Micro Amps!

[specialk]

This month's issue of Premier Guitar covers these tiny and cheap combo amps. Does anyone use one, for anything?

Living in an apartment, I need something I can crank. Even 5 watts is too loud, and running the volume at 3 or 4 doesn't cut it. Headphones are not a great compromise.

So I'm looking at the two listed. Both are made of wood, both are 1 watt /emoticons/default_laugh.png and both come from respected builders. They're each about $50, and that's nice in case they don't work out.

The Fender has two 2" speakers and the Orange has one 4" speaker, so I'm leaning toward the Orange.

Seriously, I'm not expecting much, so I won't be disappointed, but it looks like what I can use.

sk

PS... Here is the PG article:

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issu...Micro_Amps.aspx

 

[stormywaters]

I have the Orange for the old bedroom jam session, and it's nice for what it is. As can be expected, it's tough to get a clean tone out of the amp. With only one watt there isn't a whole lot of headroom available, but the break up doesn't suck. It sounds like I thought it would.

I haven't tried the Fender, so I can't give you an opinion, but the Orange looks cooler IMHO.

 

[Hamer Bass Head]

Neither!

I've heard UFO's "Obsession" was done with the lowly battery powered pignose thru a marshall cab in an empty warehouse.....oh don't forget that half-opened wah pedal!!!

 

[specialk]

I've heard UFO's "Obsession" was done with the lowly battery powered pignose thru a marshall cab

I had one of those Pignose amps a long long time ago. Been there, played that. That's why I didn't include it as a choice, but thanks for bringing it up!

 

[crunchee]

I use a Zinky 'Smokey' amp, they're pretty cool and you can hook them up to a extension cab too! They come in two 'looks', (1) Cigarette pack, and (2) 'Polycarbonate' case. I prefer the second one as the cigarette pack one gets ratty looking quick and is a bit more delicate.

 

[specialk]

Good news!

I found out there's an Orange dealer in this new town I moved to. Wasn't expecting that at all, so I'll be able to go check one out in person tomorrow.

Second I found this youtube video of a micro crush being driven by an ESP. Not bad for a puny little thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p24xrlp7jaY...feature=related

 

[anotherfreak]

For not much more check out the orange crush 10 or 15. it's a good sounding little amp, and can get pretty gritty. it's a hell of a lot more amp than the micro stuff.

 

[tomteriffic]

I've got a fair-sized box of micro amps of different stripes. By far my fave is the Dean Markley one. The featurs are pretty much standard issue for a one-watter, but it's designed as a micro "full stack". That allows for a couple of 4" speakers and probably twice the interior volume. It's easily the best sounding micro I have (excepting the Pignose, which is a bit big for the general category).

 

[specialk]

For not much more check out the orange crush 10 or 15. it's a good sounding little amp, and can get pretty gritty. it's a hell of a lot more amp than the micro stuff.

Thanks for the thought. Too bad apartment living really sucks (but at least I sold the lawnmower, /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif ).

I think Orange makes a 3 watt version as well. That's probably as loud as I can go right now. Even that 5 watt Champ reissue was too dang loud. Ain't that a shame....

I have a very comfortable Sennheiser headphones (HD 470) that do a good job, but I want some of my hearing left intact for my old age. So, being cheap, I'm thinking my best workaround is one of these micros. Like I said earlier, there's one local so I'm gonna go see what they're about.

 

[Arjay]

is a pretty nice demo of an Orange micro amp. /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif

 

[Brooks]

tech21 TM10.

 

[RoyB]

I'd go Roland micro cube and forget the toys. They will go just as low and they really sound like a nice amp.

 

[specialk]

I'd go Roland micro cube and forget the toys. They will go just as low and they really sound like a nice amp.

Thanks for the info on the Roland, Roy. I didn't know they made a 2 watter. And "toys" is the right word. That's what came to mind when I saw the Orange. Not small, but friggin puny! So, I bought it.

I wasn't expecting much, and the damn thing is actually okay. No low end with the speaker, but it is nice with decent headphones. It sounds better with the '59 than with the JB. The OD is dumb, but no dumber than some others I've heard.

Anyway it works for what I needed, and maybe it'll keep the neighbors off my back.

 

[RoyB]

Not that these are the best recordings, but they show what all the Cube can do for about $100.

 

[specialk]

Dam dam dam!

Now I'll need to sell the Orange and get that Roland 2 watter! /emoticons/default_rolleyes.gif

No wonder I'm always broke (oh, that name's taken already)....

 

[Mindseyes]

I wish i would have seen this thread sooner, i would have put a vote in for the Roland cube line!!!!

I play my Cube 30 more than any of my other amps, they are just a blast to play!!!!!!!

You got to check them out!

 

[specialk]

I wish i would have seen this thread sooner, i would have put a vote in for the Roland cube line!!!!

I play my Cube 30 more than any of my other amps, they are just a blast to play!!!!!!!

You got to check them out!

That's cool. I've heard some good things about these amps, but my first concern is low-wattage. I just didn't know they made a 2 watt version. That's what I get for not doing any homework I guess....

 

[Mindseyes]

I wish i would have seen this thread sooner, i would have put a vote in for the Roland cube line!!!!

I play my Cube 30 more than any of my other amps, they are just a blast to play!!!!!!!

You got to check them out!

That's cool. I've heard some good things about these amps, but my first concern is low-wattage. I just didn't know they made a 2 watt version. That's what I get for not doing any homework I guess....

Whats cool about the newer Cubes is they have a "power soak button" that cuts the volume/wattage and gives a fuller sound a super volume!

I sit in our living room and jam away while my wife watches TV without her complaining.

The headphone/recording output dosent sound half bad for recording ideas fast also.

To me out of all the small practice amps the Cubes actualy sound like "real" amps while the others sound like cheap toys....

Check one out when you get a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[specialk]

Okay, in 25 words or less (or more, I don't care), what/how does this Power Squeeze button do? Does it actually drop the output volume while allowing the amp to continue functioning as if it were cranked?

It looks intriguing, and I can't find much out on the web. My first concern is low volume with good tone, which leads me to a low wattage amp. This Power Squeeze works around that equation, allowing higher watts, but low volume with good tone? Cool, if so!