Advice on Amp

[vh2580]

I'd suggest a used Blackstar HT-5R 5W combo. You can pick them up reasonably cheaply used, but they are not over-expensive new. The MkII versions have a 12" speaker which puts out a bit more volume than the 10" version and has a touch more bass end. It also has a decent digital reverb built-in. It's also very quiet with minimal noise (partly because the first gain stage is solid state), with a valve after that and a single power valve. The other guitarist in my old band now uses 2 for a stereo gig rig.
They sound good on their own without pedals, but also do take pedals well. It's got a serial effects loop so you can place your delays and modulations after the preamp if you want. Sound good at low volume and when turned up (which is pretty loud). Also has a mini jack input for an MP3 player etc. for playing along to, which won't give you great fidelity but is better than nothing.

Agree with Simon on the Blackstar HT5R - I have the stack and is a good setup. Definitely takes pedals well. (Running a GT100 through it and sounds great) Great sound at low sitting in front of amp volume and have yet to be able to be in a room with it cranked.
Fantastic reverb and the ISF is a great feature.

[DrNomis_44]

You could also consider getting one of those 5 Watt Pitbull valve guitar amps once they're back in stock, I'm seriously thinking of getting one later on this year, hopefully the ones stolen will all be recovered.


As you probably know, my current setup is a Marshall MA 100C 2 X 12 100 Watt all valve amp, I've found that the clean channel seems to take pedals pretty well, I've also got the Fender Super Twin amp head which I'll be doing some restoration work on this year, it's a 180 Watt behemoth, but since it's a Fender amp it apparently does cleans really well, it does have a distortion effect built in but apparently most Super Twin owners think it's rubbish, that's fine with me cause I'll probably never use it, a mate of mine reckons it'll make a great bass amp so that's one of the reasons why I'm calling it a keeper, I happen to also play bass and was looking for a good amp to play my Squire P-bass through, prior to acquiring the Super Twin I had to make do with an old 80's Peavey TKO80 bass amp which admittedly was barely adequate (it's the non-graphic EQ model that's apparently only rated at something like 35 watts).

The reason why I'm going with such powerful amps is that I've decided to get back into gigging mode.

[churchie]

The Boss Katana 50 gets great reviews, and is a good pedal platform. The guys at the GuitarNerds podcast love it.

Otherwise I've also heard great things about the Blackstar 5Watt amps

[Brownsworthy]

I've got the original blackstar ht5 combo without reverb and the celestion speaker and it's the ducks guts for playing at home.

[Simon Barden]

Yes, I've got the old HT-5 1x10" from the first batch they made, and an HT5-R as well. I was chatting to the Blackstar chaps at a guitar show shortly after the HT5 hit the shops and I got mine, and they said they simply weren't sure how to price it. But they seemed to have priced it right as it certainly sold OK.

[Tony]

The nicest amp for home use I've seen recently is the Vox ac4, which has three power settings so it can get quite low in volume and still sound ok. It's a tube amp, but has plenty of headroom so it will stay clean for pedals

[wazkelly]

The nicest amp for home use I've seen recently is the Vox ac4, which has three power settings so it can get quite low in volume and still sound ok. It's a tube amp, but has plenty of headroom so it will stay clean for pedals

I looked long and hard at the Vox and it is a great amp but ended up with a Bugera 5w which was better sounding and had aux input plus headphone socket too. Only shortcoming was the 8 inch speaker which was still good enough and it also has 4 ohm external speaker output too.
Regretfully sold it recently when downsizing some of my gear and wouldn't hesitate to buy another in the future.

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[chrissyinbkk]

Wasn't that the one i said if I was in Aus I'd make you an offer for a few months back or am I getting mixed up here in my old age..
Not that bad a price over here new....

[wazkelly]

Wasn't that the one i said if I was in Aus I'd make you an offer for a few months back or am I getting mixed up here in my old age..
Not that bad a price over here new....

That was the one.

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[Simon Barden]

You'll just have to get yourself into a guitar shop and try some out!