Which style amp do you use? Another poll

[HappyCat]

@Coda

especially when the processor in question also serves as an audio interface.

I think that’s a big win. I had to spend more dollars to get audio interface capability.

@Svoisine

There is virtually every sound profile (I.e. Fun) in the modeling amp. It was the lowest cost to gain access to the most sound options.

I’m thinking this is a real good reason to have this type of amp. It’s perfect for folks who are just starting out playing and want to discover the many possibilities of tones a electric guitar can create.

@mattswain

I’d like to try a tube amp but right now I’m not a good enough player

I dunno man. If being a good player were the criteria for having a tube amp. I wouldn’t have one.
I was kinda thinking it’s more about inspiration? If whatever amp you play inspires you. That’s the amp for you, .

@mattswain

I think a lot of the above comes from still being an inexperienced player who hasn’t found their sound yet.

I think your onto something there. If you’ve not played, you don’t know what your wanting. And, imho, that’s a perfect reason to get a modeler or guitar processor.

@mattswain

(and yes that can be a bad thing as well, too much choice).

And that, right there, is my concern for modeler amps. ‘For me’, I’d be concerned I’d be twiddling knobs searching for that perfect tone. Which will be unobtainable, since I’m not learning to play guitar, I’m learning how to twiddle knobs. I do kinda feel that tone is in the fingers, not the gear.

@dlemire60

I’ve never owned and only rarely played through a tube amp so I probably don’t know what I’m missing.

That could be? Perhaps a trip to the music store?

@dlemire60

OTOH, my 12’x12’ basement room would be overwhelmed by any but the smallest tube amp

Tube amps do have volume controls on them too.
Your comment on price is for sure valid though. They do seem kinda pricey.

@Prof_Thunder

its a hybrid tube, solid state 50W combo and its a modeller so not sure where to put my vote for that one

Sorry I left you out. I kinda thought about putting hybrid in the poll. But didn’t. fwiw, I’m not sure where that amp would fit either, tube plus modeling capability. It is unique and fits two categories for sure. Since the poll is open to more than one category, you could use two categories? I was thinking two amps when I opened it up to more than one choice. I’d not considered, one amp covering 2 choices. That’d be where your at I’d think.

@Prof_Thunder

Lovely amp but loud

I’m kinda thinkin that most amps have the capability of being too loud. I had a 12w solid state peavy for a while, it could be too loud too.

@Prof_Thunder

Already seems quite alive to me.

A win for you, as your the one that has to like it.

@AJSki2fly

Favourite amp I have is Cornford Harlequin valve amp

That’s a great sounding amp. I just went and watched a review of it. Very nice.

@pwoodtx

Marshall JCM-900

@pwoodtx

Helix modeler

Oh my, your all set for sure. Anything you want at your fingertips. Nice batch of amps ya got there.

@Beatup6String

I like them all for different reasons but I tend to play the Blues Junior most of the time.

Yep, I couldn’t agree more. Different flavors for different times. Oddly, or maybe not too, but I went supro blues king 12 for my 2nd amp I got. It was either that or the blues jr. IV. I found them very similar. I him hawed a lot before I made my decision. I’ve not been unhappy I went supro though. It’s just slightly different.

@RenanRischiotto

Hold on… I’m the poll guy

Ya ya are!
Richards got your number too!
Now I’m on his xxxx list too!

I’m honoring your being the poll guy. I think they are a good idea. Their fun!

@colinthomas77

Well none of the above as I built my own amp

I dunno Colin. That sounds suspiciously like a all tube amp to me. Your build sounds like a real nice amp too.

@colinthomas77

It is only 15w

And that is more than enough to make my wife very unhappy. My tube amps are in that range too. 12w and 15w. I can get in plenty of trouble (the dog house for me) with the turn of a knob.

@colinthomas77

AND if we have a nuclear war it will still work!

That’s assuming we have renewable energy from somewhere. No power, no play.
That’s where the acoustic comes into play.
I do get your comment though. You’ve made a robust amp. Well done!
fwiw, I’m not sure I’d say that about the tube amps I have. That they are robust. So I think you were thinking you’ve made a great amp. Robust is good!

