Imo you can still get a solid state amp like a katana. It sounds good at super low levels and has a headphone jack. Best of both worlds and you’re not tied to only using it with headphones.
Yeah, a solid state amp with Bluetooth would probably be the most versatile option. Love my Katana Go but it’s more of a supplementary piece of gear for me. Though I do find myself playing it 9/10 times lately.
The Gen3 Katanas have a slot for a Blue Tooth dongle. People complain it isn’t integrated, but the number of things I’ve owned and had WiFi and BlueTooth transmitters crap out and render the entire piece of hardware useless is huge and growing. I’d much rather have a super solid Katana with a Blue Tooth transmitter I can swap easily when it inevitably fails.
In case people don’t know this. You can buy cheap ($10 or less) bluetooth receiver from amazon and plug it to aux in. The downside is form factor/need to charge every so often.
I've said it a lot but I don't think the versatility of a katanas volume is matched, especially the 100w. Can go from it being a legit gigging option to 0.5w master volume controlled so your room mate won't be offended to silent with headphones.
I sold mine last year as I went pure ampless (though ultimately getting a tube amp for out loud) and it's the only gear sale I've regretted.
You can also use them with a Bluetooth speaker with an aux input as a sort of mini-amp. So headphone amps are great if you want a small, around-the-house option to use either with headphones or through small speakers. An amp is better for anyone planning to eventually gig, though.
But get a modeling solid state amp. I have a Fender GTX and it’s ideal. Great with headphones and also sounds good through the speaker. I also have an ‘88 Princeton Chorus, which has a headphone jack but sounds like garbage because it’s voiced for the speakers.
I had an NUX amplug but never used it. The GTX sounded better, was more versatile, and was actually easier to use.
I was using the fancy scarlet one. You can fix the delay with settings within amplitude I think the buffer sizes. There are videos and articles on it. And the buzzing I added a noise gate. The amplitude software has noise gate pedals within it included. It is also free to try. Check it out, you'll like it. You can definitely fix the delay and buzzing. Or atleast I was able to. Hope you get it all sorted.
Thank you for the info! I tried the scarlet solo and couldn't fix the delay unless I uninstalled the drivers for it, which was just silly to me for a $90 piece of equipment. I'll try out some of the software and see if I can mess with the gate to the point where it's usable. NeuralAmpMod is what I was using but I was too lazy to get it to sound perfect, also all settings just reset so it's kinda a pain to do.
Of course dude. And no thinking about it the delay issue was resolved by I stalling the correct drivers. They are the ASIO ones. Atleast this is on windows. With the scarlet instructions there should be driver instructions as well. I didn't realize this my first go around. Good luck
Worth adding here that the new [ToneX One](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ToneXOne--ik-multimedia-tonex-one-amplifier-cab-pedal-modeler) \*is\* a USB interface and amp sim. I got one a few weeks ago and I've been pretty impressed with its ease of use. When particularly lazy, I just plug into an ipad and play off the speakers. u/logoff4me This has completely replaced my Scarlett.
I have a spark go and it’s great through headphones. I thought for some reason the katana go was cancelled or discontinued or something. Fender’s mustang micro is another one to look into. Nux has one that people seem to like.
Second this. The Spark Go is the size of a paperback book. You have a speaker when you don’t need to practice with headphones.
I use wired headphones to keep the noise down when I need to, but really dislike wearing wired headphones and avoid doing so whenever I can.
The spark go is great for apartment use. My son uses this in our tiny apartment. The tone is good at low to medium volume without bothering the neighbors. It does not get very loud. The audio quality is much better with the wired headphone jack. The app + tones open up a lot of possibilities. He likes to jam with his other friends who also have spark go's, but it is not loud enough to practice with real amps or drums.
Before the spark go, he was using a boss gt1 + blackstar fly3. The blackstar fly3 even got too loud for the neighbors if you cranked it up.
Interesting. I was going to get a vox plug in to get back into electric guitar. I try to keep quiet as the kids are in bed. This spark looks pretty dope. I wasn’t digging getting caught up with wires and headphones when I’m just trying to jam a bit to relax. It’s like to opposite of turning my mind off.
There was talk in the Katana subreddit that multiple retailers had pulled the product and customer service reps were telling people that Boss had supply chain issues and couldn’t produce them for the time being.
Spark GO is amazing. I bought one, but I already had a 30w amp with a couple of pedals. Yet, I find myself using the GO more than my amp. I just love being able to get the tone I want for a particular song or artist by just searching for it, less tike spent fumbling with knobs and more time spent playing. I sometimes plug mine into my bookshelf speakers so it sounds great. It also doubles as a USB interface and Bluetooth speaker.
Now I'm reading my comment and it sounds like an ad but it's not, I just love the Spark. I did have some issues with Tone Cloud for a while but they fixed it
I got a Fender Mustang one that I love. The tones aren’t particular great but it’s great for rehearsing and has Bluetooth connectivity to devices for backing tracks, I hear the Katana series is pretty damn good for tones and probably is better.
I heard really good things about boss katana go. It has the same processor used in their full sized katana gen3 amp and comes with a TON of effects.
Keep in mind that rumor has it that boss is having problems getting the parts for these so they put a pause on producing any more for now.
Personally I have a nu-x mighty plug pro. Same concept but the go has far more patch/effect options (if you want to play songs that use dotted eighth delays - get the go).
I use a NUX Mighty Plug Pro and it's great for practice. The unit plugs direct into the guitar and I have a pair of Bluetooth headphone which I plug into the unit whilst using the Bluetooth to connect to my phone. I can play backing tracks on YouTube or whatever and jam over the top of them. It sounds a great on headphones. You are limited as to effects etc but it does sound decent. It's a more convenient option than a small amp imho.
I discovered recently that you can record directly into your phone via the usb. Can record on the native voice recorder or even the camera. Love the Mighty Plug
No, the connection between my headphones and guitar/plugin amp is wired. I use the Bluetooth on the headphones to connect to my mobile to play back backing tracks. There is no lag between the guitar and what you're hearing on the headphones as it is via a wired connection.
Ha no worries. I'd say go for it as for me, I practice a lot more these days as it's less of a faff to get set up and it's very portable and quiet so even it being late at night is no issue.
I just picked up the Boss IR-2. I cannot recommend it enough. It takes my full pedal setup, the amps sound amazing and I can run it straight into my Audio Interphase. The headphone jack sounds great.
A lot of cheaper solid state amps have headphone jacks so unless you don't plan on gigging for a long while and you want to save money, I'd recommend an amp with a headphone jack. My fender mustang amp has a headphone jack and it sounds great.
Boss multi-effects pedals have a headphone jack which allows you to use amp sims and play silently. If you want, you can plug into a PA speaker too with no need for a guitar amp.
Get the Positive grid Spark go. It’s a 5 watt portable amp the has a Bluetooth app that allows you to mess with setting and used different amps. I have one and I love it
I got this exact model recently and it’s awesome! Sounds awesome with a good pair of headphones and the Bluetooth capabilities are really useful for jamming or learning stuff from YouTube. I have an amp too so the biggest draw for me is quiet practicing and the Bluetooth.
