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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
 Posted - 05/08/2007 : 08:14:21
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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?
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sp-1
Platinum Member
Germany
1454 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 10:41:39
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Maybe a powerbrake is a good solution, never tried though  |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 12:44:42
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I have tested power brakes on 20-50 W amps, but for bedroom levels it isn�t quite there.
By the way I have mounted a so called L-pad in my Valbee, that is a sort of power brake, to just slightly lower the volume. It works fine for me and is a cheap solution.
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 13:38:32
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i guess youre not a fan of headphones.
i have a setup of about 450 watts. but when i need to keep it quiet, i just plug into my Pioneer reciever with headphones. . it sounds great unless i go into really heavy distortion type stuff. |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 13:58:32
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| I hate headphones, listening to music and particularly when playing guitar, when everybody�s sleeping that is the only solution, then I rather play unamplified solid body guitar (can sound quite good and is very good for training the dynamics). |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 16:01:00
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Fender Champ or Vibro Champ. I have a VC. If you are a modder you can play with them and tweek, sounds good with a pedal, and it's the amp they recorded most of Layla with.
When I bought my 74 a few years ago it was a few hundred $. No idea what the market is like now for them. |
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DarrinPA
Silver Member
USA
221 Posts |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2007 : 08:34:17
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I have tested the Valve Junior but as it don�t have any master volume you have to crank it to get a good sound. To get a good sound of a tube amp you need to play it at least about half volume, and with a Valve Junior it�s pretty loud. Adding distortion pedals to that you have a volume that makes neighbours getting mad�..
The Valbee I have play quite low even when cranked, I think this is done by purpose by Ibanez, using a non-efficient speaker.
But for the price Valve Junior is a good sounding amp. Some people have modded it with, as they say, good results.
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2007 : 10:04:21
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I had a quick test of the Orange Tiny Terror a few weeks back. I was very positively impressed. It's a 15W amp, switchable to 7W. The finish looks a bit cheap but IMO the sound weighs up for it.
Other interesting low power amps that I haven't tried are the THD Univalve, Hiwatt 7W (can't remember the exact model designation) and Matamp. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2007 : 14:20:14
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I have a post in the non boss gear pages goran,i've put T.A.D. tonebones(lets you put el 84 output valves into a marshall with el 34's etc)to reduce the amp volume down to about 30 watts,i'm also in the process of putting two greenbacks into the 2x12 cab and taking out the vintage 30's i have in it at the moment to try to curb the volume even futher for gigging... the tonebones i'm using are the pentode ones but they also make a triode version which is supposed to reduce the output of a marshall head i.e...100 watt down to 15 watts....i'm lucky as my gear is in the back of the house well away from the neighbours...but i've been told on a good day you an hear me from the street out front..........i also have an old selmer 14 watt amp which amazes everyone with the volume that comes out of it,its a '61 0r a 62 and still has the orginal goodmans speaker in it.....totally handwired with a valve rectifer and i got it for �100 punts(old irish money)about 130 euro..... |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 08:10:07
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Well, 15 W is a lot when you are living in an apartment� I know as I own a Fender Blues Jr, it�s not possible use for me at home as it on low volumes (as all amps) just don�t sound the way I want under half cranked.
Had a Laney 15 W too but the volume was to high.
The Zwex Nanohead seems to be a good choice, but the price is too high for me�.
I have also used old tube radios in the past, they can sound really good and are not putting out too much volume.
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 17:17:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Goran
I have tested the Valve Junior but as it don�t have any master volume you have to crank it to get a good sound. To get a good sound of a tube amp you need to play it at least about half volume, and with a Valve Junior it�s pretty loud. Adding distortion pedals to that you have a volume that makes neighbours getting mad�..
The Valbee I have play quite low even when cranked, I think this is done by purpose by Ibanez, using a non-efficient speaker.
But for the price Valve Junior is a good sounding amp. Some people have modded it with, as they say, good results.
There are a number of different mod kits available for the Valve Juniors, and I am pretty sure I saw one that had a switch cut the wattage to 2.5watts and another had a master volume mod. |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 17:19:43
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quote:
Originally posted by jack
quote:
Originally posted by Goran
I have tested the Valve Junior but as it don�t have any master volume you have to crank it to get a good sound. To get a good sound of a tube amp you need to play it at least about half volume, and with a Valve Junior it�s pretty loud. Adding distortion pedals to that you have a volume that makes neighbours getting mad�..
The Valbee I have play quite low even when cranked, I think this is done by purpose by Ibanez, using a non-efficient speaker.
But for the price Valve Junior is a good sounding amp. Some people have modded it with, as they say, good results.
There are a number of different mod kits available for the Valve Juniors, and I am pretty sure I saw one that had a switch cut the wattage to 2.5watts and another had a master volume mod.
Hi Jack
Can you see if you can find the links, and post them up here.
I was thinking of getting one.
Regards Dr. Bob |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 05/10/2007 17:20:21 |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 17:26:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
quote:
Originally posted by jack
quote:
Originally posted by Goran
I have tested the Valve Junior but as it don�t have any master volume you have to crank it to get a good sound. To get a good sound of a tube amp you need to play it at least about half volume, and with a Valve Junior it�s pretty loud. Adding distortion pedals to that you have a volume that makes neighbours getting mad�..
The Valbee I have play quite low even when cranked, I think this is done by purpose by Ibanez, using a non-efficient speaker.
But for the price Valve Junior is a good sounding amp. Some people have modded it with, as they say, good results.
There are a number of different mod kits available for the Valve Juniors, and I am pretty sure I saw one that had a switch cut the wattage to 2.5watts and another had a master volume mod.
Hi Jack
Can you see if you can find the links, and post them up here.
I was thinking of getting one.
Regards Dr. Bob
I know there are kits on eBay. Also, if you get a chance, you might want to see the forums over at Epiphone.Com, and there is supposedly a monsterous mod thread over at 18watt.com, but I haven't registered over there to check it out. The Epiphone Amp Forum through Epiphone.com has a lot of modders there and some of the people that sell mod kits even drop in from time to time as well... |
Edited by - jack on 05/10/2007 17:27:59 |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 17:49:37
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Dr. Bob, here's an online book that is available. IndyGuitarist drops in on the forum every now and then....It has almost every mod, inlcudiing the ones I mentioned, available...
http://www.indyguitarist.com/ampmods-vj.htm |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 20:28:07
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The ultimate low volume apartment amp is the Carr Mercury. It has power settings from 8 watts all the way down to a 1/4 watt. It has reverb, a boost switch, is all tubes and point to point wired. It will cost you 2150 USD new though!  |
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Low volume amps?
