Guitar-fi: help me pick a guitar/headphone amp - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

afphreak · 09-01-2007, 08:09 AM

i figured it was better to post this in here instead of the actual headphone amp forum... soooooo...here goes:

i've been wanting to learn guitar for a while now, couple of years now actually, and this month, after reading thru a good bit of Jahn's "Curse you head-fi thread," drooling over his collection, i think i'm ready to take the plunge.

(Curse you Jahn!)

i think i've got a lock on what i want, and i'm sure i dont want one of those starter kits, they just screams "you'll be sorry" to me for some reason, so i'm browsing around at local shops, and http://www.guitarcenter.com/, building a rig piece by piece(in my mind at least

) but i'm stuck on the amp...

problem is, i'm still at home with the parents, and i'm sure they wont appreciate me practicing at night while they are sleeping, which is pretty much the only time i'd be able to practice other than days i'm off. so i think that has to rule out a full size marshall for the time being... so the big question, as a decent starter amp(as well as a sanity check for the parents

), what do the local guitar gods think of those little battery powered portable guitar/headphone amps, like this one? if all else fails, if it comes with the same headphones pictured, at least i got another headband for another ksc75 mod

or am i just barking up the wrong tree?

(btw: what i'm looking at is an Epiphone Les Paul Studio Chameleon, and a few others around that range)

Steve Cat · 09-01-2007, 12:52 PM

They work fine but you will soon tire if just using headphones, most of the cheap practice amps come with headphone out. A little amp that I fell in love with is the Battery operated Roland Mico Cube, great tone, small speaker sound good at bedroom levels. Because its battery operated you can take it outside. As to Guitar, the one you picked is a decent guitar. I like Fender better, the Standard, which is made in Mexico is a very good guitar for the money and will maintain is value.

MCC · 09-01-2007, 03:53 PM

I second the Roland. I jumped straight to the Cube 30 as my first amp and it's a great (and versatile!) piece of equipment. If you want to save some cash, the Micro Cube is also a great amp at a reasonable price (~$125). The Micro has 3 of my 4 favorite amp models (acoustic simulator, classic stack, rectifier stack) and has a feature set pretty much unmatched at this price point.

I don't know how good the acoustic filter will sound on the neck hum of that Epiphone, that's something you'll need to audition before you buy. It sounds great with my strat's neck single.

Not so much w/ my friend's EMG 81/85s.

Micro cube control panel: (headphone out is on the back)

Edit: I thought I'd also add that your KSC-75s are GREAT for guitar.

patalp · 09-02-2007, 12:40 AM

I'd suggest an epiphone valve junior and an od pedal. The tone of tube guitar amps is ... well you gotta experience it

afphreak · 09-02-2007, 07:21 AM

well, "Gas" hit me hard earlier today when i headed out to another local dealer to look around, and saw this *amazing* looking ESP M100-FM is this gorgeous red flame maple, i had to make it mine...

and at $275, i jumped on it, didn't even think twice

picked up a cheapo Ibanez 10watt with it to hold me over till i can afford(hey, i work for the state

) a more decent one, and maybe a pedal, that roland micro cube looks sweet, i'll definitely look into something like that... i'll post pics tomorrow morning if anyone wants to see it

musicmind · 09-02-2007, 11:01 AM

ESP make some very nice guitars. With a little effects unit like the Pod, you'll get all the sounds you want and can also record with USB straight to your computer.
Have fun

Jahn · 09-02-2007, 09:16 PM

ooh that's a good idea. plenty of folks seem to like the Pod and you can get the version that goes into a laptop via usb - that dongle is cheap because all the twiddly parts are software only that you'd put into the laptop. i think it's cheap, let me check. oh, and that way you can use your computer-as-source so as to utilize all your obsessions effectively, hehe.

edit - found it

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/pro..._sku=104484647

i think it was on clearance at J&R Music world for 50 bucks too, not sure. anyhoo, probably the best thing outside of crunching an amp!

Hermitt · 09-02-2007, 09:20 PM

GAS hit me bad yesterday...
went into Zone music to get some Red Devils for my black Ibanez ADX120 and saw a Gretsch Black Falcon that was in there on consignment!
Needless to say... I'm now the proud new owner of a '92 Double Cut Black Falcon II and my CC is wimpering

I need to get some pics of it .

Edit:

afphreak · 09-02-2007, 10:26 PM

wow, thats a beauty hermitt!

just went to the back patio to take a couple of pics of my ESP LTD in the sun real quick:

theres some fingerprint smudges on the last pic, guess i should to get a chamois cloth to keep it clean

mrarroyo · 09-02-2007, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Hermitt

GAS hit me bad yesterday...
went into Zone music to get some Red Devils for my black Ibanez ADX120 and saw a Gretsch Black Falcon that was in there on consignment!
Needless to say... I'm now the proud new owner of a '92 Double Cut Black Falcon II and my CC is wimpering I need to get some pics of it .

Edit:

Beautiful! I bet it has great tone.