Pre NGD

[Dbone]

This amp looks quite interesting. Pricier that a Katana but I like that it can be controlled by an iPad....which the katana cannot be...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtksR2mfbpM

I’m in the analysis paralysis stage

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Dbone

https://www.bugera-amps.com/product....odelCode=P0B03

Like the price. Right in around what I was hoping to spend. Do you own this amp?

Originally Posted by Dbone

I guess one of my concerns would be, how good is that amp at bedroom volumes?

Originally Posted by Dbone

...I want some oomph for when I occasionally can stretch my legs a bit, and the conditions are right, but the emphasis must be on something I can run low and/or headphone as required...

I've owned the predecessor "blue-light" version of this amp for the last ten years: used it in every situation from home practice (there's a pentode/triode switch on the back that'll take it down to 15 watts - and give you some nice pre-Top Boost Vox-type tones in the bargain) to a 600-700 seat hall, clean as you need or dirty as you want at any volume (what you said about "oomph"); if you're a tweaker at heart it's very responsive to easy DIY upgrades - a tube swap/mild rebias (the latter not necessary with the current - pun intended - Infinium self-biasing circuitry) and an Eminence Swamp Thang turned mine into a mid-60's blue-check Ampeg Gemini II/B-12XT tone-clone, with some nice "medium-brown" crunch and "NME '65" Vox AC50 tones when I kick in the triode mode/OD/mid-boost in various combinations...

Simply put, there's a lot going on here for ~$400 (check out the upcoming Labor Day coupon sales): while the V5 (which I also own) unquestionably has its place, you're not going to beat the sheer headroom and sonic versatility of the V22 - and if you're an old-school guitar-cable-amp guy as I am, who likes to "dial-your-own" rather than scrolling through presets, and appreciates the touch-sensitive sonic nuances of genuine tube tone, this is your amp...

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

I've owned the predecessor "blue-light" version of this amp for the last ten years: used it in every situation from home practice (there's a pentode/triode switch on the back that'll take it down to 15 watts - and give you some nice pre-Top Boost Vox-type tones in the bargain) to a 600-700 seat hall, clean as you need or dirty as you want at any volume (what you said about "oomph"); if you're a tweaker at heart it's very responsive to easy DIY upgrades - a tube swap/mild rebias (the latter not necessary with the current - pun intended - Infinium self-biasing circuitry) and an Eminence Swamp Thang turned mine into a mid-60's blue-check Ampeg Gemini II/B-12XT tone-clone, with some nice "medium-brown" crunch and "NME '65" Vox AC50 tones when I kick in the triode mode/OD/mid-boost in various combinations...

Simply put, there's a lot going on here for ~$400 (check out the upcoming Labor Day coupon sales): while the V5 (which I also own) unquestionably has its place, you're not going to beat the sheer headroom and sonic versatility of the V22 - and if you're an old-school guitar-cable-amp guy as I am, who likes to "dial-your-own" rather than scrolling through presets, and appreciates the touch-sensitive sonic nuances of genuine tube tone, this is your amp...

I definitely have seen this amp come up recommended many times even before you guys mentioned it...Must be something to it for sure...Thanks for taking the time to give me your thoughts....I really appreciate that....

What I really need to do is go audition some stuff but I’m still personally trying to be as cautious as I can with this Covid stuff, avoid unnecessary longer trips to stores whenever I can etc...bah

[Dbone]

This head seems nice too. They have a combo version at well.

http://hughes-and-kettner.com/produc...ck-spirit-200/

[Dbone]

Well, here's the plan for my "amp" ;-0


NEAR TERM:

- Ipad Pro
- Apple lightning to USB 3 "Camera" Adapter
- Will use built-in audio interface on my Zoom H4N Pro recorder
- Sony Sound Bar with subwoofer (really loud with great sound)
- Some combination of Garage Band software (free) and/or the following reasonably priced paid software packages running on the Ipad:

Positive Grid Bias FX:
https://www.positivegrid.com/bias-fx/
Positive Grid Bias Amps:
https://www.positivegrid.com/bias-amp/

These 2 integrate with one another well apparently.

AND/OR

IK Multimedia's Amplitube: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/amplitubeios/


BEST PART OF THIS PLAN:
I already had everything except for the 50 dollar Apple lightning to USB converter so I'm doing it on the cheap for sure. If I end up going beyond Garage Band, which is likely, it will be another 20 - 50 bucks say (the iOS versions of their software are super reasonable).

If I'm feeling really spendy I may add this cheap bluetooth foot switch into my "rig"...lol (and maybe a cheap associated expression pedal product that can plugin to the foot switch) -->

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/product...irig-blueboard


THE GOOD NEWS:
With some preliminary sound testing I did today when I was putting everything together I'll be shocked if this doesn't end up sounding pretty amazing for what it is.

I pick my Godin electric up Monday/Tuesday so I'm pretty pumped to give thing a whirl.


LONGER TERM PLAN:

I have been doing a ton of research over the past many weeks/month. As far as I can tell this gear is the bees knees in the profiling/modelling/digital effects world -->

https://www.kemper-amps.com/products/profiler/line-up

They seem to have the best support (software and otherwise) out there compared to the higher end competing Boss and Line 6 products, and I really like the business philosophy of the company (after watching the owner/ceo in a few vids)...

There seems to be some consensus that the competition can't touch their profiling technology and how close it comes to valve amps.

Just watch this Andertons video(s). Says it all. Quite remarkable if you ask me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJ_H5PiuTE

I'll cut my teeth on my near term rig for a year or so and then pick up a Kemper in all likelihood. There are some expected advancements in their product line expected over the next while. I will watch with interest.


Thanks again for some of your guys' thoughts in this thread!

[RP]

Originally Posted by Dbone

Now I just need to figure out what to do for an amp.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...acquered-tweed

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by RP

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...acquered-tweed

Still pretty stuck on my immediate non-committal Positive Grid Bias FX/Amp 2 plans posted immediately above. At least for the next year to year and a half to 2...

A 15 watt tube would be way too loud for home use...at least for me...A work colleague of mine powers a 4x12 Marshal cab with a 1 watt Marshall amp and that can get plenty loud while still sounding absolutely amazing.

That Fender doesn’t even have an attenuator on it so I suspect that could get a little bonkers in one’s quest for sweet tonage