Is it realistic to have a tube amp at home?

[mercifulfuzziness]

I am not interested in attenuators.

the current situation is where I have a HX Stomp + studio monitors in my own room.

Downstairs in the living room, where the family also lives, I have a Yamaha Thr10ii which is fine. Maybe good enough?

I am considering replacing that one for a small tube amp that still sounds warm and clean on low volumes. I am not looking for break up or anything. If I can noodle a bit while my children are watching their stuff on tv or if I can play a bit of guitar when my wife and children are to bed, that is all I really need.

I am considering tube because of all I read online about the feel .. feedback etc … but maybe this is perfectly possible with a solid state?

Also… my wife doesn’t like the Fender amps aesthetics. So that ain’t happening.

Any suggestions maybe what amp to look at?

How much better will it be from the Yamaha?

 

[Eagle]

Yes. no problem and even at low volume you will be able to tell the difference.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I am not interested in attenuators.

the current situation is where I have a HX Stomp + studio monitors in my own room.

Downstairs in the living room, where the family also lives, I have a Yamaha Thr10ii which is fine. Maybe good enough?

I am considering replacing that one for a small tube amp that still sounds warm and clean on low volumes. I am not looking for break up or anything. If I can noodle a bit while my children are watching their stuff on tv or if I can play a bit of guitar when my wife and children are to bed, that is all I really need.

I am considering tube because of all I read online about the feel .. feedback etc … but maybe this is perfectly possible with a solid state?

Also… my wife doesn’t like the Fender amps aesthetics. So that ain’t happening.

Any suggestions maybe what amp to look at?

How much better will it be from the Yamaha?

Noodling while children are watching TV or when everyone else is in bed - no. And you'd need to take care with placement of any kind of "normal" amp, be it tube or solid state to make either of those scenarios possible. A 1x10" amp sitting on the floor, even at low volumes, transmits a lot of vibrations through the house.

Also at those volumes -- tube vs. not-tube you're not going to be able to hear a difference. You will be able to hear the acoustic sound of your guitar alongside whatever is coming from the speaker at pretty much the same volume. The only folks that can hear a dynamic/warmth difference of tubes in that scenario where you've already quashed the dynamic possibilities of the amp by turning the volume knob down and where it is evenly blended with the sound coming from your guitar (and fighting with the sound from your kids TV in some instances) have eagle eyes for ears.

 

[Humbug]

One of those modelling things with headphone out is probably your best bet :)

 

[Sascha Franck]

Also… my wife doesn’t like the Fender amps aesthetics. So that ain’t happening.

Err...

Priorities!

 

[Eagle]

Laney LC15R can be found for less than a boss pedal and is perfect for you.

 

[Sascha Franck]

And fwiw, sort of adding to what @Boudoir Guitar said, at the volumes we're talking about here, you likely won't experience any sympathetic feedback between your guitar and an amp (and we're not even talking about the really audible kind of feedback, which would require yet some more volume). In fact, you might even get more of that with the Yamaha, simply because you can place it closer to your guitar.

 

[Eagle]

And fwiw, sort of adding to what @Boudoir Guitar said, at the volumes we're talking about here, you likely won't experience any sympathetic feedback between your guitar and an amp (and we're not even talking about the really audible kind of feedback, which would require yet some more volume). In fact, you might even get more of that with the Yamaha, simply because you can place it closer to your guitar.

But in the room for clean sounds in particular the Laney will sound infinitely more satisfying.

 

[Sascha Franck]

But in the room for clean sounds in particular the Laney will sound infinitely more satisfying.

I wouldn't even agree with that, but let's put that aside for now.
For even just some sonic flexibility, you'd have to add pedals. Additional cables, additional PSUs, way less "oh, let me quickly move in the other corner/room" options, nop options to quickly switch to headphone operation, you name it.
But hey, each to their own.

 

[Eagle]

I wouldn't even agree with that, but let's put that aside for now.
For even just some sonic flexibility, you'd have to add pedals. Additional cables, additional PSUs, way less "oh, let me quickly move in the other corner/room" options, nop options to quickly switch to headphone operation, you name it.
But hey, each to their own.

He already has this . One great tone is also better than a myriad of mediocre ones.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Yep if I want to hear a Fender Deluxe or a box ac30 I go to my Helix. With some IRs from York we come close enough :)

 

[Sascha Franck]

He already has this . One great tone is also better than a myriad of mediocre ones.

By any chance, are you the same person as Yuri Kogan @ GS?

 

[Eagle]

Yep if I want to hear a Fender Deluxe or a box ac30 I go to my Helix. With some IRs from York we come close enough :)

Except the difference is like a pair or earbuds that came with your phone and some hifi reference headphones.

 

[Eagle]

By any chance, are you the same person as Yuri Kogan @ GS?

Would you rather have a bunch of acceptable uninspiring tones or one great one?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Would you rather have a bunch of acceptable uninspiring tones or one great one?

All the tones I'm playing through under any conditions are great these days, so that's an irrelevant question.

 

[sleewell]

For me it's not needed. Helix into a studio monitor sounds awesome. But I get to crank up my tube amps twice a week with my band so that helps

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

Not only realistic, mandatory!!!

All amps to 10....or 11.

 

[PLX]

GS?

Gearspace ?

 

[Eagle]

All the tones I'm playing through under any conditions are great these days, so that's an irrelevant question.

You tell yourself that.

 

[Sascha Franck]

You tell yourself that.

So? Whomelse would I have to tell when it's about playing in my livingroom? You? Why?