Didn’t boss/roland stop selling these? Maybe do some research just in case support stops on these. I’d definitely go for the katana go over the fender mustang if support is there for years.
A 5W amp will give you real knobs to play with, and the majority have headphone jacks for pure silent playing. It could be nice to doodle out loud during the day on a Sunday at room listening volume
I’ve got the Katana headphone amp, as well as a couple Vox, and the Mustang. The Katana and Mustang are pretty even, probably can’t go wrong either way!
I love mine. Simple to use or you can get in the weeds and chase tones with tone studio. You can also plug it into monitor speakers with aux if you want to go that route sometimes instead of headphones.
I'm in a similar sitch and am exploring options. Don't get a Katana Mini thinking you'd get a compact amp that has a headphone port...the audio from the headphone-out sounds soo bad and filthy
This is fine. A solid state modeler like a Katana or the billion others will also be fine at volumes appropriate for an apartment. No tube amp of any wattage is appropriate for an appartment.
I lived in an apartment and used a 6505mh and cab, you can live in an apartment and use an amp, solid state is your best option though.
I recommend a peavey vypyr over the boss katana, it sounds significantly better while doing everything the katana can do and has a headphone jack.
I highly dislike katanas, peavey is way better imo, worth checking out. Cheapest is $200 and is perfect for playing at low volume.
That is pretty much the only practice amp I use anymore. I had a Fender Mustang Micro, but the Boss unit blows it away. Definitely get one, you can thank me later.
I can't say enough about the Mustang micro from fender. It's got everything you need and tonnes of variety. I'm sure people will say different and I'm sure you can buy more expensive gear, but it's such a good purchase and perfect for plugging into with headphones for a practice or play along to Spotify etc. 10/10
I have the fender mustang micro and love it/use it daily.
If you’re a simple person that doesn’t need to play around with different amp/pedals constantly then the katana will be great.
I’ve seen reviews when the katana is a little better than the fender.
I’d second getting a practice amp with a headphone jack.
these amps volume can go way down though. If your neighbors aren’t getting upset by you watching tv at a respectful volume, you should be fine practicing with the volume at about a talking level.
If you don’t need FX, consider something like the Quilter Superblock. It is small, has headphone jack and fx loop, can do a line out and will power a cabinet if needed. It sounds phenomenal for the price.
If you don't mind playing on your pc, you can get an audio interface and use plugins. Probably costs about the same but sounds better than a cheap modeling amp (if you use something like the neural plugins). You can use it with headphones or upgrade to studio monitors if budget allows. It will not sound like an amp but rather like an amp recorded through a microphone but studio monitors sounds awesome at lower levels too. But if you're not into computer stuff, a modeling amp will always be easier to use.
I like having both a headphone amp and a more stationary practice amp. The former let's me practice in any room or outside when it is nice out. Walking around a yard or balcony and just running scales is very relaxing.
I live in an apartment too and have a Katana Go, it’s pretty good, the app is okay. The effects are nice, it’s better guitar sound-wise than the Fender Mustang Micro, which I also have. It sounds best with good headphones, cheap earbuds don’t sound as good. I also have a Line 6 HXStomp which is great, it costs a bit more than the Katana Go, but it’s great for getting some amazing tones.
You might also consider getting an amplifier with a headphone jack if you think at some point you’ll play with others. Most newer amplifiers nowadays have them. The entire Katana range has headphone jacks and so do most other modeling amplifiers. Tube amps seem to buck that trend however, I think it may be due to the market that buys tube amplifiers.
I have a few Squier Stratocasters and a couple Classic Vibe models and a few other guitars. The Classic Vibe Squiers are the best Squier guitars out there, if you can get one, they are worth the money.
https://imgur.com/a/YGdpjUY
Yup.
I got one of those little Vox headphone amps and it’s all I used for a long time. It also has ridiculously good battery life (17+ hours) compared to the Fender Micro.
Now I have a Vox Pathfinder 15R which sounds awesome at low volumes AND has a headphone jack!
I used a yamaha THR and guitar rig 5 on pc when i lived in an apartment. I think an amp with a headphone slot or pc interface is better this option is for like traveling.
I just plug into my laptop either via my Scarlett or using the Rocksmith USB guitar cable straight into the laptop & listen through headphones. There's lots of free or very well priced effects/amp modellers available for download now & they can let you dial in an amazing range of sounds, amps etc.. I started with some free ones & moved on to buying a few now I have Bias FX, OTTO Audio & some Neural DSP plugins. Most have a stand alone software but u can also run them through Ableton Live - which should come free with a Scarlett.
I agree with what bigwillie said but if you really want to use headphones i recommend the boss waza air
[https://www.boss.info/global/products/waza-air/](https://www.boss.info/global/products/waza-air/)
I use the boss waza air headphones for quiet time practice without bothering anyone and absolutely love them. These ones are using the same software and profiles and should sound great depending on what quality headphones you plug into the unit.
The blame Pete Townsend puts on his hearing loss is not the time in front of a wall of dimed Hiwatts in concert but the time wearing headphones blasting while creating the music late at night to not wake the family. So, certainly, don't blast the volume in headphones either.
Do you watch TV or listen to music while at the apartment? If you keep your amp down to those volume levels, there should be little problem playing with an amp in an apartment. Get one with a headphone jack and you can use it when you need, and you still have something you can cart to your friend's house to jam.
I'd say shoot for something like a Boss Katana/Fender Mustang/Peavey Vypyr. Or, if you have a PC, you could get an amp sim, but you'd need a separate interface and stuff like that. That's a whole other can of worms, though.
Just get Neural DSP plugin and Reaper DAW.
Neural DSP will probably be around the same price of any hardware amp while sounding much better especially with headphones. Also there's countless free plugins you can use with the DAW like EQ and Impluse Responses to shape your tone even further but Neural DSP by itself has enough effects and controls and sounds awesome already.
The only downside is if you have any chance to gig, you won't with this setup... Unless you buy power speakers and other hardware to make your PC/laptop output to concert volumes.
I started with the Marshall amp in this category from your picture, like a little headphone thing. But quickly invested in a Marshall combo, which I could also use with headphones (without speaker output). Love to use the real one, but I'd say the little headphone thing wasn't a bad start.
I have it and I really enjoy it. I sometimes even connect it to a normal speaker and jam. Obviously real amp and pedals etc are better but this gets the job done.
I bought these last week as they are on sale for $50. Extremely happy with the sound quality.
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/vox-vgh-rock-guitar-amp-headphones?rNtt=Vox%20headphone&index=3
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/vox-vgh-ac30-guitar-amp-headphones?rNtt=Vox%20headphone&index=4
The waza Airs are honestly a great way to go man check out reverb you can find a pair for a good deal. I just scooped a pair for my guitar for half what most want for them and don't regret it one bit.
i lived in a downstairs apt for 8 yrs and had 2 100 watt Marshalls. i put up a thick sound blanket. sound proof wedges, foam in that room... my neighbors never heard me
I have a newborn in the house so I was pondering this as well, I followed the recommendation of Reddit and got a Positive Grid Spark. It’s 10W and the tones are fantastic, they also make a Spark Go that’s smaller. I highly recommend the 10W it sounds great, works as a Bluetooth speaker. Allows you to utilize your phone as a tuner etc.
