1 Topic by JPrzech (edited by JPrzech 2010-11-01 00:15:43)

  • From: Farmington, CT
  • Registered: 2010-04-23
  • Posts: 64

Topic: Small Amp Recommendation

So I just had abdominal surgery last week and, rather than cancel gigs, decided to plod my way through them. However, there's no way I'm going to be lugging my Fender HRD and its roadcase around any time soon. So, I decided I needed something small to fit the bill for a few weeks (weak excuse for my GAS, I know).

I went to my local GC expecting to leave with an Orange Tiny Terror head to play through my Marshall Haze 1x12 cab. The cab was a Craigslist steal - $150 still in the box. I was a little concerned about clean headroom w/ the Orange, as my band plays a variety of classic rock tunes, many of which need a nice clean sound.

Long story short (too late), I stumbled upon the Vox Night Train head before pulling the trigger on the Orange. So glad I did. The amp is light (17 lbs.), has a great OD sound but more importantly, cleans up extremely well, which the Orange and others, like the Blackheart line, do not (in my opinion). I gigged w/ the Vox on Friday night and got plenty of compliments on my tone which was really great, since I'm not much of a guitar player. I still have to fiddle around with my pedal settings to get those spot on, but if any of you out there are looking for a really great buy in a "lunchbox" type amp, I highly recommend the Vox Night Train. I got a great deal on it at GC too - $449 on sale. Now the only problem is I have to sell some other gear in order to justify keeping it!

"Another song, another mile." - The Black Crowes

JPrzech's Website

  • From: Essex
  • Registered: 2010-01-11
  • Posts: 2,119

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

...hope those stitches heal up real fine JP'!

...just a hint though this might produce mixed feelings!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce1fiU31MFU

Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.
R. Buckminster Fuller
  • From: Farmington, CT
  • Registered: 2010-04-23
  • Posts: 64

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

Thanks Pete. I actually don't have stitches, but some kind of suture that is like a glue and dissolved into the skin.

As for the Class 5, I did own one of those for a while a few months ago. I was amazed at the Plexi sounds the amp could make, especially for a price tag of $400. However, like I said, I need an amp that cleans up well too and the Class 5 didn't do that. The Class 5 was, to me, a one trick pony, although it was on e whale of a trick. I find the Night Train to be much more versatile.

"Another song, another mile." - The Black Crowes

JPrzech's Website

  • From: Farmington, CT
  • Registered: 2010-04-23
  • Posts: 64

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

By the way, another good thing about the Night Train is, though it doesn't have onboard reverb, I find it doesn't need it. I played the Vox at GC with and without a Holy Grail reverb pedal and while I noticed a slight difference, I think the amp sounds just fine without it. I just mic'd the cab and put a little 'verb through the mains.

By now you might be thinking I'm on salary with Vox, lol. I'm not. I've always been a loyal Fender amp guy. I just want to recommend what I think is an excellent product to other likeminded souls.

"Another song, another mile." - The Black Crowes

JPrzech's Website

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

I like VOX. There is something real classic sounding about their tone.  They are just fun to play.

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

I just picked up a cornell plexi 7 second hand. It sounds amazing. Even at 1/4 watt setting it is very loud ofr the house. I teamed it up with a box of rock and love it. I set the plexi clean box of rock everything at 12. What amazes me is how well the box of rock behaves like an amp when pedals are stacked in front of it. With my strat and a fuzz it can nail those hendrix tones, with a les paul type and a tubscreamer it get sin the joe ball park. I'm running it through a hot rod deluxe extension cab and it sounds great. very vintage looking too. I put off buying one of these for too long, now I want a romany to pair with it.

  • From: Ireland
  • Registered: 2010-10-25
  • Posts: 57

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

The night train looks real good but the lack of FX loop is off putting. Is there any good way of putting reverb and delay into your signal without the use of a PA.

Guitars: Epiphone JBLP, Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Amps: Marshall Vintage Modern, 18 watt clone
  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

Fuzzblues wrote:

I just picked up a cornell plexi 7 second hand. It sounds amazing. Even at 1/4 watt setting it is very loud ofr the house. I teamed it up with a box of rock and love it. I set the plexi clean box of rock everything at 12. What amazes me is how well the box of rock behaves like an amp when pedals are stacked in front of it. With my strat and a fuzz it can nail those hendrix tones, with a les paul type and a tubscreamer it get sin the joe ball park. I'm running it through a hot rod deluxe extension cab and it sounds great. very vintage looking too. I put off buying one of these for too long, now I want a romany to pair with it.

Interesting...

I'm looking at one of those currently (just missed out on an 18/20 head)...I'm thinking of putting it into a 2x12 or a 4x12 at a later date.

