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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
safe bet home amp
safe bet home amp
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Popculture Chameleon
213 posts
Sep 06, 2017
5:40 AM
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Along the lines of the the post pm42 just started about a safe bet amp I was wondering what kind of amp would be good for practicing amplified at home. living In an apartment complex I don't really want to tee off the neighbors to much. So it doesn't have to be very large. I have heard of everything from the fender passport mini to the roland micro cube and the super chump amp.basically looking for an amp that can handle effect pedals sound good and that's small but loud enough to not completely have someone evicted from an apartment building.
Thoughts anyone-
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LSB
262 posts
Sep 06, 2017
6:50 AM
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I live in an apartment in a building built in 1930, so as you can imagine, not a lot of sound isolation.
I spent a lot of time looking into options to make some sort of amplified playing work, without getting flak from neighbors and the landlord, here are some thoughts based on my experiences:
1. Throwing an attenuator, like a version of the Weber Mass Attenuator, on your current amp might be the easiest way to go. This will allow you to get as much breakup as you like from your amp, at bedroom volume.
2. Playing through a single small speaker in closed back cabinet can be a big help in reducing the sound that gets through to neighbors, and can sound great at low volumes.
3. Use an amp stand or chair, or otherwise position your amp at ear level when playing. This seems like a no brainer, but it really makes a difference in how much you turn up the volume just to hear yourself.
4. Consider some sort of sound isolation pad under the amp or stand.
5. Get a headphone jack installed on your amp with a speaker cut-off switch.
Ultimately, I found that simply buying a small, relatively inexpensive practice amp, 5 watts etc, wasn't really a great solution for me, because at volumes that worked for the neighbors, the breakup really wasn't happening, plus I had another amp taking up valuable space.
My final solution was to spend a lot of money on one amp that had everything I wanted for all situations: 30 watts, half power switch, gain circuit with boost that allows the amp to get plenty of breakup at even the lowest volume, and a headphone jack with speaker cut-off switch, so I can get Chicago tone and volume without anyone hearing more than my cupped acoustic harp. My neighbors now have no idea if I'm blowin', even at 3 am.
I realize that spending 2K on an amp is not the right solution for most people, but it was for me. That said, having a headphone circuit installed, using an attenuator and/or combining some of the other suggestions above can make one's current amp work as well or better than a small practice amp for apartment living, and one need not spend as much as I did to get many of the benefits.
Last Edited by LSB on Sep 06, 2017 6:55 AM
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LSB
263 posts
Sep 06, 2017
7:07 AM
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BTW, I think Weber offers a headphone jack option on some (all?) of its attenuators
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MindTheGap
2330 posts
Sep 06, 2017
7:37 AM
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When I started I tried out a lot of amps and options on this subject, including tiny valve amps.
The best I found was the 'Nux Mighty 8', a battery/mains modelling amp. Similar to the Roland Micro Cube(s) but much better for harp IMO. Specifically, it has lo-mid-hi eq, and as the other thread says, 'mids is where it's at'.
When I use it for recording, on its champ setting it's hard to tell the difference from a tube amp. Much quieter of course, which is what we want here.
This model is discontinued, but the replacement 'Frontline 8' looks to be the same, aside from the cosmetics. Unfortunately, 'Frontline' is what we use to de-flea cats and dogs, in the UK at least, so it's not a very rock n roll name.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Sep 06, 2017 7:38 AM
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1847
4426 posts
Sep 06, 2017
9:11 AM
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here you go this is the perfect apt amp it will power a 410 cab if nessasary LITTLE SMOKEY
why not use computer software and play with headphones. i think the blue dadi is freeware and designed for harmonica. lots of options.
personally i see no reason to practice amplified at home. buy a big amp
and rent a rehearsal room for $20.00 when you feel the need to practice amplified. you will be able to turn up and not bother anyone, and you will learn more that way. better than trying to play quiet. that will just hinder you.
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Kingley
4076 posts
Sep 06, 2017
9:42 AM
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I use a Pignose 7-100 for playing in my flat/apartment. Perfect volume, sounds good with every mic I've tried into it and it's also perfect for playing guitar as well.