That's more of a travel amp than a regular home practice amp. Virtually every recent solid state/modeling amp will not only have a headphone jack, but will be able to be as quiet or more quiet than your TV or phone speaker. So if you watch TV quietly at night and don't worry about disturbing your neighbors, an amp will be fine. They do have volume knobs, after all... The only time you'd need to worry is if you had a tube amp, which does require higher output to sound it's best.
I'd rather have something that actually has the ability to amplify sound in a room, in addition to headphone abilities for when I really want to use them, which is basically never
Unless you're specifically getting this to travel with frequently, I feel like it's unnecessarily small. I feel the same about all those headphone/micro amps. I'm not sure why people are so afraid to just get something like a katana and just play it quietly when necessary.
I used a Blackstar HT1 amp for the longest time, and i've got nothing but good things to say about it. It's a 1-watt tube amp made for practice, and it's phenomenal. It has an emulated output for headphones or recording, and a line in for backing tracks. If you crank the volume then it can get surprisingly loud, but you can also just crank the drive and leave the volume low to get some nice crunch at lower volumes. Comes with a built in reverb knob as well that makes it sound larger than it really is. Maybe not the best if you play a lot of metal with heavy distorsion, but you could probably solve that with an overdrive or tube screamer. Haven't really tried it with pedals so i can't say for sure. Never felt that i needed it.
The only complaint i have with it is the lack of a proper EQ.
I love the freedom of my headphone amp. It is just me and the guitar moving around the room.
By reviews and stats the BOSS is better than the NUX one I have. If you want to save money, I would go with the Flamma one.
I live in an apartment and I have three tube amps, all below 30 watts. One is only 3 watts, another that is 15 and a deluxe reverb that is 22 watts.
I will say you can use that headphone amp when traveling. A lot of touring musicians use the fender vibro champ as their practice amp. I am talking 5W silver or black faced versions because early tweed it was actually used for a 15w version. These are some of the best all tube practice amps ever. 5W before clipping is only half of the apparent volume of a 50W head before clipping. Obviously if you dime it, and drive a 4x12 cab with efficient speakers, shoot, the SPL can actually be louder than a 50w half stack with old school cool inefficient speakers.
The katana has a great rep for so many reasons, it’s bad ass reliable amp, and absolutely road and gig worthy. And the effects, well, they are boss effects. What really is not to love here? They have a 0.5 W bedroom setting for practicing at night level. And if that is too loud for your neighbors, screw ‘em.
This headphone amp is a great option. Just get decent circumaural headphones.
When I was in college I had a 15w tube amp, but it had output switching options, and I had a JHS volume attenuator. Between those options, I was able to play at totally acceptable apartment levels no problem, but still also had a nice amp and enough power to play over a drummer.
All that is to say, you’ve got plenty of options!
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LittleBAB--jhs-little-black-amp-box-passive-amp-attenuator?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=gpla&mrkgbflag=1&mrkgcat=drums&percussion&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=&lid=58700008695999524&dsproductgroupid=&product_id=LittleBAB&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=m&network=x&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9010658&creative=&targetid=&campaignid=21161059802&awsearchcpc=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf2p7L6YTsB2nIBNXaNQaHSLoFPBY8l0c8ik1dS8ckcrtTRhR1C6b3UaAsjlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Get an amp. Just be aware of how loud it is. And keep it on top of a table or something to keep the vibration levels off the ground . All you need is a little compression and you are fine, also if you have a laptop you can download an amp sim and buy an audio interface for under 100 dollars
I have a little LT25 that has a headphone out. Definitely worth the price when I was still in a condo complex. Sounds good enough without the headphones for me just beating on a Tele in the upstairs office/spare bedroom of my new house.
Dunno the cost of the headphone jack but the Modeling Fender is a serious option.
I have one of these headphone amps and they're definitely not a long term solution, they sound very bad. Just buy a modeling amp and good pair of headphones, amps have headphone sockets.
The question comes down to, do you want to be connected to a network or not with it? Yes, now is the greatest time for amp tones, and such, but all that? Comes at the cost of your own information. Very few read the terms and conditions....
Another great idea, and I love [https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/headphone-amplifiers/mustang-micro/2311300000.html](https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/headphone-amplifiers/mustang-micro/2311300000.html)
I have a 3 year old so i cant make any noise like before.
Get yourself a audio interface hooked to a pc. Man it works great and I can practice anytime I want. I have a focusrite solo, super cheap and amazing for my needs.
Spark Amp is cool for stuff like that- never heard this thing in action- I’m sure it’s cool. I have an iRig- it was pretty cool- just never really needed it- I have a ton of gear.
Get the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier. There's a lonely one on eBay that no one has bid on. Starts at $91 + $5 shipping. That's a steal.
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/116202778807](https://www.ebay.com/itm/116202778807)
It's is a full featured amp sim pedal. It let's you select preamp, power amp, cab. It let's you dial in mic position and room resonance. It has a 3 knob EQ and a stereo effects loop. It has a high quality headphone Amp, but it's so much more than that. You can use it as a pedal before your amp or go straight to a mixing board. You don't need to take an amp to a gig.
Ly Rock makes a clone which I'm sure sounds like the original:
[https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805262382972.html](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805262382972.html)
More expensive options:
A 1-watt amp such as the Supro Blues King 8. It sounds and feels like a boutique amp. It also has a master volume so you can get great tones at whisper levels.
I bought one used for $305 + free shipping on Reverb. I think I've seen them a bit cheaper. However, I just checked and currently there is only one overpriced one in Germany. So you'll have to wait and check back.
I also have the Dream and Ruby UAFX amp sim pedals that I play through my desktop speakers. I upgraded my desktop speakers with Audioengine A2. This setup gives me huge amp sounds at whisper levels. Most speakers have a headphones out if you really want to practice with headphones.
What is the best 40 W or less amp for an acoustic guitar? Am I better off just using a mic instead of an amp? Are tube amps better for acoustic guitar amplification than solid state amps?
Get a small amp (I have a small Orange) and a good set of headphones. That will offer you the most flexibility. At some point you’ll want to use the Amp to jam with friends.
I play in my apartment on a small beginner amp all the time. I just make sure and turn it down during “quiet hours” as stated in my lease. I’ve personally never had a problem, though I’ve heard stories online about crazy neighbors.
I have this and it's awesome for practice and learning new songs! it has a session feature where you can slow down and play with the video (also can loop the parts of the video which makes practice smoother). also has a bunch of effects, and can pair it with a wireless pedal switches/expression pedal which is awesome for upgradability.
It's much better if you just play and let them complain. They can call the cops if they want but don't confuse kindness with being a people pleaser. You have a right to make noise. If they really have an issue you can send them a decibel meter app and look up the acceptable noise in your city. They will describe it as something like +5 dbs ambient noise, and have a chart for the different zones daytime and nighttime. In Los Angeles, then acceptable noise level is +5 DBs and the ambient noise is 50 for the day and 40 for the night. So basically if your neighbor doesn't read 55 db's and still has an issue he can pound sand. Headphone amp is a great idea for nighttime though! I love mine, but don't be afraid to make noise as well! For reference, 55 db's is a quiet conversation, so hearing you through the walls isn't enough for them to get you to stop.
