Thought there was an amps thread here before but I couldn't spot it - maybe just mixed in with the Music Gear general thread.
I've an option to pick up a reasonably decent amp soon but rather than overwhelm myself with usual Internet options, reviews, and endless info, I said I'd ask ye.
What are you all using nowadays and in what capacity? What are you looking at picking up yourself, or what have you seen around that looks interesting? Ideally guitar Amps but I don't particularly give a shit and like hearing about bass rigs too. All good info.
Home use or live use, interested in it all, but for my own looking it is live and jamspace recording. Anyway, amps thread, let me know what ye are at.
Just to get it rolling:
Current setup is a Laney 15W tube head and a Trace Elliot Elf SS Bass head (at about 120W) both into separate 8 ohm Harley Benton V212s. I like the setup, and can split my signal fairly well for a good live and jamming sound but the Laney isn't really holding it's weight for me, and I want to try streamline things a bit.
Was eyeing up the Marshall 2555X Jubilee and the few videos I've seen it seems good but wondering how well it would suit me for a few styles. Usual fare pops up too, Orange heads and the like, I know any sort of standard will fare me well which was why I was leaning Marshall anyway, it seems fairly high gain and the can out options are decent. Anyone use one of these here?
I've a Framus Cobra, Peavey 6505+, Marshall JCM 900 50w and a Framus Cobra 4x12 cab sitting in my living room.
Plus a Hartke 4x10 bass cab I'm using instead of a chair at the bar and some kind of a solid state Ampeg bass amp head that is somewhere where we're leaving our shoes.
I'm using fuck all in the last 7-8 years.
My current setup for live and rehearsal is EVH 5150 stealth into two 4x12 cabs.
Best amp for metal I've ever used.
I recently got a boss katana gen3 100watt head for home use. It's class. It can do anything especially if you connect to app and access additional EQ and effects and gate.
Currently using an Orange Rocker 32, plenty loud and works great as a pedal platform.
Have been looking at the 20w JCM 800's Marshall have been making though, would be mostly using the low input as a sort of edge of breakup 'clean' platform but would need to look into how much headroom it has.
For Fraught I'm currently running two 5150iii 50w heads with a TC Mimiq to get a thicker tone since we've become a one guitar band. IMO those heads are hard to beat. However I've recently been thinking about adding an Engl Powerball to the mix. Has anyone any experience with them and how they compare to the 5150iii?
At home I'm lucky enough to have a few different heads (Mesa Dual Rec, Marshall SC20, Matamp Gt2 and a Fryette Deliverance) that I run through a Two Notes Captor X for demoing and just messing about.
Quote from: ldj on September 25, 2024, 04:16:30 PMCurrently using an Orange Rocker 32, plenty loud and works great as a pedal platform.
Have been looking at the 20w JCM 800's Marshall have been making though, would be mostly using the low input as a sort of edge of breakup 'clean' platform but would need to look into how much headroom it has.
I've got one of the SC20 heads and it's a fantastic head. They really got it right with those - it does the full 800 tone/vibe but at much more manageable volumes. I've not used the low input much, but I recorded the intro to "Sublimated Misanthropy" off our last album with the Marshall on the low input. I think I might have used a moose battlehammer on it as well. They have plenty of headroom and volume for their size.
Probably a bit different than most you. I have Victory V40 Deluxe combo. It's not a high gain thing. I like a lot of Americana, Alt.Country and classic rock as well as all the metal stuff. So amp is more geared towards that end of things. I tend to run it relatively clean and get my dirt from pedals. It's a glorious sounding thing. 42 watts, or 7 in low power mode. Single channel 1x12 combo.
Haven't gigged in years but still have my amps: a Fryette Deliverance 60, Ampeg VH140C combo and an Engl Ironball 20, gigged with all of them. I have them routing into a DeLilse amp switch, which I route either to a Palmer DI or a Palmer attenuator, which outputs to the two speakers in the Ampeg cab. The Ampeg is solid state and sounds amazing at any volume. The Engl is a little fucking beast which you can run at domestic volumes but the Fryette really, really needs the attenuator in a gaff. I've been leaning more and more to using the DI for recording, recently, it's lovely to be able to crank the shit out of a valve amp and still record silently.
Quote from: Drought on September 27, 2024, 01:24:02 PMFor Fraught I'm currently running two 5150iii 50w heads with a TC Mimiq to get a thicker tone since we've become a one guitar band. IMO those heads are hard to beat. However I've recently been thinking about adding an Engl Powerball to the mix. Has anyone any experience with them and how they compare to the 5150iii?
At home I'm lucky enough to have a few different heads (Mesa Dual Rec, Marshall SC20, Matamp Gt2 and a Fryette Deliverance) that I run through a Two Notes Captor X for demoing and just messing about.
I had a Engl powerball 2 for a few years. They have lovely heavy distortion tone.
The engl 25watt fireball kt77 gets good reviews.
I got an orange dark terror recently for fly in gigs and it sounds great. Loads of gain. Needs an EQ pedal in front of it.
Good auld input and plenty to look up across these few posts lads, cheers.
Quote from: Rosco on September 25, 2024, 12:14:33 PMMy current setup for live and rehearsal is EVH 5150 stealth into two 4x12 cabs.
Best amp for metal I've ever used.
Was talking amps on Friday to someone and this was recommended too. This and the Engl Fireball 100 both mentioned and I'm sort of drawn to both, they sound great looking online.
Quote from: Drought on September 27, 2024, 01:24:02 PMFor Fraught I'm currently running two 5150iii 50w heads with a TC Mimiq to get a thicker tone since we've become a one guitar band. IMO those heads are hard to beat.
EVH again yeah? I might actually have access to one of these to try out, must have a look and see.
Laney Dual Top 60w head into a 2x12 HB cab with v30s..recently bought an ampero 1 to run in the FX loop of the Laney tor when using that and as an amp modeler when running through the audio interface..its the business..have dumped all my pedals up to the attic..can't be arsed anymore with them...Also have a Gallien Krueger 250 ML 100w that I take out as a treat a few times a year because I used to be obsessed with that Somewhere In Time chorus sound..Bedroom player that jams with buddies one day will get the finger out and play live
I've been using a 5150 for years now. Also have a 6505 mini head that I bring around when we're tight for space or if I'm feeling lazy. Both could probably do with a re-tube or service as have gotten a bit noisier in the last while. I just find them so easy to dial in and have it sound good, there's more gain than I need on tap. If anything the problem is they are a bit safe sounding as everyone is used to hearing them so the tone is good but a bit standard.
I've also been toying with using a helix and a pedal power amp as a super portable rig/backup. I've tried it a bit in rehearsal and it is crazy versatile for the size but if I'm not being mic'd or going direct I might struggle getting up over the drummer.
I've had a Laney GH50 in the past but it's broken and needs to be looked at, it was a great sounding basic enough head but loud as fuck. I'd love to get it back working but it's not a big priority. I never really got to try it much with pedals as I hadn't much of a clue what I was doing when I was gigging that amp.
Also have an engl pre/marshall poweramp tube rack rig (no way I'm lifting that bollocks around again!). The tube poweramp sounds great but it weighs too much and is more amp than I need. It's a stereo thing but for what I want it for I can use a mooer baby bomb instead!
Quote from: Shardknife on September 30, 2024, 03:16:18 PMI've also been toying with using a helix and a pedal power amp as a super portable rig/backup. I've tried it a bit in rehearsal and it is crazy versatile for the size but if I'm not being mic'd or going direct I might struggle getting up over the drummer.
Helix is so much sport. Tempted to pick the small one up down the line for lightweight gigging, very handy. Have you tried it into the TC bass head but with a Guitar and guitar cab by any chance? For volume's sake anyway it would likely be grand
Quote from: ochoill on October 01, 2024, 04:36:05 PMQuote from: Shardknife on September 30, 2024, 03:16:18 PMI've also been toying with using a helix and a pedal power amp as a super portable rig/backup. I've tried it a bit in rehearsal and it is crazy versatile for the size but if I'm not being mic'd or going direct I might struggle getting up over the drummer.
Helix is so much sport. Tempted to pick the small one up down the line for lightweight gigging, very handy. Have you tried it into the TC bass head but with a Guitar and guitar cab by any chance? For volume's sake anyway it would likely be grand
I did try the Helix with my bass head when I got it but can't remember exactly much about it other than it was fine. Would be better if my bass amp had an fx loop so I could bypass the preamp but it's pretty clean and neutral anyway. I'm sure the bass head into a guitar cab would work for a gig no problem.