@CD02

Nice one Jim

But it’s a frivolous, minor part of playing music. At least per Richard and the recent flood of polls.
Future polls (my interpretation of the above link) will be considered a controversial subject and will be banned! You know, like politics and religion. These subjects are all in the same realm.
fwiw, I thought it was a fun subject too. And the polls are fun to be a part of. I’m liking the comments too, and all are valid too.
Personally, I’m a HappyCat that your enjoying the topic at hand. Poll or not!

@chris_m

Boss Katana 50 Mk II
I see a few others have the same

On this forum, it seems to be the go to amp. While I’ve not had one, it does seem the perfect amp for folks who are just beginning their guitar playing journey.

@chris_m

I know less than nothing about gear.

That’s ok too. You don’t have to know anything other than how to turn it on/off and how to twiddle a knob. If ya want to know more about gear, the www is at your fingertips.

@sclay

Went digital a few years ago…never looked back.

It seems many folks are in the same boat.
This is kinda why I wanted to do this poll. See where everyone was at as to how they get the tones that they want.

Thanks for all the response to this poll.
I am finding out what I wanted to know via the poll.
I do hope everyone has had fun with this though. It really wasn’t meant to be a frivolous, kinda music related poll. It was meant to be fun and for me to discover which direction folks that play music are going with how they amplify their guitars.

Keep on Rockin folks, with whatever form of amplification that suits ‘you’!

[JohnnyZNN]

I have a Boss Katana 50 Gen 3, which suits me well as a beginner. There are plenty of presets to download, and the 0.5-watt setting is ideal for practicing in the evening without getting into arguments with the neighbors.

But someday I do want to get a tube amp to go with it.

[RenanRischiotto]

@HappyCat

Ya ya are!
Richards got your number too!
Now I’m on his xxxx list too!

I’m honoring your being the poll guy. I think they are a good idea. Their fun!

I’m nothing
They are fun indeed

[TonyHS]

I used to use the Katana 100 as my amp, but it is now just the PA system for the Boss ME90 pedal that includes an amp built in. I do not notice much difference with the amp choices avaialable, It is just convenient having all the ‘pedals’ in one unit.

[jvlynch]

I just bought a small Marshal amp. It arrives tomorrow. I got a fender frontman 10G amp that came with my guitar. It sucked. Lots of loud static and noise at times mostly when it’s first turned on. Due to a bit of humidity or bad design? It’s cheap, so I’ll be happy to unload it. Not much as far as adjustments on the Fender either. Lots of complaints on it online.

[CATMAN62]

Hey Jim @HappyCat !
Fun poll!
3 amps here…

• Katana 50 MkII (wish I would have known that the 100 watt had the effects loop before buying the 50, though). Love the amps versatility & the built in attenuation!
• Fender Acoustic 100 2 channel amp. This amp sounds amazing with an acoustic plugged into channel 1 & a mic plugged into channel 2. Separate controls for each channel allow me to adjust the eq & mix - some nice built in effects also! Fun solid state amp!
• Harmony H605 Tube amp. My favorite… only effect built in is reverb & it sounds pretty dang good! Again, a built in attenuator or I’d probably use it very rarely - at the 5 watts setting it is LOUD! It’s also really beautiful - the wife thinks most amps are ugly but she thinks it’s just beautiful! Here’s a sample…
  https://youtu.be/5JuCwu4tTK8

In short, I love music & think that whatever appeals to the player is the perfect amp for that person!!!
Keep it FUN everyone!!!

Tod

[Libitina]

…Delete

[djdrysdale]

I have a Boss Katana MKII 50 that I bought about six years ago. Trouble is that I have a very hard time getting a clean tone that I like. It always ends up sounding thin and trebly, no matter what I do with the EQ or the Global EQ or in Tone Studio. I play clean 99% of the time (maybe with a little bit of grit) and it’s been frustrating me more and more lately. I’ve been coveting some tube amps but since I only really play in a small bedroom I don’t think I’d be able to play at the volumes needed to warrant one. I am thinking of looking into a modeler pedal instead but I might end up with the same issue with the Katana if I don’t spend a lot on monitors so I am not sure.

