Before “pedal platforms” became a thing, poverty dictated running your board into any solid state bass amp you could afford. The small combos had most watts for the money, usually a more flexible EQ, and you knew it could probably take more punishment from six than a four string. Plus, having a spare bass amp around was never a bad thing if you upgraded to something else. Peaveys, Kustoms, Accoustics — were all game and whatever grab yer fur without breaking the bank. Plus, you knew if the speaker wasn’t blown, it was probably fine on the inside. Good luck.
I appreciate it. So much of my music revolves around pedals. I use them with my synths, bass, and of course, guitar. It's nice now to have amps more geared toward using them in sound design. Specifically, granular, modulated reverbs, and crazy delays, among others. I create electronic-based music and play indie rock/shoegaze, so it's nice to have equipment that works for that specific approach. Take care!
I was going to say something similar to this but you nailed it man. If you're someone who gets all their tone from pedals and doesn't use an amp or doesn't care about getting a certain amp sound, bass amps are so good for this. I used a 15W bass practice amp for practice with my pedalboard for years because it stayed perfectly clean and sounded the same with the volume on 1 as it did on 10.
Are there any specific "cult classic" solid state bass amp combos you would recommend for this purpose? There are so many different models. I'm wondering if any have a reputation for decent sound and good durability.
I would go with a used Ampeg BA-112 or if new, RB-108 or RB-110. If I could find an old used Sunn that would be magical. Old Peavy bass combos have sounded very clean and crisp to me too.
I don’t think there was anything particularly specific that had a “cult” status aside from what you could afford vs. what you cared to lift to put in your car. Peavy’s were notoriously well built, available, and cheap. The TKO series comes to mind. Older Kustoms & Accoustic heads had a good rep and a following of their own, much like the Sunn & Laney stuff. So anything of that ilk that wasn’t “collectable” in combos was worth chasing, even 2000’s stuff.
Honestly, I wouldn’t bother chasing anything old because the modern equivalent is the mini heads is much more compelling. Stuff like Quilter Tone Block gives the watts, and easier to carry, and the price premium pays for itself in saved doctor visits for backs and hernias. Dylan Carlson of Earth is using 2 Trace Elliot Elf heads. Doesn’t get any more cult than that.
[Edit: I meant Randall instead of Laney (I can’t member if Laney did a s/s combo line in ‘80-90’s, but you get the idea.) Those always had prices north of Peavey on the used market, which was pretty much the benchmark of used & reliable kit.]
Peavey's Express 10 / Studio 12 was always a solid option, and if you wanted louder the Bandits were pretty much everywhere for anyone that couldn't swing a Fender.
Ampeg and Peavey are known for their reliability and sturdy build, you can beat the shit out of them and they still work fine. Sound-wise it's all fairly interchangeable since they don't heavily color the output.
I have an Orange Rocker 15, which I kept specifically for this purpose when offloading a few other amps and switching to a Quad Cortex. Definitely worthy of inclusion on your shortlist. Great amp.
I appreciate that feedback! I've never played an Orange, but it seems to check all the boxes. I like the sound from what I've heard in demos. Seems like a badass little amp.
I think Orange gets a good 'pedal platform' reputation because the clean channel is really, really clean. It means you can then use your pedals to really shape your tone to your liking. I got a really great deal on mine, so it's an amp I'll never sell.
That's awesome - the price seems to already be pretty reasonable for what you get. From the demos (nothing like hearing one live, I'm sure), I'm getting both Vox and Marshall vibes depending on the settings, and that's really appealing to me.
LOL can imagine walking into a venue carrying a DeVille and the soundman just grabbing you by the collar and marching you outside.
I was browsing in a music shop a few years ago and they had a used DeVille for like £200 and I was so conflicted because that was my first tube amp experience and it blew my mind but there is no place on earth I can use that amp. If I hired a studio they'd call the police if I turned it up to 6.
The salesman came gliding over and was like "It's a lovely amp, isn't it?" and I just laughed and got the fuck out of the shop before some kind of Stephen King nonsense happened.
Hot Rod Deluxe is the best all round tube amp for under $1000 IMHO, as far as pedal platforms go. (AC15 is more up my alley because it is still super responsive at low volumes, but not a ton of clean headroom on them mfers)
Yeah I had an AC15 for a while but it didn't suit me in terms of clean response. The hot rod is an excellent amp. When I was touring I used two of them wet and dry. Perfect sound, very reliable and easy to mic up
I really wish I could agree with this sentiment as someone who currently owns one as is endlessly frustrated by it, have you modded yours? I struggle endlessly with the boxiness/master volume
I replaced my speaker with a Celestion G12H. I've modded my friends' ones with Warehouse ET65 speakers to great effect.
Swapped the tubes out with JJ Tube replacements, had the amp biased. I found that the amp really only starts escaping the boxiness past the 5 mark on the master volume. You gotta move air on it to get it to sing.
I do notice some muddiness when using some fuzz pedals. Trying a speaker that tightens up the bottom end like a Warehouse Invader wouldn't be a bad option here.
Me, i have redone my speaker cabinet by using pine(lighter), and turned the combo into a head & cab...
The improvements in tone is night & day, not to mention the weight and losing that 'boxy' sound!
I do the Fromel mods on all the Blues Jr’s I come in contact with, and replace the speaker with a good neodymium magnet speaker (I like the Jensen “Jett” series, Tonker lite, and the li’ll Texas).
No effects loop in any of the 15 watt and under Fender tube amps. Might be the case for all Fender tube amps besides the Hot Rod Deluxe even...
You would have to look at a more modern brand. Maybe check Revv or Morgan?
Quilter would be a fantastic option here. Their US and UK Block options would give you some good classic amp flavor and could live on your pedalboard for some easy/compact rig life. All you’d need is a PA or cab of your choice! Aside from that, as much as I like my tube amp, replacing tubes when they go is pricey and for a while getting replacements was tricky. Hope it helps!
I use a Quilter Superblock US for a headphone friendly pedal platform. Also has the bonus of being able to power a cab. I think they are very underrated amps.
I agree on this. You can power those from a 9v pedal supply for 1w, and they are plenty loud for praticing that way. They are also one of the smallest amp i know featuring an fx loop.
It doesn’t have an effects loop but I just got Princeton Reverb Reissue with the 12” speaker and it takes pedals so well. I upgraded from the blues junior because I felt it was a little too loud and muddy from what I was hearing. I’d suggest looking into the Princeton. Good luck!
All studio rats will tell you the Fender Princeton is the best pedal platform in the world. If you're looking for cheaper combos I would really recommend the Quilter Aviator, I also like my Supro Delta King 12 but it doesn't have a ton of headroom. My band practices in a space with a Fender Super Reverb and that amp LOVES my pedalboard, I really think I need to splurge on a proper fender princeton.
A bit off the beaten path: BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition and one of their 1x12 cabs. Super lightweight. You could run your pedals into Fender and Marshall based channels.
I use a hot rod deluxe and deville. Not small by any means, but you can easily find them for 300, keeps up with drums and other guitarists, and theres a few mods to make it better at lower volumes including various tube swaps, eq pedal or potentiometer in fx loop, etc as well as ways to make it less ice picky (v1 tube swap iirc), and even more headroom. The amps got known qc issues, and is loud af, but i dont have an issue with it and pedals sound great thru em. I bought one of them 2 years ago and stuck jj tubes in it, with the v1 swap, and its played like a dream everyday since.
This is the classic answer for fender sounds. The hot rod deluxe is a goddamn staple and you'll see them everywhere because they work
As an alternate I'd say the marshall origin series, they're loud as fuck, sound great, and cheap as hell for how much volume and tone you're getting. I've had an origin 20 for a few months and it's way louder than you'd expect
I had a Marshall Origin 50 head and I returned it to the music store within the 30 day window because it was insanely bright and had no bass whatsoever. YMMV.
Oh yeah I mean I put the treble all the way down and the presence and tilt in the middle, but it's been pretty nice for me
It definitely softens as you crank it, but maybe the 20 is a little more forgiving than the 50. What cabs were you using?
Yeah I've heard mixed reviews of those. I play through a couple of orange cabs, and those are notoriously dark and warm, so maybe I just have a good pairing of gear
What do you consider small? 10 Watts? Or a few more? A Princeton cannot be beat. The Revv D20 is also insane and basically a Princeton. It can also go direct.
You can do some smaller 5 Watt amps. There are a bunch of boutique builders that make 5 watt amps and they are insane.
Good question. I've got a 5-watt Vox now, which is a lot of fun, but not enough to keep up with some of the other amp guys I play with have. I'm thinking 15 but could go higher. I'm typically running dirt pedals, so I don't need the breakup tone from the amp.
Ah yea if you want way more clean headroom I’d go 20 ish and just run it low.
Revv D20, maybe Victory amps (something from their small head range lol). That’s pricey but they are great for 20 watts. A deluxe reverb is also incredible for 22 watts.
