Author Topic: good solid state practise amps - orange crush etc.. (Read 4568 times)

gwEm · « **on:** November 18, 2007, 11:35:27 AM »

the distortion on my MI Audio CrunchBox and SansAmp GT2 sound pretty good, ok they don't clean up in the same way as valves, but the drive is marvellous.

i was thinking that this sort of technology could be used to make a great sounding solid state practise amp... and then i thought maybe thats already happened. theres thousands of solid state practise amps out there, i suppose 99% are total rubbish. but, the technology exists to make a good one, so has anyone done that?

for example, the orange crush range appears to boast valve like distortion etc etc. dont really need an all valve amp at 3am, but do need something that doesn't sound of solid state fuzz.

edit: would be nice to have a head as a have a pretty cool sounding G12H 1x12

maverickf1jockey · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2007, 12:14:10 PM »

if you are going for heads i'd say don't exclude valves. Try the Tiny Terror for example (mine sounded great in the shop but needed a couple of weeks to really start roaring and grinding properly.
Alternatively, if you are strapped for cash, you could go for a Kustom 10-watter (SS but sounds pretty damn decent with higher-output pups on the drive and the cleans are quite nice.).
On SS heads I've only tried a Carlsbro (don't know model) which had a good scoopy thrash tone but the cleans were lifeless and dead.

gwEm · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2007, 01:14:40 PM »

thanks alot - i'll check out your tips.

i'd love a tiny terror, but i'm thinking it might be needless money. at the end of the day i have a 50w valve amp for gigs. i'm thinking a valve amp rated at 15/7 watts might be a little too loud still. obviously there is the zvex nano head, but i tried one and thats a bit too quiet ;) so i refuse to spend $$ on that.

just looking whats in the space, (lets say 5w valve, 15w solid state) and i'd say its got to be SS, if it sounds good that its. the orange ones could be good, as they don't have loads of DSP effects. good clean and good drive are all the effects needed ;)

Elliot · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2007, 02:44:59 PM »

Have you seen the new Fender Champ XD range? - single valve preamp + 6V6 power amp but with digital DSP modelling on the front.

I haven't heard them yet but they are getting rave reviews in the US.

As an aside I think that a practice amp with a 12" speakers is pretty much a must, anything smaller is always going to sound unsatisfying - but some small practice amps with speaker out are smaller than heads in any case.

hamfist · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2007, 02:55:21 PM »

Quote from: gwEm

i'd love a tiny terror, but i'm thinking it might be needless money. at the end of the day i have a 50w valve amp for gigs.

Another option is to get your amp sent off to someone like Martin at Martamp and get power-scaling installed. It'll cost about £130-£180. And, yes, it really does work ! Fully cranked tones at bedroom volumes.
Just an idea :)

Alan

Henk · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:25:34 PM »

Well i like the Vox pathfinder i have, had a pretty high gain with booster and as one of the few small amps a decent enough speaker also, still dont find the gain appealing enough to actually use.

Those line 6 Spiders seem pretty decent effectwise and they are at least a complete package. I think the 30 watts one is about 175 pounds or so?

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:38:16 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

Have you seen the new Fender Champ XD range? - single valve preamp + 6V6 power amp but with digital DSP modelling on the front.

I think that a practice amp with a 12" speakers is pretty much a must

Seems the way companies are going now - modelling preamps are sounding VERY good and it's just the balls of the output stage that's missing. Will have to checkout one of those babies.

As for 12" speakers, I totally agree - even those little Squier 15w tranny combos sound alright through a 4x12.

:twisted:

gwEm · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2007, 05:16:40 PM »

have considered power scaling, but if it was just about practise, i could simply use the 'low' input and my crunchbox... of course i forgot to mention that managable size and weight is important too.

i hear what you all say about speaker size. i just have a 1x12 and 2x12, they both sound fine, never tried any smaller speaker sizes. worth bearing in mind i might be able to add a speaker output to a combo and run it through my cabs.

the idea of DSP effects scares me, but i'll give some a go maybe. shop assistants always seem to plug me into some sort of line6 - they seem nice enough, but lack 'balls' as HTH says ;) first thing i do is switch the bloody things off!

Quote

but some small practice amps with speaker out are smaller than heads in any case.

any suggestions for good ones? i'm not expecting even close to boutique quality with a SS or hybrid amp obviously ;) but i'm after a half decent british sort of drive and sparkly cleans for late night jazzing. only the orange crush range and some of the smaller hiwatts are on my 'to try' list so far. i'm very much a single channel kind of guy - and i have enough trouble managing that...

gamesandy135 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:17:20 PM »

I had a line 6 spider 2 and it done the job for late night practising. It was really handy having a headphone socket and an aux input on it. The effects aren't great, but hey, may as well have them instead of not.

The good thing about the spider range is there are so many to choose from so pretty much any budget can be catered for, any wattage, any speaker size.
Not tried the spider 3, maybe they're better. I'd put them on my to try list, might as well. You might find just what you're looking for.

Twinfan · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:32:56 PM »

I believe the little Vox modeller amps are very, very good for little money.

As for the Tiny Terror, the master volume works very well and it sounds great at low volumes.

gwEm · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2007, 06:54:51 PM »

thanks twinfan and andy!

i suppose i should face its the tiny terror that i really want. would be great with the 1x12

i'll give the voxes a go, and perhaps the line 6.

its weird, i make modern electronic music, but my taste in guitar gear is totally old school. very worried about having lots of cheesy effects. its why i'm looking at orange/hiwatt.

maybe laney lc15 is a good compromise

Henk · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2007, 07:11:34 PM »

For a bit of clean noodling the Vox is fine, but if you want to 'really' use it i would definately go for a Spider.

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:02:28 PM »

I disagree that solid states are rubbish, I mean personally I prefer tubes, and have no reason to go back, but Dime used SS and that doesn't sound shite...

everton_fc · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:02:58 PM »

I've got two of these they are so good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320186380901&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:54:51 PM »

Quote from: AngusYoung01

I disagree that solid states are rubbish, I mean personally I prefer tubes, and have no reason to go back, but Dime used SS and that doesn't sound shitee...

:roll: