Good/Cheap combo amp?

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:48 am

Im looking for a good, cheap combo amp in the neighborhood of $299 or less. Somthing that will sound good with a mic jammed in its speaker. I don't know how many watt's or what size of speaker you would want to have to get a good sound for recording.

It will be used for many different styles, but mainly used with a distorted guitar. I would also like to use it with a keyboard a little as well.

Any suggestions?

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:05 pm

tubes
small watts .. 5 or 10 perhaps 18W
10' ... but I like 12 inch for more cone break up

and I think a separate is a better idea to a combo
less microphonics and more variety

Black Heart little giant was suggested on RO a few days ago and looked interesting
I only know what I have found on the net but does looks cool
around $200 and you should be able to find a speaker cheap ... even if you have to make your own box

anything based on Little Fender Champs would also be OK

there is a Little Epiphone amp out there and I think Peavey had a small tubed toy amp combo
these could be good second hand

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:02 pm

You might find a Peavey Classic 30 1x12" used for that price. Not a great amp, but it's a decent value.

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:24 pm

sheds a flattering light on the Little Giant.

Two things to consider, though:

1.) a decent speaker cab is just as important as the amp, and to find one with the remaining $100 of your budget may be an exercise in patience (unless the combo version just happens to be awesome);

2.) some on the internet have mentioned it isn't loud enough to keep up with a full band, but I sort of doubt that notion.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:22 am

I can assure you that these 5-watters are not designed to be onstage-with-a-live-drummer type of giggin' in the first place. They are meant for the bedroom and/or studio, and that's probably what Seth wants it for.
Do try to get a seperate head/cab rig, it will help save the tubes lifespan.
Also, be careful driving keys thru a lighter-duty guitar speaker, especially the low notes, as they will rip the cone out at louder, distorted levels. You might look at pushing keys thru a bass cab instead. I bought a small Bag End-style of bass cab complete with a real JBL D-140F for $100 in craigslist. It makes a great guitar cab because it isn't too bright. Just a thought...

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:55 am

moonbaby wrote:

Do try to get a seperate head/cab rig, it will help save the tubes lifespan.

Have to ask...what is that statement based upon? Confused

Never heard of that. An amp is an amp is an amp, whether it's in a box with speakers, or a box without...isn't it? Tubes work no harder in either configuration?

I could grasp the statement that "It will save your back's lifespan", though. Wink

Just wondering.

Kapt.Krunch

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:07 am

I believe it has more to do with vibration and residuals from sound waves, supposedly being more prominent in a combo configuration rather than a head/cab. Hard to say how much truth is in it really.

All things considered with other factors involved in using an amp (moving around, riding in cars/trucks. rolling across stage, volume, tube types, play time, etc.), I personally think it's negligible. When the amp starts to sound bad, change the tubes. It's not like it costs much money, unless you're using some huge Mesa head with 37 power tubes and 90 preamp tubes.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:14 pm

I'm thinking of this amp:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DA5

I played it yesterday as was quite surprised. (I've been playing guitar for about 14 years). This amp has some clever effects, but it has a neat feature in that you can change the output power from .5 watts to 5 watts. This amp is is comparable to a chihuahua in that its small and loud as F---.

I'm thinking about this one because I want something suitable for a small jam, practice and maybe miking.

This amp also has a headphone out and a mic in.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:27 pm

?
but that's not a tubed amp ?

great for busking as it is battery driven and has some effects
and the mic in
and the CD in

he said he wants " to get a good sound for recording "

as for the speaker
yes named brand speakers could go over budget
but
my favourite speaker for recording is a worn out and damaged cone ... with a stable spider and good voice coil
so no buzzes and pole problems

I use a variety of speakers and cabinets when recording

sit the head on top of the speaker cabinet and you can get some good microphonics
you have the choice

the peavey classic was the peavey unit I was thinking of
thank you patrick

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:18 pm

Kev wrote:

?
but that's not a tubed amp ?

He never specified tube or solid state. I think any amp can be miked for recording. I stand behind my word as the VOX DA5 as a solid cheap amp. He could buy two amps and do stuff in stereo.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:23 pm

just saw this, its a little over budget but on topic.

http://zvexamps.com/amp_view.html

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:03 pm

My statement regarding keeping the speaker away from the tubes comes from many years of dealing with tube amps. Yes, the constant vibration of a near-by speaker DOES affect the tubes negligbly. The internal components of a vacuum tube are much more delicate when they are heated up. The rattling they get from the speaker they are within inches of can be brutal to their life. I've personally had to deal with this issue too many times before, preamp tubes are especially more vulnerable to microphonic problems in that situation. The practice of hanging the tubes down right behind the speaker is an economical one, not a reliability consideration.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:07 pm

Sure...I'm not arguing the point, just saying (as did you) that it's negligible. You could also pose that argument to a head sitting on a cab with insufficient feet to isolate it. Same potential result, different paths.

It's just the nature of the beast really. FWIW, most of my amps are EL84 based and those are probably the hottest burning tubes so they get changed the most often, usually whether they need it or not.

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:37 am

How does a rectifier tube work?

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:19 am

is that a serious question ?

the rectifier tube makes use of the diode properties of a tube to rectify an AC into a DC to get the DC volts required by the tubes

the transister amp will have a similar thing ... diodes or a bridge rectifier (4 diodes)

in both cases this is then smoothed with capacitors

People like the sound of tubed amps for the 2nd order harmonics
...
they also tend to like the effect that a tube rectifier can bring
some call this power supply sag

it can bring a compressed quality to the sound

when tubes get hot the vibrations can shorten their lives

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