Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on June 19, 2009 at 8:58am

For the little cheap ones, ugly definitely applies... but that may be what you're looking for.

I really like the Roland mini-cube. You get good sims of several popular amps (Roland JC, Fender, Vox, Marshall, Mesa-Boogie - Roland doesn't use those names for the sims for trademark reasons, but that's what they are). And several effects - reverb, delay, chorus, phlanger. Runs approximately forever on 6 AA batteries. Street price around $125. And it tolerates the piezo very nicely.

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Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on June 19, 2009 at 10:34am

I can only comment on what I own and even then its only my opinion-all of these take batteries as well as mains..
- nobels streetman amp-dont waste your money-mine arrived with the tolex hanging off like it was built by a drunk, pissed off korean factory worker on a friday afternoon.Doesn't have reverb.Wont overdrive.Sheesh.I keep it in my jeep to act as a soundsystem-its quite good at that actually.
-vox da5-solid build,solid tone-lots of effects but (and its a big but) the edit controls are confusing to use.
liberty- LOVELY looking amp-sounds good-covincing reverb-lots of overdrive if u want it-no other effects.solid build.
roland microcube-cant really be beaten to be honest-i dont like the looks, but it has all the tones u can imagine-effects are easy peasy to use-a bargain.
all these are solid state-you could always go for a small tube amp-vox/fender etc etc..but obviously you wont get effects with them or battery capabillty..
hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on June 19, 2009 at 1:25pm

I've got a Honeytone, and it's great. Has volume, tone, and overdrive controls, and really sounds nice with any of my instruments.
Only 20 bucks... However, spring for the wall-wart (power supply). Those 9-volt batteries don't last long and they cost.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Geary on June 22, 2009 at 11:13am

I agree with Doc on the Roland mini cube. Got one a couple of weeks ago and it's great with my cbg's and regular guitars. I did some checking on the price on the web and found it for about $76 at www.buy.com. Took that info to my local guitar center and they agreed to match the price. They had it selling for $129 and dropped it to $76. Sent a friend an email about my deal and he just took my email in to gc, they looked up the buy.com price on the web and he got one for $76 too. Can't beat the amp for that price.

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Permalink Reply by Al Allen (Hangten) on June 22, 2009 at 12:44pm

Hi Mark,

I'm new to this and a very interested old guy. Could you tell me where you purchased this honeytone amp?

Thank
Al Allen

Mark Werner said:

I've got a Honeytone, and it's great. Has volume, tone, and overdrive controls, and really sounds nice with any of my instruments.
Only 20 bucks... However, spring for the wall-wart (power supply). Those 9-volt batteries don't last long and they cost.

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on June 22, 2009 at 1:21pm

Thanks for all the replies. My dad has a house full of nice amps, and I was looking for something a little whimsical and unique. That he could also take camping, being retarded, I mean retired, they do alot of it. I got a little Honeytone local for around 30 bucks. I does everything they say it will. It's trashyness fits the CBG I built him nicely. It aint no Roland Cube...but it made him smile and mama had to make him put it up to go to bed....I'd give 30 bucks for that anytime.

If yer lookin for a Honeytone, musiciansfriend.com has them for about 20 bucks.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on June 23, 2009 at 4:24am

I got mine from the Guitar Center chain, but most any decent music store should have 'em.

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Permalink Reply by Wade on June 23, 2009 at 12:58pm

I also like my Roland cube. I use it for most of my vids. It seems to to be forgiving when using a piezo without a preamp. Great effects too. I may buy second one for singing for a quick portable setup.

HOLLOWBELLY said:

I can only comment on what I own and even then its only my opinion-all of these take batteries as well as mains..
- nobels streetman amp-dont waste your money-mine arrived with the tolex hanging off like it was built by a drunk, pissed off korean factory worker on a friday afternoon.Doesn't have reverb.Wont overdrive.Sheesh.I keep it in my jeep to act as a soundsystem-its quite good at that actually.
-vox da5-solid build,solid tone-lots of effects but (and its a big but) the edit controls are confusing to use.
liberty- LOVELY looking amp-sounds good-covincing reverb-lots of overdrive if u want it-no other effects.solid build.
roland microcube-cant really be beaten to be honest-i dont like the looks, but it has all the tones u can imagine-effects are easy peasy to use-a bargain.
all these are solid state-you could always go for a small tube amp-vox/fender etc etc..but obviously you wont get effects with them or battery capabillty..
hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Sven Pfitt on June 23, 2009 at 3:38pm

Does anyone do their own amps in Cigar boxes?

I've been looking at several National Semi parts that look promising.

I got a JFR Cuban Seed Corojo cigar box that would hold a 6" to 7" speaker and lots of room for the amp, heat sink and fan, etc. This would work in the 5-15W range. This would be a basic amp with tone and volume control. No parametric equalizer, etc. Just a plain n dirty amp. Pre-amp for either inductive pickup or piezo could be included.

A 15V 1A worthog (wall dongle, plug in power converter, etc) would support up to 15W.

I'm an engineer so I may be way off base from what most people feel comfortable doing.

Sven

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on June 23, 2009 at 3:51pm

Here's a thread about a cigar box amp: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/cigar-box-amp

Sven Pfitt said:

Does anyone do their own amps in Cigar boxes?

I've been looking at several National Semi parts that look promising.

I got a JFR Cuban Seed Corojo cigar box that would hold a 6" to 7" speaker and lots of room for the amp, heat sink and fan, etc. This would work in the 5-15W range. This would be a basic amp with tone and volume control. No parametric equalizer, etc. Just a plain n dirty amp. Pre-amp for either inductive pickup or piezo could be included.

A 15V 1A worthog (wall dongle, plug in power converter, etc) would support up to 15W.

I'm an engineer so I may be way off base from what most people feel comfortable doing.

Sven

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Permalink Reply by Brian "Pork Pie" Anderson on June 24, 2009 at 12:28pm

my personal fave is the Orange MicroCrush. What makes the Micro Crush stand apart is the fact that Orange have tailored the noises it makes to be the best they can achieve within the limitations they have chosen to accept. Consequently the Micro Crush doesn't break into mush at the upper end of its volume control like so many other small practise boxes.

This is from their info:

Tiny Brilliance

Standing at just 5” tall, the Micro Crush’s highly portable design belies the remarkably full bodied tones available from its 4” speaker. The amplifiers Tone and Volume controls allow you to dial in a number of different guitar sounds, and Over Drive distortion is available at the push of a button. One of the most useful features is the inclusion of a fully functional chromatic tuner. Any guitarist that has spent more than five minutes hunting around their practice space for a tuner will know that this feature will see almost as much use as the amplifier itself!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Grisham on June 25, 2009 at 9:44am

I have the Roland Micro Cube, it is a nice amp, and if you can find one for $80 get it. I modded it with a speaker out, but it has a compensated output that boosts the lows to make up for the micro cabinet, not too cool on a 12" closed guitar cab.

I have built some circuits similar to the Make Zine crackerbox amp, but without the rheostat on the output. If you do make one and fit it in a box be careful to seal the lid securely so it doesn't rattle. My first build did this and it got quite annoying. I have since added some batts and screws to hold it down. I plan to make some more one of these days. I need to do something with all the little boxes in my shop!

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