Pulled the trigger on the EVH 5150 Stealth. Every demo with any guitar or cab used with it just sounded great. Any review online was basically "it works and sounds unreal". Should have it in the next week or two so I'll let ye know how I get on.
Quote from: ochoill on October 03, 2024, 10:25:59 AMPulled the trigger on the EVH 5150 Stealth. Every demo with any guitar or cab used with it just sounded great. Any review online was basically "it works and sounds unreal". Should have it in the next week or two so I'll let ye know how I get on.
You really can't go wrong with the EVHs for heavier music. They're definitely tighter and more refined than the original 5150/6505 which some people don't like. But I find they work great for lower tuning especially. You can always turn up the resonance and mids to get them closer to the 5150/6505.
The stealth is meant to be a little tighter and have a bit more gain than the standard one. But tbh I've not noticed that much difference.
I have the Krank Rev 1, Marshall JCM KK, a Fender combo and an Orange Dark Terror.
All sound great but the Dark Terror is my go to at the moment.
https://www.gear4music.ie/Guitar-and-Bass/Orange-Dark-Terror-Head/FYF?origin=product-ads&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9p24BhB_EiwA8ID5BsyMh9F8F0hZzr-eBx1u6OWp0wAu-OH4sveJagf74GX3LImxC4xaGBoCiWUQAvD_BwE
Had a few jams with the EVH Stealth 100w now and it is fantastic. Couldn't fault it in any way. Bar how much it fuckin weighs compared to my Elf :laugh:
Instantly great amp sounds so I'm using them at the minute, mainly red/third channel. Boosting with two of my own pedals (Richter - dual boost/drive at 12v, and Sardonic Perpetrator - Harmonic Percolator clone) here and there and there's some great sounds across it but I need to dial in those to suit more.
Mainly going high gain for the Ordinator stuff, but on the other hand there is huge punch out of the clean channel on low gain being hit with the Sard Perp, neck pickup. Sharp, violent noise rock tone.
Anyway, delighted
I've always had a DSL100, modded it a bit here and there but it's been my go-to for over 20 years and it's never let me down. However, more recently having to consider fly-gigs, I picked up a Victory V4 Kraken (the Rabea Massaad one). Two channel full valve preamp and a 180 watt solid power section to plug straight into a speaker, or a Two Notes cab SIM on a DI out. And the whole thing takes up a quarter of a pedalboard, it comes with me in hand luggage. Has a headphone jack for backstage practice, and even a 9V-out to power the other pedals on the board.
https://www.victoryamps.com/product/v4-the-kraken-guitar-amp/
It is the fucking ticket, I must say. All the travel handiness and most of the gig/recording versatility of a digital modeller but with the clout of a real amp.
Quote from: Poley on October 25, 2024, 11:37:28 AMhttps://www.victoryamps.com/product/v4-the-kraken-guitar-amp/
It is the fucking ticket, I must say. All the travel handiness and most of the gig/recording versatility of a digital modeller but with the clout of a real amp.
Was looking at these too and they're great, the only thing stopping me getting something like this (or the Orange Pedal Baby as was recommended elsewhere too) was I already have a light travel fix that works! Once of those little Elfs is 200w/120w for 4 or 8 ohm so you are fairly safe with it, has DI out and headphone out too. It is fairly plain on its own but running a preamp in front works great, I've a few pedal ones built based off a Sunn Beta Lead there that work nicely with it.
Dare I look these up. The GAS is never kept at bay for long.
Quote from: Poley on October 25, 2024, 11:37:28 AMI've always had a DSL100, modded it a bit here and there but it's been my go-to for over 20 years and it's never let me down. However, more recently having to consider fly-gigs, I picked up a Victory V4 Kraken (the Rabea Massaad one). Two channel full valve preamp and a 180 watt solid power section to plug straight into a speaker, or a Two Notes cab SIM on a DI out. And the whole thing takes up a quarter of a pedalboard, it comes with me in hand luggage. Has a headphone jack for backstage practice, and even a 9V-out to power the other pedals on the board.
https://www.victoryamps.com/product/v4-the-kraken-guitar-amp/
It is the fucking ticket, I must say. All the travel handiness and most of the gig/recording versatility of a digital modeller but with the clout of a real amp.
