Apologies for yet another home amp thread but it seems I know more about guitars than I do the things you can plug them into.
I need a home amplification solution.
I currently use a Vox VT40x, it’s got decent sounds and some effects plus the ability to store presets etc.
What I don’t like about it is despite turning the noise gate off turning down the guitars volume on a gain tone doesn’t clean up just gets quieter. It’s also limited to the number or effects you can use at once.
I want something that sounds good, it must have knobs not menus so you can adjust on the fly, an effects loop is a must as is either 3 channels or the ability to store presets.
Footswitch controlled and a good master volume so late night playing is possible.
I’ve looked at Helix/pod go/ headrush but the lack of buttons puts me off and about there is where my knowledge of things ends.
I’ve thought of getting like an old fender frontman 100 2x12 and sticking something like a Victory Kraken or diezel V4 in the loop etc but don’t know how good those units would sound though a solid state amp.
I like bluesy cleans but also fender crystal cleans, marshal crunch but Mesa recto / 5150 types of gain.
If you had a budget of say circa £1000 what would you fine folk be choosing?
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But several people will be along in a moment to tell you why one of the best reviewed/selling amps of recent times is rubbish.
Something else to consider if you've also been looking at the modeller option for lots of presets etc would be the Fractal FM3.
Awesome amount of stuff to play with in there and sounds immense. I've barely gotten beyond the startup presets so far but it's an instant smile on face box... @Wazmeister has one also and can probably comment more as has better understanding and use of his... little bit above your budget but does so much and so well...
Analog, buttons and knobs, easy to use and sounds great.
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
I'm in the opposite camp at the moment: only buying things with their own power supplies to put off buying yet another pedalboard PSU Non-9V supplies are scary though: last time I rebuilt my board I accidentally stuck a 12V plug into a 9V pedal. No harm done, but I can see that if there's a valve preamp there's a chance to do some real damage by mistake.
I use one at home no problem thanks to the master volume and often play most evenings.
Has all the sounds and a loop that you could ask for.
I mainly live on the vintage channel with a hint of break up... riding the guitar volume.... and far too many pedals.
Ironically my much less powerful Blue Angel is more or less unusable at bedroom volume because it doesn't have a master volume, hence is too noisy. I've cured it with an attenuator, but it just goes to show that power is not the important factor.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I need 3 or 4 sounds and I prefer physical buttons rather than menus etc so the bluguitar seems ok but would still require me to mess about with EQ in between sounds.
I don't think warmup time is actually needed. Even if it is, 30 seconds will be more than enough.
I think the idea behind it is to avoid any inrush current damaging things but in reality it's not something you need to worry about.
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
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