amp recommendations (Page 1 of 2)

Thank you for your reply.

The Marshall Class 5 sounds really, really bad to me. Very thin and boxy. So that's a no-go for me

Does an attenuator really make a big difference? I've heard they hardly make a difference.

Man, there's nothing like a great Tube Amp! I have about 8, myself!

    For an apartment, though? I'd actually suggest a Line6 Spyder 15. Even has a headphone jack! And they sound great compared to most Tube Amps, at those volumes. Plus: about $99.00!

    The Egnater 20 Watter (Rebel, maybe?) looks promising, if you need a Tube Amp. Just because of the Wattage controls, and the versatility of different Power Tube configurations. 

    Whatever you do: DON'T SPEND $1,500.00 ON A TUBE AMP FOR AN APARTMENT!

    A 5 Watt "Champ" is too loud for an apartment. And not cranking a Tube Amp to at least Noon, will keep it from sounding good.
    Tube Amps need to be bought at different Wattages, for different applications.

    The only other Tube Amp I can think of that would be apartment friendly, is the Z-Vex Nano. And I think it's either 1/2 Watt or 1 Watt.

    Heck, you can get a great amp that will work on gigs, for $350.00! No need to spend so much money, right now.

    When you have played more amps over the next couple of years, THEN look into spending that $$$ on a great Amp. But seriously, right now you won't enjoy the big $$$ Amps.
    Besides, that money will be a lot larger sum, by the time you need to spend it! Put it in the bank.

   HTH.

Stay away from the Egantor.  Nothing but problems.  My friend bought one and in 4 months he's already gone through 3 of them.  Why not spend $1500, if you find something you like and it's in your budget, buy it.  Marshall SJ combo for about 1200 on ebay.  Or maybe a Marshall Bluesbreaker, with a few bucks to spare on an 808 or tonebender/rangemaster of some sort.  Attenuators suck tone and add a certain buzziness.  Their are plenty of alternatives to retain a nice tone.

Rock out,
Ben

I gotta respectfully disagree with many of the Posts on this Thread.

    Man, I'd get a little more experience with Amps before I spent a bundle on one.

    For instance:

    Are you familiar with how a Blackfaced Fender sounds and, maybe more importantly, reacts, versus a Tweed Fender?

    For Clean Tones, do you prefer the Chime of a Vox AC30, or the Depth of a Deluxe Reverb?

    Is the Plexi styled Marshall your preference? Or, do you prefer a JCM 800?

    All I'm saying is this, these are some of the basics of knowing about Amps. If any of these areas are foggy, then you should spend some serious time listening, and more importantly, playing these same Amps. Go to every music store, and every Jam Session you can.
    Playing them yourself, and maybe going to some actual live shows and listening to things in person is the only way.

    And it takes time. Better to spend $100.00 to $350.00 for an Amp that will yield 90 to 95% of the best Amps. And those "Best" Amps will only give up the goods, at volume.
    Regardless of what anybody tells you, there is no Pedal or Attenuator that will replace the Power Tubes of an Amp, working hard. And that means, with all Volumes and/or Master Volumes at Noon or above.
    And Pre-Amp Tubes are not what we're talking about here.

    Tube Amps NEED to be working hard.

    When you're talking about Apartment Volume Levels, a Peavey Classic 30 will sound 95% as good as a hand made, custom, high dollar Amp.

     And, at those low volumes, the Line 6 Spyder may actually sound better.

    I'll stop now. But, I had to give you the straight dope here.

My original "JB inspired rig" was 2 100w heads and I lived in an apartment.  I have received plenty of compliments on that tone and I assure you it wasn't crazy loud.  Like 1 or 2 on the masters kind of loud.  I don't think anyone on here will argue that tube amps sound better cranked, hence why I recently purchased a house.   But there are PLENTY of killer tones to be had with tube amps at low volumes.  Some great points are made about getting to know all of the different types of circuits out there (vintage Fender, Vox, Marshall, modern versions etc)...it really does suck being a guitarist in an apartment.  I will have to respectfully agree that you may wish to save your money for a nicer rig when the space allows.  For the tones I like, I can get by with almost any cleanish amp + overdrive pedal + reverb/delay.