Oh I also have a set of Positive Grid Spark Neo headphones. I’m much happier with the tone I get through those, but I don’t always want to play through headphones.

[Mustela]

Personally, I find the Blues Jr. tube amp to be very playable at lower volumes (esp clean). I’m certain that PLENTY of tube amps will also be like this. Granted, it’s a much simpler amp and therefore it lacks a headphone jack so silent play isn’t an option. It has an actual spring reverb that sounds really good, though. I don’t consider my ears all that refined for tone quality and the difference is still pretty big to me.

That said, I’ve got a little NUX solid state modeling amp that can be powered by battery. That can go LOW in volume, is portable, and has some modeling effects mostly accessible via the app. It has some drum rhythms in it, too. It can also be a simple BT speaker.

I also got a Valeton GP-50 battery-powered multifx pedal that has a headphone jack, also. I need to check that out because for silent play, that will also work for me. LOTS more effects than the little NUX, also has drum rhythms available. Can also do some looping.

I checked the boxes for pretty much all of the amp options. I do play 100% acoustic, also, so I guess I could check that box also. I really like the tone of the Blues Jr. and its responsiveness to my playing dynamics. My previous amp, a Fender champion 40, definitely sounded thin and flat compared. That little NUX is kinda flat, too, but it serves a purpose.

[djdrysdale]

I was trying a Blues Jr at my local guitar store and it was very nice, but something I’d have to save up some money for for sure! I’m fine with a simple amp, to be honest. The Katana has a lot of bells and whistles but I really would love something I can just plug into and play.

[HappyCat]

@jvlynch

I just bought a small Marshal amp. It arrives tomorrow

Enjoy your new amp Jim.
Nothing better than NAD! Very exciting indeed.

@CATMAN62

& it sounds pretty dang good!

I remember when ya got that. Great that it’s worked out well for you. It is a good sounding amp. I enjoyed your link too, that 60 cycle hum fella has fun demonstrating his amps. He does that one justice too.

@CATMAN62

& think that whatever appeals to the player is the perfect amp for that person!!!

Yep, that’s the crux of which style you use.

@djdrysdale

I’ve been coveting some tube amps but since I only really play in a small bedroom I don’t think I’d be able to play at the volumes needed to warrant one.

I’m a home player too and I play tube amps. 15w and 12w. For sure they can be too loud, but they don’t have to be. Perhaps I don’t get that natural tube breakup, but if ya play cleanish, ya don’t need vol. to achieve that. And they (at least the ones I have) don’t sound thin or trebley I don’t think. They sound rich and luscious. Which are the tones I personally am looking for mostly.
I play in my dining room. So likely a bit bigger than a bedroom. But I surly do have to keep the volume down as the wife ain’t up for me disturbing her tv time. I have no issue complying with being respectful of my wife either. It’s not that hard to keep the vol. down on my tube amps. I turn the amp up to where I want, then control final volume with my guitar vol./tone controls. Acoustic guitar vol. is generally my goal. That vol. is not offensive imho. My wife must agree as I don’t generally get in trouble for playing too loud.
If I gotta have some breakup at lower volume. I do have a pedal that I like (and I don’t use pedals mostly) that gets me there. I have had up to 6 pedals I think before I started going backwards and removing pedals available to use. I’m down to 2 and am considering removing one of them too (a delay pedal). My soul surviving pedal would be a tremolo pedal w/gain control. This is the pedal I get my EOB from. Again, I’m not a pedal guy, but this pedal has some kinda secret sauce in it that is near to die for. It sweetens up all my amps tones somehow. Even with all controls on the pedal set to zero. That pedal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon I don’t think.
fwiw. That pedal is a supro (dual mode) tremolo pedal. If ya wanted to know? Which you likely didn’t, but I just had to give that pedal a plug as I like it too much.
I’ve no love loss for any of my other pedals that I have removed.
This is a simple enough set up that even I can use it with confidence.

