Hi! First post since the old board.
I'm looking for a quiet practice solution while the kids are asleep and I think I have 3 options.
First is a small unobtrusive modeling amp to keep in the living room full time (my main amp is downstairs in my workshop/office area). Front runners are the Spark (due to app functionality) and the Mustang Micro (size and portability)
Second option is a multi effects processor such as the Harley Benton DNAfx (or similar). I have never used one of these before, but my thought is that I could use the headphone out when I am practicing upstairs but also take it downstairs and use it with my amp when I play down there.
Third option is to get an inexpensive interface and use software emulations. This is another thing that I have never used before. I have windows and ubuntu linux on my laptop if that makes any difference. I would like to hear more about this option, but my initial thought is that it is probably the least convenient (but maybe cheapest?) of the three options.
Use cases:
-Quiet practice
-I don't see any gigging in the foreseeable future and jamming with others is unlikely right now.
-Time is limited, so sessions will be short (15-30 minutes)
-I like learning new technologies, but primary goal is learning guitar
-I would like to possibly get into recording guitar and vocals onto the computer. I think any of these solutions would allow for recording guitar, but would require an interface and mic for vocals. Correct me if I am wrong.
-Budget flexible, but lets say $300 or less. I could go higher if really needed.
Current gear:
-Current amp is a Mustang II
-I only own 1 pedal (a looper)
-Several Guitars
Quiet practice opinions
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naponthebeach
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Fender MIM Tele
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Fender Mustang II v.1 Amp
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uwmcscott
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Having owned a few different fender Mustangs ( 1, Mini, III ) , I don't see why you couldn't accomplish pretty much all of that with the Mustang II that you already own. I have a mustang Mini from the same era and I use it for exactly that and a pair of headphones. Yes the technology is old but it still works and you can still find the old fuse software out there to play around with the tweaking side. I honestly think the old mustangs sound better than the new ones.
If you were to get a newer modeling amp I'm a big fan of the Boss Katana but there are a ton of good ones out there.
If you were to get a newer modeling amp I'm a big fan of the Boss Katana but there are a ton of good ones out there.
AGF Survivor Champ Emeritus (Ask TVVoodoo )
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Partscaster
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yamaha thr10c amp is a great tiny modeling amp with headphone option. i believe you can input 1/8 jack into it, too.
"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, and his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted."
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sabasgr68
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From my very limited experience, I second what @uwmcscott says: you already have the Mustang II amp for quiet practicing/playing, and it also doubles as an audio interface for recording your guitar - it´s what I use, in fact -. You´ll only need an interface for recording vocals - and the mic -, so maybe you won´t spend that much.
On the other hand, since you´re also looking for portability ("...but also take it downstairs and use it with my amp when I play down there".), I think that a multi effects pedal would do a good job for you: you can take it anywhere (the front porch, the back yard, the coach in the living room, the roof, anywhere lol), and it´s lighter than the Mustang, and most of them doubles as audio interface for recording he guitar into your pc. You´ll still need the interface for vocals recording, but that would happen only when you´re in your computer. There are some ME units that can also be used with batteries, so you can literally take it anywhere in your house for those silent practicings at night. So, I think this would be the best option IMHO.
As for software emulations, the main downside I see is that you´ll always have to be hooked to your computer, so if you go to different places at home, you´ll have to take it with you (in case you´re using a laptop). But I really have no experience in this case, so I´ll leave this third option for the more experienced AGFers.
Let us know when you make your decision.
On the other hand, since you´re also looking for portability ("...but also take it downstairs and use it with my amp when I play down there".), I think that a multi effects pedal would do a good job for you: you can take it anywhere (the front porch, the back yard, the coach in the living room, the roof, anywhere lol), and it´s lighter than the Mustang, and most of them doubles as audio interface for recording he guitar into your pc. You´ll still need the interface for vocals recording, but that would happen only when you´re in your computer. There are some ME units that can also be used with batteries, so you can literally take it anywhere in your house for those silent practicings at night. So, I think this would be the best option IMHO.
As for software emulations, the main downside I see is that you´ll always have to be hooked to your computer, so if you go to different places at home, you´ll have to take it with you (in case you´re using a laptop). But I really have no experience in this case, so I´ll leave this third option for the more experienced AGFers.
Let us know when you make your decision.
I´m the guy from Venezuela (Not Communist/Socialist) - Catholic - Husband - Father
Looking for online/remote job - Income on the internet
Always grateful to the AGF community and friends
AGF refugee - Banned by MOMO
Looking for online/remote job - Income on the internet
Always grateful to the AGF community and friends
AGF refugee - Banned by MOMO
Play whatever you have at low volume, use a dirt pedal if need be.
Just ignore the tone likely sucks and focus on your playing.
Thats what I do.
Spend you $$ on lessons.
Just ignore the tone likely sucks and focus on your playing.
Thats what I do.
Spend you $$ on lessons.
Old AGF since Feb. 2015; refugee of the Great MOMO Purge of May 2020.
