Recommend me a small bedroom modeling amp

[dazco]

I'm a absolute tube snob all the way when it comes to anything serious including playing out, mainly because of the feel, not the sound. I have little problem with good models as far as tone, they just tend not to feel quite the same dynamically or in the way they respond to guitar volume knob twiddling.

That said, I no longer gig so i'm looking for something quite for home use. Is there anything in the tiny modeler category, say a 10" speaker and 10 or 20 watts that not only has very competitive sounds, but might come close to satisfying my need for tube amp feel and dynamics? I don't expect that to be as good as with a tube amp, just want something thats relatively good in that regard.

[Peppy]

My VOX Valvetronix has the feel...it also has two tubes. However, it's a big modeler. Also "however" it can be set to 1 or 15 watts if need be. If you want the feel it's one of the best for that purpose.

[slopeshoulder]

fender super champ xd.

[baddmann28]

tech21 tm 60.

[scott58]

I'll do you one better. 5 watt valve junior 1x12 with a POD Xt Live plugged into it. Best bedroom setup i have found. More then a match for modeling amps and decent low volume tone.

[nomadh]

Yea, I like the vox valvetronix alot. Also the vox da5 has almost the same vibe. Its a good chip in there. The vypyr also is worth checking out. On the other hand I didn't like the line6 stuff.

[stratzrus]

I'd get a good modeling pedal and run it into the effects return of your tube combo of choice. Then you'd have the best of both worlds.

"Cake and Pie" lisa loeb

[Bluedawg]

Be sure to give the Roland Cube 60 a try

I really like the Dyna-Amp setting for distortion and the JC-120 setting for clean.

Good Luck

:banana

[Julia343]

AXE FX and a couple of real good powered monitors if you've got the $$$.

[guitarnoize]

There are a few low wattage tube amps available these days like the Mini Colossal or Epi Jnr? Valvetronix is great though I used to have the AD50VT but you had to crank it to really get the best result I'm sure the 5 watter should be fine.

[Gtrman100]

I've got both the SCXD and a Vox AD30VT. Both do a reasonable job, but the Fender sounds a bit more real to me. I like the Blackface channel and voice #8 so much that I've put it into a Newell cab with a V30 and have a killer small gig rig.

[bluescube]

VOX AC4
Roland Cube30X

[jchan]

The Roland Cube's are great for home use. They are a very good price, small and actually sound good. Just pick the model you need. For home use I don't think you need to go above 30 watts.

If you have a decent home computer with speakers and don't have to have an amp, I would suggest a POD or Zoom G1 or something similar. That doesn't take up much space, doesn't cost much, sounds pretty good, has a ton of sounds, records well, you can play along with iTunes and can play any hour of the day with headphones.

[rotren]

Vox Valvetronix or Roland Cube are both schweet and inexpensive. Just made for making out with in the bedroom. :)

[stratzrus]

I'm a absolute tube snob all the way when it comes to anything serious including playing out, mainly because of the feel, not the sound.

That said, I no longer gig so i'm looking for something quite for home use. Is there anything in the tiny modeler category, say a 10" speaker and 10 or 20 watts that not only has very competitive sounds, but might come close to satisfying my need for tube amp feel and dynamics? I don't expect that to be as good as with a tube amp, just want something thats relatively good in that regard.I recommended a multi-effects pedal and a tube amp because if feel is important to you, you probably won't get it in a modeler short of an Axe FX. When you feel "the need for feel" you can always plug directly into the tube amp.

I have a Cube 60 and would have recommended it without hesitation but the feel is not there. The cleans are sterile and solid state sounding, and at volume the amp models leave a lot to be desired. With all of that said though, it is my "go to" amp for late night practicing and sounds pretty good in that regard. If feel can be a secondary consideration next to convenience and user friendliness at low volume, it's well worth considering.

[tiptone]

I came across a Fender G-DEC Junior for really cheap so I picked it up figuring I could just pass it along if I didn't care for it. I really like the little guy. Some of the amp sounds are better than others, but on the whole it does a very passable job of copping the tones it's trying to hit. The 130ms delay is great for slapback and the reverbs are all usable as well.

[dr.slide]

i too own a vox valvetronix ad30, a vox da10, a scxd, along with some small 5w tube amps ( gibson goldtone ga-5, champion 600, peavey royal 8 ), and from a fun factor standpoint the effects make the modeling amps clear winners ( voxda10 has 2 x 5" speakers and also has attenuation switch to go down to .5 watts, so it can get really quiet.. plus headphone out, plus some fun effects ) but none of the modelers can come close to the feel of tubes.... if i were you i'd get a small modeling amp under $200, a small 5w tube amp for $300 and give your yourself the option of both worlds at a minimum investment......the doc

[OnlyVees]

I echo the thoughts of the Super Champ XD, but if you want a truly small amp, that will stay at home, why not a Vibro Champ XD? It puts out 5 watts through an 8-inch speaker.

[dr.slide]

oh, i almost forgot..........z vex nano head...connect to cabinet of your liking......you will learn much about the interactivity of your guitar's vol. and tone controls.........real tubes, real tone, real feel, great bedroom volume, real light weight ..........the doc

[dazco]

for several reasons i don't want a pod or such into a tube amp. i just was a small combo. So far judging from this thread and reviews i read, the valvetronix seems to be the best. And people are even stating in reviews that it has the feel too, so i think it's probably the way to go. I'll have to go try one out if GC has em. thanks.

[In Tune]

Love the Vox.

[baimun]

I used to have a Vox Valvetronix head.... then the XL came out which is supposed to be their "Metal" amp, but I can honestly say, I liked the distortion better on that amp because it had tighter bottom.... you just dialed back the dirtortion to about 1/2 and it sounded pretty good.

I just noticed there is a new version of the Valvetronix that combines some of the models and can store 4 presets instead of 2.

[Shiny McShine]

I didn't like the Vox as much as the Cube 30 or especially the 60. The nice thing about the 60 is that you can use it as a wet side of a rig at low volumes and it's not bad as a back up amp live either.

The Axe-Fx would be really cool too but spendy.

[AirKuhl]

Seymour Duncan Convertible. Modules allows almost unlimited tonal combinations. Variable power, down to 5 watts. Very small profile for a 1x12. Fairly active online cult following to share and create new modules, tone mods, etc. Cheap, $500 maybe. Put a volume pedal in the effects loop and nothing sounds better at "baby sleeping in the next room" volume.

IMO a highly underrated, low volume amp with amazing tone and flexibility. Despite also having a '50's Bassman and a Budda, I still drag the Dunc out of the closet every now and then because there are things it can do that neither of the other 2 can, especially that "round" tone like Jimi had on Little Wing.

http://www.diyguitarist.com/GuitarAmps/Convert.htm