Is that kraken amp pedal any good?
Does it sound good cranked loud through a 4x12 cab? Was looking at them but I was worried about the solid state power section.
[double post]
Quote from: Rosco on October 29, 2024, 12:55:04 PMQuote from: Poley on October 25, 2024, 11:37:28 AMI've always had a DSL100, modded it a bit here and there but it's been my go-to for over 20 years and it's never let me down. However, more recently having to consider fly-gigs, I picked up a Victory V4 Kraken (the Rabea Massaad one). Two channel full valve preamp and a 180 watt solid power section to plug straight into a speaker, or a Two Notes cab SIM on a DI out. And the whole thing takes up a quarter of a pedalboard, it comes with me in hand luggage. Has a headphone jack for backstage practice, and even a 9V-out to power the other pedals on the board.
https://www.victoryamps.com/product/v4-the-kraken-guitar-amp/
It is the fucking ticket, I must say. All the travel handiness and most of the gig/recording versatility of a digital modeller but with the clout of a real amp.
Is that kraken amp pedal any good?
Does it sound good cranked loud through a 4x12 cab? Was looking at them but I was worried about the solid state power section.
I'm very impressed with it yeah. It's always going to be shy of a valve power amp, but it has more than I've ever needed. I use it through a cab onstage rather than the DI.
Quote from: Rosco on October 29, 2024, 12:55:04 PMQuote from: Poley on October 25, 2024, 11:37:28 AMI've always had a DSL100, modded it a bit here and there but it's been my go-to for over 20 years and it's never let me down. However, more recently having to consider fly-gigs, I picked up a Victory V4 Kraken (the Rabea Massaad one). Two channel full valve preamp and a 180 watt solid power section to plug straight into a speaker, or a Two Notes cab SIM on a DI out. And the whole thing takes up a quarter of a pedalboard, it comes with me in hand luggage. Has a headphone jack for backstage practice, and even a 9V-out to power the other pedals on the board.
https://www.victoryamps.com/product/v4-the-kraken-guitar-amp/
It is the fucking ticket, I must say. All the travel handiness and most of the gig/recording versatility of a digital modeller but with the clout of a real amp.
Is that kraken amp pedal any good?
Does it sound good cranked loud through a 4x12 cab? Was looking at them but I was worried about the solid state power section.
I haven't played through the Kraken but have seen a few bands using them live and they sounded great. So many touring bands are moving away from tube. I believe the tech has pretty much caught up. Lots of acts are switching to amp modellers or pedalboard amps. Solid state heads too. Plenty bands are going direct but you can get tiny power amps that will give you loads of volume through a cab too. They are really reliable and weigh nothing compared to the tube setups and I honestly think the tone difference is negligible and the crowd won't notice. (I know that some preamps have tubes but I'm more talking about solid state power amps) I love my tube amps but it's hassle when they start getting noisy or break and need a service or repair. Bass players are almost all using solid state stuff these days, you see these tiny heads belting out massive volume and they fit in the pocket of your gigbag.
For local gigs I'll be bringing my tube heads out but if we're packing a van to travel or playing upstairs I'll be bringing a smaller setup. I've actually brought a pedal power amp and a HX stomp as a backup for a few shows, it's a whole rig in 2 pedals that I can play though a cab with!
Aye I think the technology has caught up.
I still think there are funny frequencies out of digital stuff.
I got a boss katana gen 3 head recently and it sounds great. But when it's cranked on full dirt there is something there I'm not mad about.
I'm trying to down size for fly in gigs so I might pull the trigger on the Kraken.
More gear. It never ends. ;D
I've been digital for many years now. A shoulder injury a lot of years ago made lugging a 60lb amp very difficult so I made the switch and never looked back.
For the last good few years I've been using a Kemper Stage. Absolutely incredible all-in-one solution. The tones are magic, it has almost every effect you could ever need and the majority are studio grade quality, plus you can make as many changes as you need with one footpress - no more tap dancing! It's been such a reliable, hugely impressive piece of gear for years now. If I had to pick one slight con I would say that, while the tones are world class, the Kemper does seem to add a bit of compression which affects the attack transient ever so slightly. This doesn't affect the sound for the listener really, but it does affect the feel a bit. One of those things you'd barely notice until you'd played the Kemper a while and then went back to a tube amp and then it's really noticeable in the feel. If you're a metal guy this will never affect you, but if you're into more dynamic styles like funk, chicken picken, slap guitar etc it can make a difference (though even then you can dial some of it back in with the Kemper's onboard parameters).
