1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

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SadFuzz
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1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by SadFuzz » Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:59 pm

So basically i'm moving to dundee for uni in a couple months and want to bring an amp with me to hopefully use if i start gigging again. My big peavey 2x12 is an obvious no go for a student flat so been looking on gumtree at a few options nearby.
Looking at a HH Studio 50, HH Super Sixty and a Fender Deluxe 112 Plus.
Not going to be firing them up in the flat but just looking for something rugged with decent tone that doesn't take up tons of floor space that i could reasonably bring to a studio/gig.
Anyone had any experience with these or even have a similar amp they're looking to get rid of?
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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by sessylU » Fri Jul 15, 2022 12:21 am

Not what you've suggested, but a Roland Cube. Loud enough, decent sounding enough, soundtechs love them (in my experience), small, and sound bigger than you expect. Also seemingly indestructible. I've been a secondary school music teacher for about 8 years now, and eventually everything breaks. Except Roland Cubes.

Not brilliant, but much better than you deserve for the price, form etc.
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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by MrShake » Fri Jul 15, 2022 12:40 am

I don't have much hands-on experience with HH for comparison, but I've been using a Deluxe 112 Plus as a practice and gigging amp for the past year and a half, and off and on before that, and can't rate it highly enough for "small, cheap, and loud". Sort of like a Fender-flavored Peavey Bandit - a box of loud with real spring reverb, definitely loud enough to hang with a big tom-heavy drummer.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by MattK » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:00 am

Find yourself a Vox Pathfinder 15 maybe? Very giggable if you’re mic’ing it.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by stevejamsecono » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:05 pm

Red stripe Peavey Bandit will do you great.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

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COYS

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by Veitchy » Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:24 pm

stevejamsecono wrote:
Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:05 pm
Red stripe Peavey Bandit will do you great.
Came here to suggest similar - Red stripes are great but any one will do IMO. Leave the distortion channel alone, keep it on the clean side, and blast it with whatever pedals you need.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by Lost In Autumn » Sat Jul 16, 2022 3:16 am

sessylU wrote:
Fri Jul 15, 2022 12:21 am
Not what you've suggested, but a Roland Cube. Loud enough, decent sounding enough, soundtechs love them (in my experience), small, and sound bigger than you expect. Also seemingly indestructible. I've been a secondary school music teacher for about 8 years now, and eventually everything breaks. Except Roland Cubes.

Not brilliant, but much better than you deserve for the price, form etc.
A buddy of mine in Portland swears by his Roland Blues Cube. Teaches at Hammersmith Rock School and works at Thunderbird Guitars, he more than knows his stuff.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by apache snow » Sat Jul 16, 2022 4:54 am

Don't know about gigging but a Fender Champion 40 works for me at home especially since I put a Jensen C12N speaker in it.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by SadFuzz » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:27 am

Ahaha i just sold my champion 40 cos i wasn't as happy with it. A bandit 65 would be great just none selling right now near me.
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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by Larsongs » Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:30 pm

I think most of the newer Digital Amps are pretty much equally as good sounding.. At least all the ones I’ve tried.. I’d have to go with Fender or Vox… They come close to the sound of most Hit Records…

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by UlricvonCatalyst » Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:51 am

Just set your budget and keep an eye on Gumtree and FB Marketplace. There's no shortage of small, cheap transistor amps out there.

I love my Roland Cube Chorus 60, but they're hard to come by unless you get very lucky. 1x12" Roland JCs are somewhat easier to find, but a bit spendy. The Roland Bolt is somewhat under-appreciated and underpriced for what it is, if you fancy one with a valve output stage (which is maybe not that likely given you never mentioned Roland in your first post). Otherwise, any of the current Cubes will do at a pinch (I guess), but the Blues Cube seems to be the most highly-rated modern iteration.

I'm a long-time fan of the H/Hs, so if the price is right I'd say give one a try and get your money back easily if it's not for you. Other old-time names that can often be had for buttons are Carlsboro and Laney, but maybe don't be firm on a 12" speaker as most venues will mic up amps these days, and a smaller speaker might make for a lighter weight. Also older amps are more likely to have proper pine cabinets, rather than MDF. Wouldn't venture to suggest the result will be better tone, but MDF is nasty stuff. Off the beaten track can often be pleasantly surprising in my experience, but if in doubt post on here and someone might know the amp in question.

If you see a Vox Cambridge at a good price, ask if it's had the Cambridge-itis mod done. If the seller doesn't know what you're on about maybe look elsewhere. Older Pathfinders with tremolo and reverb would be what I'd look out for, but YMMV, as they say.

I've played through a couple of Fender Frontlines and thought they were pretty good for the money, especially the one with a real spring reverb, but I think it was a twin speaker model. Small Peaveys can sound fine too. Finally, the Marshall Lead 12 also has a good rep, if the Marshall tone appeals to you.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by Fiddy » Sun Jul 17, 2022 11:48 am

Marshall Valvestate. Those amps sound badass.

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by JackFawkes » Sun Jul 17, 2022 3:27 pm

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:
Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:51 am
Finally, the Marshall Lead 12 also has a good rep, if the Marshall tone appeals to you.
I really like my little Lead 12 (aka Model 5005), though stock it only comes with a 10" speaker.
For one from that same family with a 12" speaker stock, you'd want the Master Lead Combo 30 (aka Model 5010)... or you could get the middle-sized Lead 20 (Model 5002), open up the baffle a bit, and replace its 10" speaker with a 12" of your choice.

Jack

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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by SadFuzz » Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:44 am

Came across a 50 watt solid state TUAC head on ebay. Apparently from the 60s. Anyone heard of these? Hard to find any info/clips of them anywhere.
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Re: 1x12 solid state for gigging/rehearsing?

Post by s_mcsleazy » Tue Jul 19, 2022 2:07 am

i used to use a fender deluxe 90 as a gigging amp. all the clean headroom you could ever use. i'm actually using it in this clip with my bassman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELWCCU_-aL8

i sold it after i got my fender twin because the twin was my dream amp and couldn't justify having both.

edit: it might be a little out of your way and it has a 10" speaker BUT the cash converters in clydebank had a marshall reverb 12 and i have gigged with one of those in the past (i mic'd it up) it's under £100
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