V-amp instead of practice amp for beginner?
Dave Strout
(I tried to post this before & my newsreader crashed, so
forgive me it it apears twice)
I'm thinking about getting a behringer V-amp instead of an
el-cheapo crate or the like practice amp and just using the
headphone out jack. That way, nobody has to listen to my
practicing, and I can begin to learn what all the different
amp / cab combos sound like. Then, I'll have a clue when
I'm good enough to want a real amp.
Right now, people say things like "this is the closest you'll
get to a 50W plexi into a 4x12 for under $500", and I give
them a blank stare. With the V-amp, I'm hoping I'll at least
have some idea what that sounds like....
Thoughts / comments?
thanks,
dave.
--
"Bring me my broadsword, and clear understanding." - Jethro Tull
Dave Strout <dst...@linuxfoundary.com>
The Colemans
"Dave Strout" <dst...@desktop.linuxfoundary.com> wrote in message
news:RFQD8.494$Tj3....@bin6.nnrp.aus1.giganews.com...
>
> (I tried to post this before & my newsreader crashed, so
> forgive me it it apears twice)
>
> I'm thinking about getting a behringer V-amp instead of an
> el-cheapo crate or the like practice amp and just using the
> headphone out jack. That way, nobody has to listen to my
> practicing, and I can begin to learn what all the different
> amp / cab combos sound like. Then, I'll have a clue when
> I'm good enough to want a real amp.
I think this is a good idea, with any multi effect that's worth very much at
all.
> Right now, people say things like "this is the closest you'll
> get to a 50W plexi into a 4x12 for under $500", and I give
> them a blank stare. With the V-amp, I'm hoping I'll at least
> have some idea what that sounds like....
> Thoughts / comments?
I just bought a Zoom MP200..fifty bucks!.. does amp modeling, cabinet
character, and reverb chorus tremolo and delays.
Now.. I also own a fender hot rod deluxe, which has proved time and again
just too loud for my apartment..
with the Zoom plugged into the power amp break in jack I have the practice
amp I needed all along.. I can not only get great amp sounds SOFT.. but I
can practically match my tone to anything I've got on the CD player.
In short.. get the behringer..or some such..you'll have a blast..
but be prepared to get sick of headphones a lot sooner than you might
imagine.
I suggest a search for a small set of halfway decent pc speakers to go with
it..
hell.. ebay has them all the time..I've had sets at mcmelectronics.com that
cost me under ten bucks and lasted me a long time..
PC powered speakers run right off your behringer can sound pretty good..
even if they're cheap.. and they dont buzz your ears so much...
so.. finally... get the thing, add some cheap speakers..and you'll find
headphone/pc speakers a pretty handy combo.
Twang!
The Colemans
"John" <Jo...@Smith.com> wrote in message
news:b8mvdu4loiupf45mr...@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 13 May 2002 15:08:33 GMT, Dave Strout
> <dst...@desktop.linuxfoundary.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >(I tried to post this before & my newsreader crashed, so
> >forgive me it it apears twice)
> >
> >I'm thinking about getting a behringer V-amp instead of an
> >el-cheapo crate or the like practice amp and just using the
> >headphone out jack. That way, nobody has to listen to my
> >practicing, and I can begin to learn what all the different
> >amp / cab combos sound like. Then, I'll have a clue when
> >I'm good enough to want a real amp.
> >
> >Right now, people say things like "this is the closest you'll
> >get to a 50W plexi into a 4x12 for under $500", and I give
> >them a blank stare. With the V-amp, I'm hoping I'll at least
> >have some idea what that sounds like....
> >
> >Thoughts / comments?
> >
> >thanks,
> >dave.
>
> amp modelers are great and as low as $129 affordable for almost
> everybody now but you really need an amp.
>
> If I were you I would look at the Behringer AMP which has some effects
> and other sound stuff builtin with a Headphone in. THen later get a
> V-AMP too or POD . I think its slightly more $179. Maybe with a sale
> you can find it for lower.
>
> Its not the same on headphones. Its good for recording and playing
> once in awhile at night but all the time? However , I really love
> the amp modeling features. I have a POD and most amps - let lone most
> cheap amps with a guitar sound pretty bad and bland.
>
> Ive got a real real cheapo soild state Fender dinky amp that hardly
> has any volume or and sounds thin and fuzzy and weak, no bottom.
