Practice Amps

[rickenbrother]

I've had a Gallien-Krueger MB200 combo for the past 23 years. It's been a great little practice amp that has also seen duty as a bass monitor at gigs.

[antonius]

For home practice I use a Line 6 Pod X3 (usually using the '68 Marshall + 4x12 model) routed into my pc audio interface and out to either my hi-fi speakers or Beyerdynamic DT 150 headphones. They are great sounding studio monitor headphones with an extended bass response, going down to 5 Hz, but without that tiring bloated sound you get from normal home listening phones. Really clean sounding and the mid frequencies of the Rick sound really sweet!

[fatcat]

I'm currently using a Micro VR,which does double duty--practice and gigs.Advantage being same amp same sound for both.
Light and easy to pack in/out.

[berth]

I have this in the living room for at home practicing.

[Chris P]

The new small Warwicks are very, very, very good! Unbelievable.

[T.A.R.]

Too funny Bert! I'm using my Marshall major for practice at home now. I'm not sure how the neighbors feel about it.

[Baker69]

I find playing/practising through my PC is the best option, I have a Creative Soundblaster 7.1 Platinum System which has a separate I/O Box with 1/4" input sockets so you can plug straight in using a standard lead. I do tend to use headphones most of the time though, I find this easier to learn new songs and you can play along to whatever you are running through your PC, such as CD's DVD's, MP3's or You Tube clips even, and the Creative software can vary the playback speed of whatever songs you are listening to, while maintaining the same pitch.

I also have a Line 6 XT Live Bass Pod which I sometimes use (again through headphones), it has an 1/8" auxilliary input socket for adding a CD or MP3 player to jam along to.

Never really considered buying a specific 'practice' amp.

[cheyenne]

I have a GK MB200 head I run through a Carvin BR 210. Nice sounding and compact.

[loendmaestro]

I love my old Ampeg B100R.

[T28]

I am in the process of trading a line 6 bass, and ampeg amp and a few other goodies (along with a bit of cash) for a MesaBoogie Walkabout Scout 12.
Lovely amp that is fairly light, sounds exceptional and can be used as a practice amp or a small/med club gigging amp.

[AndyM]

I don't disagree totally with T28 but I had to dismiss my selection of the walkabout combo because it was kind of heavy. I'd love nothing better than to have that amp for at-home practice and gigs but the price was just too high as well.
For at home practice I'm using the Line 6 Lowdown Studio 110 which I picked up used. The specs say 75 Watts but I measured it at 100. I played a backyard gig with it but it's not enough for a club gig.
For practice with the band I use a G-K MB212 combo that's about 38 lb and 500 Watts.

For gigs I usually use a Fender Bassman TV15. It just looks so good despite being kinda heavy. I couldn't take my own advise on the weight issue. It was still much less cash than the Mesa Walkabout.

It would be a strange world if we all liked the same music and all used the same equipment to play it.

[T28]

Andy, was the walkabout you tried a 12" or the 15".

The 15" is a beast at around 80# (toooooooo heavy) but the 12" actually comes in around 45# which is not too bad.

and yes...they are expensive which is why the only way I am grabbing one is with the trade in of some items that are worth money but essentially collecting dust.

[fatcat]

Later aside on the Ampeg Micro VR, I bought a second speaker for any gig site that needed more volume, but only used it out once.It stays in the practice area, and the other cabinet lives near the door, ready to go to work-all I need to do is grab the head and bass from the music room.

[AndyM]

T28 - I was referring to the 15" Mesa. Early last summer I lifted someone's Randall guitar amp that was so heavy I hurt my back. X-Ray from the "front" view showed a distinct S shape. It almost ruined my summer trip to NYC. Many trips to the chiropractor.
I considered the 12" model but not as a single speaker combo. That's why I went with the 2-12 from GK. Just personal preference. There's nothing wrong with either Mesa unit.

[T28]

Totally understand Andy. I will be getting the 8 ohm version so I can add a 2nd cab if needed or just use the head with my fEARFUL stack. GK has some really nice stuff also.