I have the Mustang Micro, and I like it quite a bit. It allows me to easily practice without bothering anyone, play along to backing tracks via Bluetooth, and even move around while doing it. Tones are more than good enough for practice.
"Everything works if you let it." - Travis W. Redfish
Joined AGF April 10, 2013
Joined AGF April 10, 2013
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naponthebeach
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Fender MIM Tele
Gibson Les Paul Tradiional
Washburn WMS Custom Shop
Yamaha Acoustic
Fender Mustang II v.1 Amp
Thanks for all of the responses! At this point I have ruled out option 3 because I don't want to have to be tethered to a laptop. I am leaning towards the small practice amp idea thinking that I should use the tool that is designed for the mission I want to accomplish.
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BatUtilityBelt
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My Spark is usually in my livingroom for quick noodling, and it never disappoints me.
I can't use amps either - not to any real effect, anyway - because I live in a situation where I just don't have the ability to crank them to a respectable level. This has been an issue for me for quite some time, and as a result I have tried options 2 and 3 rather extensively.
My first thought is that with any of these options, your main problem comes in the form of the number you posted: $300. I'm not meaning to sound elitist at all here, but whether we're discussing software, pedals, or interfaces - the quality and flexibility sharply increases with higher investment. It can certainly be accomplished for under that, but it's a matter of your approach to such things. After a long stretch of trying to be as frugal as I could be, I decided on the "buy once, cry once" approach. Lower capability equipment will be rapidly outgrown and you'll need/want to upgrade. I don't like buying stuff twice, so I splash out for the exact thing I want/need in the first place. That said:
If your goal is to try to dial in the tonez of your favorite guitarists and/or just jam, get a nice tube amp with a headphone jack - option 1 as stated above. Get one that has an interface integrated if at all possible, it'll come in handy.
Pros: They are loud, simple, and fun. Good amps can be had inexpensively, especially in the used market. Resale potential.
Cons: portability can be an issue, often need to crank them to get the most out of them.
If your goal is flexibility, forging new ground and finding your own noise while still having the access to more traditional tone - then option 3 is the way. You already have a computer, as long as it's fairly stout it should run the VSTs/DAW properly. You will still need an interface for this of course, but those and laptops are nicely portable. I have been a big fan of the Guitar Rig VST for quite some time, because it's just super fun to tinker with and get wild noise out of. It has it's own really good effects suite, so you won't need a ton of pedals - but if you still want to use physical pedals, you can run them in the chain. Most good VSTs can be run in standalone mode, but if you run them through a DAW you'll gain the ability to access to a million different virtual effects and can use them in your signal regardless of their intended purpose. You can really get experimental and mangle noise this way, it's great fun. I don't find the digital option particularly inconvenient, a laptop is easier to carry than a guitar - and if you're willing to lug that around...
Pros: Value to cost ratio is excellent. Guitar Rig 6 costs $200, has 21 amp sims and 68 effects. A lot of quality VST effects can be found free, or often see major discounts. (Reaper DAW is great, and free to use). They can be quiet (or loud, your choice). Running through a DAW means the flexibility is insane, you can literally do anything you want in that virtual space. You are Neo in the Matrix.
Cons: You need a decent computer (the more RAM, the better) and the willingness to lug that computer around. Depending on the DAW and program you use, there's a bit of a learning curve. Cannot resell. Can be a bit of a money hole with updates and newer versions of software, storage, more powerful computer needs, etc. And, oh dear Lord... latency.
Option 2 is a good blend. A decent multi effects pedal gives you access to a lot of great tones, but they will usually be confined to the traditional tone needs of most guitarists - especially in the lower price range. It's portable and can be used in a quiet situation. Grabbing a decent basic model and supplementing it with additional pedals as resources allow is a good compromise from a financial point of view. They often can double as interfaces as well. I have a Helix (not exactly frugal), and frikkin love the damn thing. It was $1500 (and that hurt, yes) but I don't regret the outlay. I also have a Zoom G9.2tt that I've been using for years and still is a part of my setup. A quick look shows a used price of around $200, so very good models can be found for reasonable prices.
Pros: Portable. Flexible. Reliable, and very fun to play with. Quality examples can be found cheaply. Lots of fun to be had in chaining multiples together. Headphones, amps, stereo/mono splits, or straight to FOH - your choice.
Cons: Powerful ones cost serious coin, and potentially your first born male child. There's a learning curve which can be easy or hard, depending on who made the thing. Nicer models also require a computer for updates. New models mean more cash and restarting the learning curve. Latency can still be an issue with more intensive patches, but it's negligible. And I hope you don't mind small screens/displays.
TL;DR: Either way, I don't think any of these solutions would be a bad way to go for you. It just depends on your needs and what you're planning to do with them. Digital modeling has come a very long way - but the one thing that eludes all but the most sophisticated modelers is the emulation of "breakup." It can be difficult to get that "pushed tube amp" kind of feel. It can be done, tho.
