Most versatile small home recording amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clit Torres
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Most versatile home recording amp

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Clit Torres

Clit Torres

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I've been looking for something small to record with in my small space, both for micing up and going direct, it's not going to be used for rehearsals or gigging. I'm obviously looking for something versatile cause I record various styles. It seems many here are into the Roland Cube as far as convenience and versatility goes, but I'm really torn between the Cube 30 and the AD30VT.
So any experience/comments on the models mentioned or any others I missed will be much appreciated.
 
Possible additions: I use a Fender Blues Jr. and I've read a lot of favorable things on this forum about the Vox Pathfinder.
 
I'm lucky enough to work at a music store, and we carry all of those amps. Here is my subjective answer to a subjective question.

The vox ad30vt is my personal favorite. It has a tube poweramp section and a solid state preamp section. It has the best tone out of the ones you listed. Gets a real nice clean sound, a nice country twang sound, and also the real heavy rock sounds too. The effects are pretty nice too, and you can tweak them a fair amount too.

As far as versatility, the Vox wins. BUT, if you're looking for a killer sounding amp that will get a great clean sound and a pretty nice crunch sound, I will second the fender blues junior. All tube, about 15 watts. Add pedals to it and you've got basically everything the vox has and then some. I have one of these at home and love it.

Rory
 
You can't beat the Vox for the money.

Nothing comes close.
 
rory said:
I'm lucky enough to work at a music store, and we carry all of those amps. Here is my subjective answer to a subjective question.

The vox ad30vt is my personal favorite.....................

As far as versatility, the Vox wins. BUT, if you're looking for a killer sounding amp that will get a great clean sound and a pretty nice crunch sound, I will second the fender blues junior. All tube, about 15 watts. Add pedals to it and you've got basically everything the vox has and then some. I have one of these at home and love it.

Rory
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So would you say that the Vox carries many sounds you would not necessarily use ?

Interesting to see that you feel the fender blues junior can do the same basic vox sound once you have added some pedals to it.
 
Oh, I'm a big fan of the Blues Jr. Don't get me wrong. But if it's versatile that you're looking for, the Blues Jr. is NOT the amp you want. It will NOT do a traditional "Fender clean" sound. It basically does one sound - a moderately crunchy mid-gain tone - with a few slight variations on this one basic theme.

For what you're looking for, I'd have to say go for the Vox. They are generally considered the best sounding of the modeling amps out there.
 
Bassman Brad said:
Oh, I'm a big fan of the Blues Jr. Don't get me wrong. But if it's versatile that you're looking for, the Blues Jr. is NOT the amp you want. It will NOT do a traditional "Fender clean" sound. It basically does one sound - a moderately crunchy mid-gain tone - with a few slight variations on this one basic theme.

For what you're looking for, I'd have to say go for the Vox. They are generally considered the best sounding of the modeling amps out there.
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That is exactly what I thought, but rory feels that the Blues Jr. is able to carry some of the sounds of the Vox valvetronics.

Perhaps he means that he feels the Blues Jr. sounds are a good as all the variations you can get from the Vox? But let me not speak for him, also I have opened a specific thread about this subject just to see what you guys think.

YEs I am also blown away by the Vox valvetronics sound and all the tonal options it has on offer.

Eddie
 
For micing at home- get a low power tube amp. Highly recommend the THD Univalve. I have this. 15W power only and you can even decrease the power level by switching tubes.

You can get these from avatar speakers for $659.00
 
Well, I'd say that they are two different beasts. Personally, I use a large effects setup, so if I need a particular sound, I achieve it with pedals. My amp tone by itself is very clean. I would'nt say that the blues junior is as versitile by itself, nor does it achieve what the vox does by itself, but in my opinion it has a better clean tone.
The point I was trying to make was that if you're looking for versatility in one amp, and the ability to get tons of different amp sounds and effects, the vox wins (my opinion). BUT, if you have a fair amount of pedals and rack gear, you might be better off getting an amp like the blues junior because to my ears, it has a better starting tone.
I hope I've made some sense,
Rory
 
