I think a small amp such as the roland micro cube is a good option. They have a few decent effects and a headphone jack. Also portable and good enough to take with you to jam with a friend or something and you don't want to lug around big, heavy gear.

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https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

I think the first thing to do, before trying multieffects, amps or software. Is to get a decent set of heaphones.
They make the world of difference.

Personaly I use this crowd exclusively.
http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/
Though that's limited to ipod use these days. I did buy the headphones that these replaced in the product line for use with my POD.
http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/sennheiser-hd280-black.html

Great external noise attenuation going and the sound doesn't get out either. In other words, external sounds won't disturb you and you won't disturb anyone else. Even if your blasting and their sat next to you.

I went ahead and picked up the Boss ME25 and so far I have been very impressed both with headphones and through an amp. I can still return it if I decide it isn't for me for the next 30 days, but so far it is heads and shoulders above all the multi effects units I have tried in the past.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

Can you turn off the amp modeling and just use the effects?

I am not sure I am still investigating all the features. The clean amp "mod" so far seems to not change my amp so much that it was noticeable. I really so far have just been playing with the preprogramed sounds.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

To be honest I don't even plug in when I practice. Unless I write something down and want to hear it with some effects.

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“The guitar is a small orchestra. It is polyphonic. Every string is a different color, a different voice.”


- Andreas Segovia

I have a class 5 and it for me is hands down the best practice amp I have ever heard. I also have a pair of shure headphones for when there is a crowd and need to quiet a bit. Awesome tones!

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— did that sound like something?

I use POD gear, record with it too. Sounds great. I'm not just a POD guy. I would rather play through my Vox AC-30 or even my Princeton RI. But the POD is ideal for headphone use and direct recording. Its also a great tool for live gigs when you need to control the stage volume--you can't get loud tone at a soft volume.