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Erik dP
Silver Member
Sweden
150 Posts |
 Posted - 05/11/2007 : 11:34:49
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| I do really like my VOX DA5. I actually have my hooked up to a 4*12 speaker and it sounds a whole lot better than through the built in speaker. |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2007 : 12:24:48
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You�re really right Erik, DA-5�s speaker is crappy. I have not tried it with an external speaker but tested it with earphones, sounds a lot better.
Rolands Micro Cube sounds a much better and part of that is possibly a better speaker. I like the effects better in Vox, more adjustable and more of them.
With a better speaker I think Vox DA-5 would have been a sensation for that price.
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Erik dP
Silver Member
Sweden
150 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2007 : 12:58:17
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...Or they could have sold it as a head (without speaker). Then it would be like a POD with a built in amp. I have mine lying speaker down on top of my 4*12. It looks just like a small head with the knobs facing the crowd (at least facing me).
I actually bought mine for the possibility to use it with batteries, but the sound made me sell my 2*50W GK. |
Edited by - Erik dP on 05/11/2007 13:06:19 |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2007 : 13:35:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik dP
...Or they could have sold it as a head (without speaker). Then it would be like a POD with a built in amp. I have mine lying speaker down on top of my 4*12. It looks just like a small head with the knobs facing the crowd (at least facing me).
I actually bought mine for the possibility to use it with batteries, but the sound made me sell my 2*50W GK.
Hi Erik dP
what's a 2*50W GK, that you sold?
Regards Dr. Bob |
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Erik dP
Silver Member
Sweden
150 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2007 : 16:03:58
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| Gallien-Krueger 250ML. It's a small stereo amp with two 6.5 speakers. 14"*9"*6", 22lbs. It's from the late 80's. The built in speakers worked fine for tiny gigs, but it worked great with my 4*12. It is good for transportation and it sounds good with built in echo/delay and chorus and compressor. The DA5 sounded better through the 4*12, but the GK was way louder. Check Harmony Central where people seem to like it. |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2007 : 19:23:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Goran
I have for years searched for the best possible sound in an apartment, this means low in volume. Using an amp normally used in a band situation just doesn�t work, at low volumes they sound bad and uninspiring.
Long ago there where just crappy low wattage solid state amps to use, but then I bought a Tech 21 Trademark 10, and this sounded fairly good at the volumes neighbours tolerate.
But it wasn�t quite there.
Then I got my hands on Roland Micro Cube, and this is a really good modelling amp for low volumes, much better than Tech 21. And low in price too. Also tried Vox DA-5, but it didn�t sound as good as the Cube, the effects is very good in the Vox though.
But I was not really satisfied yet.
Then I bought an Ibanez Valbee, 5W tube amp, and this is really, really good at the clean �channel� but horrible in the boost �channel�. With some Boss pedals before it I�m quite satisfied, the best amp for home use ever.
But, are there any more good amps out for use at low levels?
I know you said somewhere that you did not like headphones, but if you can get used to them you could use the line-out of an amp[ yes even big stage amp] plug into a mixer and then just listen through headphones. Alternatively, as Stratoshere mentioned earlier, you could hook up this setup to a hifi, and you listen to your favourite valve amp through your stereospeakers.
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2007 : 20:03:27
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I have tried playing with headphones many times, and I do it when everybody�s sleeping, but I don�t like it. I don�t like listening to records with headphones either. I don�t know why... Maybe I need some air pumping against my body, and a fan won�t do the job...
It�s not that I have bad ones, I have a pair of high end Senheisers and others of a little lower quality.
By the way, at the moment I play a lot on a Fender Champ 600, the new 5-watt "reissue". Really good together with RV-2/3/5 and OD-3 or BD-2, or a Bad Monkey for that matter. |
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ununtrium
Bronze Member
Germany
84 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2007 : 12:02:09
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Hi there!
I have the same problem with getting a good sound at low volume. Like zestystrat, I ended up with a Fender Vibro Champ. It works perfectly with Boss pedals and gives you a beautiful clean all-valve sound at "3-4". For practice in an apartment it is perfect. I hear a Vox AC4 is also quite nice, but the prices for those are insane! It would also make sense to keep your eyes peeled for the odd practice amp from the 50s or 60s (National, Supro, Valco etc.) that crop up on ebay from time to time, though people start to catch on and prices are rising.