Just lately I've been experimenting with a new setup. I'm trying the Tonex pedal on a pedalboard. The Tonex also gives world class quality tones, but also has that rawer, tube amp feel as well. Also means I can get a few more unique pedals back on my board such as the Boss SY-1 and DD-500, Chase Bliss Condor, and the Empress Zoia. Plus a few old faves like the OCD and the POG that sound a little better than the Kemper's versions. Still haven't road-tested it in practice yet to see how it does. I'm loving having some of the synthy stuff at hand, but I can tell already I'm missing the convenience of the Kemper, so the jury is still out on which setup I land on permanently going forward.
EDIT: should mention I have either a headrush powered monitor, or a Seymour Duncan Powerstage 170 to use with my digital setups, depending on what the gig requires.
Just to add an amp in there, the best one I've ever owned or played was the Marshall JVM, an absolute beast. Unfortunately had to sell it when I left Ireland, but I still think about it!
For rehearsal I use an ENGL Fireball 100 into a Zilla Fatboy.
Have a mate selling a 6505 if anyone is after one.
Got some early year GAS...got a Laney Cub Super top Head..it is bloody sensational
Quote from: Poley on October 25, 2024, 11:37:28 AMI've always had a DSL100, modded it a bit here and there but it's been my go-to for over 20 years and it's never let me down. However, more recently having to consider fly-gigs, I picked up a Victory V4 Kraken (the Rabea Massaad one). Two channel full valve preamp and a 180 watt solid power section to plug straight into a speaker, or a Two Notes cab SIM on a DI out. And the whole thing takes up a quarter of a pedalboard, it comes with me in hand luggage. Has a headphone jack for backstage practice, and even a 9V-out to power the other pedals on the board.
https://www.victoryamps.com/product/v4-the-kraken-guitar-amp/
It is the fucking ticket, I must say. All the travel handiness and most of the gig/recording versatility of a digital modeller but with the clout of a real amp.
I got one of these as a backup amp before the last tour. The hired 6505's died after 2nd show and I ended up using it for the entire time.
Great bit of kit. I went DI to desk and went through a 4x12 at the same time.
Hi I will be back in Ireland during the summer and looking to sell and ENGL Richie Blackmore sig 100. It needs new valves, looking for a quick sale if anyone wants to make an offer? Cheers.
Currently I have a V30 loaded Kitty Hawk 4x12 that I run a modded Jet City JCA22h head into. Other rig is an Orange CR120 head that runs through a Barefaced Radical 2x12 (also with V30's). I recently purchased a Radial Bigshot ABY to run the two amps together for gigs (one guitar in the band). I'm hoping this will fatten my overall sound by blending the amps. Any tips from any of ye for doing this? Cheers.
Quote from: Brokenbanjostring on September 01, 2025, 09:17:07 PMCurrently I have a V30 loaded Kitty Hawk 4x12 that I run a modded Jet City JCA22h head into. Other rig is an Orange CR120 head that runs through a Barefaced Radical 2x12 (also with V30's). I recently purchased a Radial Bigshot ABY to run the two amps together for gigs (one guitar in the band). I'm hoping this will fatten my overall sound by blending the amps. Any tips from any of ye for doing this? Cheers.
I know a few people that do this. You did a good step by getting the ABY so you can get rid of ground hum or phase problems, loads of guys don't and end up having problems at gigs even if they don't in the jam room. I would aim to have a good idea of what you are trying to achieve with the 2 amps, as in going cleaner with one for clarity and good distortion for heaviness in the other or having one for a mid heavy sound. Are you looking for a stereo spread? Will you be using just one amp at times and bringing the 2nd in for impact for example? Just throwing 2 amps on stage on it's own won't sound bigger by default you need to have goals for a sound and learn steps towards achieving them.