Check out my new "Stop" videos, the amp used is a Super Reverb set very clean w/ a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 and Line 6 DL4.  If I was in an apartment with pissy neighbors I would probably get a vintage Fender Princeton Reverb ($600), Fulldrive 2 ($160), and Line 6 DL4 ($250) and your around $1000.  Killer low volume rig that would sound amazing, be loud enough to gig, is light/portable, and be under your budget.

My point is as follows: Having used solid state over many years with several OD`s like Boss GT 6, and many more i finally went tube for 2 years ago. As i said i mainly play at home. So i too got the information above: Don`t buy tube. Overkill for playing at home. I too have a Line 6 GT pro. Neither my Line 6 nor my solid state get used any more.
The Line6 has actually a quite good tone through the headphone. If you just play through headphones it has one major drawback as far as i am concerned and thats hearing loss. I constantly ended up playing "quite" loud but definitively too loud to not damage the ears. Maybe you are the person that is disciplined not to turn up- i wasn`t.
Solid state with different pedals: Actually never got a tone out of that stuff that even was close to what i can get my Marshall to do right now. What John TB said about his 18 Watt Marshall is surely right for the Marshall he plays. I played a lot of Marshalls myself and would not recommend you any of these. But the JVM has 2 Master volumes and as i said kills at low volumes too. I just can write it again: I have never had a nearly as good tone as i have now at any volume. The thing is if you buy yourself a Line 6 spider or what- soever lower quality amp you will sooner or later look after something better. So why not buy it in the first place and save the 600-1000USD. And i can guarantee you won`t need pedals with the JVM. Endless options with regard to what tone you want with a superb clean channel. The JVM is a steal and if you get the 205 combo version you are mobile and can use it for playing at home or a medium size venue and i would guess you will not think of getting another amp in a long while- that amp is extremely versatile.
So thats what i would do. But as someone stated above- nothing is better than to actually try out some amps yourself.

Blackheart is BH-5, I think that's blackstar that's HT-5.

The BH-5 (little giant) is excellent. I tried one recently, couldn't crank it though as it can be damn loud. Shocked me quite a bit. Great bass response from it. I recommend it, I'll be getting mine soon.

Ok being as I just went thru the process of buying a lower watt amp for use in a Church setting I think I may be able to help.
I usually like to use a Twin paired with a AC30 side by side both on clean the Vox just at the sweet spot where you can hit it hard and it growls or you can hit it light and it shimmers. I use A OCEAN EFX Texas Deuce and a Fulltone Fulldrive for my overdrives with a FUCHS Plush Drive on occasion for a Bonamassa inspired moment.

I needed something I could put under the stage and Mic and it would not be very loud. We Mic everything and run it thru a soundman and back at us thru monitors. No amps on the Stage.  Its kind of nice. Keeps stage volume managed. I am the only guitar who doesnt use a floor effects unit. I have to use an amp.

I tried a few amps and I'll run you thru them. All of these are in your budget by far.

Egnater- I really dont like these amps. They sound wierd to me. GOT MULE says they are unreliable, I've never head that, maybe its a fluke but I dont like the set up or sound. 

Line 6- Avoid like the swine Flu.  Maybe to learn for a young kid who doesnt need a tube amp.  Maybe. 

Marshall Haze- I know some people hate this amp... I thought it was a great practice amp for the money $700. Plus you get some effects.  Not that good, but they are there if you need them in a pinch.

Blackstar- They have some great little amps.  I would stay in the 12 watt and over club. 

Fender Princeton-  Great little amp.  Pricey but if you like it it could be an amp you use forever.  Mike Campbell uses them on stage with Tom Petty so that sould say something about them. They sound good quiet too. 

Vox AC4- AVOID. I bought it and thought this would work but it has a very nasally sound. I did not like it. I'll use as a toss around practice amp if I need it.

Vox AC15- This was my choice.  620 dollars brand new.  Amazing vox tone. Loud but sounds great quiet.
I played it this sunday and you would have never known it wasnt an AC30.

For 1500 you can get a Budda, Matchless, Fuchs, You might be able to find some CARR amps which are fantastic.