I run a CRANKED Vox AC15 for gigs usually then use my volume knob. It’s way too loud, but I don’t want headroom these days. I like to really drive the amp and I think amps under 15 watts are better for that.
I totally get your point on pushing smaller watt amps for breaking up. Great for studio setups, too. I has an AC30C2 and loved all the headroom for pedals and that chimey tone. It was just an absolute monster, so I traded it for a Roland JC-40, which was great but didn't quite scratch the itch. I'll look more into Revv and Victory. Someone else suggest the Rivera Venus Deuz, which is pricey, but looks like an extremely high quality amp.
Rivera makes the amps I mentioned look cheap.
If you’re gonna go that route and spend that kinda money I’d stick with amps that are a bit more known name wise. Amps peeps know that name but outside of that resale will be a bit tighter. Just my two cents
Also never hurts to look at rigs of country players. Like if you can find pictures of rigs from guys who gig in Nashville. It’s not necessarily my kind of music. But it can help you get an idea of what is a decent wattage and reliable amp that will work in clubs and bars and with bands.
Often those guys are moving on these days from the super heavy amps too. But that’ll give you the temperature of reliability and function at not crazy volume. Can’t tell you how many guys like that I follow on instagram just for ideas.
Very cool, had a JC and it did take pedals like a champ and running different pedals in stereo on the two speakers was a very nice plus. Not familiar with neural DSP - I'll check it out.
For a small 5 watter the Fender Vibro Champ Reverb is really good. It’s my go to in music stores these days because it sounds good and I can push it without being “that guy”. I’ll own one eventually.
I’ve had good luck with the Fender Blues jr too. I had one years ago that I used for home recording, sold it, and when I went back through some of the sounds I got with it and bought another one. Its tweed/quasi old Marshall sounds are great with dirt. For how much they are used it’s worth keeping around.
The Supros you mentioned are also good, they seem like a higher quality Blues jr when I’ve played them.
That's good feedback on the Supro. I've got a friend with a nice Supro combo amp that I look forward to trying soon. I think it's a Celestion Creamback.
The amp is use most in a Fender Champ clone I built. Takes effects great. This is the most simple tube amp you can get and it sounds great. Mine has a 10" Jensen alnico blue speaker. I also added a 3 position bright switch (middle position is off).
My Deluxe has more headroom than I need (not gigging) and it’s heavy! Not that it sounds bad at 2.5 on volume, but I can’t crank it any higher where I live.
I used to use a fender hot rod deluxe which was "smaller" than the 65 reissue twin reverb but still a tube amp. so its heavy I just got a quilter solid state and I'm not going back. The thing is loud and light and "takes pedals" well haha
Right on! I had the Fender Tonemaster Twin Reverb solid-state amp for a while, and it was crazy how light that thing was. I know I'm in the minority, but I'm just not a huge Fender amp guy.
I started with a Roland JC77 back in the 80's and played w/ someone that had a fender twin and a strat and it was right when I was all about hendrix, SRV , Jerry etc so I went that route for a long time. I also liked the simplicty of controls compared to like a Mesa which is too many options for me personally, I guess it really comes down to personal choice and what you think is the best tool to get your muscial point across the way you want,
Do you specifically want tube? If not I absolutely adore my Yamaha THR10 - to my ears the cleans really do sound just like a real deluxe. I also own a boss katana 50 and that's decent too and takes pedals well. Both of these amp can also be plugged straight in with USB as well so you could get some extra flexibility out of your current setup.
That flexibility is excellent. I typically record through my amp-less setup (Simplifier DLX) with really good results. I do lean toward tube amps and will really just use this to run my pedalboard through in live/jam situations. One consideration is getting something that works well in the studio (bedroom-sized) with just a couple of us while still being able to be used in a full-band situation for jamming.
In that case I think Fender Princeton ri or Deluxe ri would be your best bet if you want to spend a little more - or like a other post said hot rod deluxe is good too and can be had cheaply easily. I used a hot rod deluxe/deville as a gigging amp for over 10 years reliably - I always ran my whole chain through the front end. Last rec would be the Vox ac10 - it is inexpensive as well and takes pedals well.
A Princeton works great. A Champ works pretty well at low volumes. I had a Blues Jr for a while but they have a TON of low end and get flubby really fast.
The Blues Jr sounds incredible with single coil pickups run clean or light gain. I think they can work as a platform but you need a plan for dealing with the bottom end.
I use a Traynor Darkhorse for this. 3 preamp options including one that bypasses the tone stack. Has played nicely with every pedal I’ve ever plugged into it.
My last amp was a Roland JC40. I really liked it other than it didn’t take distortion pedals very well for me. I’ve seen others say the opposite. It really is one of the most fun amps to play using only modulation. It’s absolutely beautiful.
I currently have a hot rod deluxe and I like it even more. It takes every pedal I’ve played through it well. People complain about how loud it is but I have a volume pedal in the effects loop to help out and I can easily play it quietly in my apartment.
My favorite pedals with my hot rod are a Rat, Sd-1, and Wampler Belle.
Very cool - my fave with the Roland was to run different pedals to each channel in stereo. Would often throw the Merc 7 pedal on at the end and it sounded glorious. I also shared your experience with dirt - great cleaner tone experience for me.
Roland JC-40 is a great option, especially since you bypass the preamp and go straight into the stereo FX return. Like with any other guitar amp, you'll just need to disable any cab sims if you go this route. It's a good price, unbelievably loud when you need it to be, rugged as hell, lighter weight than tube amps, and the built-in digital CE-1 chorus and reverb are fantastic. Even though I go almost exclusively FOH at shows these days, the JC-40 is my go-to option anytime I need to bring an amp for a gig.
I saw Yamaha THR get mentioned elsewhere, and while it's a wonderful little practice amp that I'll never part with, it absolutely can not keep up with proper guitar amps in a room. For that, you'll still need to run it into larger external speakers, so essentially, it offers you nothing different than what you've already got at your disposal.
Beyond that, you could consider getting an active FRFR speaker (Headrush FRFR, Line 6 Powercab, Fender Tone Master FR-12, etc) and just let your Simplifer handle both your amp and cab sim sounds. I haven't used one yet, but I hear very good things.
It's such a solid amp. I miss mine at times and would get another one if money were no object. The onboard chorus is phenomenal - I got instant Cure vibes. So much fun to run different pedals in the stereo channels.
I'm using a DSL 1 through a Marshall 1960s 4x12.
It sounds absolutely awesome. I can't believe how awesome it sounds. Could 10000% gig with this. Every gig mics you're amps anyways.
It really does lol. Sold my distortion pedal (jhs angry charlie) as i don't need it... Second channel on the DSL 1 IS what distortion is supposed to sound like.
I use eqd Westwood for overdrive.
I use eqd hizumitas for fuzz/wall of sustain.
Only beef with it is that the DSL 1 needs to be tamed with a volume attenuator of some sort in the FX loop. I'm a pedal nerd.. So i was glad to run pedals through the FX loop lol.
I'm using the empress compressor mkii as a volume attenuator.. an eq..a compressor..a sustainer.. and It conquers all with ease. I really like this setup.
I was using a boss katana 100 head which I loved until I started recording with it and it sounded a lot less great to my ear playing back on recordings. This is a non issue on the DSL 1.
I love the Marshall sound. I have an EAE Citadel pedal that gets really close to that plexi sound. I regret getting ridding of the Hizumitas (got some Fjord fuzz pedals now), but man was it a great, reliable fuzz - bet it sounds killer with your amp/cab setup. I've got a Cali76 compressor from Origin Effects right now, which I love, but Empress makes some great pedals. I'm using their Echosystem for most of my delay right now and I haven't found anything better.
Oh man that ecosystem was cool I had one for a while and flipped it. Never had an empress pedal that isn't awesome. I've heard that Cali is really great too though you could use that just like I'm using mine I'm sure.
What amp are you running?
I'm mostly using an ampless setup with the Simplifier DLX (analog pedal that gets vox, marshall or fender tones, fx loop and the ability to run a dry signal through for recording), but also have a 5 watt Vox amp I got recently that I'll probably let go soon for something bigger.
I've got the one for the bass and love it! Never miss my Ampeg, but that could change if I start playing bass in band environments. I just use it now for bass tracks that go through my DAW and reamp through the Simplifier bass pedal.
I’m running 2 different amp setups:
1) A solid state Fender M80 combo that I bought in the 80s; pristine cleans and no tubes to push so all of my OD & modulation comes from pedals. (Yes, the unfairly maligned grey carpeted amp)
2) A 5W Mooer Little Monster AC tube head into a Kustom 12” cab. Lots of headroom and loud enough to keep up with a drummer in a small/medium room and takes pedals really well.
If you don’t need breakup from the amp, I think excess watts might be fine (extra headroom!) and you may not need an effects loop depending on the amp. Do you use a cab sim in your DAW?