Cheers Shardknife. Just looking to thicken my sound a bit. I only use a small bit of chorus in song parts I don't use reverb or delay at all. Looking at using the CR120 for heft, and the JCA for a bit of high blend as the CR120 is a very dark sounding amp.
Quote from: Brokenbanjostring on September 01, 2025, 09:17:07 PMCurrently I have a V30 loaded Kitty Hawk 4x12 that I run a modded Jet City JCA22h head into. Other rig is an Orange CR120 head that runs through a Barefaced Radical 2x12 (also with V30's). I recently purchased a Radial Bigshot ABY to run the two amps together for gigs (one guitar in the band). I'm hoping this will fatten my overall sound by blending the amps. Any tips from any of ye for doing this? Cheers.
I would say think of the overall sound of the band rather than your guitar in isolation. The bigger your guitar sounds, the less room there is in the frequency spectrum for the bass and drums. Any time you do a solo, assuming you do solos, the arse is going to drop out of the sound of your band if the guitar is a huge sounding thing. Ideally, you'd work on a guitar tone which will work with your bassist's tone, sounding big when all together, and one which still has some heft when you're on the thin strings. It's possible to have a big guitar sound and a big bass sound, but you've got to work on the overall sound of the band, the frequenceies allotted to each instrument, as a band. A big guitar sound is fuck all use outside of a bedroom, if the bass and drums don't also carry a lot of weight.
resurrecting this for the craic..and because i'm about to have an Orange Dual Baby delivered in the next few days. I've had a Marshall origin 50 for the last while that I like but which wasn't quite what I wanted. Also I'm old and tired of lifting big amps so I'm more than happy to get something smaller and lighter. I rarely gig but it'll be nice to have something easier to carry when I do. Excited to try it out.
Quote from: Pentagrimes on September 08, 2026, 12:38:24 PMresurrecting this for the craic..and because i'm about to have an Orange Dual Baby delivered in the next few days. I've had a Marshall origin 50 for the last while that I like but which wasn't quite what I wanted. Also I'm old and tired of lifting big amps so I'm more than happy to get something smaller and lighter. I rarely gig but it'll be nice to have something easier to carry when I do. Excited to try it out.
I'd be keen to know how you get on with it. I'm with you on the heavy amps, sg have been playing through cheap tc electronics bass heads the last year or so for convenience. I have no amp in my house but I was thinking a 1x12 and small head would be nice at home. Have also started using 2x12s for gigs cos the rooms we play in are tiny and we're a drive around in a small car band now so the big yokes can stay put.
I like the look of the quilter heads for portability but I don't gig enough to justify the price.
Ditto, like to know how you get on with the dual baby, I was looking at that as well as the gain baby. Plus another few options like the Kraken V4 and laney do a 60w pedal amp too.
One of the lads in one of my band has one of the quilter yokes. Tidy and sounds great with a decent pedal board going into it. Will likely follow suit and invest in one myself at some stage.
The guys using quilter heads here, sound great
Quote from: Pentagrimes on September 08, 2026, 12:38:24 PMresurrecting this for the craic..and because i'm about to have an Orange Dual Baby delivered in the next few days. I've had a Marshall origin 50 for the last while that I like but which wasn't quite what I wanted. Also I'm old and tired of lifting big amps so I'm more than happy to get something smaller and lighter. I rarely gig but it'll be nice to have something easier to carry when I do. Excited to try it out.
I got the gain baby a while back and have used it live a few times. Great compact amp. Stereo outputs so you can run two 4x12s. Takes pedals well too. I've run an empress heavy menace into clean channel.
Enjoy!
will let ye know how I get on for sure
Just mentioning the gain baby - I was actually going to buy one of those from a particular Dublin Music retailer i won't name last week - they had a second hand one for 400 smackers in the shop. Went in to get it, asked the guy if I could just check it was all in order before paying, and to both our astonishment, when he plugged it in it woudln't switch on. Got a new (well, Bstock) Dual Baby online the same night for a tenner cheaper.
Decy - yep, just got a 2x12 myself recently after an age using brrowed cabs, delighted with it. A second hand Marshall. So between the new cab, new head, and the fancy Iceman a friend custom made for me I'm sorted for gear for the forseeable future.
