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Post subject: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 3:59 pm
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All,

I'm looking for a small Fender amp that has that classic tube sound, but is suitable to play at lower volumes in an apartment. Now, I know what a lot of folks are probably thinking: You're not going to find a decent tube amp for use at bedroom volumes -- at least that is the main response I've received on other guitar forums. Anyway, I'm aware that there are two decent Fender combo amps that seem to fit the bill: the Super Champ XD and the Vibro Champ XD. I've had my eye on the Vibro Champ XD for a while, but have not been able to demo one, as they are never in stock at any of the music stores in my area. I'm not in a band, so I just need a decent practice amp that has some great tones and effects and won't disturb my neighbors if I want to crank up the volume a bit. Besides the amps that I mentioned, could anyone recommend any other Fender amps that would be suitable for my needs? Are there any Fender practice amps on the market that have attenuators built in to them? Thanks in advance for your help!


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:40 pm
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Check out the Champion 600. It's a sweet little amp; 5 watts all tube, 6" speaker, high and low gain inputs. Cost me $139 out the door at GC. I really like mine, it's nice to be able to get clean tube sounds late at night without getting the cops called.

You could also keep your eye out for an old Silverface Champ. I see those all the time for really decent prices, and they sound/look sweet.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:39 am
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Thanks, ExiledonMainSt. I'll check out those amps as well.

ExiledonMainSt wrote:
Check out the Champion 600. It's a sweet little amp; 5 watts all tube, 6" speaker, high and low gain inputs. Cost me $139 out the door at GC. I really like mine, it's nice to be able to get clean tube sounds late at night without getting the cops called.

You could also keep your eye out for an old Silverface Champ. I see those all the time for really decent prices, and they sound/look sweet.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:34 am
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i know that they're modeling amps but the mustang line contains wonderful little amps at good prices plus you get a bunch of effects and a tuner to boot

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:13 am
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First choice would be a silverface Champ, Vibro Champ or Bronco - hard to go wrong there.

I'd also look at the new Greta and Excelsior pawnshop amps. Tube, low wattage, and with the Greta, it does sound OK through the speaker, but even better through an external cab. At $199 it really is a great bedroom amp and unlike the others, you can get power tube compression to get the sound of the amp melting if you want.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:19 am
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rjames1973,

I would recommend the G-DEC3 30 watt. It is the most apartment friendly practice amp I have come across in 25 years of playing. Sounds great at "TV" volume levels, yet can still be turned up loud enough to get you evicted. It has a headphone out if you need to go 100% silent (a feature tube amps rarely have). Add to that the built-in backing tracks, metronome, tuner and looper and it's a hard package to beat.

I have tried various low-wattage tube amps with pedals in front. None was any better than the G-DEC3 and some were actually inferior at the volume levels we are talking about, IMO.

-Mike


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:31 am
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Thanks, jmp15. I just finished reviewing some of the features of the G-DEC3 30 watt, and it looks like a nice practice amp. It's a bit above my price range, but it seems to have a lot of features, which would make it worth it. I especially like it's recording capabilities, since I do a lot of home recording with Garageband.

jmp15 wrote:
rjames1973,

I would recommend the G-DEC3 30 watt. It is the most apartment friendly practice amp I have come across in 25 years of playing. Sounds great at "TV" volume levels, yet can still be turned up loud enough to get you evicted. It has a headphone out if you need to go 100% silent (a feature tube amps rarely have). Add to that the built-in backing tracks, metronome, tuner and looper and it's a hard package to beat.

I have tried various low-wattage tube amps with pedals in front. None was any better than the G-DEC3 and some were actually inferior at the volume levels we are talking about, IMO.

-Mike


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:25 pm
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I recommend:

7-100 (1970's vintage are the best, but new ones aren't too bad)

http://www.amazon.com/Pignose-Legendary ... 827&sr=8-4


Demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4f76ng49wA&feature=fvst

Good luck with your searches.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:48 am
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I would go for the Champion 600, it's affordable, sounds great for the price, even without speaker & tube replacements.
I also have a G-Dec 3 fifteen, nice amp really but it's no tube amp.
In the beginning it's really cool to be able to play with backing tracks and all of that stuff but in the end it's better too have an amp that does one thing GREAT than one that does a lot of things reasonable.
I use my Champ with a delay pedal and an overdrive and believe me it covers lots of ground.
when your playing through the the G-Dec with delay and whatever effect you like, you can't really change things on the go because you have to go through the menu by pushing buttons and turning that big knob, it's just not direct enough but it is still a nice amp with some very good sounds in there.
Also for an apartment, the G-Dec fifteen is loud enough it will even be too loud when you go to 11.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:03 am
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Age old problem.....All roads lead to the champ..... :wink: So much sound from the oldys we like is recorded on them......Sounds sorta muddy live but if you can get past that it's fun in a box for late at night....I'd love to mic mine and see how it goes....dirty bity sound... Better over drive at low DB than every thing really with a ts.... :twisted: gold lion tubes in mine.... 8)

If I was in doodle dandy land.... :wink: ..... and didn't have to pay double for non passive gear.... :lol: I would try.... amoungst other small wattage amps... a Swart tone atom... 8)

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Last edited by ozrv on Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:55 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:11 am
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I suggest one of the Mustangs or if you are good and may want to get out and play a supersonic 22...just a nice sounding amp -you'll have to loop effects if you want to color the sound.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:01 am
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blues jr nos is also a good one..I also live in ana apartment and it is ok as far as you use it below 3 but still good tone..also yuocan use it at gigs at small to medium clubs..it is the best portable alltube amp and ı believe that it is a pro instrument..take care....


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:21 am
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Or a blues jnr...... In your apartment.......ha ha ha ha.....Popular amp late at night in a apartment... :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:42 am
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All,

Thanks for all of the replies! I decided to order a Fender Vibro Champ XD. I watched several demos and read some great reviews of the amp, and decided that it would be the best one for my needs. I suppose if it's still too loud for my apartment, then I could always get an attenuator for it.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for a Good Apartment Amp
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:18 pm
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I know you already ordered a Champ XD. But, in case it's a bit too loud, you still may want to look for a good used Pignose 7-100. Check out the link. Esp the Frank Zappa YT, near the bottom.


http://www.erikzmusic.com/pignose-7-100.html


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