Best Small Amps For Recording

[jb_studio]

Hey y'all,

What are some of your top recommendations for small amps for recording guitars? By small I mean smaller stage amps, specialty recording amps, and practice amps, everything from super cheap Vox pathfinders to swanky Carr Mercury boutique kinda stuff. I'm curious about what you guys are getting the best results with...

I'm also curious about amps that work well with synths, small or otherwise. Recently I've been running a Korg MS-20 through a Leslie 302 and it sounds pretty bad-ass. Thoughts? -- JB

[dokushoka]

Its hard to go wrong with a Fender Vibrochamp.

[kayagum]

Definitely search the archives- tons of topics on this subject.

http://amptone.com will keep you busy until next year.

A perennial Board favorite: Fender Pro Jr. A Kalamazoo Model 2 has roughly the same circuitry as a Champ- plug it into something else. ZVex NanoAmp sounds great too.

[joel hamilton]

Fender pro junior.

I have used it on almost every rock session i have done for years now.

[jb_studio]

Amptone...Wow! Thanks for the link and all the great suggestions, guys -- JB

[curtiswyant]

Fender Champ/Vibrochamp, Gibson Skylarks, Kalamazoo Model II, Ampegs, just about any $200 ebay special practice amp from the 50s.

[musikman316]

I use a Pignose, Ampeg Jet, Fender Blues Junior and THD Univalve a lot... and an Orange Rockaverb, but it's not really small, just great sounding.

Later,
Josh

[KennyLusk]

Try an old tube RTR deck with the built-in speakers, they're great. Plug your guitar into a passive DI box to switch the output to low impedence then go straight into the mic input on the tape decks and voila! You have an antique, tube driven, small watt recording amp with pristine tone.

Just slap a mic on it and go.

My fave for this is the old Tandberg RTR's from the early 60's.

[joel hamilton]

Try an old tube RTR deck with the built-in speakers, they're great. Plug your guitar into a passive DI box to switch the output to low impedence then go straight into the mic input on the tape decks and voila! You have an antique, tube driven, small watt recording amp with pristine tone.

Just slap a mic on it and go.

My fave for this is the old Tandberg RTR's from the early 60's.

Awesome. That was my first "bass amp."

Also my first recording device!

[Shawn Simmons]

I've had great luck with Fender Tweed Deluxes, Twins, Deluxe Reverbs, BandMasters, Ampeg Combo amps, Zinky, and Vox AC-30. I've even used those mini-Marshalls and mini-Fenders (secret weapon!!)

I love small combo amps.

shawn

[Meriphew]

The Bad Cat Mini Cat is great. I'd really like to hear the new Supro amp that Bruce Zinky is making.

[brian beattie]

magnatone. silvertone. valco. masco.
brian

[Mix413]

Fender Pro Junior. Can't beat it for the price.

[The Tallman]

Voice of Music amps offer some of the best deals on vintage small amps with tubes. I got a 5 watt all tube VM amp in mint condition at a yard sale for $35.00. I've seen some on Ebay for around that, but usually around $70.00. For a 1950s amp with point to point wiring these Voice of Music amps are a bargain. The amp i got is a 166-A, which was desgned as a amp and speaker combo unit for tape players. Since it's from the fifties, it came with a 1/4" input jack.

[joel hamilton]

My (not so) secret weapon:

Movieola/magnesync "squak box."

That thing records AMAZINGLY well. I used it for an entire record of really rocking stuff, and we were freaked out by how great it sounded everywhere. I will put that along side anything anyone brings in, and it almost always makes the mix. Like 98% of the time. It can sound like the stones or kyuss or zz top,or anything, all depending on the guitar choice (duh), the player (duh) , the song (duh), and the volume knob, which is its only control.