Tiny little GUITAR amps

YosemiteSam · #1 01-24-2009, 06:44 PM

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this; I thought maybe "Miscellaneous", since it's not about bass amps, but then thought nobody would see it there.

I'm a bassist who goes over to the dark side of spindly little 6 stringers on occasion. I'm thinking of picking up a tiny little practice amp for my living room. It's come down to a choice between the Roland Micro Cube, a 11x11" solid state DSP amp with a 5" speaker, and the Fender Vibro Champ XD, a 17x14" tube amp with a DSP front end and an 8" speaker. The latter is slightly larger than I'd like, but appeals to my traditionalist sensibilities better (I'm a 49 year old geezer who's been playing since blackfaces were current production). It's also twice as expensive as the Roland, at ~$250 vs. ~$125.

I realize these are evil guitar amps, but do any of you guys have experience with them, or others in this price range? I liked the specs on the VOX DA5, but it looks cheezy, and I haven't had a chance to play through one, nor am I likely to get one.

Thanks in advance,

-- Sam

unbridled · #2 01-24-2009, 06:53 PM

I would go with the 'Champ because I think you'll appreciate the larger speaker. Either will do clean very well but the 'Champ will be a bit more versatile.

Have fun

**Kelly Lee** · #3 01-24-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YosemiteSam

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this; I thought maybe "Miscellaneous", since it's not about bass amps...

Your first thought was correct. Moved to Misc.

dean owens · #4 01-24-2009, 07:22 PM

i would go with the champ as well.

also, in that price range, you could look on craigslist (or even ebay) and find a silverface champ or bronco for about $250.00. i love my little champ. and if i didn't have one, but had $250.00 to buy a practice amp, that's what i'd do. or look around for a similar harmony or other "cheap" champie amp from that time. just make sure it uses a 6v6 or el84... not one of those death trap amps with no power tranny.

Slater · #5 01-24-2009, 08:18 PM

I just bought a Roland Micro Cube, and I love it! The amp modeling is very respectable for a small practice amp. IMO, the "black panel" setting does a very good clean Fender sound. However, I mostly use the "classic stack" setting for a Marshall Stack sound at bedroom practice volume levels. Also, it's louder than it looks!
(FWIW, I've noticed that the intensity of the effects seems to be related to the Gain level - more Gain = more effects.)

Oh, there are some demos on youtube. Check 'em out. Just search for "Roland Micro Cube".

Trevorus · #6 01-24-2009, 08:21 PM

Check out Valve Juniors, and Blackheart amplifiers as well. They are both tube, small, and can sound awesome.

armywalaby · #7 01-25-2009, 04:04 AM

I use small guitar amps to bring out my highs. I've got a Kustom '66 25w that I'm seriously considering ripping the amp out of and putting it in a rack just because of the OD i get out of it.

EagleMoon · #8 03-10-2009, 09:07 PM

I used to have a Vox DA5 and that thing sounded huge. It's got 11 modeling sounds as well. Great little amp. I sold it when I sold my last guitar. I had the one that looked like the classic amp with the brown grill. Doesn't look as cheesy.

dave64o · #9 03-11-2009, 08:41 PM

I have a friend who has a Micro Cube and he loves it. I've never heard the Vibro Champ so I can't comment on it.

It's been so long since I've played guitar that I sold my amp a few years ago but if I were to get back into it I've always thought the Valve Juniors look really interesting.

Actually, when I saw the thread title the first thing that came to mind was the Smokey.

YosemiteSam · #10 03-11-2009, 10:34 PM

Thanks for all the replies, guys!

In true gear head fashion, I ended up falling in love with something that cost three times as much, and ended up bringing a Fender Blues Jr. home with me. This thing just sings, even at really low volume. Bell like dynamics out of a Strat. Really nice.

I played various Roland Cube amps, as well as a couple of others. Never did get a chance to try the Vibro Champ. I found the sound of the digital modeling amps all a bit brittle around the edges for my taste. Some weren't all that flexible, for all their controls, with only a couple of good sounds.

Granted, my Blues Jr. doesn't have many "different" sounds, but it does what it does very well.

-- Sam

The Golden Boy · #11 03-12-2009, 11:03 AM

Depending on your need to be quiet, those little SS digital modeling amps are your best bet. They'll get you a somewhat convincing tone at reasonable volumes. When I was a kid, the old Peavey Backstage Plus was the cat's pajamas- but I'm guessing you're beyond that "distortion" knob thing.

Again, depending on what you're looking for as far as guitar tone- a tube amp isn't going to overdrive well- and the little ones won't have a master circuit and a 5w amp is pretty doggone loud, even through a 5-8" speaker- ESPECIALLY if you're trying to be quiet.

Wesley R · #12 03-12-2009, 11:26 AM

My wife gave me a Double Cutaway Les Paul (not a real common gutar) AAA Maple, Burst Bucker PUPs for my B'day last August. I have tried a spizillion micro amps. I loved the Champ XD until I used it. I have never been a Rolond fan, but I will be getting one. I use one on Wednsday nights and it is a gas. A very experienced advanced guitar player I know will be getting one also. Oh, and my wife went in to get me a 2008 Jazz, but said Lespaul and I simply love that guitar and will need to live with my yamaha bass.

Best of Luck,
Wes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slater

I just bought a Roland Micro Cube, and I love it! The amp modeling is very respectable for a small practice amp. IMO, the "black panel" setting does a very good clean Fender sound. However, I mostly use the "classic stack" setting for a Marshall Stack sound at bedroom practice volume levels. Also, it's louder than it looks!
(FWIW, I've noticed that the intensity of the effects seems to be related to the Gain level - more Gain = more effects.)

Oh, there are some demos on youtube. Check 'em out. Just search for "Roland Micro Cube".