Dorm/Apartment Amp

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theworkoffire
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by theworkoffire » Sun May 04, 2008 12:05 pm

Killamangiro* wrote: vox valvetronix AD 30 sounds superb to my ears..
Must admit I enjoy mine, too.

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soundhack
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by soundhack » Sun May 04, 2008 12:45 pm

wooderson wrote: I've got a Blackheart 5W mini-half-stack. I dunno if anything after 9 or 10 on the dial is apartment/dorm suitable. Five watts of tube can get absurdly loud when you crank it. It does sound nice at low volumes, though, the clean sound is similar to the Vox reissues I've played.
another interesteing thing about the blackheart is that allen amps is making an upgrade kit with replacement turret board, transformer and tone stack.

Image

http://www.allenamps.com/blackheart.php

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bish
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by bish » Sun May 04, 2008 3:05 pm

I love my Blackheart 5/3 W it does get pretty loud though. You might also consider the Handsome Devil which is the 15/7 W amp and has a drive knob, the combo goes for about $399 but the head version is $299. I'm not sure they have actually made it into stores yet though.

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem. ... =CBH15112X
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem. ... =CBH15HXXX


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Riptide
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by Riptide » Sun May 04, 2008 5:28 pm

three questions: 1) with the upgrade kit with replacement turret board, transformer and tone stack, whats left from the original amp, besides the housing and tubes (which you would prob replace anyhow)

and 2) Im trying to figure out how these black hearts sound, like in my mind w/o ever hearing one i would imagine a mini plexi kinda thing, but i know someone mentioned voxish..


3) on that fractional watt amp, what is a power  tube block? do you guys think this would be alright in a dorm? i went to my local music store today and idk how much this guy knew but he seemed to be fairly knowledgeable but he kept pushing for me to get a solid state amp, which kinda bothered me cause i like tubes better, but he recommended a Vox Pathfinder 15

i guess all it comes down to is, Does it sound good, does it go well with my jag, does it like pedals, and does it have mojo? oh yeah and is quiet...heh never thought i would say that
"Who ever controls the media controls the mind"
~Jim Morrison

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soundhack
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by soundhack » Sun May 04, 2008 6:59 pm

Riptide wrote: three questions: 1) with the upgrade kit with replacement turret board, transformer and tone stack, whats left from the original amp, besides the housing and tubes (which you would prob replace anyhow)
from what i can tell, the allen amp upgrade replaces everything but the power transformer. new tubes as well. i've just read the web site though - no idea how it would sound - allen amps has a very good reputation....

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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by RumorsOFsurF » Sun May 04, 2008 7:21 pm

northern_dirt wrote: Image
;D ;D ;D
Radical Left Lunatic

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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by Surfoverb » Mon May 05, 2008 7:48 am

I really want to get a sf champ, for around $300 you can't beat it, it's got mojo, tubes, the works...I play through my little baby Bullet Reverb amp and that's a great amp for clean Fender tones.

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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by Riptide » Mon May 05, 2008 12:09 pm

I was e-baying vintage tube combo amps during my statistics class and i found some neat ones, im gonna make the assumption most of them are knockoffs of the Champ circuit like those magnatones and guyatones and stuff.  I'll have to look up that bullet reverb amp. Nice jag btw Surfoverb!
"Who ever controls the media controls the mind"
~Jim Morrison

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Mighty Tom
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by Mighty Tom » Mon May 05, 2008 12:15 pm

theworkoffire wrote:
Killamangiro* wrote: vox valvetronix AD 30 sounds superb to my ears..
Must admit I enjoy mine, too.
+1

And for a dorm or apartment, one of the best things about it is the adjustable wattage.

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Surfoverb
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by Surfoverb » Mon May 05, 2008 4:37 pm

Riptide wrote: I was e-baying vintage tube combo amps during my statistics class and i found some neat ones, im gonna make the assumption most of them are knockoffs of the Champ circuit like those magnatones and guyatones and stuff.  I'll have to look up that bullet reverb amp. Nice jag btw Surfoverb!
Thanks but some 13 year old tween girl owns it now :(

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chordbuster
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by chordbuster » Fri May 09, 2008 7:34 pm

I live in an apartment and to make matters worse my girlfriend works nights so I am only able to play at fairly low volume most of the time.I have gone through many,many amps looking for one that I could get good tone at lower volume,and for me the hands down winner is the Vox AC-15CC1. I love this amp.If you have the opportunity,check one out at GC.The Vox ADVT 30 is also very nice.

Image

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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by luau » Sat May 10, 2008 7:44 am

My personal preference is a tube amp that sounds good at low volumes + pedal. Like a Champ.
Bigger in sum than parts.

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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by sjn » Sun May 11, 2008 11:06 pm

i went through this same dilemma last august and looked at a silverface vibrochamp, but a '65 reissue mustang came my way for a good price so i chose that (thinking it would be a safe dorm guitar i could have with little emotion attached to, so that if it got knocked i wouldn't want to die), and just stuck with the old solid state park amp i've had since sixth grade, ultimately i sold the mustang got my money and then some back, luckily, and took the park amp back over winter break, since then i've stuck with a nine volt lil' smokey which actually is capable of some pretty decent sounds, and saves good space. i would almost go for an amp that will transfer into a nice apartment amp, or just wait, as indecision is never too bad a choice.
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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by TheodorJ » Mon May 12, 2008 3:55 am

Roland Cube
Fender Champ
Victoria 5112/518
Fender Champion 600
Fender Blues/Pro Jr.
Epiphone Valve Junior

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Re: Dorm/Apartment Amp

Post by sookwinder » Mon May 12, 2008 4:03 am

Riptide wrote: I was e-baying vintage tube combo amps during my statistics class
in my day it would have been : I was sitting in the university bar gitting pissed as a newt, during my statistics class


but on the subject at hand ...  I find the Deluxe Reverb RI sufficiently quiet at night but still with enough tone and colour to satisfy...
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...

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