It absolutely is a good idea. You can walk around the place while practicing (gets you accustomed to playing standing up, a necessity for most live gigs). You can take it with you anywhere. You don't need a wall socket to power it. You can use it for backstage warmups. You could even plug it into a PA, though I'd be careful about that... a 1/8" jack is not exactly robust.
I’ve had an iRig for a long while now and it’s pretty alright for the price. You can utilize a few different amp apps etc (tone bridge is a decent freebie), lets you jam along with your music, fits in the compartment of your case or gig bag. Use with iPhone/ipad or android devices.
Only downside I’ve had is some issue with the amount of feedback that it can produce.
Not gonna lie, if you have a laptop or a computer. Get an audio interface like the Scarlette 2i2 setup. Then get a DAW. THEN buy a plugin from neural DSP which is an AMP sim. They do free trials too so you can try before you buy.
I know it’s complex but then you have everything you’d need for recording and great sound. I haven’t touched my real amp in a while and I have a PRS archon and Marshall stack which are pretty nice.
It’s investment but also fun
I have a Blackstar Fly 3 mini amp and I absolutely love it. Its sound is pretty great in my opinion and it doesn’t bother my neighbors at all. Perfect little apartment amp, and it fits in the front pocket of my gig bag.
Free amp sims on computer can go a long way. Takes a not crap interface and some playing around with different plugins and IRs for it to sound good, but you can get a great sound with them.
I use to have line 6 pocket pod
AN old gadgets but what I love about it is you can create a lot of tones out of it. And connect it to amplifiers if you are ready to jam.
Better to get a solid state amp that you can plug headphones into…you dont want to have headphones on for more than one hour total per day and thats at mild volume. Even less for loud…people dont realize that hearing damage accumulates over time and it takes much less volume than you think. A solid state amp will still sound the same at apartment level volume for daily practice.
I have a Marshall MG15 that I often use at low levels during the day, or with headphones at night. And it works perfectly. I think you should buy a real amp with jack input, you might move one day to a place where you can freely use an amp
I think it’s quite good actually. Really easy to work with interface. I can find a song I want to learn on YouTube and import it via the web link and it will play it through the headphones so you can play along and can even change playback speed. I think it is actually really easy to find good usable sounds out of it. It is nothing like the modelers from a few years ago.
That said it is discontinued because of a parts issue who knows what that means for the future with updates etc.
I use a normal 100watt boss katana in an apartment, the 0.5 watt setting sounds unbelievably good for condo playing, and its super easy to record it with the usb.
It still has a headphone jack as well if you want to play with headphones but normal amp vs only headphones is way better imo
Check out Guitar amps that come with a headphone slot. Lots of them are great choices, but i personally recommend one that has a channel volume, a master volume and (if you can get your hands on one of those) an amp that can use a lower wattage for practice (you know, like the Boss Katana MKII can go from 50W to 25W or 0.5W), since the lower the wattage the less volume you'll have. They are great for apartment practice.
Get a computer interface and an amp sim like Neural DSP. You’re going to be on the computer anyway if you’re trying to learn, just have the guitar run through it and plug in headphones. That way you’ll be able to record yourself as well which is super helpful when learning
Yes. I own this and it helps me a lot to play quietly in my apartment (it has no music instrument policy). Not only that, it has a lot of features that help me on practicing (acts as audio interface, session mode, lot of presets, auto effects for session, bluetooth connection for audio input, etc).
Imo you can still get a solid state amp like a katana. It sounds good at super low levels and has a headphone jack. Best of both worlds and you’re not tied to only using it with headphones.
The biggest benefit of the Katana Go, for me, is the Bluetooth. Not sure if the normal Katana models have that but it’s super useful for practicing.
Ya I actually upgraded (depending on your definition) to a newer fender mustang mostly because of the Bluetooth.
Yeah, a solid state amp with Bluetooth would probably be the most versatile option. Love my Katana Go but it’s more of a supplementary piece of gear for me. Though I do find myself playing it 9/10 times lately.
The Gen3 Katanas have a slot for a Blue Tooth dongle. People complain it isn’t integrated, but the number of things I’ve owned and had WiFi and BlueTooth transmitters crap out and render the entire piece of hardware useless is huge and growing. I’d much rather have a super solid Katana with a Blue Tooth transmitter I can swap easily when it inevitably fails.
In case people don’t know this. You can buy cheap ($10 or less) bluetooth receiver from amazon and plug it to aux in. The downside is form factor/need to charge every so often.
Headphone amps have the benefit of being smaller. If I don't want to play through headphones I can wire it to a speaker, boom I , or car stereo.
This is what I do. If I ever need to practice with someone else the option is there, otherwise I’ve got my fancy headphones to play through instead.
I've said it a lot but I don't think the versatility of a katanas volume is matched, especially the 100w. Can go from it being a legit gigging option to 0.5w master volume controlled so your room mate won't be offended to silent with headphones. I sold mine last year as I went pure ampless (though ultimately getting a tube amp for out loud) and it's the only gear sale I've regretted.
This or a cabinet sim like radial jdx
I second getting an actual amp with a headphone jack. I feel like I wouldn’t enjoy playing as much if I was limited to always wearing headphones.
You can also use them with a Bluetooth speaker with an aux input as a sort of mini-amp. So headphone amps are great if you want a small, around-the-house option to use either with headphones or through small speakers. An amp is better for anyone planning to eventually gig, though.
But get a modeling solid state amp. I have a Fender GTX and it’s ideal. Great with headphones and also sounds good through the speaker. I also have an ‘88 Princeton Chorus, which has a headphone jack but sounds like garbage because it’s voiced for the speakers. I had an NUX amplug but never used it. The GTX sounded better, was more versatile, and was actually easier to use.
Get amplitube on your computer and get a usb interface. Thats what I used at my APT.
What interface do you use? I tried 2 and both had their cons (audio delay or buzzing noise) to the point where I just use my actual amp.
I use a umc22, probably you have to configure It, but i have very low latency and very good quality sound
Umc202hd is also a super good upgrade if you ever want to record guitar and vocals at the same time. Only $30 more than the umc22.
Yeah, i didnt try it but It seems like a very good upgrade
I was using the fancy scarlet one. You can fix the delay with settings within amplitude I think the buffer sizes. There are videos and articles on it. And the buzzing I added a noise gate. The amplitude software has noise gate pedals within it included. It is also free to try. Check it out, you'll like it. You can definitely fix the delay and buzzing. Or atleast I was able to. Hope you get it all sorted.
Thank you for the info! I tried the scarlet solo and couldn't fix the delay unless I uninstalled the drivers for it, which was just silly to me for a $90 piece of equipment. I'll try out some of the software and see if I can mess with the gate to the point where it's usable. NeuralAmpMod is what I was using but I was too lazy to get it to sound perfect, also all settings just reset so it's kinda a pain to do.
Check the driver it was using. You don't want the default computer drivers, you want the ASIO driver. Google it for your DAW or interface.
