Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

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Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by rickenbackerkid »

Hi guys,

I'm thinking that I should buy something completely un-cool, un-sexy and un-fun. That thing would be some form of backup type box, so that if my amp shits itself, I have a way to get a reasonable direct sound. This thing must have an XLR output and have a decent amp model-y sound of like a very low gain Marshall or even AC30.

Recommend away!

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by robthemac »

rickenbackerkid wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 2:47 pm Hi guys,

I'm thinking that I should buy something completely un-cool, un-sexy and un-fun. That thing would be some form of backup type box, so that if my amp shits itself, I have a way to get a reasonable direct sound. This thing must have an XLR output and have a decent amp model-y sound of like a very low gain Marshall or even AC30.

Recommend away!
XLR out makes this list a lot shorter. Otherwise I'd recommend a Stryom Iridium, Tech 21 British or Joyo British. I wouldn't recommend the Joyo AC Tone.

Jops also enjoys his Simplifier but I haven't used it personally.

Just run an XLR to quarter inch cable.
Last edited by robthemac on Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jops wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:46 am Spring is the comic sans of reverbs anyway.

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by rickenbackerkid »

Iridium and Simplifier are way expensive for me. I've had a British as well as their Fender version (blonde?) both sounded pretty awful in a clean/low gain setting to my ear, although they were both good at a high gain sound

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by robthemac »

rickenbackerkid wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 2:55 pm Iridium and Simplifier are way expensive for me. I've had a British as well as their Fender version (blonde?) both sounded pretty awful in a clean/low gain setting to my ear, although they were both good at a high gain sound
I agree with the Blonde. Wasn't a fan. I had the British for years though, and was quite happy on edge of breakup tones direct to a power amp and cabinet
Jops wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:46 am Spring is the comic sans of reverbs anyway.

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by godgrinder »

Yeah XLR makes your options a bit limited. A Mooer 004 or 019 with a small passive DI would still probably be one of the cheapest/smallest options though.
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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by griff »

Hard to beat Atomic Ampli-firebox if you can find one. I found the tones very very good out of that thing, especially the JCM800 model on it. (I had the 3 button version, twice)

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by jeremyb »

But a joyo and a DI box, that’s my go to for recording bass.
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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by Bg »

I really miss JB plugging his Katana.....



fnarrr fnarrr
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by Jops »

Simplifier took the place of my amp. And I have a reactive load with cabsims for the amp. Simplifier is just too ezclap.

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by Zaulkin »

Amplifirebox!

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by rickenbackerkid »

Bg wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 3:28 pm I really miss JB plugging his Katana.....



fnarrr fnarrr
Shit some form of Katana would be ideal, I've used the 1x12 amp and it was really good

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by Thomas Hurst »

godgrinder wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 3:01 pm Yeah XLR makes your options a bit limited. A Mooer 004 or 019 with a small passive DI would still probably be one of the cheapest/smallest options though.
+1 for those little mooer amp sims. They really don't sound bad at all, however I reckon having an IR loader as well is worth it too.

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by Reg18 »

I found the Nux Solid Studio really good, although it isn’t a preamp. It’s a power amp simulator and IR loader with XLR out.
In this video I compared it with my 5e3 going into it and the joyo.
You can just use it direct though with a good overdrive pedal. Got friends using it like this successfully. And around $250 new


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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by Pvt. Ryan »

7 months late. Anyway, I came across the Vox Valvenergy pedals - can be used as a standard pedal and has a preamp and cab-sim mode.

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Re: Very affordable, decent sounding direct amp simuator thing

Post by rickenbackerkid »

As a 7 month late update, I've been playing with one band using my TC Nova multiFX. it has a highly complex amp simulator setting - ON or OFF. Turns out that it sounds ok, provided that you're always using an overdrive. Even an overdrive with the gain way down so it's still crystal clean sounds OK. I also have an Eleven Rack now, which sounds really good and I use at home. I supose next tour (if it ever happens) I'll take the Nova System as backup. Would love to buy new toys but have really decided to try get on a better financial footing which means no new toys for a bit.

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