Low wattage "practice" head

[cyber104]

Hi Guys:

Looking for a low wattage 2-channel head. Preferably in the 5W range.

Obviously the MR is a top choice but I've already got a DR and a RV.

Any other suggestions - I was looking at the Blackstar HT5 (I had a HT Stage 60 that I liked)

Is the MR really worth the extra money just to be used as a 5W practice amp?

Thanks

 

[YellowJacket]

If you want a different flavour of tone, the Vox Nighttrain is a great little head.

 

[elvis]

The MR is going to sound a lot like the RV. It's still really loud, not a 5W practice amp. I doubt you can get a better tone from the MR than the RV at equivalent volume. Neither will be taxing the power tubes at practice volume.

I hate the tone in 10W mode. May be worth exploring alternatives.

 

[Heritage Softail]

If you can swing it financially, the Kemper profiling amp is an option. It is 50 amps in a box and can be powered by a SS 50 watt power block on your pedalboard.

You can profile your other amps as well.

If not that the Yamaha THD practice amp is pretty amazing. I have one. You can plug our iPod in to it and play along. Built in effects and a few distortion voicings. you can run your favorite dirt pedal in front of it. it can be played onto headphones. It can run on batteries. Guitar Center carries them.

The reverb on the clean setting is glorious.

 

[domct203]

........... If not that the Yamaha THD practice amp is pretty amazing. I have one. You can plug our iPod in to it and play along. Built in effects and a few distortion voicings. you can run your favorite dirt pedal in front of it. it can be played onto headphones. It can run on batteries. Guitar Center carries them.

The reverb on the clean setting is glorious.

+100.

I have the THR10, it's the best $300 I've spent in a while. It also has USB connectivity, and a PC editor so you can make & copy patches easily, as well as access settings not avaiable though it's manual controls (all the effects are very tweakable this way).

The only con is that there is no footswitch to switch between the 5 presets on the fly, but it's a practice amp so I'm good with that :wink:

The biggest pro (for me) is the fact that it runs on batteries. I usually leave the amp on my desk, plugged into AC (& the computer) but when the weather is nice it's great to be able to just grab the THR (with one finger it's so light) & my guitar and go sit on the patio and write music. You can get a rockin' tone at super low volume. The stereo separation in the reverb is incredible for it's size, and the rest of the effects are very good, with the flanger the least impressive IMO but it is usable.

Now they have 3 models to choose from, Standard, High-Gain, & Classic. I bought mine about a year ago & I assume it's the current "Standard" model.

It's a great amp, for what it is. As long as your expectations are reasonable I think you'll dig these amps.

Dom

 

[boogieman60]

I picked up a Fender Champ X2 Head..USB Fender Fuse compatible, 15watt, Line out that is usable. 2 channel. Very surprised at the sound..Used it at SMALL venue worked and sounded great

 

[firmani99]

I don't have a yamaha thd but I have heard them in the store and I can't believe how good they sound for a little practice amp. Def on my list of things to get!

 

[SteveO]

I just picked up a THR10 recently, and it's a GREAT little amp for noodling in front of the TV. I wish they were available when I still lived in an apartment, because they are the perfect solution for that situation.