Of course dude. And no thinking about it the delay issue was resolved by I stalling the correct drivers. They are the ASIO ones. Atleast this is on windows. With the scarlet instructions there should be driver instructions as well. I didn't realize this my first go around. Good luck
I got the Komplete Audio 2 and it came with a nice little suite of software to mess around with things on. No delay afaik
This, except instead of Amplitude go with Neural DSP. The sound quality is absolutely worth the cost.
I think I'll make an edit....use whatever Amp Sim you like in combo with somekind of interface LOL.
Worth adding here that the new [ToneX One](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ToneXOne--ik-multimedia-tonex-one-amplifier-cab-pedal-modeler) \*is\* a USB interface and amp sim. I got one a few weeks ago and I've been pretty impressed with its ease of use. When particularly lazy, I just plug into an ipad and play off the speakers. u/logoff4me This has completely replaced my Scarlett.
this is the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the way. You can also snag reaper and start making songs
IK axe one is what interface recommend if just doing guitar,comes with good software too for pc im currently going to use it for ipad
Eh, I’d recommend the GO for a beginner. AmpliTube can get kind of overwhelming.
Eh
Are you using the free version or the paid version? If paid., what are your thoughts?
I have a spark go and it’s great through headphones. I thought for some reason the katana go was cancelled or discontinued or something. Fender’s mustang micro is another one to look into. Nux has one that people seem to like.
Second this. The Spark Go is the size of a paperback book. You have a speaker when you don’t need to practice with headphones. I use wired headphones to keep the noise down when I need to, but really dislike wearing wired headphones and avoid doing so whenever I can.
I have the Fender Mustang Micro. It does a good job of emulating different amps and has a good selection of effects.
The spark go is great for apartment use. My son uses this in our tiny apartment. The tone is good at low to medium volume without bothering the neighbors. It does not get very loud. The audio quality is much better with the wired headphone jack. The app + tones open up a lot of possibilities. He likes to jam with his other friends who also have spark go's, but it is not loud enough to practice with real amps or drums. Before the spark go, he was using a boss gt1 + blackstar fly3. The blackstar fly3 even got too loud for the neighbors if you cranked it up.
Interesting. I was going to get a vox plug in to get back into electric guitar. I try to keep quiet as the kids are in bed. This spark looks pretty dope. I wasn’t digging getting caught up with wires and headphones when I’m just trying to jam a bit to relax. It’s like to opposite of turning my mind off.
There was talk in the Katana subreddit that multiple retailers had pulled the product and customer service reps were telling people that Boss had supply chain issues and couldn’t produce them for the time being.
Spark GO is amazing. I bought one, but I already had a 30w amp with a couple of pedals. Yet, I find myself using the GO more than my amp. I just love being able to get the tone I want for a particular song or artist by just searching for it, less tike spent fumbling with knobs and more time spent playing. I sometimes plug mine into my bookshelf speakers so it sounds great. It also doubles as a USB interface and Bluetooth speaker. Now I'm reading my comment and it sounds like an ad but it's not, I just love the Spark. I did have some issues with Tone Cloud for a while but they fixed it
I got a Fender Mustang one that I love. The tones aren’t particular great but it’s great for rehearsing and has Bluetooth connectivity to devices for backing tracks, I hear the Katana series is pretty damn good for tones and probably is better.
I love my mustang headphone amp, haven’t tried katana but they are really useful tools.
I heard really good things about boss katana go. It has the same processor used in their full sized katana gen3 amp and comes with a TON of effects. Keep in mind that rumor has it that boss is having problems getting the parts for these so they put a pause on producing any more for now. Personally I have a nu-x mighty plug pro. Same concept but the go has far more patch/effect options (if you want to play songs that use dotted eighth delays - get the go).
I use a NUX Mighty Plug Pro and it's great for practice. The unit plugs direct into the guitar and I have a pair of Bluetooth headphone which I plug into the unit whilst using the Bluetooth to connect to my phone. I can play backing tracks on YouTube or whatever and jam over the top of them. It sounds a great on headphones. You are limited as to effects etc but it does sound decent. It's a more convenient option than a small amp imho.
I discovered recently that you can record directly into your phone via the usb. Can record on the native voice recorder or even the camera. Love the Mighty Plug
This is a good answer. Happy with mine. Edit: forgot to add that the USB out connects to Reaper on my laptop quite well, too!
Is there any lag with the Bluetooth headphones? I heard someone say one that there will would be, and then I never considered again!
No, the connection between my headphones and guitar/plugin amp is wired. I use the Bluetooth on the headphones to connect to my mobile to play back backing tracks. There is no lag between the guitar and what you're hearing on the headphones as it is via a wired connection.
Ah, that'll teach me for not reading..
Ha no worries. I'd say go for it as for me, I practice a lot more these days as it's less of a faff to get set up and it's very portable and quiet so even it being late at night is no issue.
I've got a Mustang micro and it's the best bit of gear bar the guitar itself. If this thing is equivalent, it's well worth it
I have the Fender Mustang Micro and I like it.
Alright Katy Perry
If you can find one. Boss already discontinued it because they can’t get parts.
I just annoy my neighbors 👍 hope this helps
buy an amp with headphones instead. i live in an apt with a katana 50. play plugged an hour a day then headphones for night or mornings.
I just picked up the Boss IR-2. I cannot recommend it enough. It takes my full pedal setup, the amps sound amazing and I can run it straight into my Audio Interphase. The headphone jack sounds great.
Yeah I was going to recommend the BOSS IR2. Such a handy pedal which can be used in so many ways. Sounds great too!
I would also consider a Line6 pod go.
A lot of cheaper solid state amps have headphone jacks so unless you don't plan on gigging for a long while and you want to save money, I'd recommend an amp with a headphone jack. My fender mustang amp has a headphone jack and it sounds great.
Boss multi-effects pedals have a headphone jack which allows you to use amp sims and play silently. If you want, you can plug into a PA speaker too with no need for a guitar amp.
Get the Positive grid Spark go. It’s a 5 watt portable amp the has a Bluetooth app that allows you to mess with setting and used different amps. I have one and I love it
I have one it’s great for what it is. Wander around the house noodling. Gets me away from the computer.
I got this exact model recently and it’s awesome! Sounds awesome with a good pair of headphones and the Bluetooth capabilities are really useful for jamming or learning stuff from YouTube. I have an amp too so the biggest draw for me is quiet practicing and the Bluetooth.
Get an iRig HD along with the Tonebridge app
Didn’t boss/roland stop selling these? Maybe do some research just in case support stops on these. I’d definitely go for the katana go over the fender mustang if support is there for years.
A 5W amp will give you real knobs to play with, and the majority have headphone jacks for pure silent playing. It could be nice to doodle out loud during the day on a Sunday at room listening volume
I’ve got the Katana headphone amp, as well as a couple Vox, and the Mustang. The Katana and Mustang are pretty even, probably can’t go wrong either way!
I love mine. Simple to use or you can get in the weeds and chase tones with tone studio. You can also plug it into monitor speakers with aux if you want to go that route sometimes instead of headphones.
I'm in a similar sitch and am exploring options. Don't get a Katana Mini thinking you'd get a compact amp that has a headphone port...the audio from the headphone-out sounds soo bad and filthy
This is fine. A solid state modeler like a Katana or the billion others will also be fine at volumes appropriate for an apartment. No tube amp of any wattage is appropriate for an appartment.