Templo Devices Nomad. 50w, compact and lightweight with rechargeable battery, seems pretty affordable, can power pedals, has a line out that can be used as the send in an effects loop. Never played one, but I’d like to.
Carr Rambler. I’m biased because this is my favorite amp. Sounds “right” to me when clean and not mid-scooped like a lot of Fender amps and can sound full without breaking up. Sounds good at low volumes and has been loud enough for small venues. I love it as a pedal platform, fuzzes come through with all their harmonics and overtones, delay and reverb don’t get squashed so their mix knobs are usable, etc. Some people complain about flubby low end, but I just keep bass low and I think it sounds natural and sits well in a mix. (I have more producer ear than classic rock power trio guitarist ear, if that’s not too obnoxious to say). I love modeling plugins, but my favorite clean sound is this amp miked with an sm57 and even though I have substitutes, none feel quite as good. This amp made me fall in love with single coils because I started to notice how transients are rolled off with humbuckers. Again, stuff probably lost in a band context, but in a mix it’s so lovely, like recording a nice acoustic instrument you can build your whole mix around. Also, the manual says you can run it at 4ohms (decreases expected tube life) so you can run another cab in parallel for versatility.
Fender Tone Master. I’ve heard differing opinions here, but I think these take pedals very well and are loud, but don’t need to be loud to sound good. I’m assuming complaints come from an expectation that it will break up and add a cascading gain stage, but it sounds like you’re not looking for that feature anyways. It has some other features that are cool, like a line out with 3 options Cab 1, Cab 2, no cab (add your own in the box).
I use a cab sim (Simplifier DLX analog amp/cab sim) when recording//writing, but this will be more for just plugging in pedals when jamming with other folks. Otherwise, I just use my DAW, monitor speakers/headphones and reamp back into my pedalboard and route back the effected signal to my DAW though my interface.
I've never heard of the Carr Ramber and going to check that out now - thanks!
I had the Fender TM, but unfortunately ran into signals falling apart when using some of my weirder pedals. Other than that, it was a pretty impressive (and crazy light) amp that sounded good when going for more traditional sounds.
A lot of pedal companies use deluxe reverbs to test pedals. Obviously I’m speaking in general terms but nonetheless, the DR is well known for being an exceptional clean platform for pedals. You mentioned the Rocker. Im assuming your talking about out the Rocker 15 Terror? If so, I have one and it’s not what I would call a great clean pedal platform. The fx loop is really good and time based effects sound really good through the loop. I have a couple of Oranges and run them edge of breakup or more and use ODs to boost it into further distortion.
That's a really helpful perspective to know on the Rocker 15. I really appreciate that! I may hunt one down locally and try to bring some pedals in to see how it sounds.
electro-harmonix Dirt Road Special
I just bought one a couple months ago and must say that it sounds freaking fantastic, super quick and easy to dial in a great sound with the unique controls. Also, it’s quite affordable at $430ish. I got mine used for $300. I’ve been playing for 30 years and have owned a wide variety of amps. This one is a keeper.
Yes, I forgot to add that it can get extremely loud. I notice some say that as if it’s a bad thing. It sounds great with pedals at lower levels when the amp is clean, and it does have a nice overdrive when cranked and takes my overdrive pedal nicely as the volume and bite controls are interactive.
Laney cub 12 with celestion v30 UK is my amp, I really love it, I use a ksr ceres on the loop when I really want a tight metal sound, but mainly Acapulco gold in the front is awesome! In the loop Acapulco is too loud lol, but awesome too
I have a fender deluxe and bought a Weber attenuator for practicing at home. Couldn’t be happier, I have a louder amp when I need it, and can use it at bedroom levels too and keep most of the tone. Another option should you find a slightly bigger amp on a deal
Suhr Bella or Suhr Bella Reverb. American made hand-wired amps specifically made to be a perfect pedal platform, wattage switchable between 22/44, great loop.
If I had the knowledge I have now back when I bought my first amps a few years ago, for the pedal platform I'd consider the Orange Pedal Baby or the Laney Cub series.
The Orange is designed for pedal platform applications. No effects loop, but still.
The Laney is just a very good tube amp for the money and does cleans exceptionally. In demos I saw it takes pedals pretty well.
And obviously Fender does great amps for this, but thought I'd throw some other amps out there.
I appreciate you putting those out there. I sure know the feeling of wishing I'd made a different decision in retrospect when it comes to gear. A lot of it comes with experience, I guess. I've heard great things about the Laney stuff.
- Egnater Tweaker 15
- Quilter Aviator
- Orange Super Crush (the poweramp is the pedal baby)
I've tried a lot of combo amps, and those have been the best small amp and low volume options I've found.
I ran a Marshall Origin 15 Combo for a while as a cleanish pedal platform, did a great job and giged with it for almost 4 years before it got stolen haha
I recommend it if you are into Marshall cleans
if you just want your studio sound in a grab and go amp, grab a jc20 or 40. stereo effects loop, gorgeous reverb and chorus
i’ll never understand why people don’t like it as a pedal platform; it’s just Clean Amp+Your favourite Pedal’s Sound
Boss. Digital amp. sounds great. I use it as a clean pedal platform. (First choice for me is a Princeton reverb but it’s too loud). You can get the mkii new for under $300
This is a weird question. Any amp will run pedals. Find an amp with a clean tone you like and use your pedals to color the tone, but first love the base sound. Vox and Fender are two of the most quintessential and different clean tones. Try a 1x12 hot rod deluxe, a blues junior, a Princeton, and a vox ac-15.
Have you thought of just running your daw through a powered pa speaker? Or maybe instead of the daw, get an amp pedal like an Iridium or sansamp. Just an idea. Big power and preserves the sounds you like.
It's a good idea about the PA speaker. My Yahama monitors can't keep up with a big guitar sound when playing against combo amps jamming around. I have a Simplifier DLX, which I typically use when recording, and it's great to run my pedals into that or through its stereo FX loop. It sounds great and covers Fender, Marshall, and Vox sounds (analog, as well).
What do you define as small and how much volume do you want. I have a Deluxe Reverb and a Blackstar Studio 10 running wet/dry, but much of the time playing at home I just use the Blackstar. Revv D20/D25 are worth a look. Fender Princeton I think is one of the best amps ever. However on the other side of the spectrum, Fender Twins do low volume really well.
I'd estimate around 15 watts - would like to go from bedroom practice volume to being able to play reasonably loud in a band setting (live drums/bass). I've heard good things about the Revv D20 - I'll def look more into it.
Does loud mean loud and clean, or just enough volume to keep up with a drummer? If you need loud and clean, you will need some power. If you just need loud, AC15 is an option. Likewise, a Fender Princeton can put out more volume than you might think, but at max volume it won't be clean. You don't say anything about budget or the kind of amps you like, and the Orange and Supro are very different. I might start with the Rev D25, but also the PRS DG15 and HDRX 20. The Deluxe Reverb is great with a band, but might be a bit loud at home -- hence why I mostly play the Blackstar. Something to throw out there is if you are considering a tube amp, I think you need to consider reliability and serviceability also. For example, my Blackstar has been reliable, but it is not repairable. If it ever needs anything more than new tubes, the amp is trash.
A Peavey Classic 30 or Marshall DSL40cr should probably be on your radar too. If you have more to spend, Morgan has several amps that work over a wide volume range, Mesa Boogie Cali Tweed 40w or 20w, Two Rock Studio.
I've got an interface, but my Yahama 5-inch monitors can't keep up. I need enough volume to go from bedroom practice, to being heard in a live band environment.
I just read your full comment. I’m sorry. I’m a headlines guy. Fenders always a great platform for pedals that’s why they’re so loved. Good luck to you.
DSM & Humboldt Simplifier MKii or X.
Mate I being looking for pedal platform amps all my life, I play similar genres (Indie, psychedelic rock, shoegaze, a mix of that).
I’ve never been as happy as I’m now with this.
Has a stereo FX loop that is cool AF, stereo reverb on it. You can record or play live with XLR.
Also you can run an amp with Jack output.
In my home I use a Fender Rumble 15, a bass amp that is cheap and with the cab simulator on is sick AF.
On rehearsals, some luves and for recording I use XLR + an Orange Pedal Baby. But could be any amp!
It changed my life !
Hold up.... I've got the DLX!! Are you using that and running to an external speaker??! BTW, I've tried a bunch of the amp-less pedals and the DLX is hands-down my fave. I got the one for the bass as well and wow - total mainstays on my board.
Well I use it with a combo or a solid state power amp that loads the speaker.
For that reason Orange Pedal Baby is so so good, as the Simplifier has already the Pre Amp, the orange gives it a great analog color and … moves the speaker :)
Hell yeah, that's a great thought that I should def consider. I love the interface on the DLX. Some people have said it's too complicated but I think it's every option that'd you actually want.
Here is [my insta](https://www.instagram.com/alexruizter?igsh=MTBpaXA1N3ZvMW5pZA==) if you want to check some tones and stuff. More coming with the Simplifier
Nice! Love your band and checked out your Spotify page. Sonnen Kraut! Great vocals and everything sounds so good. Little Tame Impala flavor - sounds like a commercial for the Chroma Console pedal from Hologram! Nice work!!!
