So I’m in the market for a practice amp. I live in a condo and don’t want to take out a second mortgage so picking up a nice JTM45 set is not an option now. I’m looking at the Fender Mustang 1, Vox AC4, and Marshall Lead 12. Ideally something I can get used for < $100.
I’d like something that I can play clean as well as distorted.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Think of it as a bedroom practice amp. Very affordable if you keep your expectations within reason.
You might get lucky and find a well used BlackHeart 5watt tube amp for close to that.
I had a few about 10 yrs ago… crate gfx 10” 25 Watt with a few nice built in effects… I bought it new for $125 in 2000… good distortion for a solid state… I also had a fender frontman 25r… great cleans and built in spring reverb. paid 100 second hand…
check Craigslist … people are always clearing stuff out and you can probably get something decent for 50-100$
Lots of amp manufacturers make budget practice amps with amp modeling technology. My advice would be to go to a large guitar shop and try a few out.
Yeah, I’ve been scanning craigslist and am hoping to get out to some of the shops this weekend. Thanks!
Nice little practice amp Micro Cube
AC/DC capable, 1/4” line out and great sound.
+1 on the Roland Micro Cube, that’s what I use for bedroom playing.
It’s bigger brother the Cube15 with 8” speaker has a fuller sound than the Micro, and only $119 for a new one: http://www.zzounds.com/item—ROLCUBE15XL
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These are over your budget but worth a look, I’m thinking about upgrading to one of these (Yamaha THR)
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Watch this vid, the sound of the THR10 is amazing:
Cool stuff! I’m currently borrowing a Fender Mustang I from a guy at work. So far I’m really liking it…lots of nicely modeled amps and effects. Built-in-tuner. And I haven’t even hooked it up to the computer for all of the stuff you can do there. The tone is pretty good for a digital amp and small-ish speaker. I also like that you can turn the master down low enough not to annoy the neighbors.
Some of the other amps I’ve used started loud and went up from there. While amusing and good in other situations, that doesn’t work in a condo at night…at least if you don’t want the cops to show up! 
-Pete
+1 on the Mustang, played one at Guitar Center and was kind of blown away, don’t remember which model but it sure sounded good. That made me start looking at the Super Champ x2, which I’m still thinking about.
I think the AC4 would be a good choice for apartment users, I think its all tube and switches down to 1/4 watt to keep the neighbors happy.
I recently bought one of these for my 1st foray into low wattage tube amps:
and this:
http://www.avatarspeakers.com/vintage%20g112.htm
It’s a pretty awesome sounding set up (or you can just get the combo for a little more)
I’ve been having fun playing around modding it with different tubes.
More Ideas:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/717060-ultra-low-watt-apartment-amp.html
I have a severe addiction to Guitars/amps, Motorcycles, Knives and LED Flashlights! (But it keeps me out of trouble……I think)
Line6 Spider 15
Without a doubt the most versatile and best sounding small amp around.
I have tried a lot, none come close. Great clean and overdrive right up to brilliant heavy metal and really good built in effects.
I use mine in church and am more than happy with the sound quality and volume.
The Marshal 12 is pretty much a toy. I love Peavey gear, but the Backstage does not compare to the Line6
Also available as a headphone amp version, which you can line directly into a PA, but I like the versatility of the combo amp.
I don’t work for them but I have 4 Line6 amps and a couple of floor units. I would not part with any of them. Simply brilliant.
How about the Vox amps. Had 2 of the DA15s and still have 1 DA20, the DA15 sounds way better but it can’t be powered by batteries like the DA5, DA10, and DA20. Gave one of the DA15s to my niece and sold the other to a friend who is really picky about his equipment and he loves it. Vox is known for having about the best modeling effects.
Roland Cube uses AA batteries which would allow you to satisfy both music and flashaholicism with the battery association.
It’s a nice little amp and can even accompany you.
What ever you get I would suggest getting a decent pair of headphones. I play through an eleven rack most of the time and it us a nice option to put the headphones on and not bother others but still get a fuller sound.
good advice.
By the way, I LOVE the tascam dp series. They have just upgraded them. Lot of fun.
Those Yamaha’s look awesome, I just want something small/semi portable that’s kind of flexible and it looks great. I might get one…
That said my old (25yr +) 50w(?-no real measure) Peavy backstage plus that I got for around $50 sounds pretty great (And loud) for it’s price although it does get quite. I don’t think having it that I could get anything under $150 that really matches up. Those old Peavy’s (Esp the tube ones) are just great values with good sound long as they keep kicking.
I still have a little 10w epiphone tube amp with JJ’s and it sounds great but it’s just too loud to use most of the time; I still need to mod it with a gain/master knob to drive it harder at low volumes. Def my favorite sound, but it’s just too loud.
Cubes just seem so dated for me, IDK but while they seem like fine travel amp I’d want a little more sitting around or gigging (I’ve seen em gigged but I don’t know how you don’t get a larger amp at that point).
Yeah, got a set of Grado SR80 phones. Work great for that.