My first thought is that with any of these options, your main problem comes in the form of the number you posted: $300. I'm not meaning to sound elitist at all here, but whether we're discussing software, pedals, or interfaces - the quality and flexibility sharply increases with higher investment. It can certainly be accomplished for under that, but it's a matter of your approach to such things. After a long stretch of trying to be as frugal as I could be, I decided on the "buy once, cry once" approach. Lower capability equipment will be rapidly outgrown and you'll need/want to upgrade. I don't like buying stuff twice, so I splash out for the exact thing I want/need in the first place. That said:
If your goal is to try to dial in the tonez of your favorite guitarists and/or just jam, get a nice tube amp with a headphone jack - option 1 as stated above. Get one that has an interface integrated if at all possible, it'll come in handy.
Pros: They are loud, simple, and fun. Good amps can be had inexpensively, especially in the used market. Resale potential.
Cons: portability can be an issue, often need to crank them to get the most out of them.
If your goal is flexibility, forging new ground and finding your own noise while still having the access to more traditional tone - then option 3 is the way. You already have a computer, as long as it's fairly stout it should run the VSTs/DAW properly. You will still need an interface for this of course, but those and laptops are nicely portable. I have been a big fan of the Guitar Rig VST for quite some time, because it's just super fun to tinker with and get wild noise out of. It has it's own really good effects suite, so you won't need a ton of pedals - but if you still want to use physical pedals, you can run them in the chain. Most good VSTs can be run in standalone mode, but if you run them through a DAW you'll gain the ability to access to a million different virtual effects and can use them in your signal regardless of their intended purpose. You can really get experimental and mangle noise this way, it's great fun. I don't find the digital option particularly inconvenient, a laptop is easier to carry than a guitar - and if you're willing to lug that around...
Pros: Value to cost ratio is excellent. Guitar Rig 6 costs $200, has 21 amp sims and 68 effects. A lot of quality VST effects can be found free, or often see major discounts. (Reaper DAW is great, and free to use). They can be quiet (or loud, your choice). Running through a DAW means the flexibility is insane, you can literally do anything you want in that virtual space. You are Neo in the Matrix.
Cons: You need a decent computer (the more RAM, the better) and the willingness to lug that computer around. Depending on the DAW and program you use, there's a bit of a learning curve. Cannot resell. Can be a bit of a money hole with updates and newer versions of software, storage, more powerful computer needs, etc. And, oh dear Lord... latency.
Option 2 is a good blend. A decent multi effects pedal gives you access to a lot of great tones, but they will usually be confined to the traditional tone needs of most guitarists - especially in the lower price range. It's portable and can be used in a quiet situation. Grabbing a decent basic model and supplementing it with additional pedals as resources allow is a good compromise from a financial point of view. They often can double as interfaces as well. I have a Helix (not exactly frugal), and frikkin love the damn thing. It was $1500 (and that hurt, yes) but I don't regret the outlay. I also have a Zoom G9.2tt that I've been using for years and still is a part of my setup. A quick look shows a used price of around $200, so very good models can be found for reasonable prices.
Pros: Portable. Flexible. Reliable, and very fun to play with. Quality examples can be found cheaply. Lots of fun to be had in chaining multiples together. Headphones, amps, stereo/mono splits, or straight to FOH - your choice.
Cons: Powerful ones cost serious coin, and potentially your first born male child. There's a learning curve which can be easy or hard, depending on who made the thing. Nicer models also require a computer for updates. New models mean more cash and restarting the learning curve. Latency can still be an issue with more intensive patches, but it's negligible. And I hope you don't mind small screens/displays.
TL;DR: Either way, I don't think any of these solutions would be a bad way to go for you. It just depends on your needs and what you're planning to do with them. Digital modeling has come a very long way - but the one thing that eludes all but the most sophisticated modelers is the emulation of "breakup." It can be difficult to get that "pushed tube amp" kind of feel. It can be done, tho.
"What is this place? Where am I?"
I can't help but see a fourth option here. Why not put the kids out to "naponthebeach" while you enjoy any of the other 3 options? The good thing is that you have options!naponthebeach wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 4:35 pm Hi! First post since the old board.
I'm looking for a quiet practice solution while the kids are asleep and I think I have three options.
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NickintheStates
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- Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 10:46 am
Spark for the win! Portable. Wish it could be battery powered though. Lots of tone options, a tuner, etc. It's my office amp. I can practice at low volume or put in some headphones.
With the times as they are these days, it seems like someone is always home at my house too. My tube amps are all resting unused. Most of my time is through headphones and my Kemper. I miss the feeling of moving some air, but it gets the job done. That Spark is great for the same sort of thing just on a better budget!
With the times as they are these days, it seems like someone is always home at my house too. My tube amps are all resting unused. Most of my time is through headphones and my Kemper. I miss the feeling of moving some air, but it gets the job done. That Spark is great for the same sort of thing just on a better budget!