Thx mate! I recorded and mixed myself!
Finishing the new LP, sounds much better, also we improved the recordings so so much!
Do you have some music on the internet?
Not yet! My studio is currently in the middle of a big redo. I'm creating a big desktop vertical pedalboard with all my pedals that will have a rackspace underneath so I can patch/route everything to all my instruments. I'm looking forward to hearing the new LP. Mixing/mastering is its own challenge, and there is so much to learn there. It's a lot of fun, though.
I like my Fender Excelsior for a pedal platform, it isn't too big or too heavy, great with the 15" speaker too, can go loud. for the money I think it is great. Also have a silverface twin this thing is like a pa system for guitar also love the verb. Used to have a Roland JC120 great for keyboards also, but has quite a particular sound with the metal cone speakers, super solid state sounding, great chorus.
I like valves mostly just because, but some solid state stuff is great and much cheaper to maintain.
A lot of recommendations for Princetons. I have a Fender 65 Princeton Reverb reissue with an Eminence Cannabis Rex. It's a great pedal platform for home volumes, but there is no effects loop, so if you are pushing it into breakup you may find yourself wanting. It's still a fantastic amp and solid recommendation.
That said, I suggest you take a look at a Quilter Superblock US. I have owned one for ~2 months. It has an effects loop, headphones out, XLR out with two cab Sims or frfr, and a speaker out that can power a cab to surprising volumes. I use it to power a smaller cab with a 12" eminence allessandro and it sounds fantastic. It can voice fender blackface, blonde, and tweed sounds, and does them exceptionally well - even has a saggy tube feel to it. I often run it in wide stereo with my princeton and they sound great together. The headphones out and master volume are big bonuses when you need to play quietly. You can get a superblock, empty cab, and a new speaker for under $600. It's the smart money.
Almost forgot to mention, unlike many modeling amps the Superblock takes gain like a champ: Tubescreamers/Klons/Blues breakers/Muffs/ Even fuzz faces, you name it.
If you want a pedal platform amp just go solid state. If you’re not using amp drive it really doesn’t matter what amp you’re using except the EQ.
If you’re using sims in a pedal format get a FRFR Fender. If you’re just using a bunch of drive pedals get an Orange Crush or a Roland JC. If you want to just use the amp or use pedals to boost a tube amp sim, then use your sim to find the amp you like the sound of best and buy the closest thing to that you can afford.
You could always just go with a Seymour Duncan Power Block model and a 1x12” speaker cab. They’re tiny (compared to a combo amp), solid state (so no tubes, biasing, etc…) and relatively inexpensive ($399-599) compared to a combo amp. That way you’re simply getting your pedals amplified and not paying for features on an amp that you don’t need or want. My daughter has been using one in this ambient project she’s collaborating on and loves it. She has it mounted right on her pedalboard.
I use to own an Oranger Rocker 32 and my roommate had the 15.
The 32 you can use stereo and have a dry and wet signal on each speaker it’s pretty incredible.
It’s reasonably priced but if it’s too “ expensive” for you then I am sure you can find one cheaper on reverb
Deville, AC30. Both great pedal platforms but don’t do the same thing with the same pedal in a lot of cases. I can run a switcher through the same pedal to each and get a completely different tone. Make sure that with whichever amp you choose you find out which pedals work best with it. Most would agree that a tube screamer is a pretty great pedal, but in my experience not so much with an AC but definitely with a Deville.
If I was spending money now, it'd be a Quilter Superblock in the flavor you like (US (Fender)/UK (Marshal/Vox)) and a decent neo speaker/cab combo. That'd give me power to play with friends, low power to play at home, DI to record, and headphones for silent if I wanted.
All of them. It doesn't matter. Every amp is a good pedal platform. But they all react differently depending on many factors.
This idea of a "good pedal platform" is kind of ridiculous. I have NEVER head ANY amp that, when you put a delay in front of it, doesn't sound exactly like the same amp with delay. You put a tremolo, and it sounds like you turned on a tremolo on the amp. Chorus? Flange? Phaser? Hey, it sounds like that amp with those effects on.
And those are all "pedals".
The issue is not the amp, but how you run the amp - how much drive you're pushing it into, or into it. That's when things get tricky.
Your friends have combo amps they can bring over?
Have them bring one over and try playing through it. If you like that sound, get that.
You can run your pedals the same way on pretty much every amp when it's run truly clean.
But your pedal settings are going to sound far more different on a clean JC120 than a balls out Dual Rec.
The OP didn't specify if they're using the amp maxed out or not, heavily driven or not, with the bass knob dimed and the treble knob zeroed out or not.
Without that information, people giving recommendations are actually doing them a disservice.
If a dimed JCM900 is a great platform for a DS-1, but a clean Fender is not in someone's opinion, that doesn't make the Fender a "bad pedal platform". It makes it a bad choice for that particular use case and desired tone.
You're exactly right. I should have mentioned something with more headroom, as I'll be achieving my overdrive/dirt sounds with pedals. My EQ settings on the amp will depend on the project I'm working on at that time.
No offense, while I agree with some of what you're saying, I simply can't agree with "It doesn't matter," and "Every amp is a good pedal platform." After going through even a fair amount of modulation, some signals fall apart with some amps. I've had amps from Fender, Vox, and Roland, and they all had varying success with certain pedals - regardless of using a clean tone, but certainly more noticeable with dirt. I put a lot of trust in Robert Keeley based on his extensive history in building both amps (before pedals) and then pedals. I mean, he was an engineering professor. He said that his new-ish amp partnership with Supro (also a pedal-builder with Pigtronix) was built specifically to take a wider variety of pedals up front or in the FX loop while keeping the integrity of the sound. Some FX loops are more transparent than others. Some inputs have heavier bass or treble responses than others. You can bet that this has an impact on the usability of pedals.
Before “pedal platforms” became a thing, poverty dictated running your board into any solid state bass amp you could afford. The small combos had most watts for the money, usually a more flexible EQ, and you knew it could probably take more punishment from six than a four string. Plus, having a spare bass amp around was never a bad thing if you upgraded to something else. Peaveys, Kustoms, Accoustics — were all game and whatever grab yer fur without breaking the bank. Plus, you knew if the speaker wasn’t blown, it was probably fine on the inside. Good luck.
I appreciate it. So much of my music revolves around pedals. I use them with my synths, bass, and of course, guitar. It's nice now to have amps more geared toward using them in sound design. Specifically, granular, modulated reverbs, and crazy delays, among others. I create electronic-based music and play indie rock/shoegaze, so it's nice to have equipment that works for that specific approach. Take care!
I was going to say something similar to this but you nailed it man. If you're someone who gets all their tone from pedals and doesn't use an amp or doesn't care about getting a certain amp sound, bass amps are so good for this. I used a 15W bass practice amp for practice with my pedalboard for years because it stayed perfectly clean and sounded the same with the volume on 1 as it did on 10.
So cool, I never would have guessed this.
Are there any specific "cult classic" solid state bass amp combos you would recommend for this purpose? There are so many different models. I'm wondering if any have a reputation for decent sound and good durability.
Peavey is a cult classic in that way, any Peavey combo or head/cab from the 80s would do that job well and not break the bank (only the back, lol)
I would go with a used Ampeg BA-112 or if new, RB-108 or RB-110. If I could find an old used Sunn that would be magical. Old Peavy bass combos have sounded very clean and crisp to me too.
I don’t think there was anything particularly specific that had a “cult” status aside from what you could afford vs. what you cared to lift to put in your car. Peavy’s were notoriously well built, available, and cheap. The TKO series comes to mind. Older Kustoms & Accoustic heads had a good rep and a following of their own, much like the Sunn & Laney stuff. So anything of that ilk that wasn’t “collectable” in combos was worth chasing, even 2000’s stuff. Honestly, I wouldn’t bother chasing anything old because the modern equivalent is the mini heads is much more compelling. Stuff like Quilter Tone Block gives the watts, and easier to carry, and the price premium pays for itself in saved doctor visits for backs and hernias. Dylan Carlson of Earth is using 2 Trace Elliot Elf heads. Doesn’t get any more cult than that. [Edit: I meant Randall instead of Laney (I can’t member if Laney did a s/s combo line in ‘80-90’s, but you get the idea.) Those always had prices north of Peavey on the used market, which was pretty much the benchmark of used & reliable kit.]
Peavey's Express 10 / Studio 12 was always a solid option, and if you wanted louder the Bandits were pretty much everywhere for anyone that couldn't swing a Fender.
Ampeg and Peavey are known for their reliability and sturdy build, you can beat the shit out of them and they still work fine. Sound-wise it's all fairly interchangeable since they don't heavily color the output.
I have an Orange Rocker 15, which I kept specifically for this purpose when offloading a few other amps and switching to a Quad Cortex. Definitely worthy of inclusion on your shortlist. Great amp.
That’s the one I would say. Great sound, enough power with 15W. And with an attenuator to be able to play at home.
Forgot about the attenuator - definitely a handy option to have
Highly recommend the Weber mini mass for all amps under 30w
I appreciate that feedback! I've never played an Orange, but it seems to check all the boxes. I like the sound from what I've heard in demos. Seems like a badass little amp.
I think Orange gets a good 'pedal platform' reputation because the clean channel is really, really clean. It means you can then use your pedals to really shape your tone to your liking. I got a really great deal on mine, so it's an amp I'll never sell.
That's awesome - the price seems to already be pretty reasonable for what you get. From the demos (nothing like hearing one live, I'm sure), I'm getting both Vox and Marshall vibes depending on the settings, and that's really appealing to me.
I love a good Blues Jr for this purpose.
this or a princeton, though they can get spendy
I'd vote for this. Then a hot rod deluxe if you start playing bigger venues.
If you get to DeVille, you've gone too far.
Haha brilliant
LOL can imagine walking into a venue carrying a DeVille and the soundman just grabbing you by the collar and marching you outside. I was browsing in a music shop a few years ago and they had a used DeVille for like £200 and I was so conflicted because that was my first tube amp experience and it blew my mind but there is no place on earth I can use that amp. If I hired a studio they'd call the police if I turned it up to 6. The salesman came gliding over and was like "It's a lovely amp, isn't it?" and I just laughed and got the fuck out of the shop before some kind of Stephen King nonsense happened.
lol. The Deville was my first amp ever. And I could never turn it past 2. Ended up selling it years later cause I never used it.
Hot Rod Deluxe is the best all round tube amp for under $1000 IMHO, as far as pedal platforms go. (AC15 is more up my alley because it is still super responsive at low volumes, but not a ton of clean headroom on them mfers)
Yeah I had an AC15 for a while but it didn't suit me in terms of clean response. The hot rod is an excellent amp. When I was touring I used two of them wet and dry. Perfect sound, very reliable and easy to mic up
I really wish I could agree with this sentiment as someone who currently owns one as is endlessly frustrated by it, have you modded yours? I struggle endlessly with the boxiness/master volume
I replaced my speaker with a Celestion G12H. I've modded my friends' ones with Warehouse ET65 speakers to great effect. Swapped the tubes out with JJ Tube replacements, had the amp biased. I found that the amp really only starts escaping the boxiness past the 5 mark on the master volume. You gotta move air on it to get it to sing. I do notice some muddiness when using some fuzz pedals. Trying a speaker that tightens up the bottom end like a Warehouse Invader wouldn't be a bad option here.
Me, i have redone my speaker cabinet by using pine(lighter), and turned the combo into a head & cab... The improvements in tone is night & day, not to mention the weight and losing that 'boxy' sound!
I do the Fromel mods on all the Blues Jr’s I come in contact with, and replace the speaker with a good neodymium magnet speaker (I like the Jensen “Jett” series, Tonker lite, and the li’ll Texas).
I got rid of mine. It sounded like garbage with fuzz and my drives.
Love mine for this. Blues Jr takes pedals really well !
Hadn't considered that - thanks!
No effects loop in any of the 15 watt and under Fender tube amps. Might be the case for all Fender tube amps besides the Hot Rod Deluxe even... You would have to look at a more modern brand. Maybe check Revv or Morgan?
The Bassbreaker 15w has an effects loop
Oh good catch! I forgot that amp exists. That's another more modern Fender amp.
Quilter would be a fantastic option here. Their US and UK Block options would give you some good classic amp flavor and could live on your pedalboard for some easy/compact rig life. All you’d need is a PA or cab of your choice! Aside from that, as much as I like my tube amp, replacing tubes when they go is pricey and for a while getting replacements was tricky. Hope it helps!
Very cool - that's a new name. Looking forward to checking them out - thanks!
I use a Quilter Superblock US for a headphone friendly pedal platform. Also has the bonus of being able to power a cab. I think they are very underrated amps.
I agree on this. You can power those from a 9v pedal supply for 1w, and they are plenty loud for praticing that way. They are also one of the smallest amp i know featuring an fx loop.
It doesn’t have an effects loop but I just got Princeton Reverb Reissue with the 12” speaker and it takes pedals so well. I upgraded from the blues junior because I felt it was a little too loud and muddy from what I was hearing. I’d suggest looking into the Princeton. Good luck!
Man, the Princeton Reverbs are prob my fave Fender amp. A bit spendy for me at the moment.
All studio rats will tell you the Fender Princeton is the best pedal platform in the world. If you're looking for cheaper combos I would really recommend the Quilter Aviator, I also like my Supro Delta King 12 but it doesn't have a ton of headroom. My band practices in a space with a Fender Super Reverb and that amp LOVES my pedalboard, I really think I need to splurge on a proper fender princeton.
A bit off the beaten path: BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition and one of their 1x12 cabs. Super lightweight. You could run your pedals into Fender and Marshall based channels.
Right on - haven't heard of that one and going to research it now. Appreciate it!
I use a hot rod deluxe and deville. Not small by any means, but you can easily find them for 300, keeps up with drums and other guitarists, and theres a few mods to make it better at lower volumes including various tube swaps, eq pedal or potentiometer in fx loop, etc as well as ways to make it less ice picky (v1 tube swap iirc), and even more headroom. The amps got known qc issues, and is loud af, but i dont have an issue with it and pedals sound great thru em. I bought one of them 2 years ago and stuck jj tubes in it, with the v1 swap, and its played like a dream everyday since.
This is the classic answer for fender sounds. The hot rod deluxe is a goddamn staple and you'll see them everywhere because they work As an alternate I'd say the marshall origin series, they're loud as fuck, sound great, and cheap as hell for how much volume and tone you're getting. I've had an origin 20 for a few months and it's way louder than you'd expect
I def had my eye on some used Origins on Craigslist here. You're right; those hot rods tend to pop up frequently, too.
Really dig my 20w Origin. Dime the master and just use the gain as volume or it will be thin. The pull boost also adds bass in.
I had a Marshall Origin 50 head and I returned it to the music store within the 30 day window because it was insanely bright and had no bass whatsoever. YMMV.
Oh yeah I mean I put the treble all the way down and the presence and tilt in the middle, but it's been pretty nice for me It definitely softens as you crank it, but maybe the 20 is a little more forgiving than the 50. What cabs were you using?
I used a 2 x 12” Marshall Origin Cab
Yeah I've heard mixed reviews of those. I play through a couple of orange cabs, and those are notoriously dark and warm, so maybe I just have a good pairing of gear
What do you consider small? 10 Watts? Or a few more? A Princeton cannot be beat. The Revv D20 is also insane and basically a Princeton. It can also go direct. You can do some smaller 5 Watt amps. There are a bunch of boutique builders that make 5 watt amps and they are insane.
Good question. I've got a 5-watt Vox now, which is a lot of fun, but not enough to keep up with some of the other amp guys I play with have. I'm thinking 15 but could go higher. I'm typically running dirt pedals, so I don't need the breakup tone from the amp.
So why are you looking at tube amps with FX loops? Just get a big solid state Peavey used or something.
Naturally, so I can crank my tube amp up when my girlfriend is out of town
Ah yea if you want way more clean headroom I’d go 20 ish and just run it low. Revv D20, maybe Victory amps (something from their small head range lol). That’s pricey but they are great for 20 watts. A deluxe reverb is also incredible for 22 watts. I run a CRANKED Vox AC15 for gigs usually then use my volume knob. It’s way too loud, but I don’t want headroom these days. I like to really drive the amp and I think amps under 15 watts are better for that.
I totally get your point on pushing smaller watt amps for breaking up. Great for studio setups, too. I has an AC30C2 and loved all the headroom for pedals and that chimey tone. It was just an absolute monster, so I traded it for a Roland JC-40, which was great but didn't quite scratch the itch. I'll look more into Revv and Victory. Someone else suggest the Rivera Venus Deuz, which is pricey, but looks like an extremely high quality amp.
Rivera makes the amps I mentioned look cheap. If you’re gonna go that route and spend that kinda money I’d stick with amps that are a bit more known name wise. Amps peeps know that name but outside of that resale will be a bit tighter. Just my two cents
It's a good point. Likely outside my price range unless I could find a significant enough discount for a used amp.
Also never hurts to look at rigs of country players. Like if you can find pictures of rigs from guys who gig in Nashville. It’s not necessarily my kind of music. But it can help you get an idea of what is a decent wattage and reliable amp that will work in clubs and bars and with bands. Often those guys are moving on these days from the super heavy amps too. But that’ll give you the temperature of reliability and function at not crazy volume. Can’t tell you how many guys like that I follow on instagram just for ideas.
That's smart. Those are gigging musicians who play in a wide variety of different environments, often with decent-sized pedalboards.
I’m in Nashville. Mesa mark 25 has a 25 and 10 watt options. Ton of pre amp settings. Fx loop for pedals. It’s a workhorse
Nice, I'll check it out! Did you ever get a chance to see William Tyler in Nashville? Plays "cosmic country."
Quilter superblock uk. Best ever. I want to hate it but my mesas are gathering dust at this point.
You're the third to mention - never heard of them and going to research them now.
Roland JC has some options. I have the 22 and like it but nothing beats neural DSP Cory Wong archetype and some headphones.
Very cool, had a JC and it did take pedals like a champ and running different pedals in stereo on the two speakers was a very nice plus. Not familiar with neural DSP - I'll check it out.
Love my Fender Champion 20 for bedroom practice.
Seems to be a crowd fave!
For a small 5 watter the Fender Vibro Champ Reverb is really good. It’s my go to in music stores these days because it sounds good and I can push it without being “that guy”. I’ll own one eventually. I’ve had good luck with the Fender Blues jr too. I had one years ago that I used for home recording, sold it, and when I went back through some of the sounds I got with it and bought another one. Its tweed/quasi old Marshall sounds are great with dirt. For how much they are used it’s worth keeping around. The Supros you mentioned are also good, they seem like a higher quality Blues jr when I’ve played them.
That's good feedback on the Supro. I've got a friend with a nice Supro combo amp that I look forward to trying soon. I think it's a Celestion Creamback.
The amp is use most in a Fender Champ clone I built. Takes effects great. This is the most simple tube amp you can get and it sounds great. Mine has a 10" Jensen alnico blue speaker. I also added a 3 position bright switch (middle position is off).
Right on, that sounds like a killer amp!
I would attach photos if this app would let me
Sucks that you can't do that. I bet that Jensen blue sounds great in it.
Save up for the Princeton. It’ll be worth it. I have a Deluxe Reverb 65’ RI and I wish I’d gotten a Princeton instead.
Ooh why the preference for Princeton?
My Deluxe has more headroom than I need (not gigging) and it’s heavy! Not that it sounds bad at 2.5 on volume, but I can’t crank it any higher where I live.
I've always heard people are satisfied with their Princeton. It's what I think of when I think of my favorite Fender sound.
Supro delta blues
Fender Tonemaster series
I used to use a fender hot rod deluxe which was "smaller" than the 65 reissue twin reverb but still a tube amp. so its heavy I just got a quilter solid state and I'm not going back. The thing is loud and light and "takes pedals" well haha
Right on! I had the Fender Tonemaster Twin Reverb solid-state amp for a while, and it was crazy how light that thing was. I know I'm in the minority, but I'm just not a huge Fender amp guy.
I started with a Roland JC77 back in the 80's and played w/ someone that had a fender twin and a strat and it was right when I was all about hendrix, SRV , Jerry etc so I went that route for a long time. I also liked the simplicty of controls compared to like a Mesa which is too many options for me personally, I guess it really comes down to personal choice and what you think is the best tool to get your muscial point across the way you want,
Do you specifically want tube? If not I absolutely adore my Yamaha THR10 - to my ears the cleans really do sound just like a real deluxe. I also own a boss katana 50 and that's decent too and takes pedals well. Both of these amp can also be plugged straight in with USB as well so you could get some extra flexibility out of your current setup.
That flexibility is excellent. I typically record through my amp-less setup (Simplifier DLX) with really good results. I do lean toward tube amps and will really just use this to run my pedalboard through in live/jam situations. One consideration is getting something that works well in the studio (bedroom-sized) with just a couple of us while still being able to be used in a full-band situation for jamming.
In that case I think Fender Princeton ri or Deluxe ri would be your best bet if you want to spend a little more - or like a other post said hot rod deluxe is good too and can be had cheaply easily. I used a hot rod deluxe/deville as a gigging amp for over 10 years reliably - I always ran my whole chain through the front end. Last rec would be the Vox ac10 - it is inexpensive as well and takes pedals well.
I love Vox (currently have a little 5 watt Vox and had a AC30C2) and wouldn't hesitate to buy a Princeton if money were no object.
A Princeton works great. A Champ works pretty well at low volumes. I had a Blues Jr for a while but they have a TON of low end and get flubby really fast.
Flubby is def a no-no with my modulation/time-based effects
The Blues Jr sounds incredible with single coil pickups run clean or light gain. I think they can work as a platform but you need a plan for dealing with the bottom end.
A great EQ could be a good solution there
Deluxe reverb
I use a Traynor Darkhorse for this. 3 preamp options including one that bypasses the tone stack. Has played nicely with every pedal I’ve ever plugged into it.
My last amp was a Roland JC40. I really liked it other than it didn’t take distortion pedals very well for me. I’ve seen others say the opposite. It really is one of the most fun amps to play using only modulation. It’s absolutely beautiful. I currently have a hot rod deluxe and I like it even more. It takes every pedal I’ve played through it well. People complain about how loud it is but I have a volume pedal in the effects loop to help out and I can easily play it quietly in my apartment. My favorite pedals with my hot rod are a Rat, Sd-1, and Wampler Belle.
Very cool - my fave with the Roland was to run different pedals to each channel in stereo. Would often throw the Merc 7 pedal on at the end and it sounded glorious. I also shared your experience with dirt - great cleaner tone experience for me.
Roland JC-40 is a great option, especially since you bypass the preamp and go straight into the stereo FX return. Like with any other guitar amp, you'll just need to disable any cab sims if you go this route. It's a good price, unbelievably loud when you need it to be, rugged as hell, lighter weight than tube amps, and the built-in digital CE-1 chorus and reverb are fantastic. Even though I go almost exclusively FOH at shows these days, the JC-40 is my go-to option anytime I need to bring an amp for a gig. I saw Yamaha THR get mentioned elsewhere, and while it's a wonderful little practice amp that I'll never part with, it absolutely can not keep up with proper guitar amps in a room. For that, you'll still need to run it into larger external speakers, so essentially, it offers you nothing different than what you've already got at your disposal. Beyond that, you could consider getting an active FRFR speaker (Headrush FRFR, Line 6 Powercab, Fender Tone Master FR-12, etc) and just let your Simplifer handle both your amp and cab sim sounds. I haven't used one yet, but I hear very good things.
It's such a solid amp. I miss mine at times and would get another one if money were no object. The onboard chorus is phenomenal - I got instant Cure vibes. So much fun to run different pedals in the stereo channels.
Traded my way into a silktone Astro, and it’s awesome
At first glance, I thought this said you traded your wife into an Astro—I was going to say this is the secret trick/highlight of the thread!!
Lol wife is safe and happy about reasonable living room volume, win-win
California Tweed
music man rd50
Fender Princeton Recording Amp, only made a few years but I love mine and want another.
I'm using a DSL 1 through a Marshall 1960s 4x12. It sounds absolutely awesome. I can't believe how awesome it sounds. Could 10000% gig with this. Every gig mics you're amps anyways.
Man that has to sound absolutely amazing.
It really does lol. Sold my distortion pedal (jhs angry charlie) as i don't need it... Second channel on the DSL 1 IS what distortion is supposed to sound like. I use eqd Westwood for overdrive. I use eqd hizumitas for fuzz/wall of sustain. Only beef with it is that the DSL 1 needs to be tamed with a volume attenuator of some sort in the FX loop. I'm a pedal nerd.. So i was glad to run pedals through the FX loop lol. I'm using the empress compressor mkii as a volume attenuator.. an eq..a compressor..a sustainer.. and It conquers all with ease. I really like this setup. I was using a boss katana 100 head which I loved until I started recording with it and it sounded a lot less great to my ear playing back on recordings. This is a non issue on the DSL 1.
I love the Marshall sound. I have an EAE Citadel pedal that gets really close to that plexi sound. I regret getting ridding of the Hizumitas (got some Fjord fuzz pedals now), but man was it a great, reliable fuzz - bet it sounds killer with your amp/cab setup. I've got a Cali76 compressor from Origin Effects right now, which I love, but Empress makes some great pedals. I'm using their Echosystem for most of my delay right now and I haven't found anything better.
Oh man that ecosystem was cool I had one for a while and flipped it. Never had an empress pedal that isn't awesome. I've heard that Cali is really great too though you could use that just like I'm using mine I'm sure. What amp are you running?
I'm mostly using an ampless setup with the Simplifier DLX (analog pedal that gets vox, marshall or fender tones, fx loop and the ability to run a dry signal through for recording), but also have a 5 watt Vox amp I got recently that I'll probably let go soon for something bigger.
Simplifier is very cool I almost bought one for bass.
I've got the one for the bass and love it! Never miss my Ampeg, but that could change if I start playing bass in band environments. I just use it now for bass tracks that go through my DAW and reamp through the Simplifier bass pedal.
Very cool good to know. Good luck op!
Marshal Origin here. I love it for this purpose.
I’m running 2 different amp setups: 1) A solid state Fender M80 combo that I bought in the 80s; pristine cleans and no tubes to push so all of my OD & modulation comes from pedals. (Yes, the unfairly maligned grey carpeted amp) 2) A 5W Mooer Little Monster AC tube head into a Kustom 12” cab. Lots of headroom and loud enough to keep up with a drummer in a small/medium room and takes pedals really well.
Right on - sounds like a great setup!
If you don’t need breakup from the amp, I think excess watts might be fine (extra headroom!) and you may not need an effects loop depending on the amp. Do you use a cab sim in your DAW? Templo Devices Nomad. 50w, compact and lightweight with rechargeable battery, seems pretty affordable, can power pedals, has a line out that can be used as the send in an effects loop. Never played one, but I’d like to. Carr Rambler. I’m biased because this is my favorite amp. Sounds “right” to me when clean and not mid-scooped like a lot of Fender amps and can sound full without breaking up. Sounds good at low volumes and has been loud enough for small venues. I love it as a pedal platform, fuzzes come through with all their harmonics and overtones, delay and reverb don’t get squashed so their mix knobs are usable, etc. Some people complain about flubby low end, but I just keep bass low and I think it sounds natural and sits well in a mix. (I have more producer ear than classic rock power trio guitarist ear, if that’s not too obnoxious to say). I love modeling plugins, but my favorite clean sound is this amp miked with an sm57 and even though I have substitutes, none feel quite as good. This amp made me fall in love with single coils because I started to notice how transients are rolled off with humbuckers. Again, stuff probably lost in a band context, but in a mix it’s so lovely, like recording a nice acoustic instrument you can build your whole mix around. Also, the manual says you can run it at 4ohms (decreases expected tube life) so you can run another cab in parallel for versatility. Fender Tone Master. I’ve heard differing opinions here, but I think these take pedals very well and are loud, but don’t need to be loud to sound good. I’m assuming complaints come from an expectation that it will break up and add a cascading gain stage, but it sounds like you’re not looking for that feature anyways. It has some other features that are cool, like a line out with 3 options Cab 1, Cab 2, no cab (add your own in the box).
I use a cab sim (Simplifier DLX analog amp/cab sim) when recording//writing, but this will be more for just plugging in pedals when jamming with other folks. Otherwise, I just use my DAW, monitor speakers/headphones and reamp back into my pedalboard and route back the effected signal to my DAW though my interface. I've never heard of the Carr Ramber and going to check that out now - thanks! I had the Fender TM, but unfortunately ran into signals falling apart when using some of my weirder pedals. Other than that, it was a pretty impressive (and crazy light) amp that sounded good when going for more traditional sounds.
Yeah, it’s not a super high tech, but just works well for me. YMMV. A lot of other good suggestions here too. Your DAW rig sounds fun!
A lot of pedal companies use deluxe reverbs to test pedals. Obviously I’m speaking in general terms but nonetheless, the DR is well known for being an exceptional clean platform for pedals. You mentioned the Rocker. Im assuming your talking about out the Rocker 15 Terror? If so, I have one and it’s not what I would call a great clean pedal platform. The fx loop is really good and time based effects sound really good through the loop. I have a couple of Oranges and run them edge of breakup or more and use ODs to boost it into further distortion.
That's a really helpful perspective to know on the Rocker 15. I really appreciate that! I may hunt one down locally and try to bring some pedals in to see how it sounds.
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Wow! Thanks I'll take a look
electro-harmonix Dirt Road Special I just bought one a couple months ago and must say that it sounds freaking fantastic, super quick and easy to dial in a great sound with the unique controls. Also, it’s quite affordable at $430ish. I got mine used for $300. I’ve been playing for 30 years and have owned a wide variety of amps. This one is a keeper.
This one was totally off my radar. Sounds great and I love the bite (harmonics) control. Looks like a solid (and loud) amp!
Yes, I forgot to add that it can get extremely loud. I notice some say that as if it’s a bad thing. It sounds great with pedals at lower levels when the amp is clean, and it does have a nice overdrive when cranked and takes my overdrive pedal nicely as the volume and bite controls are interactive.
Remember an acoustic amp is basically just a mini PA
Boss katanas are a sure bet.
Laney cub 12 with celestion v30 UK is my amp, I really love it, I use a ksr ceres on the loop when I really want a tight metal sound, but mainly Acapulco gold in the front is awesome! In the loop Acapulco is too loud lol, but awesome too
Hell yeah, I've been meaning to research Laney more. Love the Acapulco Gold!
Orange Super Crush 100 1x12 combo is a killer pedal platform. It just sounds warm, gets loud and takes pedals awesome. fx loop too!
Right on! Didn't know that one had an fx loop - YouTube here I come!
I have a fender deluxe and bought a Weber attenuator for practicing at home. Couldn’t be happier, I have a louder amp when I need it, and can use it at bedroom levels too and keep most of the tone. Another option should you find a slightly bigger amp on a deal
I have the Orange Crush 35rt(1x10 combo) and it’s great as a pedal platform.
Suhr Bella or Suhr Bella Reverb. American made hand-wired amps specifically made to be a perfect pedal platform, wattage switchable between 22/44, great loop.
A little Two Rock if ya can swing one
If I had the knowledge I have now back when I bought my first amps a few years ago, for the pedal platform I'd consider the Orange Pedal Baby or the Laney Cub series. The Orange is designed for pedal platform applications. No effects loop, but still. The Laney is just a very good tube amp for the money and does cleans exceptionally. In demos I saw it takes pedals pretty well. And obviously Fender does great amps for this, but thought I'd throw some other amps out there.
I appreciate you putting those out there. I sure know the feeling of wishing I'd made a different decision in retrospect when it comes to gear. A lot of it comes with experience, I guess. I've heard great things about the Laney stuff.
[Phillip McKnight did a great demo on one](https://youtu.be/kVzFF4KFHuQ?si=qNlH14HM0WbVyx1N). And thanks for your time!
Just watched it - sounds amazing and the FX loop worked like a champ.
Roland JC22
- Egnater Tweaker 15 - Quilter Aviator - Orange Super Crush (the poweramp is the pedal baby) I've tried a lot of combo amps, and those have been the best small amp and low volume options I've found.
My new Blackstar Debut 50r rocks for this.
I have a fender vibro champ reverb which I think does this role well.
I really like blues jr/princeton
I ran a Marshall Origin 15 Combo for a while as a cleanish pedal platform, did a great job and giged with it for almost 4 years before it got stolen haha I recommend it if you are into Marshall cleans
if you just want your studio sound in a grab and go amp, grab a jc20 or 40. stereo effects loop, gorgeous reverb and chorus i’ll never understand why people don’t like it as a pedal platform; it’s just Clean Amp+Your favourite Pedal’s Sound
Princeton reverb reissue with a 12” of your choice.
Why not a katana 50?
It's actually one I've never considered but def need to do some research on
Boss. Digital amp. sounds great. I use it as a clean pedal platform. (First choice for me is a Princeton reverb but it’s too loud). You can get the mkii new for under $300
This is a weird question. Any amp will run pedals. Find an amp with a clean tone you like and use your pedals to color the tone, but first love the base sound. Vox and Fender are two of the most quintessential and different clean tones. Try a 1x12 hot rod deluxe, a blues junior, a Princeton, and a vox ac-15.
Have you thought of just running your daw through a powered pa speaker? Or maybe instead of the daw, get an amp pedal like an Iridium or sansamp. Just an idea. Big power and preserves the sounds you like.
It's a good idea about the PA speaker. My Yahama monitors can't keep up with a big guitar sound when playing against combo amps jamming around. I have a Simplifier DLX, which I typically use when recording, and it's great to run my pedals into that or through its stereo FX loop. It sounds great and covers Fender, Marshall, and Vox sounds (analog, as well).
Yeah man, just go find a gently used 500w speaker and blow those fuckers up lol
LMAO! Now that'd be worth getting on video!!
What do you define as small and how much volume do you want. I have a Deluxe Reverb and a Blackstar Studio 10 running wet/dry, but much of the time playing at home I just use the Blackstar. Revv D20/D25 are worth a look. Fender Princeton I think is one of the best amps ever. However on the other side of the spectrum, Fender Twins do low volume really well.
I'd estimate around 15 watts - would like to go from bedroom practice volume to being able to play reasonably loud in a band setting (live drums/bass). I've heard good things about the Revv D20 - I'll def look more into it.
Does loud mean loud and clean, or just enough volume to keep up with a drummer? If you need loud and clean, you will need some power. If you just need loud, AC15 is an option. Likewise, a Fender Princeton can put out more volume than you might think, but at max volume it won't be clean. You don't say anything about budget or the kind of amps you like, and the Orange and Supro are very different. I might start with the Rev D25, but also the PRS DG15 and HDRX 20. The Deluxe Reverb is great with a band, but might be a bit loud at home -- hence why I mostly play the Blackstar. Something to throw out there is if you are considering a tube amp, I think you need to consider reliability and serviceability also. For example, my Blackstar has been reliable, but it is not repairable. If it ever needs anything more than new tubes, the amp is trash. A Peavey Classic 30 or Marshall DSL40cr should probably be on your radar too. If you have more to spend, Morgan has several amps that work over a wide volume range, Mesa Boogie Cali Tweed 40w or 20w, Two Rock Studio.
https://www.proaudiostar.com/orange-amplifiers-pedal-baby-100-used1.html?utm_source=Google_Shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkJm0BhBxEiwAwT1AXH_vHafHr4P3Hx7wbAaGu0nKtiKsHSWqMheAnUqDvWZchd6To-N5choCuVoQAvD_BwE
Oh, check that out - pretty awesome!
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I've got an interface, but my Yahama 5-inch monitors can't keep up. I need enough volume to go from bedroom practice, to being heard in a live band environment.
I just read your full comment. I’m sorry. I’m a headlines guy. Fenders always a great platform for pedals that’s why they’re so loved. Good luck to you.
No worries! I could have definitely been more clear!
DSM & Humboldt Simplifier MKii or X. Mate I being looking for pedal platform amps all my life, I play similar genres (Indie, psychedelic rock, shoegaze, a mix of that). I’ve never been as happy as I’m now with this. Has a stereo FX loop that is cool AF, stereo reverb on it. You can record or play live with XLR. Also you can run an amp with Jack output. In my home I use a Fender Rumble 15, a bass amp that is cheap and with the cab simulator on is sick AF. On rehearsals, some luves and for recording I use XLR + an Orange Pedal Baby. But could be any amp! It changed my life !
Hold up.... I've got the DLX!! Are you using that and running to an external speaker??! BTW, I've tried a bunch of the amp-less pedals and the DLX is hands-down my fave. I got the one for the bass as well and wow - total mainstays on my board.
Well I use it with a combo or a solid state power amp that loads the speaker. For that reason Orange Pedal Baby is so so good, as the Simplifier has already the Pre Amp, the orange gives it a great analog color and … moves the speaker :)
Hell yeah, that's a great thought that I should def consider. I love the interface on the DLX. Some people have said it's too complicated but I think it's every option that'd you actually want.
100% agree!
Here is [my insta](https://www.instagram.com/alexruizter?igsh=MTBpaXA1N3ZvMW5pZA==) if you want to check some tones and stuff. More coming with the Simplifier
Nice! Love your band and checked out your Spotify page. Sonnen Kraut! Great vocals and everything sounds so good. Little Tame Impala flavor - sounds like a commercial for the Chroma Console pedal from Hologram! Nice work!!!
Thx mate! I recorded and mixed myself! Finishing the new LP, sounds much better, also we improved the recordings so so much! Do you have some music on the internet?
Not yet! My studio is currently in the middle of a big redo. I'm creating a big desktop vertical pedalboard with all my pedals that will have a rackspace underneath so I can patch/route everything to all my instruments. I'm looking forward to hearing the new LP. Mixing/mastering is its own challenge, and there is so much to learn there. It's a lot of fun, though.
I like my Fender Excelsior for a pedal platform, it isn't too big or too heavy, great with the 15" speaker too, can go loud. for the money I think it is great. Also have a silverface twin this thing is like a pa system for guitar also love the verb. Used to have a Roland JC120 great for keyboards also, but has quite a particular sound with the metal cone speakers, super solid state sounding, great chorus. I like valves mostly just because, but some solid state stuff is great and much cheaper to maintain.
JC-22
Blackstar Studio 10 series. I have the 6L6
A lot of recommendations for Princetons. I have a Fender 65 Princeton Reverb reissue with an Eminence Cannabis Rex. It's a great pedal platform for home volumes, but there is no effects loop, so if you are pushing it into breakup you may find yourself wanting. It's still a fantastic amp and solid recommendation. That said, I suggest you take a look at a Quilter Superblock US. I have owned one for ~2 months. It has an effects loop, headphones out, XLR out with two cab Sims or frfr, and a speaker out that can power a cab to surprising volumes. I use it to power a smaller cab with a 12" eminence allessandro and it sounds fantastic. It can voice fender blackface, blonde, and tweed sounds, and does them exceptionally well - even has a saggy tube feel to it. I often run it in wide stereo with my princeton and they sound great together. The headphones out and master volume are big bonuses when you need to play quietly. You can get a superblock, empty cab, and a new speaker for under $600. It's the smart money. Almost forgot to mention, unlike many modeling amps the Superblock takes gain like a champ: Tubescreamers/Klons/Blues breakers/Muffs/ Even fuzz faces, you name it.
Ac10!
Roland Blues Cube all day.
If you want a pedal platform amp just go solid state. If you’re not using amp drive it really doesn’t matter what amp you’re using except the EQ. If you’re using sims in a pedal format get a FRFR Fender. If you’re just using a bunch of drive pedals get an Orange Crush or a Roland JC. If you want to just use the amp or use pedals to boost a tube amp sim, then use your sim to find the amp you like the sound of best and buy the closest thing to that you can afford.
Quilters
You could always just go with a Seymour Duncan Power Block model and a 1x12” speaker cab. They’re tiny (compared to a combo amp), solid state (so no tubes, biasing, etc…) and relatively inexpensive ($399-599) compared to a combo amp. That way you’re simply getting your pedals amplified and not paying for features on an amp that you don’t need or want. My daughter has been using one in this ambient project she’s collaborating on and loves it. She has it mounted right on her pedalboard.
A used Blackheart BH5H is a nice platform.. Low wattage tube head, loves pedals.
I use to own an Oranger Rocker 32 and my roommate had the 15. The 32 you can use stereo and have a dry and wet signal on each speaker it’s pretty incredible. It’s reasonably priced but if it’s too “ expensive” for you then I am sure you can find one cheaper on reverb
Supro and Keeley teamed up to make a pedal friendly amp. It’s on the Supro website.
I use an Orange Rocker 15 head and barefaced 1x12. Sounds very good with pedals. I’ve also used a Vox ac10. But that gets too loud for home use.
Deville, AC30. Both great pedal platforms but don’t do the same thing with the same pedal in a lot of cases. I can run a switcher through the same pedal to each and get a completely different tone. Make sure that with whichever amp you choose you find out which pedals work best with it. Most would agree that a tube screamer is a pretty great pedal, but in my experience not so much with an AC but definitely with a Deville.
i’ve had my eye on a bugera v5 for this purpose
If I was spending money now, it'd be a Quilter Superblock in the flavor you like (US (Fender)/UK (Marshal/Vox)) and a decent neo speaker/cab combo. That'd give me power to play with friends, low power to play at home, DI to record, and headphones for silent if I wanted.
I use a Roland Jazz Chorus JC-22. Tiny. Lightweight. Sounds awesome.
If you wanna go super small and super budget, but still a good platform: the hotone Siva boogie
All of them. It doesn't matter. Every amp is a good pedal platform. But they all react differently depending on many factors. This idea of a "good pedal platform" is kind of ridiculous. I have NEVER head ANY amp that, when you put a delay in front of it, doesn't sound exactly like the same amp with delay. You put a tremolo, and it sounds like you turned on a tremolo on the amp. Chorus? Flange? Phaser? Hey, it sounds like that amp with those effects on. And those are all "pedals". The issue is not the amp, but how you run the amp - how much drive you're pushing it into, or into it. That's when things get tricky. Your friends have combo amps they can bring over? Have them bring one over and try playing through it. If you like that sound, get that. You can run your pedals the same way on pretty much every amp when it's run truly clean. But your pedal settings are going to sound far more different on a clean JC120 than a balls out Dual Rec.
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The OP didn't specify if they're using the amp maxed out or not, heavily driven or not, with the bass knob dimed and the treble knob zeroed out or not. Without that information, people giving recommendations are actually doing them a disservice. If a dimed JCM900 is a great platform for a DS-1, but a clean Fender is not in someone's opinion, that doesn't make the Fender a "bad pedal platform". It makes it a bad choice for that particular use case and desired tone.
You're exactly right. I should have mentioned something with more headroom, as I'll be achieving my overdrive/dirt sounds with pedals. My EQ settings on the amp will depend on the project I'm working on at that time.
No offense, while I agree with some of what you're saying, I simply can't agree with "It doesn't matter," and "Every amp is a good pedal platform." After going through even a fair amount of modulation, some signals fall apart with some amps. I've had amps from Fender, Vox, and Roland, and they all had varying success with certain pedals - regardless of using a clean tone, but certainly more noticeable with dirt. I put a lot of trust in Robert Keeley based on his extensive history in building both amps (before pedals) and then pedals. I mean, he was an engineering professor. He said that his new-ish amp partnership with Supro (also a pedal-builder with Pigtronix) was built specifically to take a wider variety of pedals up front or in the FX loop while keeping the integrity of the sound. Some FX loops are more transparent than others. Some inputs have heavier bass or treble responses than others. You can bet that this has an impact on the usability of pedals.