Recommend some Amps that sound good at low volumes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mightywarlock
  • Start date Start date
Mesa amps sound pretty good at lower volumes compared to marshalls for example. Most of the tone comes from preamp section on mesas. Mark iv or v would fit the bill or the lunch box recto or express plus series.

Mr. Bungle uses JMP-1 direct out. You can too. Trey spruance recorded guitars for FNM king for day fool for lifetime album.

http://nirrosive.tripod.com/equipment.html
 
In my experience, the best low volume solution is a preamp (modified Egnater/Randall modular preamp or a Kemper come to mind) into a VHT (I used a 2/90/2) power amp.
 
In my experience these have done will for me at low volumes, might not deliver the best tone available from the amp but nonetheless good:
Mesa Mark V (I know, :D)
Marshall JVM
Surreal AKA
Friedman HBE/BE modded JC20H
Diezel VH4
 
Have to throw my 2 cents in favor of ENGL; I've had the fireball 100 and the savage 120 and they both sound great at low volume.
 
The EVH 5153 50 watt sounds great at low volumes and is cheap. Amazing value IMO.
 
richardt4520":2lnzq3gw said:
snowdog":2lnzq3gw said:
I would find it extremely hard to believe that at least one of that dozen amps in your sig wouldn't sound good at lower volumes. :doh:
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damn! Didn't even notice that. No doubt!
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Ya... I would be (and have been!) happy with the low volume sounds of many of those amps in his signature. Maybe its because I typically lower the gain on the amp a bit and then boost it with an overdrive pedal of some kind (level=half-up, gain=0). Even the AXE-FX11 is in the sig... I've never owned or heard one but isn't this thing supposed to be the master of low volume sound?

For the record.... the Atomica rulez at low volume, and thats without any pedals!
 
glpg80":2a2e3231 said:
Just get a Rivera Rockcrusher power soak for your amplifiers. Problem solved.
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That's my thought as well. The problem I have with most small amps is that they sound small, even through larger cabs, there are a few exceptions. When I had my BF champ, I found it easier to control at low volumes and could get some natural breakup, but I still practiced just as loud as with my bigger amps and still liked the sound of my '69 Bandmaster Reverb (both were tried through the same cab) better.

The other option is just accept that you aren't going to get the best out of your amps at low volumes and live with that. That has been my approach, I know my Marshall Silver Jubilee sounds best at 6 on the MV, but I generally run it at 4, but I have been able to dial it in to sound good at 4 and just worth with that. It still sounds best at 6, but until I am in a band again, that is not going to happen.
 
Splawn Street Rod, sounds killer at any volume. Fair prices also!
 
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