Guitar amps - any with "Line Out" option?

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futbol1097

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I have a Peavey Classic 50/212 Tube Combo Amp and had a question on how to record directly from the amp into my computer. Because I live in an apartment, I can't really mic my amp externally because it will be too loud for my neighbors. When I record bass guitar with my bass amp there is a slot on the amp (Direct Inject) where I can run an XLR cable from the amp straight into my Tascam US-122 Midi recorder. This works great - However my Peavey tube amp doesn't have a "Line Out" option to do this same thing. Are there any good guitar amps out there that have a direct input / Line out feature since my Peavey doesn't? Current amp specs:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Classic-50212-Tube-Amp-Combo-?sku=481015&src=00633

Thanks,
E
 
If it has a headphone out you could send that into a DI box then into an XLR input on your mixer.

Or look into something like a POD or VAmp.
 
Just keep in mind that all amps (and especially tube amps) will sound drastically different through a line out than the amp normally sounds all by itself. A very large part of the amp's characteristic sound comes from the design of the power amp, the design of the cabinet, the speakers used, the impedance they are at, the transformers used, etc. All of these elements get cut out when you use a line out. It basically just takes the output from the pre-amp and routes it out the line out jack, ignoring the rest of the amp. I'll be honest, I have never ever liked the line out sound of any amp, and in most cases I thought it was not just bad, but completely unusable.
 
You could look into a low wat tube amp like an Eppi Valve Jr (5 watt head).
 
Thanks for the input. OK, sounds like I will need some sort of modeling contraption. "Try a POD or V-Amp"...Are these two the most heavily recommended? The POD is more expensive - worth it? Also, are there modelers that can do both guitar and bass or do you need a bass modeler separately. Sorry for the newbie questions?

Thanks,
E
 
futbol1097 said:
Thanks for the input. OK, sounds like I will need some sort of modeling contraption. "Try a POD or V-Amp"...Are these two the most heavily recommended? The POD is more expensive - worth it? Also, are there modelers that can do both guitar and bass or do you need a bass modeler separately. Sorry for the newbie questions?

Thanks,
E
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Theres a ton of stuff. I use plug-in modellers, but the line 6 pod is pretty highly regarded for what it is.
 
Are you familiar with the Vox ToneLab Modeler? I did some quick research comparing the Vox and the Line 6 POD amp modelers and user reviews seemed to indicate that you get a warmer, tube sound out of the Vox. Maybe I should re-post this topic in Other Equipment for more input.

Thanks,
E
 
Alot of amps have a line out, but most of them sound like shit. If it's a tube amp you can't use such a feature without also driving the speaker so it's not really what you're after.

Yeah, you would probably be better off with a digital modeler.
 
Attenuators

There are also power attenuators. These go in between your amp and speakers and "attenuate" or control how much volume is sent to the speakers. So that way you could crank your amp, or atleast put it to the volume where it sounds best, and then turn it down before the speaker. ive never used one, but theyre supposed to work well and retain tone if its not a cheap one.

search for THD hotplate on MF or music123 or what have you.

i hate the sound of modelllers personally. i especially couldnt stand using one if i knew i had such a nice amp as a classic 50 right there. if you have to, id say go with the vox modelling line. ive never heard a good sound i liked come out of something with line 6 or digitech written on it.

if you record at acceptable hours, you should be allowed to make some noise, just nothing ridiculously loud. imho.

good luck.

Adam
 
If you have some good headphones you could try plugging them into the headphone jack on the amp then mic them. This is a really simple and cheap way of using an amp without disturbing the neighbors. If you have them, try several different sets of phones, some work a lot better than others for this. This is a "poor man's solution," which can work surprisingly well.
 
Dani Pace said:
If you have some good headphones you could try plugging them into the headphone jack on the amp then mic them. This is a really simple and cheap way of using an amp without disturbing the neighbors. If you have them, try several different sets of phones, some work a lot better than others for this. This is a "poor man's solution," which can work surprisingly well.
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You can't use a tube amp without a load or whatever it's called. You'll literally kill the amp. The power from a tube amp has to go somewhere, that's why very few of them have any kind of line out or headphone jack. If a line out is needed then the orinigal poster could just go out and get a cheap solid state amp and use the line out on it, I used to do it all the time with my AVT50.
 
Yup

This is what you told me just last week, Jonnyc.
I 'member.
 
loveofjazz said:
This is what you told me just last week, Jonnyc.
I 'member.
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Yeah well I just want to keep people from ruining their stuff. The reason I always say this is because I tried to go direct in with my Mesa about 4 months ago and did in fact kill it because I had no idea a load was needed. Nothing has made me feel the way I felt when I realized a killed my pride and joy trying to do scratch tracks for a drummer. Luckily my amp is back up and running and all is good.
 
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