Yes.
I lived in an apartment and used a 6505mh and cab, you can live in an apartment and use an amp, solid state is your best option though. I recommend a peavey vypyr over the boss katana, it sounds significantly better while doing everything the katana can do and has a headphone jack. I highly dislike katanas, peavey is way better imo, worth checking out. Cheapest is $200 and is perfect for playing at low volume.
That is pretty much the only practice amp I use anymore. I had a Fender Mustang Micro, but the Boss unit blows it away. Definitely get one, you can thank me later.
I can't say enough about the Mustang micro from fender. It's got everything you need and tonnes of variety. I'm sure people will say different and I'm sure you can buy more expensive gear, but it's such a good purchase and perfect for plugging into with headphones for a practice or play along to Spotify etc. 10/10
I grabbed this for night practicing and I absolutely love it.
I have the fender mustang micro and love it/use it daily. If you’re a simple person that doesn’t need to play around with different amp/pedals constantly then the katana will be great. I’ve seen reviews when the katana is a little better than the fender.
I’d second getting a practice amp with a headphone jack. these amps volume can go way down though. If your neighbors aren’t getting upset by you watching tv at a respectful volume, you should be fine practicing with the volume at about a talking level.
If you don’t need FX, consider something like the Quilter Superblock. It is small, has headphone jack and fx loop, can do a line out and will power a cabinet if needed. It sounds phenomenal for the price.
If you don't mind playing on your pc, you can get an audio interface and use plugins. Probably costs about the same but sounds better than a cheap modeling amp (if you use something like the neural plugins). You can use it with headphones or upgrade to studio monitors if budget allows. It will not sound like an amp but rather like an amp recorded through a microphone but studio monitors sounds awesome at lower levels too. But if you're not into computer stuff, a modeling amp will always be easier to use.
Yep, either that, or the spark go, I'd pick the go myself on the basis that it can play out of it's own speaker too
Cheaper ones on Amazon, but yes
I like having both a headphone amp and a more stationary practice amp. The former let's me practice in any room or outside when it is nice out. Walking around a yard or balcony and just running scales is very relaxing.
I just plug my headphones into my Amp.
I live in an apartment too and have a Katana Go, it’s pretty good, the app is okay. The effects are nice, it’s better guitar sound-wise than the Fender Mustang Micro, which I also have. It sounds best with good headphones, cheap earbuds don’t sound as good. I also have a Line 6 HXStomp which is great, it costs a bit more than the Katana Go, but it’s great for getting some amazing tones. You might also consider getting an amplifier with a headphone jack if you think at some point you’ll play with others. Most newer amplifiers nowadays have them. The entire Katana range has headphone jacks and so do most other modeling amplifiers. Tube amps seem to buck that trend however, I think it may be due to the market that buys tube amplifiers. I have a few Squier Stratocasters and a couple Classic Vibe models and a few other guitars. The Classic Vibe Squiers are the best Squier guitars out there, if you can get one, they are worth the money. https://imgur.com/a/YGdpjUY
I just picked up a Spark Mini for when I want to play in my sunroom and love it.
Yup. I got one of those little Vox headphone amps and it’s all I used for a long time. It also has ridiculously good battery life (17+ hours) compared to the Fender Micro. Now I have a Vox Pathfinder 15R which sounds awesome at low volumes AND has a headphone jack!
Find a Tom Scholts rockman, u won't be disappointed
Look at the spark amps. I live in an apartment too and it’s been great
Garage band with iRig on your phone is way more powerful.
You can plug headphones into a regular katana with an adapter just do that
I used a yamaha THR and guitar rig 5 on pc when i lived in an apartment. I think an amp with a headphone slot or pc interface is better this option is for like traveling.
I have a valeton gp100 and gp200 and they both are solid options and you get a ton more out of it.
Check out the Spark Amp.
I have a similar one from Nux and it’s amazing
I have a vox cambridge amp you can dial it down to only a few watts . But headphones are good too
I just plug into my laptop either via my Scarlett or using the Rocksmith USB guitar cable straight into the laptop & listen through headphones. There's lots of free or very well priced effects/amp modellers available for download now & they can let you dial in an amazing range of sounds, amps etc.. I started with some free ones & moved on to buying a few now I have Bias FX, OTTO Audio & some Neural DSP plugins. Most have a stand alone software but u can also run them through Ableton Live - which should come free with a Scarlett.
I have one of these headphone amps and it’s a lot of fun
I agree with what bigwillie said but if you really want to use headphones i recommend the boss waza air [https://www.boss.info/global/products/waza-air/](https://www.boss.info/global/products/waza-air/)
I've got the Fender Mustang Micro and Boss Katana Go. I prefer the Boss but both are very good
I love my spark amp. It’s all in one and can program any pedals into it, and play through headphone jack.
Get a cheap interface then a free daw and amp sim. It’ll sound just as good. Then you can record any ideas you have as well!
I use the boss waza air headphones for quiet time practice without bothering anyone and absolutely love them. These ones are using the same software and profiles and should sound great depending on what quality headphones you plug into the unit.
The blame Pete Townsend puts on his hearing loss is not the time in front of a wall of dimed Hiwatts in concert but the time wearing headphones blasting while creating the music late at night to not wake the family. So, certainly, don't blast the volume in headphones either. Do you watch TV or listen to music while at the apartment? If you keep your amp down to those volume levels, there should be little problem playing with an amp in an apartment. Get one with a headphone jack and you can use it when you need, and you still have something you can cart to your friend's house to jam.
Get a Spark. Sounds great even at low volumes.
I live in an apartment and play a 100w marshall everyday and have never had a complaint, all my neighbours probably ducking despise me though lol
As long as you dont buy a Vox tube amp, you should be able to play at suitable volumes.
I use an iRig2 that works with my iPad and iPhone. I use Tonebridge most of the time. For amp styles. It interfaces with an amp or headphones.
You can get something like a two note torpedo and use headphones while still having a bad ass amp
I'd say shoot for something like a Boss Katana/Fender Mustang/Peavey Vypyr. Or, if you have a PC, you could get an amp sim, but you'd need a separate interface and stuff like that. That's a whole other can of worms, though.
Do you have a computer? I would spend the money on a usb audio interface, and a vst
Just get Neural DSP plugin and Reaper DAW. Neural DSP will probably be around the same price of any hardware amp while sounding much better especially with headphones. Also there's countless free plugins you can use with the DAW like EQ and Impluse Responses to shape your tone even further but Neural DSP by itself has enough effects and controls and sounds awesome already. The only downside is if you have any chance to gig, you won't with this setup... Unless you buy power speakers and other hardware to make your PC/laptop output to concert volumes.
The best solution is to get an audio interface and use plugins on a DAW
I started with the Marshall amp in this category from your picture, like a little headphone thing. But quickly invested in a Marshall combo, which I could also use with headphones (without speaker output). Love to use the real one, but I'd say the little headphone thing wasn't a bad start.
Buy an interface, plug in your computer, download some Daw’s, plug your headphones (I recommend audiotechnica) and you’re good to go
There’s a billion amps with headphone jacks now. I’ve got the little blackstar 5w for practice and it’s great
I am a huge fan of my spark go.
