Ideas on best smallish solid state amp?

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:52 am

I was thinking of getting a light combo amp for doing smaller gigging venues (restaurants, coffee houses, folk clubs, public loos etc) where power is supplied and, since I'm no spring chicken, the lightest amp that would give reasonable sound would be great.

Thinking about 35-40 watts rms, clean (for Jazz), solid state, preferably with notch or other controls to avoid feedback on a full depth f hollowbody using humbuckers, as light as possible.

Came up myself with Polytone or Roland Jazz chorus but those are heavy/large - anyone else got any favoured amps that approach this idea?

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:25 am

Those little Beringer Amps sound like they would suit your format. Don't seem to heavy.

Well unless you are Mr Burns

Post by **GrantB** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:49 am

I played a little Vox single speaker 30 watt thing some time back - Cambridge I think it was called. It sounded pretty good for the size and was light and small. $400 ish which is reasonable. I know the Rock Shop has them. I do think they have a single 12AX7 sitting in the front end though...so not quite 100% solid state. I thought they sounded better than the equivalent Marshall amps.

Other end of the scale (and not what you asked for) would be the Fender Blues Junior or Gibson Goldtone 12-15 watters - small, powerful and tone to go - downers - big bucks, heavy and all valve. Let us know what you go for.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:07 am

There's some of those new Vox amps on TM at the mo.
Just search on Vox.

Us old farts look good with a Vox.

Bluesbird · Post by **Bluesbird** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:40 pm

If you can find one, try out a Tech 21 Trademark 30 or 60.

Post by Bg » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:59 pm

why solid state? Just been looking at a lovely little old Fender Champ, bloody nice tone!

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:15 pm

I could put together a Yamaha VX55 chassis with a single 8, 10 or 12" squeaker in a light pine ply cabinet for about $400. No notch filter, but reverb up the wazoo and a nice clean tone...

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:20 pm

That sounds a pretty good deal, Ash.

I actually like SS Yamaha amps.

philipnz · Post by **philipnz** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 2:08 pm

I'd go for a floor processor (Vox Tonelab, Boss GT6, Pod, etc) straight into a small PA. Why lug an amp at all?. More control over the sound through the PA system.

Alternatively look at a Roland Cube, Tech21 trademark, line 6, or Vox VT.

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 11:10 am

OK - lovely of you all to offer these thoughts, much appreciated and will give the brands mentioned a whirl.

To BG - only chose solid state for reliability/lightness plus could not be arsed worrying about tubes (have enough of that nonsense with my other amps) - just something you can pick up and go with at the drop of a hat in a smallish car.

To Ash - the Ymaha chassis amp offer is greatly appreciated but will check out the other gear for a while first.

ash · Post by **ash** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 1:46 pm

B45-12 wrote: To Ash - the Yamaha chassis amp offer is greatly appreciated but will check out the other gear for a while first.

No probs. I might just throw one together sometime to see how a lightweight 1x10 combo comes out. Its not like I'm going to run out of VX amp units