Im in a suituation where i live in an apartment and cant get a blues jr or anything else like it as they have no attenuator and no headphone jack. as you know you need to crank these amps up to 4-5 at least to get the best out of them and they are LOUD at that.

I need to get a good blues tone from a solid state amp/modelling amp ( p.s, i know a modelling amp is a solid state, but a solid state is not always a modelling so i diferentiate!).

I need to know what you guys do in this suituation. I am leaning towards the orange crush 30R. seems to be some nice blues tones from that, but im wide open to better ideas.

To hear the orange crush blues tone, listen to this review from about 4:30 mins to the end:

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=FnTr49UmhZs.

Thanks for any replies.

I use a Fender Frontman 15G for practice! At home, I have to play quiet, because my neighbours don´t like music, you know...

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Fender Elite Stratocaster (1983)
Fender Standard Telecaster MIM (2004)
Fender Super Twin Reverb (1978)
Music Man 65 + 115RH-65 (1977)

I'd look to line6. I used to use a pod v2 with a solidstate poweramp for varied live material. Good and wide ranging sounds. I suspect their combo's are based on the same software. ZZdoc uses a precursor of those amps theres nothing wrong with his ears

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Hi schmintan:

'Nother way to go. Most people who have multi-FX/amp modelling units (Pod, Boss GT 10, etc) put them through an amp. But the best way to listen to amp modellers is piped directly into a PA, recorder, or whatever. Then you are not overlaying the amp model with a real amp's sound.

Obviously, modelling amplifiers take that into account with the design of their speaker and cabinet - to an extent.

However, another worthwhile solution is to buy the floor based modeller/multi-FX of your choice and then simply hook it up to your stereo. That system is configured to give the cleanest sound possible (at a given price point) and so will color the modeller's sounds the least. You will be hearing the best possible representation of your unit's take on Fender, Marshall, Vox or whatever, and at volume levels you can control entirely to you and your neighbors' satisfaction.

Whatchathink?

Cheers - C

Thanks Ceri et al.

Unfortunately I dont have a stereo, only a set of small pc speakers. This is why i was asking about cab's for a pod.

its looking like il have to get a pod, a specially designed cab with amp and see how that goes. sounds expensive though. perhaps just a cheapo cube or something might be the way to go for now

I use headphones into a Line6 Pod 2.0 when volume's an issue. It does the trick.

although i want the option of headphones for late night playing i dont want to be exclusively restricted to headphones. I like to "rock out" occasionally, meaning headphones would be a restriction. i also rather only using headphones when necessary.

The main thing for me is getting good sound but also having complete volume control, which isnt a feature small valve amps support.

Hi again, schmintan: then get your Pod or whatever and buy a pair of active speakers to plug it into. Then no need for an amplifier at all: the money can all go on the speakers. Which you can then also use for other devices as well - high quality sound on your computer, for example.

Even modelling amps tend to want to be played reasonably loud to sound good. Sims through a stereo type system is the best at low volume.

Brands like Yamaha and Tannoy amongst others are good to look at for active speakers.

A way to go...

Cheers - C

although i want the option of headphones for late night playing i dont want to be exclusively restricted to headphones. I like to "rock out" occasionally, meaning headphones would be a restriction. i also rather only using headphones when necessary.

The main thing for me is getting good sound but also having complete volume control, which isnt a feature small valve amps support.

My version 2.0 POD Pro is very flexible, and I'm using a lot of Native Instrument's Guitar Rig for really whacked out effected parts. Neither of them sounds as good as a good tube amp, but it's close, and for low-volume practice, you can't beat a POD.

what speaker/ cab are you using though? do you amp it up yourself or just go through the stereo?

I should have specified: I work in a small studio producing custom tracks for various uses, and all my modeler use is through the consoles and out the monitors in the control room.

We do mic a tube amp pretty often for more critical guitar sounds (I'm loving the new Egnater Rebel 20 we're fooling with right now), but when all I need is a bright, clean rhythm part to double the high-hat, I just plug into the POD.

Source a cheap solidstate combo from ebay preferably with a effects loop. Plug a pod into the effects return with the guitar going straight into the pod. That will get rid of any of the amps pre-amp controls making the pod the master control. Or get the pod x2/3 whatever one it is now and use its usb port into your pc.

Still think the best allround option is to look for a line6 amp.
Or maybe a peavy vyper.

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I play in my bedroom, which doubles as a small studio.

I can play either thru my Vox DA5 (.5w/1w/5w) or thru a Line6 Toneport KB37 Midi Keyboard / Audio Interface - or thru both at the same time. I have a set of M-Audio DX4 Monitors (18w).

Headphones can be used with either one. If I use the DX4s, I can get too loud for the rest of the family. I expect that will happen even more when I get a Fender Super Champ XD - another modeling amp. However the DA5 is very nice - it sounds good even at low volumes.

Here's a diagram of my current setup.



Gil

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Where ever you go, there you are

1998 Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Natural
Taka - 2005 Squier '51 Black
Yume - 2006 Squier Strat Cherryburst
Houbi - 2008 Fender VG Strat Blizzard Pearl - won here
Fender Super Champ XD; Vox DA-5

Ever try the Vox Pathfinder 15R ? Nice tone for about $120 new.....