> Very limited. With my POD its way louder, fuller and gets 1000 times
> more tones and they are very decent sounding despite all the amp
> modeling bashing you might have heard. Im not saying if you had a
> choice between a boutique tube amp or classic Marshall tube you would
> choose a amp modeler instread - Im saying compared to not having the
> modeler and using a lot of cheap to med priced amps , its an
> incredible add on and also fantastic for recording - once again if you
> dont have your own excellent recording studio with all the equipment.
I can take the Zoom MP200..run it into both the Fender Hot Rod Deluxes
regular input and the power amp break in.. and then, messing about a bit..
find exactlyt the same sound as the amps own pre amp.
then I can find half a dozen other amps the same way.
I wouldn't have any trouble recommending the Zoom to anyone.
Sometimes I practice via PC speakers.. I get whatever band I wanna jam with
on the stereo and the pc speaker with the zoom blend right in..
and again.. you can spend as little as ten bucks on those and get by, you
can also, for the behringer cost, buy the zoom and a better set of pc
speakers and it sounds even more like what's coming out of your stereo.
that being said, I agree with the gentleman above as well..
those are good alternatives.
Twang!
Dave Strout
I hadn't thought about plugging self-powered speakers into it -- that's
a really good idea.
My main problem is that I'm mostly limited to headphones, because my practice
times are either 5:00 am or 10:00 PM, whaich are both when my son is alseep.
So even if I bought an amp, I'd be doing the headphone thing most of the
time anyway.
But, hanging some cheap speakers off the v-amp when there's nobody in the
house adds a new option -- I like it.
thanks,
dave.
The Colemans <twa...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Now.. I also own a fender hot rod deluxe, which has proved time and again
> just too loud for my apartment..
> with the Zoom plugged into the power amp break in jack I have the practice
> amp I needed all along.. I can not only get great amp sounds SOFT.. but I
> can practically match my tone to anything I've got on the CD player.
> In short.. get the behringer..or some such..you'll have a blast..
> but be prepared to get sick of headphones a lot sooner than you might
> imagine.
> I suggest a search for a small set of halfway decent pc speakers to go with
> it..
> hell.. ebay has them all the time..I've had sets at mcmelectronics.com that
> cost me under ten bucks and lasted me a long time..
> PC powered speakers run right off your behringer can sound pretty good..
> even if they're cheap.. and they dont buzz your ears so much...
> so.. finally... get the thing, add some cheap speakers..and you'll find
> headphone/pc speakers a pretty handy combo.
Andrew Silkebakken
V-Amps are all very well for recording and for quiet late night practising
but theres nothing like laying down a riff and feeling the floor shake.
Also headphones can't possibly cover the full array of frequencies that a
10" speaker can, which I would say is the minimum size you should be looking
at.
It all depends what sort of tone you are after of course, but the Marshall
MG series offers excellent value for money as do some of the small Vox
combos. I'm sure there are people on here who can recommend something to
suit if you give us an idea of your target sound.
BTW I'm thinking of getting a V-Amp myself for recording, either into my
computer or with a 4-track if I can pick one up cheap. The Guitar Magazine
reckoned in a review this month that the V-Amp was an excellent budget
alternative to the Pod, which is still the daddy of them all as far as amp
modelling goes.
Hope this helps!
Andy.
"Dave Strout" <dst...@desktop.linuxfoundary.com> wrote in message
news:RFQD8.494$Tj3....@bin6.nnrp.aus1.giganews.com...
>
The Colemans
>
> I hadn't thought about plugging self-powered speakers into it -- that's
> a really good idea.
>
> My main problem is that I'm mostly limited to headphones, because my
practice
> times are either 5:00 am or 10:00 PM, whaich are both when my son is
alseep.
> So even if I bought an amp, I'd be doing the headphone thing most of the
> time anyway.
>
> But, hanging some cheap speakers off the v-amp when there's nobody in the
> house adds a new option -- I like it.
>
> thanks,
> dave.
I had my best luck with a set that came with my old pc.. creative labs..
just two speakers, but man.. good tone, and volume aplenty.
Eventually.. they fried.
The cheaper ones have such lousy specs, they may work but they don't really
satisfy very much..
I have a set of benwins I got in ebay, with sub, and they sound very good,
too..
I got a set of Teacs from AMS.. on special price.. pretty good.. thumpy!
http://www.mcmelectronics.com
the online site may not have much, but call or use the catalog.. (the
mailing list specials are great.. scads of stuff you'd want for stereo,
guitar, pc, etc.), and you'll be fine.