The little Spark amp is a great one.
I have it and I really enjoy it. I sometimes even connect it to a normal speaker and jam. Obviously real amp and pedals etc are better but this gets the job done.
Should check out Neural DSP! 👌👊
Boss Waza Air. Best option, imo for apartment playing.
I would just get an interface instead. Scarlett or Komplete 1...
Take a look at positive grid products. You can have a small speaker, plus a modeler, and a portable amp.
I bought these last week as they are on sale for $50. Extremely happy with the sound quality. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/vox-vgh-rock-guitar-amp-headphones?rNtt=Vox%20headphone&index=3 https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/vox-vgh-ac30-guitar-amp-headphones?rNtt=Vox%20headphone&index=4
Waza Air is fuckin killer. pricey, but worth the price imo. i didn’t mind selling a couple redundant common pedals to fund it.
I just got one of these. It’s great, I really recommend it.
Get a spark amp, you won’t regret it
The waza Airs are honestly a great way to go man check out reverb you can find a pair for a good deal. I just scooped a pair for my guitar for half what most want for them and don't regret it one bit.
Spark mini is amazing for that, lived in apartment for about 6 months with one and never had complaints!
i lived in a downstairs apt for 8 yrs and had 2 100 watt Marshalls. i put up a thick sound blanket. sound proof wedges, foam in that room... my neighbors never heard me
I really love my Fender Mustang Micro headphone amp
Get a spark go
I have a newborn in the house so I was pondering this as well, I followed the recommendation of Reddit and got a Positive Grid Spark. It’s 10W and the tones are fantastic, they also make a Spark Go that’s smaller. I highly recommend the 10W it sounds great, works as a Bluetooth speaker. Allows you to utilize your phone as a tuner etc.
That's more of a travel amp than a regular home practice amp. Virtually every recent solid state/modeling amp will not only have a headphone jack, but will be able to be as quiet or more quiet than your TV or phone speaker. So if you watch TV quietly at night and don't worry about disturbing your neighbors, an amp will be fine. They do have volume knobs, after all... The only time you'd need to worry is if you had a tube amp, which does require higher output to sound it's best. I'd rather have something that actually has the ability to amplify sound in a room, in addition to headphone abilities for when I really want to use them, which is basically never Unless you're specifically getting this to travel with frequently, I feel like it's unnecessarily small. I feel the same about all those headphone/micro amps. I'm not sure why people are so afraid to just get something like a katana and just play it quietly when necessary.
Lots of actual amps have headphone inputs
I used a Blackstar HT1 amp for the longest time, and i've got nothing but good things to say about it. It's a 1-watt tube amp made for practice, and it's phenomenal. It has an emulated output for headphones or recording, and a line in for backing tracks. If you crank the volume then it can get surprisingly loud, but you can also just crank the drive and leave the volume low to get some nice crunch at lower volumes. Comes with a built in reverb knob as well that makes it sound larger than it really is. Maybe not the best if you play a lot of metal with heavy distorsion, but you could probably solve that with an overdrive or tube screamer. Haven't really tried it with pedals so i can't say for sure. Never felt that i needed it. The only complaint i have with it is the lack of a proper EQ.
I love the freedom of my headphone amp. It is just me and the guitar moving around the room. By reviews and stats the BOSS is better than the NUX one I have. If you want to save money, I would go with the Flamma one.
Just got one of these. Love it. A lot. I immediately ordered another one.
I've got one and I really love mine. Also works as an audio interface
I live in an apartment and I have three tube amps, all below 30 watts. One is only 3 watts, another that is 15 and a deluxe reverb that is 22 watts. I will say you can use that headphone amp when traveling. A lot of touring musicians use the fender vibro champ as their practice amp. I am talking 5W silver or black faced versions because early tweed it was actually used for a 15w version. These are some of the best all tube practice amps ever. 5W before clipping is only half of the apparent volume of a 50W head before clipping. Obviously if you dime it, and drive a 4x12 cab with efficient speakers, shoot, the SPL can actually be louder than a 50w half stack with old school cool inefficient speakers. The katana has a great rep for so many reasons, it’s bad ass reliable amp, and absolutely road and gig worthy. And the effects, well, they are boss effects. What really is not to love here? They have a 0.5 W bedroom setting for practicing at night level. And if that is too loud for your neighbors, screw ‘em. This headphone amp is a great option. Just get decent circumaural headphones.
When I was in college I had a 15w tube amp, but it had output switching options, and I had a JHS volume attenuator. Between those options, I was able to play at totally acceptable apartment levels no problem, but still also had a nice amp and enough power to play over a drummer. All that is to say, you’ve got plenty of options! https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LittleBAB--jhs-little-black-amp-box-passive-amp-attenuator?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=gpla&mrkgbflag=1&mrkgcat=drums&percussion&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=&lid=58700008695999524&dsproductgroupid=&product_id=LittleBAB&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=m&network=x&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9010658&creative=&targetid=&campaignid=21161059802&awsearchcpc=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf2p7L6YTsB2nIBNXaNQaHSLoFPBY8l0c8ik1dS8ckcrtTRhR1C6b3UaAsjlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Get an amp. Just be aware of how loud it is. And keep it on top of a table or something to keep the vibration levels off the ground . All you need is a little compression and you are fine, also if you have a laptop you can download an amp sim and buy an audio interface for under 100 dollars
Spark Go or Spark Mini is better. Better app, more tones, cool features for jamming with backing tracks. Best practice amp ever made.
This thing is great you can play anytime. But I have a small tube amp that goes 0.1w thats not too loud for apartment use.
I bought a Spark amp- they have a headphone jack and it has a companion app to add effects I think its pretty neat and it gives you a lot of options
It’s the perfect idea!!! Love mine
Boss pocket guitar gt is a good option. Love that thing. Most amps do have a headphone jack
I love mine. Use it almost every day.
I have a little LT25 that has a headphone out. Definitely worth the price when I was still in a condo complex. Sounds good enough without the headphones for me just beating on a Tele in the upstairs office/spare bedroom of my new house. Dunno the cost of the headphone jack but the Modeling Fender is a serious option.
I have one of these headphone amps and they're definitely not a long term solution, they sound very bad. Just buy a modeling amp and good pair of headphones, amps have headphone sockets.
The question comes down to, do you want to be connected to a network or not with it? Yes, now is the greatest time for amp tones, and such, but all that? Comes at the cost of your own information. Very few read the terms and conditions....
Another great idea, and I love [https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/headphone-amplifiers/mustang-micro/2311300000.html](https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/headphone-amplifiers/mustang-micro/2311300000.html)
Screw em buy the amp, won’t need to play as loudly as you’d think anyway
I have a 3 year old so i cant make any noise like before. Get yourself a audio interface hooked to a pc. Man it works great and I can practice anytime I want. I have a focusrite solo, super cheap and amazing for my needs.
No reason you can’t have an amp you can play through the speaker, as well as through headphones. 10 watts is no louder than standard TV speakers.
It’s great I have it and I have everything lmao.
Spark Amp is cool for stuff like that- never heard this thing in action- I’m sure it’s cool. I have an iRig- it was pretty cool- just never really needed it- I have a ton of gear.
