Can someone recommend a good practice / home amp?

[IndianaGeo]

Hi All,
I'm looking for a good home studio/practice amp that I can use in a limited space. I've not bought an amp in ages so I'm a bit out of touch with what they can do nowadays. I'm actually looking to plug into an electric guitar in this case, possibly an electric/acoustic or an archtop as well. Ideally, I need something that can 'loop' a chord progression so that I can play alongside it. Any ideas? Thanks much.

IG

[DaddyRabbit]

There are a bunch of good small amps out these days. That said, while you can do an acoustic thru a regular amp it isn't going to sound very good.

I would probably go with something like a Fender Mustang II and a dedicated looper pedal were it I. Fender also has the G-Dec amps which are designed from the ground up as a practice amp. Line6 Spider amps are worth a look as well.

Anderton's three part practice amp shootout, http://youtu.be/erKaCn2wgLw

[KeepInTune]

I have a Fishman Loudbox Mini. Very powerful for home use, perhaps coffee shop use, and even a stage monitor (it has DI out for going to house system).

I use a cheap Jamman looper and it works nicely with it. I also use an electric (strat, Casino) through it for cleans (or pedals) and it has a nice sound. Also, the Mini sounds great for playing music with my iPod.

I do think they are a little expensive at $325 (I bought mine 2 years back at around $250 --GC coupon, etc..). To me, that's a better price point for the Mini.

If budget isn't an issue, the Bose L1Compact uses a small space, especially if you take the tower part out and use it as a condensed unit. Nice, nice sound for a small footprint. It would be more versatile. Though, $999.

[BilliBob]

Have a look on ebay at Line 6 Flextone, you can get a single 12" 60w which is amazing for practice. It also has a tube preamp on it I think(FlextoneII certainly has), which you can use for acoustic.
They are going for a song, best bang for buck you are going to find.

[BilliBob]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LINE-6-FLE...item417f586497

[Ghostpicker]

+1 for the Loudbox Mini. iPod plugs right in, DI out, great sound, 2 channels (reverb & Chorus on channel 1, reverb on channel 2). Small amp, big personality, hard to beat.

[Goat Mick]

Another vote for the Fender Mustang, however if money and space allow I'd go for a Mustang III. The III is a lot more programmable and would probably make you happier.

[martingitdave]

Loud box mini or Roland. Not cheap, but high quality and mid priced. They can be used to gig at small venues. Many inexpensive options for home use available too. Great time to need an amp. Hundreds of choices.

[44Runner]

I don't know of an amp I would play both acoustic and electric through.

I use a GB Shen 100 for acoustic and my main electric am is a Vox AC15C1. Neither of these are terribly large and both are amazing amps for what they do IMHO.

I do own a small Bugera V5 for electric. It is about the best bang for the buck you can get as far as electrics amps go. I would miss my Vox but I think I could use that little baby as my everyday rig. I just recently bought it for a practice amp. Its headphone jack is a nice feature when you have kids.

[Chicago Sandy]

Love the Roland AC-33. Small, two inputs, built-in chorus, even a looper. And if you can't find an outlet free, it'll run for 3 hrs. on 8 AA batteries. (Almost as long as the original ES).

[IndianaGeo]

Thanks everyone.. Much appreciated!

IG

[rvf263]

Maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus Amp for both acoustic and electric.

[perttime]

Originally Posted by 44Runner

I don't know of an amp I would play both acoustic and electric through.

Maybe an acoustic guitar amp with some "electric amp modeling" preamp or multi-effect box for the electric?