Twang!
The Colemans
"Andrew Silkebakken" <as...@st-and.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:abp207$kto$1...@sparkie.st-andrews.ac.uk...
> I'd definitely recommend that you DO get an amp. Things like PODs and
> V-Amps are all very well for recording and for quiet late night practising
> but theres nothing like laying down a riff and feeling the floor shake.
That's what my neighbors tell the cops.
> Also headphones can't possibly cover the full array of frequencies that a
> 10" speaker can, which I would say is the minimum size you should be
looking
> at.
Nonsense.. guitar speaker typically have a cut off of the high frequencys..
compare it to a stereo pair sometime and notice how much more noise there
is.
*s*
> It all depends what sort of tone you are after of course, but the Marshall
> MG series offers excellent value for money as do some of the small Vox
> combos. I'm sure there are people on here who can recommend something to
> suit if you give us an idea of your target sound.
with the behringer, all he really needs is power and a speaker..
my zoom mp200 via the hot rod deluxe's power amp break in jack is muy coolo.
> BTW I'm thinking of getting a V-Amp myself for recording, either into my
> computer or with a 4-track if I can pick one up cheap. The Guitar
Magazine
> reckoned in a review this month that the V-Amp was an excellent budget
> alternative to the Pod, which is still the daddy of them all as far as amp
> modelling goes.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Andy.
Twang!
Vince Suttle
I use my pod through a pair of VideoLogic Sirocco Spirit speakers,
which are very good quality PC speakers, with a 25 watts rms per
channel amplifier. It also has dual inputs which can be used at the
same time.
In fact I think I have a near perfect bedroom set up. I plug my guitar
into the pod, which goes into my Boss Jamstation, which goes into the
VideoLogic speakers. I also have a Creative Jukebox mp3 player plugged
into the other speaker input channel.
The Jukebox contains my entire cd collection including CD's from
guitar tutor books. The Jukebox can also slow the mp3's down without
changing the pitch which can be a big help.
Its not a cheap set up, but I don't half have a lot of fun with it,
and it is very easy and convenient to use.
Vince Suttle
Rikki Prince
news:x5SD8.7673$Nt3.6...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
<snip>
> Sometimes I practice via PC speakers.. I get whatever band I wanna
jam with
I've been thinking about trying this with my GT-6 and PC Speakers, and
I've been wondering what kind of cables I should have coming out of
the GT-6 output (1/4") and into the 3.5mm sockets on my PC speakers.
Should I have thick, proper guitar leads coming out of the output,
with 6.35mm->3.5mm converters on the end, or have a 3.5mm->6.35mm
adaptor plugged into the GT-6 ouput, with some normal thin line cables
going from the adaptor to the speakers?
Cheers,
Rikki
The Colemans
"Rikki Prince" <rpr...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:abpdod$k5m5d$1...@ID-117889.news.dfncis.de...
I plug the speakers into the headphone output jack on the digitech rp7 or
the zoom gm200..using a stereo mini plug cable, which the speakers require..
and a 1/4 adaptor on the effects unit end--agtian, into the headphone
output.
the guitar uses a regular cable plugging into either one, of course.
If you don't have a headphone out jack on the GT6.. or stereo output..you
got me..
Twang!
Rikki Prince
<snip>
> If you don't have a headphone out jack on the GT6.. or stereo
output..you
> got me..
The GT-6 has a Left and a Right 1/4" output, as well as a 1/4" stereo
headphone output. The two speakers each have seperate 3.5mm inputs
(the right speaker can feed the left speaker), but I would be using
them for stereo, so I'd be going from left output into left speaker,
and right output into right speaker, and I'm wondering what cables
would be best. Currently, line cables (well those 'thin cables') go
into the 3.5mm sockets, but I'm not sure if the output from the GT-6
should have the thicker instrument cables I use from guitar to amp
(for example)...
Rikki
The Colemans
You can use rca cables .. they are shielded and are really the same as
guitar cables..
we are talking about powered speakers, right?
the GT6 is just a preamp.. you'll have to have powered speakers.
Twang!
Rikki Prince
<snip>
> You can use rca cables .. they are shielded and are really the same
as
> guitar cables..
Great, I'll have to get some cables and try it out :)
> we are talking about powered speakers, right?
> the GT6 is just a preamp.. you'll have to have powered speakers.
Yup, they're powered.
Cheers,
Rikki