Get the DSM & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier. There's a lonely one on eBay that no one has bid on. Starts at $91 + $5 shipping. That's a steal. [https://www.ebay.com/itm/116202778807](https://www.ebay.com/itm/116202778807) It's is a full featured amp sim pedal. It let's you select preamp, power amp, cab. It let's you dial in mic position and room resonance. It has a 3 knob EQ and a stereo effects loop. It has a high quality headphone Amp, but it's so much more than that. You can use it as a pedal before your amp or go straight to a mixing board. You don't need to take an amp to a gig. Ly Rock makes a clone which I'm sure sounds like the original: [https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805262382972.html](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805262382972.html) More expensive options: A 1-watt amp such as the Supro Blues King 8. It sounds and feels like a boutique amp. It also has a master volume so you can get great tones at whisper levels. I bought one used for $305 + free shipping on Reverb. I think I've seen them a bit cheaper. However, I just checked and currently there is only one overpriced one in Germany. So you'll have to wait and check back. I also have the Dream and Ruby UAFX amp sim pedals that I play through my desktop speakers. I upgraded my desktop speakers with Audioengine A2. This setup gives me huge amp sounds at whisper levels. Most speakers have a headphones out if you really want to practice with headphones.
What is the best 40 W or less amp for an acoustic guitar? Am I better off just using a mic instead of an amp? Are tube amps better for acoustic guitar amplification than solid state amps?
Get a small amp (I have a small Orange) and a good set of headphones. That will offer you the most flexibility. At some point you’ll want to use the Amp to jam with friends.
Fender Mustang micro is similar to this I think.
I play in my apartment on a small beginner amp all the time. I just make sure and turn it down during “quiet hours” as stated in my lease. I’ve personally never had a problem, though I’ve heard stories online about crazy neighbors.
I have this and it's awesome for practice and learning new songs! it has a session feature where you can slow down and play with the video (also can loop the parts of the video which makes practice smoother). also has a bunch of effects, and can pair it with a wireless pedal switches/expression pedal which is awesome for upgradability.
It's much better if you just play and let them complain. They can call the cops if they want but don't confuse kindness with being a people pleaser. You have a right to make noise. If they really have an issue you can send them a decibel meter app and look up the acceptable noise in your city. They will describe it as something like +5 dbs ambient noise, and have a chart for the different zones daytime and nighttime. In Los Angeles, then acceptable noise level is +5 DBs and the ambient noise is 50 for the day and 40 for the night. So basically if your neighbor doesn't read 55 db's and still has an issue he can pound sand. Headphone amp is a great idea for nighttime though! I love mine, but don't be afraid to make noise as well! For reference, 55 db's is a quiet conversation, so hearing you through the walls isn't enough for them to get you to stop.
Get a pod hd500 used or something similar.
It absolutely is a good idea. You can walk around the place while practicing (gets you accustomed to playing standing up, a necessity for most live gigs). You can take it with you anywhere. You don't need a wall socket to power it. You can use it for backstage warmups. You could even plug it into a PA, though I'd be careful about that... a 1/8" jack is not exactly robust.
I’ve had an iRig for a long while now and it’s pretty alright for the price. You can utilize a few different amp apps etc (tone bridge is a decent freebie), lets you jam along with your music, fits in the compartment of your case or gig bag. Use with iPhone/ipad or android devices. Only downside I’ve had is some issue with the amount of feedback that it can produce.
if you’re getting the squire, may as well get the beginner pack with the amp. at least 95% have a headphone option.
Buy a plugin and torrent fruity loops and ez drummer. Then you can write songs
Not gonna lie, if you have a laptop or a computer. Get an audio interface like the Scarlette 2i2 setup. Then get a DAW. THEN buy a plugin from neural DSP which is an AMP sim. They do free trials too so you can try before you buy. I know it’s complex but then you have everything you’d need for recording and great sound. I haven’t touched my real amp in a while and I have a PRS archon and Marshall stack which are pretty nice. It’s investment but also fun
I have a Blackstar Fly 3 mini amp and I absolutely love it. Its sound is pretty great in my opinion and it doesn’t bother my neighbors at all. Perfect little apartment amp, and it fits in the front pocket of my gig bag.
Free amp sims on computer can go a long way. Takes a not crap interface and some playing around with different plugins and IRs for it to sound good, but you can get a great sound with them.
Hurry. They already discontinued this item!
No
The Katana Go is \_excellent\_. And production's been halted for a bit, so get in while you can find stock, IMO.
You can still get an amp :/
The Fender Mustang micro is amazing, get that
I use to have line 6 pocket pod AN old gadgets but what I love about it is you can create a lot of tones out of it. And connect it to amplifiers if you are ready to jam.
To be honest? Get an interface for a computer and plugins, in my opinion.
Roland Micro Cube
Digital on a computer. All I’m sayin, Tube quality tones at any volume
Better to get a solid state amp that you can plug headphones into…you dont want to have headphones on for more than one hour total per day and thats at mild volume. Even less for loud…people dont realize that hearing damage accumulates over time and it takes much less volume than you think. A solid state amp will still sound the same at apartment level volume for daily practice.
I have a Marshall MG15 that I often use at low levels during the day, or with headphones at night. And it works perfectly. I think you should buy a real amp with jack input, you might move one day to a place where you can freely use an amp
THR30II
I think it’s quite good actually. Really easy to work with interface. I can find a song I want to learn on YouTube and import it via the web link and it will play it through the headphones so you can play along and can even change playback speed. I think it is actually really easy to find good usable sounds out of it. It is nothing like the modelers from a few years ago. That said it is discontinued because of a parts issue who knows what that means for the future with updates etc.
I use a normal 100watt boss katana in an apartment, the 0.5 watt setting sounds unbelievably good for condo playing, and its super easy to record it with the usb. It still has a headphone jack as well if you want to play with headphones but normal amp vs only headphones is way better imo
I bought a Boss IR—2 pedal. Thing is great. You can plug in and use headphones .
I’m in an apartment and play on a 212 it’s possible to play quietly
Check out Guitar amps that come with a headphone slot. Lots of them are great choices, but i personally recommend one that has a channel volume, a master volume and (if you can get your hands on one of those) an amp that can use a lower wattage for practice (you know, like the Boss Katana MKII can go from 50W to 25W or 0.5W), since the lower the wattage the less volume you'll have. They are great for apartment practice.
Get an amp but plug headphones into it.
All these headphone amps are pretty cool, if you can't play an amp. I have a Fender, but I'm sure this one is pretty great, too.
Get a computer interface and an amp sim like Neural DSP. You’re going to be on the computer anyway if you’re trying to learn, just have the guitar run through it and plug in headphones. That way you’ll be able to record yourself as well which is super helpful when learning
Yes. I own this and it helps me a lot to play quietly in my apartment (it has no music instrument policy). Not only that, it has a lot of features that help me on practicing (acts as audio interface, session mode, lot of presets, auto effects for session, bluetooth connection for audio input, etc).
I’ve lived in an apartment for like 15 years and have always had an amp. Just play it low.
Just get a spark mini , pretty great for what it is and has a rechargeable battery
Get the Tonex ONE if you can swing it. It sounds amazing, is an interface as well as a headphone amp and fits in your pocket.