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New Practice Amp < $300.00 ?

phillm47

phillm47

Sep 7, 2001
670
14
Fort Wayne, Indiana - USA
#1
Birthday time is rolling around very soon. Wife would like me to have a small practice amp (me too), and keep my main rig out of the living room/dining room areas.

Mission: Decent sounding practice combo for home use. To be used with a Lakland 55-02 and passive Fender four strings. FWIW I mainly play jazz, fusion, funk and rock. This amp is to be used for practice, I have a bigger GK rig for band and gig situations.

Required features: None really, other than sounding better and punchier than my old Peavy Minx (now defuncted). Needs to be somewhat small, doesn't need to be loud, but needs a decent tone, some bottom and a little punch.

Needs to be $300.00 or less new. Wife is buying so used is not an option. Ones I recently tried and like are:

Line 6 Lowdown Studio 110: I liked the clean tone quite a bit. Small, deep punchy tone, almost tubey. Could actually use this at band rehearsal with the DI, although I used a Sansamp now for my rehearsal rig into the PA - it doesn't get any lighter than that ;) The distortion channels and synth are useless to me. The one I demo'd didn't seem to suffer the noise issues I have read about - and I could care less about noise in headphone out since I would never use this feature.

GK Backline 112: Simple and good sounding. Seemed to have a little more open sound (or clarity) that I couldn't seem to dial in with the Line 6, but possibly less low end? This combo is pretty much at the upper physical size limit of whats acceptable. Liked the kick back feature. Distortion channel is useless too me.

I only had a chance to play and compare these two briefly. Seemed pretty close. I didn't really have much of a chance to compare how well they faired against in each other as far as low B performance is concerted. I believe I got the GK to "Fart" some with a low C, but I really had the volume cranked up. I didn't experience this with the Line 6, but the volume may not have been at the same level. To be fair, I'm sure I was pushing both of these combo's louder than I would ever use them at home. I liked the tone of both. I tried a Fender Bassman 100 as well, but it exceeds the price limit. The Ampeg BA-112 is on the short list, but I haven't tried one.

Any thoughts on the above combos, or other recommendations they meet my criteria? Thanks
 
#2
Well, I like the Line 6 for it's tiny size and massive tone ratio. There's not much else in that size range, and that's what attracted me at first. Then, after playing with it, I was impressed by how good it sounds. Can't beat it, I think.
 
#4
As one of the victims of the Line 6 110 noise issue, I eventually went with one of the new Warwick Blue Cab 30s. It's featureless compared to the Line 6, but sounds good, goes deep and is very sturdy.

If you can find a 110 without the noise, I'd say go for it. They do exist, so I don't want to categorically crap all over Line 6's stuff.
 
#7
Check out Yorkville and Traynor. I have used the Yorkville XM50C for over a year (it replaced my Minx) for the same purpose as yourself. It's a great little 50 watt-1x10 combo that weighs 30 lbs. For sure it's better than the Minx. Traynor has a model coming out-50 watts-1x10-that is supposed to weigh 18lbs and a 100 watt 1x15 model at 30 lbs.
 
#10
Curtybob said:
SWR Workingman's 10. They're out of production now, but there are plenty to be found.
Click to expand...

+1

I used one of these for years and years till I got my swr baby baby blue. It is really simple, sounds good and imho is an ideal home practice amp. You should be able to get one well within your price point, and I seriously doubt you will be disappointed. And because you are shopping used, if it doesn't work for you you should be able to sell it for 100% of what ya pay.
 
#15
62bass said:
Check out Yorkville and Traynor. I have used the Yorkville XM50C for over a year (it replaced my Minx) for the same purpose as yourself. It's a great little 50 watt-1x10 combo that weighs 30 lbs. For sure it's better than the Minx. Traynor has a model coming out-50 watts-1x10-that is supposed to weigh 18lbs and a 100 watt 1x15 model at 30 lbs.
Click to expand...

I've tried this twice, comparing the 100 watt Yorkville with the smaller 50 watt Yorkville, and came away both times preferring the sound of the XM50 by a country mile. It is a little limited volume-wise, but within those limits it sounds quite good to me.
 
#17
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Wife bailed on the practice amp for the birthday present...what the wife and kids decided on instead is to send me to Gerald Veasley's Bass Boot Camp this spring :eek:

They said they wanted to give me something I'd never do for myself (true, I'm a chicken) :hiding:

What a family eh? A lot of practicing to be done between now and March.

Hey Brad, I'm going to make it point to get out and see White Hot Noise. I normally sit at home with the wife and kids, but I'm looking forward to seeing you guys perform.
 

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