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Martin
1256 posts
Sep 06, 2017
9:56 AM
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If I put my Roland Mobile Cube on my kitchen table, close all doors, put on some music (seems to cover up things a bit)and jam along at daytime, I can get a little bit of amplified practice at home without the risk of getting evicted. (House built in 1896, solid stuff.)
If you can find one used it´s a good little thing for several purposes.
But MindTheGap´s Nux is certainly less expensive new, as far as I can tell, -- and maybe a more interesting amp. (I´m slightly curious now ...)
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Tommy the Hat
704 posts
Sep 06, 2017
10:48 AM
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RE: 1847 and Kingley.
Both are my practice gear for the house (well...my only gear). I have a smokey amp (which is also great to just carry around) and I have a Pignose. They work well for me. Then again, I don't play out so it's all just for fun and entertaining myself. And I live in my own house so noise isn't an issue. But I still think these are fine for a home/apt setting or practice. The plus of the Smokey is that you can practice then put it in your pocket, head out, and just pull it out (or just plug it in) with a harp wherever and whenever. I also have a Bottle O' Blues mic. Also great to carry.
People be like....What the What?
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Tommy
My YouTube vocal covers
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gilesrobson
41 posts
Sep 06, 2017
10:56 AM
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I can highly recommend the 5W Honeyboy Amp. Gets the classic harp amp sound at low volume. I review it here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qYZzsBa7Uyk
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Arrick
109 posts
Sep 06, 2017
2:09 PM
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I plug right into my iMac using an iRig thingy that's intended for guitar. I've found a few settings that work well in Garage Band (Apple's free audio editing software). If I use headphones, I find it useful as I can really focus on the details of my tone, etc. and it makes recording and playing back really easy.
It's really not the same though as turning up a valve amp until it comes alive. I say piss off the neighbors. ;-)
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MindTheGap
2331 posts
Sep 06, 2017
11:00 PM
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OK, the volume threshold for eviction will vary from case to case. I really liked the Pignose, but it's not quiet. That Honeyboy amp looks lovely too, and has a nice touch with a NFB switch, but again with no master volume it's must be pretty loud in an apartment.
For playing through headphones, rather than an amp, I second 1847's suggestion of the Blue Dadi software. Now that is really good. Needs a little bit of computer skills to get it working though.
Superbee has a brilliant little tube amp built into a radio, with a small oval speaker. You can't buy it in the shops though.
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AppalachiaBlues
60 posts
Sep 06, 2017
11:53 PM
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The VOX Mini 3 and Mini 5 have a good reputation among harp players, and certainly worth consideration. You'll have the ability to play quietly at home with the power selector on the Mini 5 (0.1 W, 1.5W, 5W), and of course a headphone jack. Like the Roland Micro, the battery capabilities create additional mobility - for outdoor jam sessions, travel, etc.
Last Edited by AppalachiaBlues on Sep 07, 2017 1:55 AM
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SuperBee
4937 posts
Sep 07, 2017
1:07 AM
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Yes definitely not available in stores that one. I think the small speaker is an important factor, apart from that it's a fairly traditional SE tube amp, with a low-ish gain preamp, champ/Kalamazoo style,running an el84. I must find my schematic, I'd like to try building one from all-new parts. This one is based on a Kreisler radio chassis from 1964 and reuses original parts, and old-fashioned ptp construction. I like it a lot even though it is an ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting exercise. It just broke down again on Saturday. I haven't investigated yet, just brought out the "lone-wolfed" Valve Jr and carried on.
The LW VJ is ok in the lounge, I plugged a Harp Attack into it and kept the volume low. Sounded pretty good, even with an E harp...I'm trying to cop Harry Duncan's tone for Early in the Morning, late in the evening. I have a detached house and now my daughter is rarely home and my wife likes to hear me play I can get away with a bit of noise.
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Blind Melon
88 posts
Sep 08, 2017
9:16 AM
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For a small, quiet amp for home, I use the Honeytone N-10 Guitar Mini Amp. I paid around $20 at Guitar Center. It is battery operated but you can pick up a power cord for it.
It has several settings to get different tones on it. I even plug in my JT-30 mic into it.
Here is a link:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Honeytone/N-10-Guitar-Mini-Amp.gc
Last Edited by Blind Melon on Sep 08, 2017 9:18 AM
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