Guitar Gear Forum

Don't really want to get a modeler I don't think (have a POD 2.0 and it's boring at best) so any suggestions on a low watt all tube or hybrid head/combo for apartment playing? I want something with a decent range of tones, and something with a gain or master volume. Price range is let's say...under $800

Honestly for apartments I think modelers are better than tube amps.
I mean I use my Blackstar HT-5 in my apt and I dig it quite a bit however I'd probably enjoy a modeler more if I were looking for a range of tones like you are.

For small amps that are pretty kickass and do a number of tones the Eggy Tweakers are pretty cool little amps too.

K-Bizzle wrote:Honestly for apartments I think modelers are better than tube amps.
I mean I use my Blackstar HT-5 in my apt and I dig it quite a bit however I'd probably enjoy a modeler more if I were looking for a range of tones like you are.

For small amps that are pretty kickass and do a number of tones the Eggy Tweakers are pretty cool little amps too.

+1. Blackstar is awesome. If you want something with more kick look into a Baron Snot Watt but I love my ht-5 for home use.

K-Bizzle wrote:Honestly for apartments I think modelers are better than tube amps.
I mean I use my Blackstar HT-5 in my apt and I dig it quite a bit however I'd probably enjoy a modeler more if I were looking for a range of tones like you are.

For small amps that are pretty kickass and do a number of tones the Eggy Tweakers are pretty cool little amps too.

Fo shizzle... If I'm just gonna sit around and jam to a backing track without trying to rattle the walls I prefer jamming on my Roland Cube rather than my JCA22. I just find it more practical, and I think they sound much better at low volume. I don't like like the tone from tube amps until the speakers start moving a little air but thats just my opinion.

THR10

/thread

Placemat Jackson wrote:Fo shizzle... If I'm just gonna sit around and jam to a backing track without trying to rattle the walls I prefer jamming on my Roland Cube rather than my JCA22. I just find it more practical, and I think they sound much better at low volume. I don't like like the tone from tube amps until the speakers start moving a little air but thats just my opinion.

Thats a pretty popular opinion and for good reason.
Tube amps really sound best when things are getting whomped on (tubes and speakers both) IMO which is why I think modelers are a better choice.
Maybe just upgrade your modeler OP?

What modelers do you suggest? The new PODs seem to have limited models-anything else easy to uss and not computer based?

c_corie wrote:What modelers do you suggest? The new PODs seem to have limited models-anything else easy to uss and not computer based?

Valvetronix, Mustang III, any Line 6, Peavy Vypyr, Roland Cube, THR-10, yadda yadda yadda.

That said, I had a Valvetronix chrome head that I used to use for my apartment, I only liked one channel on it, but it sounded great at low volume for apartment use. Sold it though, and bought an HT-5 instead. The little Blackstar can get pretty loud, but still sounds great turned down too. All of this is through a 4x12 cab though, so........

K-Bizzle wrote:Honestly for apartments I think modelers are better than tube amps.
I mean I use my Blackstar HT-5 in my apt and I dig it quite a bit however I'd probably enjoy a modeler more if I were looking for a range of tones like you are.

For small amps that are pretty kickass and do a number of tones the Eggy Tweakers are pretty cool little amps too.

Blackstar 1W amp?

To be completely honest I actually think my HT-100 sounds every bit as good if not better than my HT-5 at TV level volumes.

There's also the Tubemeister 18 or 5w heads; both can be run at lower wattages.

Picked up a $60 used vox DA10 for late night noodling a year or so ago. Works great with headphones, even the 2 x 6.5" bring it when needed in a small room. 0.5W, 1.5W and 5W settings can be interesting too.

I wouldn't waste too much money, i,e, $800 on a "apartment friendly" amp.

That Yamaha THR looks interesting too.

Tech 21 TM10 or TM30 are pretty decent apartment amps, decent at all volumes, good range of tones, direct out for recording. No tubey goodness though..

The coolest amp to have around tha house without a doubt is the super champ xd. It has some great tones inside from old Marshall to old bassman to high gain and does so pretty convincingly. It has built in digi fx like reverb, trem, delay, chorus, etc. reverb is pretty good too and works nice. Clean channel is all tube 6v6 like an old champ. Great grab an go amp to bring over bandmates place to write. I had amps around costing much more like the bogner duende which was also a great amp and sounded great but I often found myself plugging into the champ xd. It s hard to beat the super champ xd , and when given their price it's a no brainer. I wish they made a higher watt version loud enough for gigging.

jayd41 wrote:THR10

/thread

Seriously good little amp, and does much more. Records surprisingly well, and the editor lets you set up good personal tones easily. If Yamaha makes this a full blown preamp, I would make it my gigging rig as well.

I have the 1 watt blackstar, which has nice clean tones and takes pedals really well, if thats what you want. The drive tones don't really do it for me, i don't find their isf feature to work that well either with the small speaker, everything more than 12'o clock to the "british" side and there is this annoying mid hump that sounds like something is resonating badly inside the amp, not really a marshall emphasis to me. But fot late night practice with a clean base tone, pedals and headphones i haven't found a better amp yet.

Yesterday I also got one of the Marshall 1 Watt amps, the JCM one, which i run through a 4x10. Yes, it is overpriced, but sounds really, really good! The low power mode actually works and makes it without a doubt apartment friendly, even with the external cab. No headphone out though.

check out the Laney Cub series. Worth it.

AMT P-1, E-1 or whatever one you prefer and a EH 44 magnum.

my hk triamp 100w is the best low volume amp i have played much better than the blackstar ht5

I've owned a couple of hybrid amps, but from my experience they don't take pedals that well, certainly not dirt.

The vox valvetronix had a really nice sound, and the Orange micro terror was more of a novelty than anything. I'd have like to have used it for recording though! The clean channel was okay, and the dirt channel was just as basic low gain overdrive, but it looked cool as and was fun to play.

Yamaha THR-10 would be my first choice for apartment playing.

I did have a Blackstar HT-5 when I lived in an apartment and enjoyed it thoroughly, but the THR-10 is more useful in other ways and covers more ground.

I've recently bought a little Kustom solid state practice amp. I was quite taken by how good the little thing sounds! It was only £25 in a second hand shop.

K-Bizzle wrote:To be completely honest I actually think my HT-100 sounds every bit as good if not better than my HT-5 at TV level volumes.

Agreed. Nothing better than a cranked 50/100w tube amp, but in my experience, high wattage sounds just as good as low watt at bedroom volumes.

In this case I would probably looked for a used 5150 or Mrak III.

Well just to let you guys know what I have and don't like at low volume-Mesa TOV half stack, Vox AC4TV head and cab-Orange OR50 head (through Mesa 4x12) 1964 6G6 blonde Bassman also through Mesa cab. Maybe I'm just used to when I was able to turn every amp at least 1/4 to 1/2 the way up. It not only changes the tone but the whole feel too.