resolved my practice amp requirements yet… but I’m drifting back to the idea of the nice sound of the supro as I have got s little back into guitar lately. it has a sound I would want to mic up and use…In the UK they seem to have gone up a little in price. Personally I am still a little anti- modelling and cheap digi built in effects in an amp- can do this better in a daw if I want it… I’m trying to convince myself i’m not being a purist for the sake it…

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#38

Friedman makes lower wattage amps with fx loops. More on expensive side, though.

#39

This is by far my favorite amp at the moment… practice or otherwise.

5w Class-A with one of the best spring reverbs I’ve ever heard.

(the one on top)

IMG_2972
IMG_29722929×3905 5.18 MB

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#40

Depends on budget really. I spent £1k on a custom Deluxe Reverb AB763 circuit a few years back and have never looked back. Barry from Vyse Amps in the UK did an amazing job. Custom features were single channel, a Mid control, an Output attenuator (for cranking input preamp gain for distortion at bedroom levels), a Line Out for recording, a “Negative Feedback” switch for getting tone similar to the original 5E3 Tweed Deluxe, and a tube effects Send and Return. 9 tubes in total, fitted it with a Weber 12" Deluxe type Alnico speaker. It sounds AMAZING!!! I am all about the clean, harmonic and chimey, and it does that great, but also takes pedals well and sounds lovely cranked. Around 20 watts, way more than I have ever needed.

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#41

Now we’re talking! At what stage is the line out tapped?

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#42

Anyone give the Minirig 3 a go? Been looking for something small for occasional living-room use that goes with guitar and/or modular and/or Norns and/or etc. It’s Bluetooth, but still has audio-in jacks

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#43

I did a show on my love of the SPAMP amp. Hey mom, it’s a Spamp!

Also includes a piece on the Rockman, the original and still marvelous practice headphone amp.

#44

Not sure, would have to consult the documentation/schematic. I think it’s from around the phase inverter. I tried it once and it didn’t sound that great, would obviously need feeding to a cabinet sim/impulse, or heavy EQing. TBH I am very happy just sticking a KM84/TG2 in front of it, always sounds great!

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#45

This speaks to me, are there any viable cheaper options valve or modelled for warm and woody tones?

#46

Modellers won’t really get there for authentic Tweed tones IMO, but for convenience they can’t be beaten (my THR10C gets used a lot more than the tweed deluxe).

You could look at building a Fender Tweed Champ (5F1) clone.

If you are in the UK there are some decent options:
https://www.ampmaker.com/shop/wf-55/
https://modulusamplification.com/Champ-5F1-Style-kit-5-Watt-Output-P5295732.aspx

If you go the DIY route you could get something very decent for not much outlay (perhaps ~£500 including the cabinet, perhaps even less).

In terms of modern valve amps I don’t really know; I haven’t tried any out for ages (the new Supro Blues Kings look cool though).

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#47

Not what the op asked for,
But the Strymon Iridium really help me play more at home with a satisfying tone (and volume) without annoying nobody.
I got a ZT Lunchbox amp too but it doesn’t sound so good at very low levels imo.
In the rehearsal room I got a trusted Roland JC 120.

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#48

+1 on the ZT Lunchbox. It sounds sterile until it gets loud enough to bother everyone in the apartment. I wonder if the traditional low watt tube combos recommended by different people in the thread have the same problem…

Do you mostly play with headphones w. the iridium?

#49

I use mostly headphones but I use my active monitor too.
(In my specific case I got a pair of iLoud micro monitors)

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#50

A short clip straight out of my practice amp of choice. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

…and then one in context with other instruments…

#51

Roland JC-22. Love mine and it takes pedals well.

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#52

I’ve just got one of the MINIRIG Minis and it sounds great on the iPod. Yet to be tested with Norns or the Plumbutter.

My friend, the amazing and beautiful Sean Julian, uses one with his Easel:

He picked his up after noting that Anthony Childs also used on his record Electronic Recordings from Maui Jungle Vol. 1, which AC confirmed himself on Muffwiggler (‘ I used a minirig speaker, though not the bluetooth version that they now sell. Amazing how much bass it produces when resonation with the hut too.’)

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#53

Oh, cool. Thanks for this. Seems like a solid device.

1 Like