Practice amp recommendations please..

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:06 pm

have you thought about a tech 21 trademark 10 or its big brother, the tm 60?
both great amps, imho. you can get a used 10 for around 2 bills.
i have a tm 60 and it's a keeper - light, plenty of versatility and volume, well-built. check out the tech 21 line.
good luck
geoff

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun May 01, 2005 2:59 pm

Okay, here is my testament:

On 4/30 (yesterday) I went to GC and bought one of the Vox Pathfinder 10 amps they are running on sale right now. $70.00.

I went down there skeptical, and had them get one out of the box..I tried the following guitars thru it, both clean and dirty channels: PRS Custom 22, a '53 Tele re-issue, and a Strat. I fell in LOVE with this little amp.

Got it home and then tried these, all Rickenbackers: a 1967 950, 1968 370/12, and a 325C58 with a Custom Glen Lambert 2-knob wiring harness...I cannot make this amp sound bad. It is a little tone monster. Best $70 I have ever spent.

clearblue · Post by **clearblue** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:06 pm

The Tech 21 Trademark 10 is highly rated on the Harmony Central review site. The $70 Vox Pathfindeer is tempting for the price.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:16 pm

Amazing stuff out there (if you don't mind digital) at good prices. Knock me over with a feather. Shucks. And so on.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Mon May 02, 2005 5:04 am

"Speaking of versatility, anybody else here have a Tonelab SE? I just got mine yesterday and didn't sleep much last night...it is quite the stayawake machine!"

I picked up one of these recently. I love it.

After a week or so I haven;t really weaked it at all. It's totally overkill for my livingroom warrior needs, but it does sound good.

I use a Vox AC 30 setting with low-moderate gain, mild delay, + flat eq 99% of the time.

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Mon May 02, 2005 5:34 am

what is the tonelab se? how does it work? in conjunction with an amp?
thanks
geoff

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:06 am

Tonelab SE is the performer's version of the Desktop Tonelab. It is the ultimate programmable stompbox, and can be used with an amp, into a studio board or recorder, or merely into headphones.

It's the most flexible accessory I've ever owned, but I still use my compressor pedal to get things just right.

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:13 am

paul
it's 499 at mf. the tonelab (desktop version i'm assuming) is 299 at mf. is the se worth the extra bux? looks great on paper and gets great reviews at harmonycentral and over at the fender discussion page.
and how's the ac 30 sound on it?
regards
geoff

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:41 am

Well, Geoff, when you ask about the AC30, I'm assuming that you mean how well does it simulate the sound of an AC30. In which case I can say, "very successfully". It has two AC30s (30 and 30TB)and an AC15 as well.

Is is worth the extra? Yup, because you can foot-control it, so you're not twiddling dials while trying to hold onto your guitar. There are lots more options too, and it is built like a brick outhouse.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Mon May 02, 2005 6:51 am

Geoff,

If you already have a VC-12 or VC-4 Valvetronix footcontroller, the desktop may be the way to go. I think North Coast sells the desktop with a VC-12 cheaper than the SE. I think the differences are minimal, desktop has SPDIF digital output (SE doesn't), SE has 11 cab models (destop only 10). Both have MIDI connectivity and editor software for PC.

The SE is a great way to gig. Bring guitar and SE, plug SE in to PA & guitar into SE, play. The desktop really needs connecting the footcontroller to gig. Both are designed for use with PA style clean power amping. Of course there are those who use them with their fav. amp as well, both units have switchable output levels for use with PA level ins or guitar amp high impedance ins.

...Dean

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:05 am

so... maybe i should try one of these instead of selling all my amp gear to get a vox ac30cc2. i have a tech 21 tm 60 and a peavey delta blues. the tech 21 is a great ss amp and can emulate some sounds as well. the delta is a good little tuber that does blues pretty well. maybe the tonelab se in front of either of these might get me what i want - and more of top of that! hmmm...
thanks for the info!!
regards
geoff

kevin · Post by **kevin** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:06 am

Dan,

From everything I've heard about these amps, you really should give the 15-watt Vox another try. For my part, I can say that the models in my AD120VT easily surpass any other modelling amp I've heard or used, and the 15 watt amp uses the same technology.

clearblue · Post by **clearblue** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:52 am

I mainly want clean sounds and reliability. The shipping boxes containing the Vox amps were beat up and torn. The Vox is probably better sounding than the Peavey but will it last? I've got to get something asap as I haven't played the guitar for a few days and am having withdrawals.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:04 am

Dan: If you are buying in US dollars, why not consider a Traynor YCV20. A nice tube amp that will cost you somewhere in the vicinity of $350 but in the end you have a quality tube amp that you will be thoroughly satisfied with. Granted it is not $70, but it will chime with that warm tube sound. At the very least, it is worth a look.

clearblue · Post by **clearblue** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:50 am

Looks like a great amp. It runs over $500 new at Musicians Friend. That's out of my price range.