Post by grayn on Jun 22, 2019 5:29:39 GMT
I was looking for a solid state, simple amp.
When I say simple, I mean no modelling, multi effects or multi channel affairs.
The nearest I'd come previously, was an Orange Crush Super Pro 120.
Which although a very nice amp, weighed a ton and to my ears, didn't have the tone I wanted.
I'd recently sold my Fender Princeton and only had my Fender Mustang GT200 left, which is just far too fiddly, IMO.
I wanted a max of 2 channels and not too heavy.
I wanted to keep local, so went to Reidys (Blackburn), to try out a Vox Mini Superbeetle and a modern Peavey Bandit.
I'd last owned a bandit, over 25 years ago.
The Peavey is still an excellent value, 1X12, 80 watt combo.
The controls are very comprehensive, although I don't like chrome knobs, as it can be hard to see what number it's on.
The clean channel is pretty good and the gain channel is excellent.
Peavey's Transtube technology is almost vintage these days but it still sounds bloody good.
The Superbeetle is a single channel amp, with master and gain controls and boasts both Reverb and Tremolo.
Where this amp shines, is on clean and mildly crunchy, where it sounds as good as any amp I have tried/owned.
Using Vox's Nutube technology, this little amp sounds spot on.
I wasn't so impressed with the full on gain sound, though.
Not a sound I liked and funnily enough, was the sound the Bandit excelled at..
But as I use pedals for overdrive/distortion, that's not a problem and this amp sounds good with pedals, although it has no send/return.
The amp head is 50 watts and the mini cab is a 50 watt, 1X10, open back beauty.
There's no doubt that this mini system screams 60s vintage and looks "fab".
As it stands, it has enough volume for home use, or low level rehearsals.
And BTW, the reverb and tremolo are very vintage and really nice quality too, although not foot switchable.
However this diminutive amp head is 50 watts into 4 ohms and demands to be heard through a bigger cabinet.
So I tried it through a Vox 2X12 and a Blackstar vertical 2X12.
Now things get even better, louder and fuller.
I did consider buying one of these 2X12 cabs, as with this head, the set up is loud enough for gigs.
But the Vox was pricey, 8 ohms and heavy and although the Blackstar was lighter, vertical and 4 ohms, it totally clashed visually.
So what? Well it just looked horrible.
So I've now got a great practice amp and when I get a 2x12 cab, a very giggable set up.
When I say simple, I mean no modelling, multi effects or multi channel affairs.
The nearest I'd come previously, was an Orange Crush Super Pro 120.
Which although a very nice amp, weighed a ton and to my ears, didn't have the tone I wanted.
I'd recently sold my Fender Princeton and only had my Fender Mustang GT200 left, which is just far too fiddly, IMO.
I wanted a max of 2 channels and not too heavy.
I wanted to keep local, so went to Reidys (Blackburn), to try out a Vox Mini Superbeetle and a modern Peavey Bandit.
I'd last owned a bandit, over 25 years ago.
The Peavey is still an excellent value, 1X12, 80 watt combo.
The controls are very comprehensive, although I don't like chrome knobs, as it can be hard to see what number it's on.
The clean channel is pretty good and the gain channel is excellent.
Peavey's Transtube technology is almost vintage these days but it still sounds bloody good.
The Superbeetle is a single channel amp, with master and gain controls and boasts both Reverb and Tremolo.
Where this amp shines, is on clean and mildly crunchy, where it sounds as good as any amp I have tried/owned.
Using Vox's Nutube technology, this little amp sounds spot on.
I wasn't so impressed with the full on gain sound, though.
Not a sound I liked and funnily enough, was the sound the Bandit excelled at..
But as I use pedals for overdrive/distortion, that's not a problem and this amp sounds good with pedals, although it has no send/return.
The amp head is 50 watts and the mini cab is a 50 watt, 1X10, open back beauty.
There's no doubt that this mini system screams 60s vintage and looks "fab".
As it stands, it has enough volume for home use, or low level rehearsals.
And BTW, the reverb and tremolo are very vintage and really nice quality too, although not foot switchable.
However this diminutive amp head is 50 watts into 4 ohms and demands to be heard through a bigger cabinet.
So I tried it through a Vox 2X12 and a Blackstar vertical 2X12.
Now things get even better, louder and fuller.
I did consider buying one of these 2X12 cabs, as with this head, the set up is loud enough for gigs.
But the Vox was pricey, 8 ohms and heavy and although the Blackstar was lighter, vertical and 4 ohms, it totally clashed visually.
So what? Well it just looked horrible.
So I've now got a great practice amp and when I get a 2x12 cab, a very giggable set up.