@Mustela

Personally, I find the Blues Jr. tube amp to be very playable at lower volumes (esp clean). I’m certain that PLENTY of tube amps will also be like this. Granted, it’s a much simpler amp

Your comment just supports what I’m talking about Nate.
I agree completely!

@djdrysdale

but something I’d have to save up some money for for sure!

Have you considered used David?

I got a supro blues king 12 (similar to Nates blues jr.) used. I think I’m going on year 4 with it w/o issue. I do think it was pretty new when I got it though. I remember the previous owner saying that the blues king 12 just wasn’t his bag and that’s why he was selling it. Perhaps you can find someone local to you with some tube amp you may like?
Nates blues jr. or my blues king 12 (now called a delta king 12) would be a great place to start your investigation of tube amps. imho, they are very similar duty of amps. Neither are horrible expensive either, especially if ya can find a used one.

@djdrysdale

I really would love something I can just plug into and play.

Go for it David. I doubt you’d be sorry you did.
My thin, trebley amp I had was disappointing and distracting to play. My rich, lush sounding (tube) amps are inspiring to play (to me).
And they are plug and play. I don’t adjust my amp knobs too much, if any, short of the volume control. Simple, and plug and play are a win for my style of playing.

[Mustela]

I’m with @HappyCat regarding checking the used market. Nice thing about the Blues Jr. is that there are a lot of them out there, so there are plenty on the used market. That can mean a respectable savings. Still, people do like them so you’re not likely to find one for super cheap unless it’s in really bad shape. I’ve seen less expensive tube amps around, but they’re almost always singles that are less widely available and also not the exciting models that people clamor over.

[madmetal]

Currently have a roland jc-120 and an Orange Super Crush 100. The Roland by itself is very clean and sterile but extremely pedal friendly. I actually jump the two channels together and run a gt-100 board and it lights the amp up.
The Crush I just got so still working on getting it dialed in for what we play (swampy & texas blues). With blues driver pedal and eq the amp can get scooped down for for those sounds. The crush definitely likes the les paul over the strat but that can also be due to the mate that plays that combo as he’s a bit timid and doesn’t quite know what his sound is. I am currently looking for a modeling amp but just when i think i have found one, a deeper dig keeps me looking. I try to keep gear that any visiting semi-pro type player wouldn’t mind plugging in to that also adds a different sound characteristic from what the other amps offer. Ideally something that is more in the vintage tube sound…suggestions are welcomed

[Freewheelin]

I started with a Fender Mustang LT25, got the 50, an Orange Crush 12, a Boss Katana, a Blackstar Debut 50r. Sold all except the Katana 100 Watt Gen 3. Just picked up the Katana Go.

So yeah, in the Katana camp, though sometimes I miss the Orange 12. Wife has a Roland piano and my pedalboard is mostly Boss. So, I’m definitely a Roland/Boss guy.

[Dietje]

Thanks to a faulty test by an audiologist I visited to have hearing protection fitted, whose conclusion was that my ears were in poor condition, I sold my Fender Princeton. I now also have Boss Katana amps from the Gen 3. But I still have a 5-watt tube amp as well.

It remains a quest for a nice sound at low volume; I haven’t found it yet. But the Boss Katana is top-notch; I would recommend it to everyone.

[HappyCat]

@HappyCat

As I do wonder if the times are a changing so to speak.

This poll does help confirm my suspicion.

I was thinking modelers were taking over and sure enough, the poll reflects this. Interesting.

Cool that the tube amps are coming in second though. I woulda thought solid state woulda been second.
I’m not surprised as to where the processors are coming in. Mostly due to their cost. They seem to be pretty expensive along with the processor don’t get ya playing w/o some more gear. ie a speaker cab of some kind. A powered cab at that best I understand processor, which I may not understand. But for sure. Ya gotta have some extra gear to work with the processors.