Have been eyeballing small amps and travel rig sort of stuff lately. I love my EVH 5150 but I just can't justify hauling that to gigs on my own all the time. I have used the Trace Elliot Elf for guitar and it is decent but I am always running two amps at the minute and that takes the "bass" side so I wanted something else for a guitar amp.
The Gain Baby looks decent but I would like to give it a go rather than a blind buy. I love everything I have seen about the Quilter small amps but think I could maybe get what I actually need for cheaper. Got a loan of one of those Behringer sansamp clone pedals lately and instead of doing what I was meant to to with it (DI bass lol) I ran it as a guitar preamp in front of the Elf for a bit of welly and it sounds great. This prompted me to maybe build a dedicated preamp for the guitar side again, run the Elf there, then use the Behringer pedal (or similar) to DI bass instead. Makes the setup a hair handier for travel. Or just get another Elf since I know they work and are a decent price :laugh:
Sunn Beta mini also caught my eye, but for me hard to justify buying blind and with the shipping and the rest but it looks and sounds the business
You'd probably save money buying one of the Sunn Beta preamp pedals out there. Moose ocassionally does them locally, or there are various ones (EAR, Fuzzlord,Blue Colander, Kuro etc) that while not cheap would probably get you there cheaper than that amp
Quote from: Pentagrimes on September 08, 2026, 07:15:35 PMYou'd probably save money buying one of the Sunn Beta preamp pedals out there. Moose ocassionally does them locally, or there are various ones (EAR, Fuzzlord,Blue Colander, Kuro etc) that while not cheap would probably get you there cheaper than that amp
Cheers for that. Was also curious about Wampler's pedalhead, their was a lot of hype for it around NAMM but nothing since, that I've seen.
Quote from: Pentagrimes on September 08, 2026, 07:15:35 PMYou'd probably save money buying one of the Sunn Beta preamp pedals out there. Moose ocassionally does them locally, or there are various ones (EAR, Fuzzlord,Blue Colander, Kuro etc) that while not cheap would probably get you there cheaper than that amp
I had a run of similar yokes (Amnesian) that I also keep putting off doing a re-run of, basically the back half / EQ section of a Beta Lead with a clean front end. They are grand but work better with an OD in front of them. Probably a sign to rebuild it with a boost built in lol
Quote from: ochoill on September 08, 2026, 09:58:25 PMQuote from: Pentagrimes on September 08, 2026, 07:15:35 PMYou'd probably save money buying one of the Sunn Beta preamp pedals out there. Moose ocassionally does them locally, or there are various ones (EAR, Fuzzlord,Blue Colander, Kuro etc) that while not cheap would probably get you there cheaper than that amp
I had a run of similar yokes (Amnesian) that I also keep putting off doing a re-run of, basically the back half / EQ section of a Beta Lead with a clean front end. They are grand but work better with an OD in front of them. Probably a sign to rebuild it with a boost built in lol
If you do that you have one customer here anyway!
Been intrigued by those beta lead pedals, I see someone on Adverts has been selling handmade ones on and off.
Despite saying yesterday that I love having a small setup, I'm also very tempted to finally start running a bass amp and guitar amp (though a guitar in A through a bass amp has done me fine). Between all members of the band there are 4 sovtek heads floating around, but I still can't justify the boot space and back pain bringing them to smaller gigs. I might just make up a small plaque to put next to the small head that says 'My other amp is a mig100'.
I've still got my bigger amp, full size 5150 and a 4x12 but barely ever use that the last few years. I've done a few shows with a mooer baby bomb poweramp and a HX stomp instead of my big pedalboard aswell and it was fine. It wasn't as cool or fun as a big pedalboard and amp but it got the job done fine and I doubt anyone in the audience gave a fuck! It's nice to have such an easy load in aswell. I was worried the power amp might not be loud enough but never had an issue getting heard at the few rehearsals and shows I've used it. I will pick up one of the Harley benton pedal poweramps eventually as it's more power and takes a kettle lead.
For cover gigs I do I just run my guitar into a pedalboard with the hx stomp on it and DI that into the PA. These are low stakes gigs in a bar every month or so and it's great. I walk my guitar and rig to the shows, everyone in the band DI's and we can drink away and have a grand time.