Apart from a Champ or Vibro Champ (the tremolo is definitely worth it!), you could always look into a THD Hotplate. It works wonders with my Hiwatt DR103 which usually comes into its own when cranked all the way up (and that is REALLY LOUD!!!). Since that is only bearable in an arena setting and I would lose my hearing at that volume level, the Hotplate is the way to go. Soundwise, I could not detect any loss or alteration of the amp's sound.
Cheers! |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2007 : 11:01:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Goran
I have tried playing with headphones many times, and I do it when everybody�s sleeping, but I don�t like it. I don�t like listening to records with headphones either. I don�t know why... Maybe I need some air pumping against my body, and a fan won�t do the job...
It�s not that I have bad ones, I have a pair of high end Senheisers and others of a little lower quality.
By the way, at the moment I play a lot on a Fender Champ 600, the new 5-watt "reissue". Really good together with RV-2/3/5 and OD-3 or BD-2, or a Bad Monkey for that matter.
Hi Goran,
Perhaps have a look at the Marshall MS4, most people will laught at that, but they can sound good. Trick is to use them with an adaptor, do not daisy chain to any other devices as the amp will need all the power. When you try them on batteries they will distort too quickly and it is an ugly kind of break-up so really use adaptor.
Another thing: used on their own they are so so, add pedals and they start to do wonders, and they can get really quiet, and still sounding good.
Now I hear what you are saying about the Fender Champ, small, but they are still quite loud, so I guess for when people are sleeping this may not be a good thing for you to play through? |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2007 : 08:06:18
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I have that small Marshall, and don�t think it sound any good, but I will try with pedals. It looks cool anyway.
The Fender Champion 600 has quite a bit of volume but not as much as I can�t use it at home. I have also made myself a �power soak� out of an L-Pad, works fine to lower the volume a bit.
In my Valbee I have built an L-Pad inside the chassis, works fine there too.
As I just bought the new Pocket POD, and like it very much, I can wail in the middle of the night with phones. As I said I didn�t like headphones, but with the POD I can stand it. Suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that the POD output is in stereo. I have an idea to put a pair of mini speakers (with amps inside, normally used for mp3-players and the such) after the POD. Used to do that years ago with a rack multieffect .
In summary I have several ways of getting a good sound without disturbing people but I�m looking for even better solutions, without paying too much of course. I have been looking for great sound at low volume for years and years, coming closer all the time.
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2007 : 13:01:22
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i put my pod through the surround sound speakers in the front room a couple of times..you can get a pretty decent sound out of it but i used various amp sims in the pod to compensate for using the type of speakers in this sort of system..you can get good low end especially with the bass bin... but mostly these days the amps and my pedalboard are in the lock up with the rest of the bands gear,i mostly use the headphones and the pod in the house or play one of the acoustic guitars or just play the strat unplugged watching the tv.....we(the band) are lucky enough to still have somewhere to rehearse live but i can't see this being there forever as it's a built up area and a lot of people these days aren't as understanding as years ago...and with the way the cops want to enforce some of the stupid laws our government keep making..... i had an idea that a whole band could rehearse if you used electric drums,pods for the guitars and bass and ran the whole lot into a mixing desk going to either a headphone amp with enough channels for everyone or to a P.A. where you could control the volume....i've actually tried it and it works....just have to get a decent electric kit for the drummer to use..... ......... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 08/07/2007 13:01:46 |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2007 : 11:13:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Goran
I have that small Marshall, and don�t think it sound any good, but I will try with pedals. It looks cool anyway.
The Fender Champion 600 has quite a bit of volume but not as much as I can�t use it at home. I have also made myself a �power soak� out of an L-Pad, works fine to lower the volume a bit.
In my Valbee I have built an L-Pad inside the chassis, works fine there too.
As I just bought the new Pocket POD, and like it very much, I can wail in the middle of the night with phones. As I said I didn�t like headphones, but with the POD I can stand it. Suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that the POD output is in stereo. I have an idea to put a pair of mini speakers (with amps inside, normally used for mp3-players and the such) after the POD. Used to do that years ago with a rack multieffect .
In summary I have several ways of getting a good sound without disturbing people but I�m looking for even better solutions, without paying too much of course. I have been looking for great sound at low volume for years and years, coming closer all the time.
Hi Goran,
Yes the search will not stop eh? But it seems that you already can get good sounds, so better enjoy now!! |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2007 : 11:18:26
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
i put my pod through the surround sound speakers in the front room a couple of times..you can get a pretty decent sound out of it but i used various amp sims in the pod to compensate for using the type of speakers in this sort of system..you can get good low end especially with the bass bin... but mostly these days the amps and my pedalboard are in the lock up with the rest of the bands gear,i mostly use the headphones and the pod in the house or play one of the acoustic guitars or just play the strat unplugged watching the tv.....we(the band) are lucky enough to still have somewhere to rehearse live but i can't see this being there forever as it's a built up area and a lot of people these days aren't as understanding as years ago...and with the way the cops want to enforce some of the stupid laws our government keep making.....i had an idea that a whole band could rehearse if you used electric drums,pods for the guitars and bass and ran the whole lot into a mixing desk going to either a headphone amp with enough channels for everyone or to a P.A. where you could control the volume....i've actually tried it and it works....just have to get a decent electric kit for the drummer to use..............
The Hi-tech rehearsal situation
you could also use a little mic on the headphones for each bandmember to communicate with the others. Add to all of this a wireless system and people could even be at different parts of the house.
Heh that may be the solution: Get the drummer in a place where you can play loud, and the rest of you in another part of the building, and still keep using all the other things you mentioned!!
Oh were are the good old days of playing in the garage on a Saturdayafternoon, and yes as you mentioned before, the neighbourhood just gets used to it as they know that it is your weekly rehearsal time. I used to even play in the garden, and then a few days later some people would make comments like: "Oh you guys are not that bad because you play such and such song" |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 03:59:35
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quote:
Originally posted by vissermanThe Hi-tech rehearsal situation
you could also use a little mic on the headphones for each bandmember to communicate with the others. Add to all of this a wireless system and people could even be at different parts of the house.
Heh that may be the solution: Get the drummer in a place where you can play loud, and the rest of you in another part of the building, and still keep using all the other things you mentioned!!
Oh were are the good old days of playing in the garage on a Saturdayafternoon, and yes as you mentioned before, the neighbourhood just gets used to it as they know that it is your weekly rehearsal time. I used to even play in the garden, and then a few days later some people would make comments like: "Oh you guys are not that bad because you play such and such song"
visserman...i hear ya bro'.....the shed we rehearse in is in the drummers mothers house and the neighbours are great,but the point i was making is eventually at some stage in the future the shed won't be there so i like to plan ahead...but his mum is great..!!she even puts on a pot of irish stew for us to eat,and makes us tea and coffee.. not many rehearsal studios do that......!! but we record live so thats how we do a take..except were still using the real drums at the moment...sitll experimenting with mic placement etc.....putting the drummer as far away as possible is always a good idea....pity it can't be done on gigs.... now you know why i cart two 100 watt amps around to gigs..... |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2007 : 12:32:38
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The more amps you use the better?
Was reading an interview off Alex lifeson [Rush], it is in Guitar Player of Sept 07, and looking at his gear, he had about four amps with 4 speakercabs.
Don't know, I perfer to take a relatively small amp, take that through the PA, and the on-stage sound will not be too loud as well.
Okay for big stadium -gigs [which I have never done yet] this approach may not work, but sometimes I really wonder does one need that many amps??
If all bandmembers use small amps that it certainly should be possible to use smaller gear, so less hassle with carrying, and taking up less space in the van.
I bet your drummer uses a lot of toms as well? Again with drums, I liek kits to be small, just learn to play well, and get a lot out of a small set-up.
I play drums as well, so can useually give good idea what the drums should sound like, may even play an idea on the the drums for the drummer to get the idea.
Okay getting off now into different territory.
Yep, nice one about the stew, making playing so much more human!! |
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Low volume amps?
