Some Good Small Amps?

[dtrain1234]

Hi,
I am currently playing electric rhythm guitar for a worship team at my church. Right now I have a Raven 100 watt amplifier which works good but it can be a pain to haul from place to place between practices and gigs. I use a microphone to get the sound from my amp and connect that to the sound board. I also use a Boss GT-8 multi-effects pedal for my effects. Are there any good small amps that can get me enough power and have a good clean signal? I used to get a muddy signal when I would connect from the amp to a direct box and then to the soundboard, but I think the microphone connection helped solve that problem. I would like to have an amplifier that also has some effects on it so I can use them whenever I want to and be able to add or change the effects. I'm thinking 25 to 30 watts should be enough. I was looking at the Line 6 Spider 4 30 watt, Fender G-Dec 30 30 watt and Blackstar HT-20 20 watt. Am I looking at the wrong ones or are there any other suggestions? What would you recommend? Thanks for your time and attention.

[Len911]

I'm not a guitar player, but I'm not sure why the Peavey Vypyr 30 isn't on your list?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Vypyr30/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b851Vk8li40

[markjsmith]

Hi Darin,
I would stay away from the modeling amps if you are happy with your GT-8. I think running into a relatively clean TUBE amp with a modeling unit in front of it (like the GT-8) is the best way to go. The Peavey Classic 30 is probably a better way to go than the Vyper for a church gig IMHO. I play at church occasionally, and I use effects to get my sound amplified through either a Fender Deluxe (22 watts), or a Vox AC15 (15 watts). Tube amps sound much warmer and more pleasing than any solid state amp I've heard, which have a tendency to sound sort of sterile. I'm not completely knocking modeling amps cause you get a huge amount of bang for the buck. I just think a tube amp will sound better.

[Kolstad]

Definitely go with a Tube amp. The small Fender's are great IMO.
I'd suggest a Super Champ XD (that also has modelling and dsp, but the clean tube circuit sounds very good). It's a very versatile small amp, takes effects well, sounds great with cabinets and you can mod it if you're into that (some prefer to install a fx loop, a slightly bigger speaker, and swap to better tubes than the stock's).

Critique is that it lacks low end, due to the 10' speaker, but I personally like that for recording and lap steel playing.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 2331100000

Great utube test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek6PiHd-H2U

HUGE thread with lots of user reports at the Fender forum: http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?d ... ber=648268

[billg1]

I also don't think I've ever seen a bad review of the Fender Vibro Champ xd. tubes & a line out to go to the church PA. It might just be a good recording amp too, for $200.

[rld]

Hey Darin,
I agree with Mark about using that GT-8 for FX.
As far as an amp, check out the Bugera line.
http://www.bugera-amps.com/EN/home.aspx
I just got their V22 for under $300.
Bugera V22...22watt all tube (3 12AX7, 2 EL84), 2 channel with foot switch, 1x12 inch speaker, pentode/triode switch, boost switch, normal/bright inputs, fx loop, 4/8/16/ohm selector, reverb.
Its the best bang for buck out there.
Here is a Youtube I put together playing it and messing with the knobs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-kTII6HyQ

[Mike Barresi]

look up MESA BOOGIE mark IV 12" combo. I believe they are out of production now. Ebay always has them.

Very versitile amp.

[billg1]

Hey Darin,
I agree with Mark about using that GT-8 for FX.
As far as an amp, check out the Bugera line.
http://www.bugera-amps.com/EN/home.aspx
I just got their V22 for under $300.
Bugera V22...22watt all tube (3 12AX7, 2 EL84), 2 channel with foot switch, 1x12 inch speaker, pentode/triode switch, boost switch, normal/bright inputs, fx loop, 4/8/16/ohm selector, reverb.
Its the best bang for buck out there.
Here is a Youtube I put together playing it and messing with the knobs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-kTII6HyQ

there's one on eBay now for $225 "buy it now"-

[marcblack30]

Swaweet! Man... my wish list just keeps getting longer and longer! What a great value, and it sounds great!

[Kolstad]

Just found out they have Bugera's at my local dealer. Gotta try the wire on one of those!