• Josh J
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • From: Tampa FL
  • Registered: 2010-07-21
  • Posts: 53

Topic: More Amp help needed

Ok, need some more advise on amps, went to the guitar store over the weekend and played lots of different tube amps and the one i liked the most was the marshall class 5. But i also played some different solid state amps as well, the marshall mg40 (i think) that was not to bad, It had all the different effects in it that were kind of nice. So my question is with the class 5 being a tube amp with overdrive pedal , fuzz,  reverb,  etc hooked up to it do you still have to crank that sucker up to get the tubes cranking, because its pretty loud at that point and the wifey is not going to go for that since i play every night until about 10 pm and i am not a headphone kind of guy.

  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 184

Re: More Amp help needed

Well Josh,

Not real sure what to say. Yes the Class 5 is very loud for 5 watts. I have found that I can get very nice tones out of it at lower volume with the effects pedals doing the job. At least that has been my experience. I don't have anything exotic except maybe my Hotcake Bluesberry, which would be considered to be a boutique pedal I suppose. It works fine too.

Why don't you haul a couple of pedals down to your local store. Considering they might be making a sale, I can't imagine why they wouldn't let you plug some in to test the effects at low volume, but you never know.

I can tell you I am very pleased with my Class 5. Just as an FYI, I do have a couple of solid state amps, which are lower power and have effects built in, but I prefer the Class 5 with the pedals. Just me maybe, but I prefer that tube tone.

Nothin' but the Blues
  • Josh J
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • From: Tampa FL
  • Registered: 2010-07-21
  • Posts: 53

Re: More Amp help needed

Was hoping that with all the effect pedals hooked up you don't have to crank it to loud to get a good tone out of it.

  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 184

Re: More Amp help needed

That has been my experience. I think the Class 5 will do what you are looking for with the added plus of being able to use it at small gigs or pushing the amp into a different cab if you want to.

Like I said, I am very pleased with mine.  smile

Nothin' but the Blues
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: More Amp help needed

You should be able to use any distoriton pedal of any type into the amp to get a good distortion tone.  I preach this all the time, its easy to get good distoriton tones but if you get an amp that can't get good clean tones then your pretty limited.  That being said I'm sure the class 5 sounds good turned down, if you use a pedal it will sound great.  You will not however get those tubes warm until its cranked I don't care how hard you drive the front end with pedals the tubes won't get pushed until the volume its increased.  That being said all amps are built to go to 10 no problem if they are decent amps.  But if you turn an amp up that loud and stick a boost pedal of sorts in there watch out!  Its very possible to blow your amp up doing that. 

Good luck with the Class 5 I've heard it and it does that one sound awesome, but if it was me and I had a wife (which I do) that didn't like the volume I was playing at (which I do) I would go for the solid state.  I've tried Marshall solid states recently and even though they are not tube amps they still sound very good at bedroom levels and you could get one that sounds good at small gigs that can do bed room or a gig.  People might frown at this but check out the new Line 6 spiders, those things sound great too and have more options with effects then marshall solid states do.  But for a roar sound none of these will do what that class 5 does, and I doubt a pedal can do it as will as just cranking it.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: More Amp help needed

If your married learn to love head phones get yourself a good set and it will make a world of difference. I did and practice though my amp modeler all the time, hardly ever run the amps unless its for a gig. Yea its not the same but I get to practice more.

I Still think I would go class 5 and a nice OD/Dist pedal. You won't be able to crank up the tubes but you should get nice tone none the less.

E

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: More Amp help needed

If you're not a fan of headphones, and tubes are too loud... the broad array of solid state amps can fit your needs. and for a lot cheaper.

Vox Valvetronix, Line6, Fender, etc all make decent entry level solid state small amps.


By this time next year, you'll be sick of it and ready for a tube amp despite what the wife would put up with!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2011-02-08
  • Posts: 18

Re: More Amp help needed

Sounds like the wife could use some earphones.
That way you get whatever amp you want.
Thats what I did.
YES I am still married

Ceriatone OTS FM50 build #1,Ceriatone 2550 build #2, Ceriatone HRM w/ EL34's build #3,
Trainwreck Express clone build #4 More to come because I am addicted now!
Steve Morse signature EBMM original model ,50th anniv American Strat

9 Reply by Josh J (edited by Josh J 2011-04-12 05:40:42)

  • Josh J
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • From: Tampa FL
  • Registered: 2010-07-21
  • Posts: 53

Re: More Amp help needed

Yeah right now i not sure which road to take the tube vs solid state, i know in the long run as my playing gets better i'll be kicking myself in the butt for not going tube, but right at the moment i keep thinking solid state, not sure what im going to go yet, but i can tell you this it sucks not having a amp right now to play thru. My last one burned up, (a cheap fender amp that was given to me).

