Amp for home use? - UK guitar forum for guitar shops, guitar dealers, guitar reviews, guitar technicians, guitar tuition and more

#272679 - 27/02/10 11:32 AM Amp for home use?
The Eggman The Eggman Professional Forumite! Registered: 30/01/09 Posts: 479 Loc: The Green Hills of Surrey	I'm looking for an amp for home use. I play for fun and therapy and mainly confine myself to blues, classic rock and something that I can sing along to. I want to be able to plug in an iPod so I can jam with backing tracks for practice and I need a jack for headphones because I want to play at night and still be on speaking terms with the neighbours. (While we're on the subject, what headphones for £50-£70? I've always been a fan of Sennheiser for hi-fi purposes; are there any 'phones that cope particularly well with guitar amps or will pretty much any good quality ones do?) I rather like inconsequential noodling about with different sounds and effects but I don't really want to be buying loads of pedals so an amp with some built-in effects would possibly suit unless there are one or two killer effects pedals that will do it. I play a Godin Summit CT and a Richmond Dorchester, though not at the same time I hasten to add. General consensus seems to be that valves give a better sound but I'm concerned that I wouldn't be able to play at a loud enough volume to really get the benefit. I want something that sounds good at home volume levels. With a budget of £350 or so I'm quite taken with the new Kustom HV30T; the video review on their site impresses and Richard speaks highly of them. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experience of these amps or could recommend an alternative. Thanks for taking the time to read this. $\:\)$ Owen
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#272683 - 27/02/10 02:09 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: The Eggman]
Noise_Maker Noise_Maker Professional Forumite! Registered: 23/10/07 Posts: 881 Loc: Usually on the Sofa	I've a baby Kustom (KGA16 I think) which was find for my first amp but I struggled to find a sound that I really liked. 'tis now looking for a new home. I now use a Blackstar HT-5 Tube Combo with an old Digitech RP350 for effects. The Blackstar wasn't cheap by what a difference compared to the little Kustom. The HT-5 is loud but for me it seems good at all levels and I don't feel I have to crank it. Also live the clean/dirty channel pedal. _________________________ Guitars: Kimbara Strat Copy : Cort G250 : Variax 600 : Crafter TC045/N Amps: Kustom 16 Watt Jobby Other bits: Digitech RP250 : BYOC Octave Fuzz : M-Audio Fastrack Pro AI : Guitar Rig 4 and Reaper http://www.myguitarblog.co.uk
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#272697 - 28/02/10 10:24 AM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: Noise_Maker]
The Eggman The Eggman Professional Forumite! Registered: 30/01/09 Posts: 479 Loc: The Green Hills of Surrey	Thanks for that. the Blackstar seems well thought of so one to add to the list. Cheers.
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#272701 - 28/02/10 10:38 AM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: The Eggman]
Noise_Maker Noise_Maker Professional Forumite! Registered: 23/10/07 Posts: 881 Loc: Usually on the Sofa	I think I pretty much tried all the small valve amps during my search. None of them were bad, the HT-5 seemed to offer a wider range of tones than the others. _________________________ Guitars: Kimbara Strat Copy : Cort G250 : Variax 600 : Crafter TC045/N Amps: Kustom 16 Watt Jobby Other bits: Digitech RP250 : BYOC Octave Fuzz : M-Audio Fastrack Pro AI : Guitar Rig 4 and Reaper http://www.myguitarblog.co.uk
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#272713 - 28/02/10 04:26 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: Noise_Maker]
Blues_Dev Blues_Dev Forum Council Member Professional Forumite! Registered: 20/01/10 Posts: 125	In my opinion yes valve will the better sound if we are, can be permited to generalise, but I dont think a valve will give you the things you are after. I did read read the other day about an amp that fits your exact needs, but for the life of me cant remember where. But it enabled you to plug in your ipod etc to jam along to and had effects i think. I cant comment on the sound quality of the amp or if its any good but do a google search for amps/backing tracks/ipod/effects/line in etc because its out there somewhere. Edited by Blues_Dev (28/02/10 04:28 PM)
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#272715 - 28/02/10 05:57 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: Blues_Dev]
Lurcher Lurcher Professional Forumite! Registered: 09/02/09 Posts: 689 Loc: Tipperary, Ireland	All the Roland Cube and Peavey Vypyr ranges have Line in for MP3, iPod etc. Quite a handy idea, along with headphone jack, that many decent home amps utilise. I'd look at the offerings from 30w, not because you need that power but because the built-in effects and emulations are better than in the smaller models. My own little Cube 15x only has clean or a choice of 4 distortion types which probably wouldn't quite cover what you want with much versatility. That said, I am more than impressed with the build quality of the Roland. Going up the scale a bit, The Fender Super Champ XD is a (mostly) valve amp with a lot of built-in sounds/effects. I'm hoping to do a test of many of the Hiwatt range soon and will throw together a combined review. Brian _________________________ I pick up my guitar and play Just like yesterday Guitarist with The Silver Hoarde. Geriatric Metal for your weddings and wakes.
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#272719 - 28/02/10 08:31 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: Lurcher]
stickyfiddle stickyfiddle Spam Commander (Forum Council Member) Old Timer Registered: 22/04/04 Posts: 4833 Loc: Oxford	I read that the line6 Spider Valve mk1 has just been replaced, so the old models are available quite cheaply if you can find one- under £350 for he 1x12. I haven't tried one but I've heard good things. Might be worth a go?
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#272734 - 01/03/10 06:14 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: stickyfiddle]
The Eggman The Eggman Professional Forumite! Registered: 30/01/09 Posts: 479 Loc: The Green Hills of Surrey	Thanks again guys. I think a nice little fact-finding mission is warranted.
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#272737 - 01/03/10 06:32 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: The Eggman]
DC01 DC01 Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 09/01/10 Posts: 15	Im in the same the sort of position and want to upgrade my amp. Im torn between the Fender superchamp xd and the Vox VT30. I ve played with both and like them both the same. The Vox for its superior versatility and the the Fender for better tone when clean. Anyone got any opinions oh these to help sway me please. Edited by DC01 (01/03/10 06:33 PM)
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#272912 - 06/03/10 12:53 PM Re: Amp for home use? [Re: DC01]
Bob the builder Bob the builder Professional Forumite! Registered: 03/05/08 Posts: 889 Loc: tite	You might also want to consider the Line 6 Spider Jam eggman - sounds like you'd apreciate all the on-board backing tracks, effects and facility for plugging in your Ipod or other MP3 player for other backing tracks. I'm seriously considering getting one of these myself so will let you know if I do. _________________________ Enjoy every note, play long and prosper
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