johnc
systematic
Like many members here I have been through a few amps, Tube, modeling, SS etc. For better or worse I have decided to stick with the only two I have kept after all the experimentation. Mind you I have only touched the surface of what is out there myself but have also done countless gigs with all kinds of guitar players using all kinds of gear , so I have also had a good look and listen to a big variety of options but I am going back a few years and not up to date with what is out there now.
I have had no experience with the Eleven Rack modeling gear but some of the Roland, Line 6 and Fender offerings which to me were brilliant for recording and practice, but unless you are perhaps a good tech head, I found them a bit indifferent and annoying for me personally and at a live performance where a large variety of sounds or effects were needed they tended to let me down or my lack of ability to operate them effectively let me down. The Eleven Rack may be better in that regard.
So after all I pretty much went back to basics and for playing out and or practice, I have stuck with my Fender 65 R DLX RVB with a set of JJ's tubes for both high and low volume settings. Beautiful classic clean full tube tone. This is a full tube no bells and whistles amp as in, not a hybrid tube amp that uses solid state either in the pre-amp stage or in the rectifier power supply stage. So yeah there are differing types of Tube and hybrid circuits to also be aware of. You could ask "so what?" what difference would it make to the final sound if the amp has a SS power supply. To my ears it does make a slight difference and I think that it is due to the natural compression that you can only get from a full tube circuit. So I felt that was the sound and effect that I was chasing for years. The DLX RVB also comes in a congenial size and weight package that is relatively easy to lift and cart around and responds very well to standard Boss style effects pedals and things like the TS9.
No experience with the Nace amps but looking at Griff's review on You Tube they would seem like a great choice particularly with the infinitely variable power out control, digital reverb and direct play/record out ability and I would love to test one out. Just me, but I generally prefer the seemingly warmer sound of 6V6's over EL 84's, but nothing wrong with EL 84's, they in many very nice amps including my second amp, H&K Tubemeister 5 watt.
This little amp is fabulous, a 5 watt tube head smaller than a shoe box, very light weight also with a record out facility but I have it couple with a H&K TM 112 cabinet with a Celestion vintage 30 speaker sure packs a punch for it's power. I have used it at band practice and small gigs but it is also good at home for low volume practice or recording.
No two same amps seem to sound the same...
Just something I have found over the years by being involved in different music events where the back line was supplied and I had to use whatever amp was on stage at the time. There has been at times a 65 DLX RVB there and of course because I am used to it, I have grabbed that asap over the others, but never found one to be as nice sounding or as powerful as my own and somewhat feeling disappointed so I don't know why but there can definitely be differences in the same model amp too. Could be just the JJ's I put in there, don't know.. Can't remember whether I did and bias adjustments to that amp or not as sometimes the new settings come recommended with the tubes..but some amps circuits are not easy to adjust either.
Bed Room Volumes??.
This is a very very difficult subject because it varies so much being from a personal environment/preference and can be from playing through headphones to a moderate sound level from speakers.
Like a 5 watt or even a 1 watt tube or SS amp may be way too loud even with the volume cranked all the way up to '1'.. through any efficient speaker. So it would be most probably impractical to expect great results from any amp. The sound level does not change as much as you might expect between 20 watt and 1 watt amps as the sound level is not proportional to the rated power output .
So what I would suggest is:
If you are to have just one amp, for or louder and live play/practice opportunities that you target a nice quality full tube amp around the 20 watt range, added with some good basic effects pedals and that should cover most things you would ever need.
For quiet or if necessary, silent home practice or recording sessions, consider some type of digital modeling/recording unit such as things already recommended. The amp/speaker may be just always too loud for that regardless how small.
Good luck with your decisions.
I have had no experience with the Eleven Rack modeling gear but some of the Roland, Line 6 and Fender offerings which to me were brilliant for recording and practice, but unless you are perhaps a good tech head, I found them a bit indifferent and annoying for me personally and at a live performance where a large variety of sounds or effects were needed they tended to let me down or my lack of ability to operate them effectively let me down. The Eleven Rack may be better in that regard.
So after all I pretty much went back to basics and for playing out and or practice, I have stuck with my Fender 65 R DLX RVB with a set of JJ's tubes for both high and low volume settings. Beautiful classic clean full tube tone. This is a full tube no bells and whistles amp as in, not a hybrid tube amp that uses solid state either in the pre-amp stage or in the rectifier power supply stage. So yeah there are differing types of Tube and hybrid circuits to also be aware of. You could ask "so what?" what difference would it make to the final sound if the amp has a SS power supply. To my ears it does make a slight difference and I think that it is due to the natural compression that you can only get from a full tube circuit. So I felt that was the sound and effect that I was chasing for years. The DLX RVB also comes in a congenial size and weight package that is relatively easy to lift and cart around and responds very well to standard Boss style effects pedals and things like the TS9.
No experience with the Nace amps but looking at Griff's review on You Tube they would seem like a great choice particularly with the infinitely variable power out control, digital reverb and direct play/record out ability and I would love to test one out. Just me, but I generally prefer the seemingly warmer sound of 6V6's over EL 84's, but nothing wrong with EL 84's, they in many very nice amps including my second amp, H&K Tubemeister 5 watt.
This little amp is fabulous, a 5 watt tube head smaller than a shoe box, very light weight also with a record out facility but I have it couple with a H&K TM 112 cabinet with a Celestion vintage 30 speaker sure packs a punch for it's power. I have used it at band practice and small gigs but it is also good at home for low volume practice or recording.
No two same amps seem to sound the same...
Just something I have found over the years by being involved in different music events where the back line was supplied and I had to use whatever amp was on stage at the time. There has been at times a 65 DLX RVB there and of course because I am used to it, I have grabbed that asap over the others, but never found one to be as nice sounding or as powerful as my own and somewhat feeling disappointed so I don't know why but there can definitely be differences in the same model amp too. Could be just the JJ's I put in there, don't know.. Can't remember whether I did and bias adjustments to that amp or not as sometimes the new settings come recommended with the tubes..but some amps circuits are not easy to adjust either.
Bed Room Volumes??.
This is a very very difficult subject because it varies so much being from a personal environment/preference and can be from playing through headphones to a moderate sound level from speakers.
Like a 5 watt or even a 1 watt tube or SS amp may be way too loud even with the volume cranked all the way up to '1'.. through any efficient speaker. So it would be most probably impractical to expect great results from any amp. The sound level does not change as much as you might expect between 20 watt and 1 watt amps as the sound level is not proportional to the rated power output .
So what I would suggest is:
If you are to have just one amp, for or louder and live play/practice opportunities that you target a nice quality full tube amp around the 20 watt range, added with some good basic effects pedals and that should cover most things you would ever need.
For quiet or if necessary, silent home practice or recording sessions, consider some type of digital modeling/recording unit such as things already recommended. The amp/speaker may be just always too loud for that regardless how small.
Good luck with your decisions.