I think the Vox is a great modeling amp. WAY above the rest of the pack in regards to its realism in its actual amp sound. For a pure simple amp sound, the Blues Jr. is hard to beat for the money.A used one can be had for in the neighborhood of 300 clams. Its the primary recording amp in my little room. I change the tone by varying the speaker system.Run it through a 16ohm 4-12 cab....you're cutting the watts in half and changing its response quite a bit(and increasing the heat in the amp)...Try a Weber speaker....These things come from the factory with the bias really cranked up. A great tech can get that sucker sounding like a 15 watt AC in no time(same tubes!)As far as a Fender tone...its kind of a stretch simply because of the EL tubes in the output. They're a bit faster and not as deep sounding as the 6V6 or 6L6. I have zero problem getting the Blues Jr. to do what I want it to. Of course if that doesnt work quite right, theres the 1970 Princeton Reverb, the Seymour Duncan Convertable, the 67 Vox Cambridge(SS), the Carr Hammerhead, The DOCBOX,and several others.
 
I would not choose any of the amps on your list to record guitars with on a regular basis.

Be careful about putting too much emphasis on versatility unless you just record jingles. You will be much better off with an amp that does a couple things really well than one that does a lot of things half assed. Also I strongly recomend going for an all tube amp. The amp itself may be less versatile on the front panel but it will be far more responsive to what happens in front of it, like changing guitars, pick ups or even how hard you play.
 
Of those that you listed the valvetronix sounds best. However I agree with Ronan, and add that a tube amp will also make effects pedals sound better in case you really did want to use tons of effects, although I doubt you'd use as many if you had a better sound.
 
i dunno but i think the AD30VT sucks major
sounds like a cheap boombox imo
get a cheap all tube amp and some stompboxes
 
rory said:
The point I was trying to make was that if you're looking for versatility in one amp, and the ability to get tons of different amp sounds and effects, the vox wins (my opinion). BUT, if you have a fair amount of pedals and rack gear, you might be better off getting an amp like the blues junior because to my ears, it has a better starting tone.
I hope I've made some sense,
Rory
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you there. It seems that any valve amp does have a good starting tone [basic tone] the rest is up to the player, the istrument and your taste [and your tonal referencepoints]
 
have you looked into the epiphone valve series? i think these sound awesome. pure class a tube amps. i just ordered a valve junior for myself. 5 watts with an 8" speaker, $120. i think amp modelling, no matter what company, just plain sucks!!!
 
You can't do much better than an old Fender Champ. Want versatility? That's what stompboxes are for! :cool:
 
You should try the v-series from crate. All tube class A. You can get them in 5, 15, and 30, and 50 watt versions. Guitar Center carries a variant called the "palomino" - its basically the same amp in a different package.

For recording at home, I'd probably snatch up the v8 palomino for $280.

That, or I'd (and I plan on) go with a pod xt.

Just go to guitar center and play them - bring your own guitar in. One of them will "speak" to you. I personally don't like the vox ad stuff, and I think the crate v-series stomps all over a blues junior or a pro junior. I tried the epiphone valve amps and didn't really like them, either - this is all with my guitar, too, so its all subjective.

That said, I'm awaiting shipment of a peavey classic 30 - but that might be overkill for bedroom recording. They are impossible to beat for the money, though.
 
While I voted for the Roland Cube 30 as it is incredibly versatile and I liked it better than the Vox.

That being said I picked up a Kalamazoo (Gibson) Model One tube amp. All class A, 3 tubes 5 watts, 10" speaker for around $100 bucks!

Guitar > Keeley Compressor > Kalamazoo > Awesome sound from clean to medium distortion. Probably not good for heavy metal without pedals.

Add the preamp out from the Cube 30 for some of the effects and modeling > Kalamazoo awesome and tons of versatility!
 
Clit Torres said:
I've been looking for something small to record with in my small space, both for micing up and going direct, it's not going to be used for rehearsals or gigging. I'm obviously looking for something versatile cause I record various styles. It seems many here are into the Roland Cube as far as convenience and versatility goes, but I'm really torn between the Cube 30 and the AD30VT.
So any experience/comments on the models mentioned or any others I missed will be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Defenitely the AD30VT. Good enough for small gis or amedium gigs mic'd as well.
 
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