Tell me, does this get to anywhere near a big roar? I'm coming from a couple of 100w heads a fair way up on volume through a 2x12...I don't expect it to run with them, but does it remove the ornaments and keepsakes from the shelves?

  • From: Farmington, CT
  • Registered: 2010-04-23
  • Posts: 64

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

jimmydweed wrote:

The night train looks real good but the lack of FX loop is off putting. Is there any good way of putting reverb and delay into your signal without the use of a PA.

Reverb through the board sounds just fine in a small venue - they're mainly hearing the amp through the mains anyway. I keep my delay pedal on my board. It ain't perfect, but my name's not Bonamassa.

"Another song, another mile." - The Black Crowes

JPrzech's Website

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

DaveWammbarro wrote:
Fuzzblues wrote:

I just picked up a cornell plexi 7 second hand. It sounds amazing. Even at 1/4 watt setting it is very loud ofr the house. I teamed it up with a box of rock and love it. I set the plexi clean box of rock everything at 12. What amazes me is how well the box of rock behaves like an amp when pedals are stacked in front of it. With my strat and a fuzz it can nail those hendrix tones, with a les paul type and a tubscreamer it get sin the joe ball park. I'm running it through a hot rod deluxe extension cab and it sounds great. very vintage looking too. I put off buying one of these for too long, now I want a romany to pair with it.

Interesting...

I'm looking at one of those currently (just missed out on an 18/20 head)...I'm thinking of putting it into a 2x12 or a 4x12 at a later date.

Tell me, does this get to anywhere near a big roar? I'm coming from a couple of 100w heads a fair way up on volume through a 2x12...I don't expect it to run with them, but does it remove the ornaments and keepsakes from the shelves?

At seven watts its very loud, Even the 1/4 watt setting is too loud for night time practice. The box of rock sounds amazing with it though. I have the amp set clean, tone at 1, edge at 5. Volume to taste, anything less than 3 and the amp stays clean with single coils. I then use the box of rock pretty much as the preamp, Think hendrix without the Fuzz on. I have added various stomps in front, 808, pork loin, hendrix octave fuzz and my dunlop hendrix fuxx just arrived this morning so will report back. With a strat it's hendrix, les paul or PRS David Grissom and it's classic rock all the way. Bonamassa tones are there! If I ever get back gigging I would love to try the plexi 7 out to see how it handles, Would do fine if it was miked up I reckon!

  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

OK - I am hereby demanding a clip!  big_smile 

Fuzzblues wrote:
DaveWammbarro wrote:
Fuzzblues wrote:

I just picked up a cornell plexi 7 second hand. It sounds amazing. Even at 1/4 watt setting it is very loud ofr the house. I teamed it up with a box of rock and love it. I set the plexi clean box of rock everything at 12. What amazes me is how well the box of rock behaves like an amp when pedals are stacked in front of it. With my strat and a fuzz it can nail those hendrix tones, with a les paul type and a tubscreamer it get sin the joe ball park. I'm running it through a hot rod deluxe extension cab and it sounds great. very vintage looking too. I put off buying one of these for too long, now I want a romany to pair with it.

Interesting...

I'm looking at one of those currently (just missed out on an 18/20 head)...I'm thinking of putting it into a 2x12 or a 4x12 at a later date.

Tell me, does this get to anywhere near a big roar? I'm coming from a couple of 100w heads a fair way up on volume through a 2x12...I don't expect it to run with them, but does it remove the ornaments and keepsakes from the shelves?

At seven watts its very loud, Even the 1/4 watt setting is too loud for night time practice. The box of rock sounds amazing with it though. I have the amp set clean, tone at 1, edge at 5. Volume to taste, anything less than 3 and the amp stays clean with single coils. I then use the box of rock pretty much as the preamp, Think hendrix without the Fuzz on. I have added various stomps in front, 808, pork loin, hendrix octave fuzz and my dunlop hendrix fuxx just arrived this morning so will report back. With a strat it's hendrix, les paul or PRS David Grissom and it's classic rock all the way. Bonamassa tones are there! If I ever get back gigging I would love to try the plexi 7 out to see how it handles, Would do fine if it was miked up I reckon!

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

A Fender Pro Junior seems to make another JB  very happy. If it's good enough for Beck then......The choice is solely up to you of course.

Best of luck!

Stay Safe
me

  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: Small Amp Recommendation

I grabbed a mint condition used Two Rock Jet Combo (cost less than $2k) set up with 6V6 for 20-watts.   

A quick low volume 1-take noodle I did for a friend this morning wanting to hear what it sounds like, so with aid from my band (Boss RC-20XL Loop Pedal)....lol and recorded live with a $5.00 plastic goose neck computer mic right into ACID Studio ($75.00).....I'm really up on the times for recording gear...lol.....here's the clean channel 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kmJJbIAoDw