That said about the processors costs. I could also say the same about tube amps. They’re pretty pricey too, yet they come in just behind the modelers. Again. Cool.

@madmetal

Currently have a roland jc-120 and an Orange Super Crush 100.

Man, ya got some high powered amps there Timmy. Certainly band friendly amps. I imagine you don’t have problems with a drummer coming in over your 100W amps.

@madmetal

Ideally something that is more in the vintage tube sound…suggestions are welcomed

If I were going down your road. Wanting a modeler and all, I think I’d go for something like Justin uses in his instruction videos. I think it’s a kemper processor. It surely sounds very good. Seems to approach the tube tones anyways (to me). Other than that. If ya want something with the tube sound. imho, get a tube amp.
I’ve been more than happy with a princeton reverb reissue. It don’t compare to the power of your ss amps though, so perhaps ya need a twin reverb. That should keep up with your 100W ss amps.
Tone King imperial mkII seems pretty stylish too. But it’s only 20W. Similar to a deluxe reverb, which is pretty darn cool too. Good luck in your hunt.

@Freewheelin

So yeah, in the Katana camp,

That ya are Frank.
Ya found something ya like and yer going with it. Cool. If it works for you, it’s what you like, that’s what matters imho.

@Dietje

Thanks to a faulty test by an audiologist

I believe ya, about a miss diagnoses. I’ve had that too. That cost me dearly over my life too. Over a $100k over time best I can tell, plus made me uninsurable for years. I’ll stop with that. Don’t get me started about faulty tests. Sorry about your faulty tests. It for sure happens.

@Dietje

It remains a quest for a nice sound at low volume;

I get my ‘nice sound’ out of all of my amps (at low volumes), but the princeton reverb reissue fills that bill the most. I just like it’s tones. It must not have met your criteria though as ya sold yours. I don’t have any comments on where you should go next.
Short of, it does seem ya like yer katana, perhaps that’s what works best for you and your there and don’t know it?

From this poll, it does seem that modelers are the win here. Katanta’s to be more specific. All I can think is they must be pretty good for so many folks to have them.

This was my suspision when I started the poll. Now I have backing data to reinforce what I thought.

Thanks to all who’ve participated and commented on their own thoughts in this poll.

Feel freely to further comment on this poll if ya missed out on it earlier. From your perspective and what works for you.

Rock On folks!

[LievenDV]

Modeling amp could be split into 2 things these days

• simulation (little parts to create a sum that sounds like an amp)
• profiling (1 profile made by listeing to the amp in a certain state, using (ai) tech to imitate it’s behaviour)

Sims are in a lot of pedals too these days.
All of the options sound so good these days that I recommend scenarios based on the use case. If you like straight forward twisting knobs and real hardware: so many great amps out there. if you are into custom chains with amp profiles and unique switching abilities; you go the other end.

we’re so spoiled by choice, we have to face analysis paralysis when making our pick

[HappyCat]

@LievenDV

we’re so spoiled by choice, we have to face analysis paralysis when making our pick

Ah, the crux of the situation for sure! The tech these days astonishes me.

[sequences]

@LievenDV

1 profile made by listeing to the amp in a certain state, using (ai) tech to imitate it’s behaviour

Are you sure this is AI? I don’t see a need for it. I could create a model off of enough measurements and a bit of math and deision rules. AI might separate out something, but since it is not deterministic, you may not get the same model back out each time. I don’t think guitar folks would go for that unless they didn’t know this limitation of AI.

[LievenDV]

@sequences

Are you sure this is AI?

Good question.
Most are yes,

@sequences

but since it is not deterministic, you may not get the same model back out each time.

true, that’s why it often does more than 1 run

@sequences

I don’t think guitar folks would go for that unless they didn’t know this limitation of AI.

1 of many examples:

What Is AIDA-X? How AI Amp Modeling Is Changing Guitar Forever

There is a philosophical question; where does AI stop and start? For the general nomenclature, I used this label correctly.
Please don’t turn this into an AI discussion topic though.