I can't decide

[LynchFan]

I need a small amp for the house,any tube amp is going to be too loud for me so I'm looking to go SS. Tech21 http://www.tech21nyc.com (http://www.tech21nyc.com/) has a new Trademark 30 amp and I'm thinking about going with that, has anyone tried one of these any thoughts ?

[Chiba]

What about a Koch Twintone head? Nominally 50w, but it's got an internal power soak that lets you run it at 25w - or even just through headphones - without damaging the amp. That way you get the best of tube tone :)

--chiba

[jbird]

There's a little Hughes and Kettner that's supposed to be nice!

[wsaraceni]

i play a fender pro jr with a boss sd1 at volume with people watching tv in the same room all the time and i dont have any regrets about getting the amp. i never tried the tech 21 stuff but i liked it more then the line 6 stuff

[aleclee]

Depending on your style and price range, there are tube amps out there that might work for ya (e.g., Peters).

[Guitarfool]

Lynch fan i have a Tech 21 Sans Amp (rackmount) + i LOVE IT!! tubes are obviously the "best option" ~~~~ BUT if you go solid-state i highly recommend ANY Tech 21 product!! Dude! Dude! I have also tried the 10watt + 60watt amps and they both sound nice + are also versatile!


Scott Peterson has the 2x combo + raves about it (maybe he can chime in)

[Ron M]

I had a Tech 21 TM 60. IMHO great bang for the buck. It has alot of flexability.

[-CM-]

You didn't mention the price range, but the Koch Twintone suggestion is a good one for what you want. Not because of the PowerSoak feature, although it probably helps, but because of the rhythm/lead selector. This foot-selectable feature allows you to set a lower volume (via a knob on the back) for playng rhythm. But it can also be used to get more useable range out of the volume controls. Even with the PowerSoak engaged, the TT is putting out 25W, and is really loud. For me, it just wasn't working because the minimum setting was too loud. I wrote Koch about the issue and they suggested using the rhythm/lead feature as described. The TT sounds great even at low volumes, and is very easy to adjust to taste. It reeks of quality all around.

I also have a Tech 21 TM10. If the TM30 is anything like it, I would also recommend it for what you want. It also has a good deal of useable volume control, but is surprisingly full sounding considering that is has an 8" speaker. Hooked up to a 1x12 or 2x12, it sounds, well, big. It offers a variety of selectable sounds, and isn't too difficult to dial in, although there are a lot of choices. Not all of them are good ones. The TM110 is a good value amp, and I'd replace it if I needed to, but it's no Koch.

[LynchFan]

Thanks for all the input guys, I should have mentioned that I am a metal player so unless I'm wrong I doubt the Kotch or Fender have the gain that I'm looking for @ apartment volume levels. I think that the Trademark or Roland Cube are probally my best bets.

[aleclee]

Thanks for all the input guys, I should have mentioned that I am a metal player so unless I'm wrong I doubt the Kotch or Fender have the gain that I'm looking for @ apartment volume levels. I think that the Trademark or Roland Cube are probally my best bets.The Koch has enough gain. It's in the Boogie range--I'd be surprised if you needed more than it provides. Finding one to check out might be problematic, though.

[PaulO]

I have never been much of a non-tube guy because the SS tend to get lost in a mix, unless you have 100 watts. But for low volume, I would go Line6, or even Marshall AVT20. Think about the option for a CD-in and headphone jack when practising.

The Lin6 has all the amp models and effects which will do the metal well (vs over the Marshall with just a drive channel), but the Marshall has a tube in the preamp, that may render better clean tones if you care.

One thing though ... if you try a Line6 take note to dial in the cab models .... that is one little secret I have discovered that makes all the difference in the world to finding good tone on those puppies. I hated them at first but bought a Flextone II head and am getting to know it day by day.

I have a Fender Pro Jr. that is 15 watts and when cranked can blow away a 50 watt SS anywhere. But, you will have to put a reverb pedal in front of it the get a fuller tone out of it.