Cheap Tube Amp for recording? / Low volume recording / Importance of room

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Dominate_Virus

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Hello, I have a 40 watt Peavey Envoy 110 amp and it's a hunk of shit. It says that it is 'Trans-tube' but that is not even close to good enough for recording, it sounds awful.

My equipment:
- M-Audio Profire 610 (recording interface)
- Shure SM58 (mic)
- Gibson Les Paul Studio (guitar)
- Peavey Envoy 110 (amp)

So to make things simple here's a list of questions:

1. What are some cheap tube amps that would be ideal for recording in an environment where loud noise is the enemy?

2. I've been recording with my amp in my closet because I barely get a good signal even when my amp volume and interface gain are both cranked - would recording in a room with a lot of echo help?

3. Would it be a bad idea to record guitar with a condenser mic if I want to record with the volume from the amp being lower?

Thanks for your time !
 
well ...... cheap would be the Bugera V5. Runs at 5,1 and 1/10 watt.
I had one ..... it's decent for the price. Well built for what it is and sounds acceptable. You can get one for $150 ..... not gonna get much cheaper than that. If you can go a little more then I'd get the Blackstar little amp. They make a 1 and a 5 watter.

Lots of people use condensers to record guitar so that's definitely ok.
 
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Lt. Bob said:
a little more then I'd get the Blackheart little amp. They make a 1 and a 5 watter.

.
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did I say Blackheart!?!? CRAP I meant the Blackstar as legion said. I'm so senile!
:rolleyes:
I'd want the HT-5 w though, more versatility. But it's $400 so it may be too expensive.
That HT-1 does get great reviews.
 
1) Not sure what your definition of cheap is, but take a look at the Egnator Tweaker. EXCELLENT studio amp, since it can change tones at the flick of a switch, from British grind, to Brit clean to American clean.

Not sure I can answer the other two better then a lot of the minds on this forum, so I will leave it to them to answer the last 2!
 
Ya I've been looking at the V5 but its distortion sounds too passive for rock music, but I'm not sure.
Thanks for the suggestions guys ! :)
 
Importance of the room? My drummer just recently moved and the old room sounded so much better. The new place is bigger so i thought it would be fine. Nope. We are now working on tuning it up. What a bummer it's been.
 
I played through the little 10" Vox yesterday. 1/4 watt, 1 watt, 4 watts. The 1 watt mode was super musical as was the 4 watt. $250 at GC.
 
I'm looking at a Vox Lil' Night Train that may fit your needs. It is the little brother of the better known Night Train and is available under $400. All tube, no reverb, no tremelo. 2 watts and a headphone output that lets it be used as a very nice preamp or recording front end. There's a "low - high" switch. Very basic. It sounds dead quiet and is very, very clean. The smaller unit comes with a cab fitted with a 10" Celestion speaker with a 1/4" connection. You can drive about any 8 or 16 ohm speaker cab with this unit, including stacks. I think I'm going to spring for one if I can trade a couple of my amps for it.

lg_LilNT_V110NT_Front.jpg
 
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I'd definately say Vox AC4. It's got gorgeous tone, it's light, and has three wattage modes. Not expensive at all. Look into it!!!
 
CMunch said:
Yep, I can't fault mine.
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MunchDude has spoken. :cool:

:)


I got caught in the hype of the little Epi Valve JR. It really does sound ok but not what I was hoping for. Don't think I'd buy another one based on what I know now.
Plus, I did some mods to it so that brought it up to a more acceptable level for me.
:drunk:
 
Dogbreath said:
MunchDude has spoken. :cool:

:)


I got caught in the hype of the little Epi Valve JR. It really does sound ok but not what I was hoping for. Don't think I'd buy another one based on what I know now.
Plus, I did some mods to it so that brought it up to a more acceptable level for me.
:drunk:
Click to expand...

Did you do that bright mod dude? I did, does brighten it up a wee bit, I still like my epi but it's just not in the same league as the Blackstar. :)
 
nate_dennis said:
I'd definately say Vox AC4. It's got gorgeous tone, it's light, and has three wattage modes. Not expensive at all. Look into it!!!
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Yes, this is the one I played yesterday. It made the guitar I played sound so good that I bought the guitar! Maybe I shoulda bought the amp!!!

comes in 2 versions.

vox-ac4tv.jpg
 
Just traded a couple of amps for the Lil Night Train... gonna have some fun this weekend... :)
 
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