Is it realistic to have a tube amp at home?

[mercifulfuzziness]

I'll summarize my post first, because attention spans: Stick with the Yammy, or get an acoustic.

Just like any post from anyone on any forum, this is my opinion based on my experience.

I've never played a Yamaha desktop amp, but I do have a Spark GO and a Roland Mobile Cube that can do the job of any-room practice. Not as dynamic as my Stomp can be through studio monitors or headphones.

I don't like headphones either but sometimes they're necessary so I got a good pair of open-back headphones that sound very natural. My headphones never leave my room/desk. Also in my room, my 5153 Stealth is 50w but can get quieter than my 15w MT15 and still sound okay. I only say okay because louder is more better, so I actually prefer headphones and modeling/profiling if worrying about my kids sleeping.

If I'm in the living room and want to play at off-practice times when there are guests, family, or nothing else to do - - I worry less about tone and dynamics and would rather use something small/portable. I'd probably be more inclined to play an acoustic instrument rather than compete with conversations using any permanently set-up speaker sitting across the room, it needs to be next to me, but at that point I'd rather have an acoustic or play electric unplugged.

That is really not a crazy thought to get an acoustic.

I thought an acoustic is in general louder that most amps. And never can be played any more quiet.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Get more 4x12s

Stop wasting your time in the living room. bath tub tone is in the fingers.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

That is really not a crazy thought to get an acoustic.

I thought an acoustic is in general louder that most amps. And never can be played any more quiet.

Hollowbody electric is my "noodle in the kitchen while waiting for stuff to finish cooking/kids to finish getting ready" guitar of choice.

 

[Whizzinby]

Agreed. Speaking of attenuators, what are the good ones today?

I’ve only used the PowerStation and never really had a reason to look beyond it. Great piece of utility kit.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Oh my….. saving this one to pass time at work tomorrow

 

[la szum]

I have no idea what has happened. Should I read the whole thread and find out??

 

[la szum]

Bagna Caude for everyone!!

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

It’s a wholesome thread about a guy and a tube

 

[FuzzyAce]

Should I read the whole thread and find out??

 

[Desertdweller]

This thread was started today and has 11 pages already. Whoa.

 

[jellodog]

This thread was started today and has 11 pages already. Whoa.

Please... somebody release a new item of gear so we can all go talk about it!

 

[Sleezy E]

 

[maguchi]

Hmm , perhaps it's not realistic to have "a" tube amp at home. But it might be realistic to have several tube amps at home.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I thought an acoustic is in general louder that most amps.

That really, really depends on the amp (and the acoustic guitar).

Like the comparison I drew between my MT15 / 50w Stealth.. The MT can't get much quieter than an acoustic guitar before the volume is just off whereas my Stealth can get quieter than my electric strings ringing acoustically.

I've played a Gibson acoustic that made all the other guitars in the room resonate. Then on the other end of the spectrum with the Yamaha Silent or that paddle-shaped travel guitar that is barely audible.

@Boudoir Guitar +1 My Epiphone ES 335 sounds like a quiet acoustic. It has been my new 'round the house guitar but the body size makes it a tad awkward.

IMO, OP you have two seperate problems you aim to solve here - playing when people are sleeping, and playing while competing with other noise.

Unless you're trying to tick both of the boxes at once.. If I'm wanting to play guitar in the living room during TV time, nobody will sleep. My kids' rooms' are pretty close to our living room so I go into my room with my quieter gear. That may not be the case for you?

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

That really, really depends on the amp (and the acoustic guitar).

Like the comparison I drew between my MT15 / 50w Stealth.. The MT can't get much quieter than an acoustic guitar before the volume is just off whereas my Stealth can get quieter than my electric strings ringing acoustically.

I've played a Gibson acoustic that made all the other guitars in the room resonate. Then on the other end of the spectrum with the Yamaha Silent or that paddle-shaped travel guitar that is barely audible.

@Boudoir Guitar +1 My Epiphone ES 335 sounds like a quiet acoustic. It has been my new 'round the house guitar but the body size makes it a tad awkward.

IMO, OP you have two seperate problems you aim to solve here - playing when people are sleeping, and playing while competing with other noise.

Unless you're trying to tick both of the boxes at once.. If I'm wanting to play guitar in the living room during TV time, nobody will sleep. My kids' rooms' are pretty close to our living room so I go into my room with my quieter gear. That may not be the case for you?

No it’s a good isolated house. We also watch movies at night not on the most quiet level (Sonos cinema set including the sub) and they never wake up.

More important is that I can noodle a bit on tv watching levels. When they go to bed, I can put the volume up a bit.

 

[James Freeman]

It's not realistic not to have a tube amp at home.

 

[EOengineer]

Kill neighbours, kill wives, kill children, kill kill kill kill.

-> collect life insurance -> more Mesas

We’ve been over this. If you are good at something and enjoy it, never do it for free.

 

[Byrdman]

Hollowbody electric is my "noodle in the kitchen while waiting for stuff to finish cooking/kids to finish getting ready" guitar of choice.

My Epi 335 is my noodling couch guitar. I still piss the wifey off when technique practicing since I will play the same shit over and over and over and...

Exactly like this

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

My Epi 335 is my noodling couch guitar. I still piss the wifey off when technique practicing since I will play the same shit over and over and over and...

Exactly like this

Full hollowbody is even better for me.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Love the idea. Way more quiet than an acoustic, can be amplified.. but can also be played without being amplified.