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Small practice amp?

S

StormyIV

Oct 1, 2012
4
0
#1
Hi everyone!
Beginner here, looking for a small, portable practice amp for my Fender Squire Jaguar. I like to jump between all genres of music so that'd be something to keep in mind ;) I'm also a female so I don't have as much testosterone or actin in my body to allow me to carry super heavy amps up 38 flights of stairs, so weight/size/portability is really a big thing for me. I also don't plan on gigging (was that even a word?) anytime soon, so volume isn't that important. Lastly, I'm on a budget so anything $100 or less would be fabulous.
Anywhooo, I'm currently choosing between the Fender Rumble 15 and the Ampeg BA-108. Which one do you think is better? Or do you not like either? What's your suggestion?
Thanks a lot!!
 
#4
If you're not out gigging but just playing at home, there are a lot of small stuff to find. If you have a decent PC sound system you can just get a cheap preamp (or iPhone app) and connect to that.

Otherwise get a Line6 or Roland mini combo.
 
#5
Yup, I've been looking for used ones and I've found some pretty good deals... (around $40). Oh, would the Peavey MAX 158 15V be a good idea too?

The amp is just going to be for practice purposes. I don't really see myself jamming out anytime soon. It needs to be something "flexible" (volume-wise) since I live in a dorm and I don't want my neighbors to kill me.

I actually do have the Line6 audio interface right now, but I'm not sure if I will stay with it... If I find a good, 'cheap' amp I will be returning the Line6 - since, ironically, getting any of the amps I mentioned above would be cheaper than the Line6.
 
#6
I have had several brands/models of the small ones that would meet your criteria .. and keep going back to the first one that I had ... a Peavey Minx .. in fact, I actually picked up a second one a few years back to leave at another location where I need something like it and didnt need to worry about others using ... FWIW, I wouldn't opt for anything smaller than a 10" speaker, and with these small wattage amps, I feel I lose clarity with the 15's that I have tried for playing along with recordings and learning tunes ... there are several models of these Minx around, most are basically 35 watts into ta 10" speaker ... very portable, and built to last ... I even saw one being used in an orchestra pit of my local theater ... I have two different models, one ported and one sealed, like them both ... and best of all, I paid $75 for my first one at a Music Go Round, and $85 shipped off of Ebay for the second one ...
 
#9
i find that for practice a good set of headphones is an excellent tool. You'll disturb no one and you'll hear yourself better. A cheap micro mixer will allow you to play along with a music player or computer. As discussed in a recent thread, you will lose a little of your instruments high end but this shouldn't be too much of a problem. You can then save your pennies for a gig worthy amp when the time comes.

May I welcome you to Talk Bass. It's really cool when the ladies join our conversations. :D
 
#14
Thanks everyone for the suggestions (and welcomes)!
I guess I"ll be staying with my Line6 for now (and getting a 1/8" cable so I can set the output to my speakers) and saving up for a fancier amp when the time comes.
Still, thanks for your help and opinions!
 

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