10 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2011-04-12 07:53:58)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: More Amp help needed

Josh J wrote:

Yeah right now i not sure which road to take the tube vs solid state, i know in the long run as my playing gets better i'll be kicking myself in the butt for not going tube, but right at the moment i keep thinking solid state.

Dude, amps COME & GO...

Players have real connections to their guitar, and the amp is more of an extension of that. You don't set amps on your lap and play them with your hands like you do a guitar. My sentimental attachment to even my favorite amps doesn't to compare to that of my guitar.

Don't feel like your next amp has to last you the rest of your life. Get one that fits your current situation, and later on you might want to get rid of it for something else!

Don't kick yourself in the butt for not getting tube. If all you want is something to play through at the house, and not at loud volumes, it doesn't sound like a tube amp would be good for you right now. IMO

We are tone snobs around here, but admittedly I still have a solid state Peavey 15watt amp for my parents house, and a 2watt Marshall Microstack for my bedroom.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 122

Re: More Amp help needed

Just remember...this is not going to be the last amp you will ever buy.  When you start to play out, you will need a bigger amp.  I have a 15 watt Peavey Solo solid state.  It has a warm clean sound which is perfect for practice.  I don't expect to "sound" like Clapton on the Bluesbreakers LP when I am practicing, in fact the search for "sound" gets in the way.  You want nice cleans, so your mistakes stand out, and are not buried underneath a rumble of distortion. 

Buy a JB Fuzz Face when practice is over and you want to have fun.

The Peavey cost me less than $100. new.  You can start saving up for your "Real" amp right away.

By the by, learn to love headphones.

  • Josh J
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • From: Tampa FL
  • Registered: 2010-07-21
  • Posts: 53

Re: More Amp help needed

Ok, One more question what if you use a attenuator with the class 5, heard of people doing this with good results, anybody here try that.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: More Amp help needed

attenuators cook tubes. It's like having your amp turned up to the max all the time. Attenuators do what they say they do, but they come in all prices and qualities. Attenuator on a 5 watt tube amp? Nope. I've never done it!

Blackstar might have a low wattage tube amp that has a built in thing that keeps volume low.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: More Amp help needed

Call me crazy but by the time you buy a Attenuator you could have bought a really nice amp that had multiple power settings.  If you buy a good Attenuator your going to spend around $300 or more plus an amp.  I think whats best at this point is to buy a modeling amp with head phone jack or an effects processor like the pod for example then buy the class 5 and play it when the wife isn't home.  You'll spend less in the end.  5 watts with an attenuator is kind of over kill if you ask me.  Plus if you had the processor you could use it with your amp to get effects!  Which as time goes on your gonna want effects, we always want more as guitar players!

AD3THREE's Website

  • SgtB
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-03-08
  • Posts: 309

Re: More Amp help needed

Try a Bugera V5.

I put a 1964 Sense C8R speaker in mine for $20 and upgraded the tubes to Mullard reissues. It has a built-in attenuator that let's you play at 5 watts 1 watt or .1 watt. I use it at night when the wife and kid are sleeping and you can still get a nice warm tube sound.

Just my two cents

Gibson Collectors Choice #6
Joe Bonamassa Custom Shop Goldtop Unaged 1st run
Alvarez Acoustic '95
Gibson Skylark GA5-T '65, Marshall JTM45 Reissue, Fender Princton Reverb '72, Modded Bugera V5, Fender Bandmaster '68, Marshall Silver Jubilee 2558
  • Josh J
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • From: Tampa FL
  • Registered: 2010-07-21
  • Posts: 53

Re: More Amp help needed

Yeah Thats what i'm beginning to think as well a solid state, but i'll have to go back to the drawing board on these i only tried the marshall and it was ok will need to go and try a bunch more out over the weekend. but with solid state is it better to use the onboard effects or do you get better tone out using the pedals. Which i all ready have a few.

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: More Amp help needed

One more thing to think about, yes this won't be your last amp, but if your like me who sells a piece of gear to get a new piece of gear your going to get better resell out of a tube amp.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: More Amp help needed

I honestly think if you have effects pedals already you shouldn't look into a solid state that does everything, your pedals are what your use to plus they more then likely would have more adjustiblity to them then a line 6 spider has.  The only time I think its nice to have a line 6 amp is when your on a budget, and or its easier to go to practices with an amp that does everything then to drag all your equipment out.  Will the line 6 or a marshall solid state sound good with your pedals?  Sure it will.  I'm positive you can dial in a tone that you like with or without your pedals that is usable.  You will just have to work with it.

AD3THREE's Website