junplugged
Taking the slow road
just heard a very nice mesa boogie 45 watt 4 tuber w/ swapped tubes, don't remember what the dude put in it, also sweet custom semihollow thru it, wild w/ single coils too.
I think little amps sound like crap....or I am open to suggestions.
Outlaws
New member
As much as I hate keeping old threads alive, I have to say that the engineers technique is at fault if a small tube combo doesn't record well for the simple fact that one of the greatest rock songs of all time, in more peoples opinion than just mine, is Layla. It was recorded with an 8" speaker I belive. Even if it wasn't the stock speaker, it was still a low watt Champ pushing whatever speaker was connected.
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
since this is an old thread I started, I will tell you what I am using now and it works pretty good.
don't laugh at the amp choices though!!
I bought an Alesis Wildfire 60 watt amp as the main amp. That amp allows you to run it as one side of a stereo rig...so I use another little Marshall valvestate for the other "side", and on stage it sounds great to me...nice and full. The Alesis also allows using an expression pedal for the built in effects, and I basically use it to add distortion/overdrive...any amount from completely clean to full overdrive. And actually the two amps in stereo with a touch of chorus doesn't sound half bad. So...just my guitar (main axe = Amer stand strat) and the two amps. NO PEDALS!!
volume wise I could take a little more at times, but it definately holds with our drummer. The Radio Shack sound meter at about a yard out said about 105 dB...same as the drum kit, more or less.
don't laugh at the amp choices though!!
I bought an Alesis Wildfire 60 watt amp as the main amp. That amp allows you to run it as one side of a stereo rig...so I use another little Marshall valvestate for the other "side", and on stage it sounds great to me...nice and full. The Alesis also allows using an expression pedal for the built in effects, and I basically use it to add distortion/overdrive...any amount from completely clean to full overdrive. And actually the two amps in stereo with a touch of chorus doesn't sound half bad. So...just my guitar (main axe = Amer stand strat) and the two amps. NO PEDALS!!
volume wise I could take a little more at times, but it definately holds with our drummer. The Radio Shack sound meter at about a yard out said about 105 dB...same as the drum kit, more or less.
Codmate
New member
My little Fender Vibrolux Custom Reverb sounded great the other night in a medium sized club. That was the first time I've played without micing it up and wow - what a fantastic little amp. It never fails to impress me.
Mind you - it really is an integral part of *my sound*, so it's a very personal thing...
Mind you - it really is an integral part of *my sound*, so it's a very personal thing...
Middleman
Professional Amateur
I think the Vibrolux is one of the best studio/live amps made. Its low enough wattage that it will break up at relatively low volumes which is great for use while recording, but it will kick butt volume wise if necessary. Not as loud as a Fender Twin, which is good, but it’s just right even for large clubs. I use mine regularly, a 1981 blackface.
Another small amp recommendation, and I am sure to take a few bullets for this one, is the little Kustom single 10 inch with Celestion speaker. It's really cheap, less than $150 as I remember. You can drive the crap out of it and it sounds great recorded. Due to the frequency range of the small cabinet, it will cut through a fairly loud band in a small club. I bought a couple of these for my sons guitars and end up using them regularly for recording.
Another small amp recommendation, and I am sure to take a few bullets for this one, is the little Kustom single 10 inch with Celestion speaker. It's really cheap, less than $150 as I remember. You can drive the crap out of it and it sounds great recorded. Due to the frequency range of the small cabinet, it will cut through a fairly loud band in a small club. I bought a couple of these for my sons guitars and end up using them regularly for recording.
B
Bianchi Joe
New member
This was my answer to the same problem
Gibson GA 5 Les Paul Junior. 5 watt, all tube, class A, point-to-point, hand wired, 8" speaker, single volume knob. Small amp nirvana for 500 clams. For recording and home use, I have yet to hear anything even close.
Gibson GA 5 Les Paul Junior. 5 watt, all tube, class A, point-to-point, hand wired, 8" speaker, single volume knob. Small amp nirvana for 500 clams. For recording and home use, I have yet to hear anything even close.
B
bford
New member
I've used my Budda Superdrive 30 live hundreds of time and it always sounds fantastic. It's a head and I use it with a 2x12 loaded with vintage 30's. Believe me there is nothing small about the sound. Of course it cost over a thousand dollars also. I've also used my Trace Elliott Velocette live and it also sounds great. It's fifteen watts with a Celestion vintage 10 speaker in it. It doesn't have a high gain sound whatsoever, but the clean sounds big and full. It also does the slight break up rock sound very well. Both amps record great also.
I personally prefer most smaller amps to bigger amps, but I have used and loved both.
peace
bford
I personally prefer most smaller amps to bigger amps, but I have used and loved both.
peace
bford
Codmate
New member
Middleman said:
We should form a club...
Vibrolovers!
I made a Vibrolux post on another musician-orientated forum the other day and you'd be surprised how many Vibrolovers came out of the woodwork. It really is a lovely little amp
I'm going to go and pet it right now!
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
Just to keep things in perspective, I had originally griped about small amps for LIVE situations. Recording has NOT been a problem.
However, my current setup as mentioned previously has been working fine. Looking at maybe a Line6 ....potentially.
However, my Ampeg V4 still remains the champ....even over those valued Marshalls........ for live use that is.
However, my current setup as mentioned previously has been working fine. Looking at maybe a Line6 ....potentially.
However, my Ampeg V4 still remains the champ....even over those valued Marshalls........ for live use that is.
I
Imaduck
New member
I must agree with you mix, I think small amps for live shows suck, mic'd or otherwise. Something just feels lost when you have to run small amps through the PA, and I agree, the distortion feels week. It's important to note that you are rarely looking for a live sound when recording (why would you want the live, airy, unsophisticated sound when you could have quality recorded sound?) so those who keep mentioning micing small amps because they sound good recorded are missing the point. I've seen dozens of bands who swear by micing small amps and only 1 of them has had a decent sound (it was a small orange with a little crunchy distortion, and the sound wasn't even that great).
Anyway, I say a 60-120 watt amp is fine. That's enough noise to fill most medium-sized venues. Anyplace bigger can mic your cab and it should still sound alright. Single or dual speaker combos are nice and portable, just make sure they have good handles. My 60+ lb. Crate's handle broke and the damn thing landed on my foot. Nice stuff.
Anyway, I say a 60-120 watt amp is fine. That's enough noise to fill most medium-sized venues. Anyplace bigger can mic your cab and it should still sound alright. Single or dual speaker combos are nice and portable, just make sure they have good handles. My 60+ lb. Crate's handle broke and the damn thing landed on my foot. Nice stuff.