Im growing tired of my Katana

[Shreddy Mercury]

I'm getting bored with this 50 watt mk2. It just has way too many features, gotta plug it in to get the most of editing, etc. I just copied a Studio Rats patch to get a hotrodded Marshall sound. I just want a little practice amp that is an 80s rock machine with a simple 3 band, maybe an on board reverb, and the ability to just put a delay or chorus in the loop to add some flavor.

I dont need tubes, as I still don't have a space for them to really stretch their legs.

 

[SoooRad]

If you have a cab just get one of the mini Soldanos or similar

 

[Music&Chaos]

I'm getting bored with this 50 watt mk2. It just has way too many features, gotta plug it in to get the most of editing, etc. I just copied a Studio Rats patch to get a hotrodded Marshall sound. I just want a little practice amp that is an 80s rock machine with a simple 3 band, maybe an on board reverb, and the ability to just put a delay or chorus in the loop to add some flavor.

I dont need tubes, as I still don't have a space for them to really stretch their legs.

Grab one of the DSL40CRs. You can get one new rn for less than $500. Clean is surprisingly good, and of course, the gain is killer. To be fair - Mine is running with a Fane M65 speaker in it and some Mullard tubes in V2 V3 & V4! Absolutely screams!! Again, the clean is shockingly good. Has a loop and all that jazz. Onboard reverb is meh, I never use onboard reverbs anyway unless they are legit spring or the like.

I run this in the low power 20w mode and use the Master volume and it sounds good at super low volumes, like "the kids are literally asleep in the next room" levels of quiet.

 

[Music&Chaos]

If you have a cab just get one of the mini Soldanos or similar

I have the Friedman mini - which I think is a monster for what it is, but would not recommend one of those minis if you want anything more than one sound. They are a lot of fun but definitely sound like little mini amp heads. The best sound I get out of mine, which sounds reallllly similar to Friedman big brother tube variant demos I hear, is when I run it through the power section of my bigger tube amps, which defeats the purpose for some.

I would recommend a used combo of some sort that can run at 20w if it is tube or less. Plenty of those for a few hundred bucks. They take pedals so much better than solid state, I would prefer a clean tube amp with a drive pedal over a solid state amp most of the time. Clean platform tube amps are cheap and plentiful as well.

 

[tjnx]

used 6505mh ~$300

 

[SoooRad]

I have the Friedman mini - which I think is a monster for what it is, but would not recommend one of those minis if you want anything more than one sound. They are a lot of fun but definitely sound like little mini amp heads. The best sound I get out of mine, which sounds reallllly similar to Friedman big brother tube variant demos I hear, is when I run it through the power section of my bigger tube amps, which defeats the purpose for some.

I would recommend a used combo of some sort that can run at 20w if it is tube or less. Plenty of those for a few hundred bucks. They take pedals so much better than solid state, I would prefer a clean tube amp with a drive pedal over a solid state amp most of the time. Clean platform tube amps are cheap and plentiful as well.

OP just wants a “simple 80s rock machine, no tubes”. These minis are right there.

 

[RaceU4her]

Line6 Spidervalve

 

[DanTravis62]

I'd get one of the iconic combos if i was looking for that sort of tone in a small package for home practice prolly

 

[Music&Chaos]

OP just wants a “simple 80s rock machine, no tubes”. These minis are right there.

He thinks tubes will have to be loud to sound good, which is not the case for several 80s rock tube amps, but the Marshall combo being the cheapest that comes to mind.

If you can get one of the mini heads for $150 or something, they can be fun but arent the greatest sounding and dont take pedals very well.

 

[tjnx]

I don't think replacing it with another digital option is going to fix anything. That 6505 used has a reverb build in and I've played it side by side with a katana at quiet volumes in addition to the iconic and dsl40 combos. They all beat it at any volume.

Those are great options if you need an all in one.

The demo of the mini slo sounds great but its gonna need a reverb pedal

 

[LPMojoGL]

Love my Spark Mini. On the coffee table while watching TV, or usb into MacBook for recording...
Sounds great. Portable. Doubles as a good Bluetooth speaker.