Quote from: Rosco on September 08, 2026, 03:11:14 PMQuote from: Pentagrimes on September 08, 2026, 12:38:24 PMresurrecting this for the craic..and because i'm about to have an Orange Dual Baby delivered in the next few days. I've had a Marshall origin 50 for the last while that I like but which wasn't quite what I wanted. Also I'm old and tired of lifting big amps so I'm more than happy to get something smaller and lighter. I rarely gig but it'll be nice to have something easier to carry when I do. Excited to try it out.
I got the gain baby a while back and have used it live a few times. Great compact amp. Stereo outputs so you can run two 4x12s. Takes pedals well too. I've run an empress heavy menace into clean channel.
Enjoy!
Tbh I think I might go for the gain baby, it seems to tick all of the boxes. Maybe a Jackson surfcaster to go along with it as well :)
Yeah, haven't had a huge amount of time to put the Dual Baby through its' full paces yet as rehearsals ended up being cancelled but finally got it plugged in last night for an hour or so - sounds whopper on first play. Mainly using the A channel (which is similar to the Supercrush) and it sounds great - a bief foray into the more distorted Channel B was ridiculous in terms of gain.
With the gain on the cleaner channel at half way and the volument at about 11 O'clock it was hefty enough that I had to put it on the floor next to the head because it was moving because of the vibrations off the cab.
So thumbs up, basically. Will delve into the gainier channel next week.
I'm nearly full in on the Class D amps now. To the point I'm looking at building out a stereo/dual mono amp for myself. Currently using the Harley Benton Block 800 for power then my Cosmic Trigger and Sunn Beta Preamp for bass and an Jfet OR120 preamp for guitar.
I do still have at least three big valve amps that I'll never part with.
The dual amp I'm thinking Cosmic Trigger and JFET OR120 as I own both designs and I think they'll compliment each other well and make the whole thing usable for bass and guitar or both at once.
Both the Sunn Beta bass/lead and JFET OR120 preamps are available for custom order.
Actually I have a Harley benton GPA 100 I bought ages ago as a kind of emergency back up, must try running that and the Dual Baby together at some stage for the craic.
Tube amps are great, but honestly, I don't really need one given I barely gig nowadays and wouldn't use it enough to justify the price.
Gonna have to buy bungee cords to strap this amp to the cab though ;D
I went into the local music shop in my town and asked about the Orange Dual Baby. What is it with young lads over here, their only reference to metal is Slipknot. The dude (teenager) clocks my metal tshirt after I ask him about the head, and he says, oh yeah, Slipknot use them!
I'm like... cool.
Then he goes, oh and eh... oh, emmm... SEVENDUST!
I go, cheers, and make for the door :laugh:
Good lord. Ah well, the hellchild likes both those bands so I can drop that in there next time she starts off about them ha!
I wouldn't mind having a muck about on one at some point. I reckon I could do with some new gear.
Have been testing out a more portable/pedal based set up lately also,
Joyo Chopper-Z Preamp > Zoom G2 Four Multi Fx > Harley Benton GPA 100 into a 2x12 with v30's
Getting a great death metal tone out of it though I'm finding I have to crank the GPA near max to be heard at rehearsals, think the signal going into the power amp is a bit low so must experiment with boosting it.
Quote from: Pentagrimes on September 23, 2026, 10:13:10 PMYeah, haven't had a huge amount of time to put the Dual Baby through its' full paces yet as rehearsals ended up being cancelled but finally got it plugged in last night for an hour or so - sounds whopper on first play. Mainly using the A channel (which is similar to the Supercrush) and it sounds great - a bief foray into the more distorted Channel B was ridiculous in terms of gain.
With the gain on the cleaner channel at half way and the volument at about 11 O'clock it was hefty enough that I had to put it on the floor next to the head because it was moving because of the vibrations off the cab.
So thumbs up, basically. Will delve into the gainier channel next week.
How clean does the A channel get? I am also now looking at these but on the fence between the gain baby and dual baby. It will be a few months before I get my hands on one but I am mostly sold on it now I think.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on September 24, 2026, 02:05:45 PMI wouldn't mind having a muck about on one at some point. I reckon I could do with some new gear.
I picked up a Darkglass Anagram recently. Really small little thing that runs the NAM captures. Great when you're gassing for an amp, you can just try it out instantly. It sits on the arm of my chair plugged into a monitor on the ground beside the chair. The ultimate lazy bastard solution :laugh: