I've been a bit amp obsessed recently, primarily because I'm a bit lazy and don't have much else to focus on, gear wise. I have my awesome, modded Traynor for my loud rock band, but I'm precious and don't want to leave it at my band's practice space. Simultaneously, it's heavy and full size, so carrying it around for a short band practice bothers me. So, because the gear of my hobbies are my grown up toys, I just want to play around with stuff and find something good enough that I can leave at the space, or easily tote around.
What I have tried:
- HX Stomp (amp models that I made) into a class D bass head. Surprisingly good, but I had to give the head back.
- Line 6 DT25 combo with extension cab. This is a 2 EL84 combo that has modeled preamps and a tube power amp. I run it in Class AB fixed bias and there's not enough umph. It's supposed to be 25 watts, but I don't know.
- Orange Dual Baby. Solid state. Class AB. 8 lbs. Could be fun, and it could be a power amp for the modeler as well as a full amp in its own right. I wish that I could try before I buy.
- Some good power amp, preferably stereo, that is light and small and can fit in my cable case. Then I just use the Helix.
- The Balls G-50 that Neal is selling. I'd love to support a PRF er and also play a Balls, but it's a bit above my pay grade for a practice space amp and probably isn't any lighter if I want to tote it around.
- Some old, solid state thing for cheap; Bandit, Bandit Transtube, Randall RG80, etc. I know it won't be amazing, but it could be fun and indestructible.