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Portable amp for guitar and Headphones?

Jul 2, 2005 at 5:25 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 21
JackTheRipper

JackTheRipper

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My guitar amp died
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It sucked so its not that painfull
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But I'll be getting a new amp to replace it,since I wanted to buy a headphone amp I'd like to know if I buy an headphone amp could it work with my giutar at the same time?
Thanks everyone!
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Jul 2, 2005 at 5:45 PM Post #2 of 21
Make sure you get an amp with an emulated speaker out. After that you need some way to split it from mono before it goes into your headphone amp (I have a mono 1/4 to 2 rcas and then an rca to mini). This is the only way I know to get decent guitar sound in headphones.

edit: always wondered what one of these would sound like through headphones.

2nd edit: if you need portability you can just get one of those cheapo 9V practice amps. Also you will never get "real" guitar sound into headphones unless you're miking it in a decent sized room.
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 5:53 PM Post #3 of 21
You need a cab simulator...

You can just plug your guitar into a PA2 or go vibe and ..yes you'll get sound. However...
If youre after good tone, pick up a used line6 POD, Behringer or Yamaha DG. Both of which have robust headphone outputs and dont relaly need an amp unless youre using high impedence low sensitivity cans.

My fave sim is my morley JD10. But it lacks the spatial effects and cabinet simulations of the current digital modelers.

Bring your guitar / cans into guitar center and demo their Line6 display. I think they may also have the behringer and Yamaha sims there to demo.

My late night practice rig is a line6 POD=>PA2=>MS2 (MDRV6 if I need isolation)

Garrett
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 5:58 PM Post #4 of 21
Quote:

Originally Posted by YngwieJMalmsteen
Make sure you get an amp with an emulated speaker out. After that you need some way to split it from mono before it goes into your headphone amp (I have a mono 1/4 to 2 rcas and then an rca to mini). This is the only way I know to get decent guitar sound in headphones.

edit: always wondered what one of these would sound like through headphones.



My fave low wattage tube amp is a Lexicon signature 84.... Its like 12 watts of tube/analog circuitry... single EL84 I believe. Overdrives my mesa 2x12 nicely... and is shoockingly loud when pushed. I think they go for ~$300 used on ebay.

I also have a hughes and kettner cream machine thats ~1 watt and uses a 12AU7 for both power output and preamp tone shaping. Neat little gizmo IMHO.
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 6:11 PM Post #6 of 21
Quote:

Originally Posted by JackTheRipper
So I could use the line 6 POD as a headphone amp and guitar amp
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I'll be looking forward to it
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no .. its preamp level only. You'll still need to amp its output. I use a korean marshall MG15 with my POD. It has a CD input that mates well with the POD.

**edit** Ive also played my POD through some small stereo PA rigs and a small roland keyboard combo ... IMHO it sounds good that way too. IMHO better than my marshall MG, since its less colored.

Garrett
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 6:19 PM Post #8 of 21
How is the headphone out on the pod? Have you compared it to combining the left and right outputs?

And keep in mind, jack, that the headphone outs on guitar amps are REALLY bad. Don't believe me? Go try 'em.
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 6:21 PM Post #9 of 21
Quote:

Originally Posted by JackTheRipper
Is there a way to get Source->Amp->Guitar/Headphones->music/sound?
Cuz thats what I'm looking for.An amp I can use to play guitar,and drive my headphones
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So youre after a headphone amp circuit that can do both?.. amplify/tone shape for guitar and play clean for music?

Hmm... well my line6, morley JD10, marshall MG15 certainly wont do that. IMHO they all color the tone, even at their lowest (least colored) gain setting and hence are unsuitable as a music headphone amplifier.

Just get a simulator and a go-vibe/PA2... that way you'll have all bases covered... music and guitar playing.

Garrett
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 6:37 PM Post #10 of 21
These mini amps are cheap as hell, they just will never sound good even if you run them through the orpheus.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/.../search?c=6261
They are easy to take with you though... and if you have a solid 1/4 to 1/4 you can run around with it attached to your guitar. Mobile rocking! No cords! Just Chords! Believe me... its fun...
However you'd still need a real guitar and headphone amp.
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 8:44 PM Post #11 of 21
The "Rockman" series are actually very nice for guitars and are designed by the Former Boston lead guitarist and MIT grad Tom Shotz.Rather than make the mistake most do when designing a headphone amp that emulates a hi fi he made a headphone amop that emulates the sound of guitar preamp like the alembic and the FX is all geared to guitar playing and electric guitar "tone".

the added benefit is in a pinch these tiny devices can be used in place of a full on guitar preamp and plugged directly into a recorder for recording the guitar or even into a home system with a "Y" cable but this last has the potential to be dangerous.Home speakers are not designed to take the pure tone of an actual instrument over a limited band and loud or long term playing can blow a speaker from exessive heat buildup.

You could also ebay for the PAiA Portable amp which is a por mans version of the Pignose Amp (battery operated with 5" speaker)
 
Jul 2, 2005 at 9:34 PM Post #12 of 21
those korg pandora effects are pretty good too for the $$$. theyre portable too, so better than either behringer or line6 in that regard. I dont think they'll do well as a headphone amp for music listening... never tried it that way though.

Garrett
 
Jul 3, 2005 at 2:51 AM Post #13 of 21
I think you are confusing a headphone amp with a guitar amp. One has speakers and one does not. Two totally different things. If you are looking for a good guitar amp that will substitue for a headphone amp, I think you are going to be looking for a long time.
Just buy a guitar amp and a headphone amp, you will be much better off.
Using a guitar modeler as a headphone amp sounds dumb, plus you would have to get speakers for the guitar amp. Or maybe I am completely misunderstanding your question?
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