Mini Amps & Micro Amps

bingefeller

What are some good mini  and micro amps? 

Sassafras

Do you mean heads or combos?
If heads, you can't do better than a ZVex Nano Head.
Wonderful little thing. Perfect for recording.

bingefeller

Sassafras said:

Do you mean heads or combos?
If heads, you can't do better than a ZVex Nano Head.
Wonderful little thing. Perfect for recording.

I  mean like the Marshall MS-2 and the likes.  Solid state ones.  :-)

bingefeller

What's the VOX MINI3-G2CL like?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CF8DR14/

xSkarloey

I've had a first gen Roland Microcube for about 11 years now. 

I keep trying to find reasons to upgrade/ replace but it keeps on going and does enough to keep me happy.

TheMarlin

I much preferred the DA5 to the Mini3. Still got my DA5, though shoehorned an 8" Weber Alnico into it.  Sounds great.  

I love the highgain settings, with vol up max, and gain set to minimum.  It give a great low volume 'edge of breakup' tone, with great pick dynamics. 

Very versatile little amp. Only downside, can't do reverb and delay simultaneously.  

ICBM

bingefeller said:

I  mean like the Marshall MS-2 and the likes.  Solid state ones.  :-)

The Orange Micro Crush is better than the MS-2, I think because the cabinet is proper "wood" (MDF actually) rather than plastic. It's probably the best of the half-watt solid-state toy amps.

Which is also remarkable, considering that the Micro Terror is the Worst Amp In The History Of The World Ever...

I do also like my Vox Mini5 Rhythm, which to me sounds better than the Mini3 as well as having a built-in drummer . I tried a couple of 'better' speakers as well, including a Weber 8", but it sounded better with the stock one.

JezWynd

ICBM said:

bingefeller said:

I  mean like the Marshall MS-2 and the likes.  Solid state ones.  :-)

The Orange Micro Crush is better than the MS-2, I think because the cabinet is proper "wood" (MDF actually) rather than plastic. It's probably the best of the half-watt solid-state toy amps.

Have to disagree with you there. Having used both units I found the MS-2 to sound much superior. I got lured into the Orange with its wooden case only to find a noisy, unpleasant sound when clean and a nasty overdrive accessed via a button iirc. The MS-2 otoh gave surprisingly pleasing tones, especially when the PP3 started to die when there was a window of about a week when it became a garage rock fuzz box type of thing. Perhaps I was unlucky in my particular Orange example, and they are practise devices so I shouldn't expect too much from them, but the MS-2 was a clear winner for me.

ICBM

I've had both as well. I hated the MS-2 except when I fitted it with an extension speaker jack and ran it through a proper cabinet - horrible nasal honky sound by itself. The Orange sounded surprisingly decent - but I admit I've had two and I don't think the second one sounded as good as the first.

bingefeller

What do you guys think of the Blackstar Fly 3?  I was having a look at it and it seems to use a strange power adapter, like one a computer laptop uses. 

I see Fender are making an EVH III Micro amp too.

Bidley

I've never heard one of those micro amps sound good. I think the speaker size really holds it back.

Ironically I think you're better off with a multifx and headphones. I'm still using my G3.

simonk

I love my little Fly; it gets more use around the house than any other amp I've got. I've not got the adapter for mine, but I've had it for over a year and not had to change the batteries yet. 

bingefeller

Bidley said:

I've never heard one of those micro amps sound good. I think the speaker size really holds it back.

Ironically I think you're better off with a multifx and headphones. I'm still using my G3.

I have the G1XON, but just took a notion for a micro amp to arse about with.

simonk said:

I love my little Fly; it gets more use around the house than any other amp I've got. I've not got the adapter for mine, but I've had it for over a year and not had to change the batteries yet. 

Yeah it seems to get good reviews on Amazon. 

photek

Another plus one for the Blackstar Fly, the little marshalls are toy amps the Fly is a serious sounding beastie! Mine gets used every day.

slacker

bingefeller said:

Sassafras said:

Do you mean heads or combos?
If heads, you can't do better than a ZVex Nano Head.
Wonderful little thing. Perfect for recording.

I  mean like the Marshall MS-2 and the likes.  Solid state ones.  :-)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/csexton62/IMG_2318_zpsc1581182.jpg

It's cute as well

Sassafras

Never tried one but they do look cool as well as tiny.

bingefeller

Sassafras said:

Never tried one but they do look cool as well as tiny.

Sassafras said:

Never tried one but they do look cool as well as tiny.

Don't they need a cab?

Sassafras

You're right but they look so dinky. I think they're about the size of a pedal.

bingefeller

Sassafras said:

You're right but they look so dinky. I think they're about the size of a pedal.

what's the smallest cab you can get mate? 

pintspiller

I remember getting an MS2 when they came out. Pure shite. I cut out a cardboard Les Paul for my Action Man and set him infront of it. I'd hoped to make him a top hat and curly hair, but I was either so ending my time drinking or wanking in those days.

bingefeller

pintspiller said:

I remember getting an MS2 when they came out. Pure shite. I cut out a cardboard Les Paul for my Action Man and set him infront of it. I'd hoped to make him a top hat and curly hair, but I was either so ending my time drinking or wanking in those days.

I lol'd!