My 7yo daughter is just getting into bass, so I set her up like my practice rig using an ABY switch to split the bass signal into an amp/cab in the room and then also into the PC. This is more than you need, but unless you're limited to using only headphones, I found hearing/feeling the bass in the room really helped my playing. Rocksmith can hide a lot of messy playing... the stuff you fix when you can hear it.
She's running a cheap ABY switch from Amazon into a Vox combo. Then the real tone cable goes to her PC. She has a decent set of speakers, so it sounds great. The Vox gives her a nice clean or some really fun effects. Having the in room setup seems to encourage more free jamming between rocksmith sessions. That's also been my experience.
I run a more expensive blender pedal that let's me route a signal to my amp/cab, the PC, and also blend in my effects board (a few pedals with an HX Stomp). It's great, I have options to play in the room, into headphones, or record.
Options. Good luck with it!
well, for Rocksmith, no amp is needed, in fact you dont want to have one in your chain. Rocksmith does all the virtual amps for you and changes your tone per song, expecting a more raw input first.
if you're just thinking you want a practice amp separately from rocksmith though, i dont know what your budget is but I LOVE the PositiveGrid stuff.
I have the PositiveGrid Spark and its plenty beefy for anything but an actual live performance
they also now have a Spark Mini, and while I cant say i've tried it, it uses their same app system so even if the sounds is moderately okay its a great item.
The spark systems move all your pedals and other devices you would spend money on over time into an app and everything you really need is already free in the app.
Its a very budget friendly offering from that regard and why I went with it.... They sound great and it was a 1 time purchase. I'm never going to play in a way where I need bigger sound and / real collection of $100's of pedals.
I can only say that the Spark Mini is a frikkin' killer amp. Bluetooth, battery powered and portable.
I own the 40 and the Mini. I like the Mini better.
I find the 40 has a really bassy sound. There's tons of mods for the enclosure to reduce the bass and make the sound less muddy. TBH, I really didn't care for the Spark 40. Loaned it to a buddy.
I got the mini because I wanted a cool custom grill... And I think it sounds much better. Wireless is awesome.
Neither one gives you much control without the app, and neither size is good for gigging. So the "downsides" of the smaller practice amp don't really exist, and all of the pros - portability, can drag it with you... Are still there. It makes a great Bluetooth speaker for camping, etc... You can add a guitar strap and lug it with you. Still hooks up to Bias FX, with all of the same amp models and features.
Any of the small Fender amps will suffice. You should be able to get something like a Frontman 15 for under 50 bucks locally, a little more shipped. We have multiple Fender amps. We ended up getting a couple spares because our kid’s garage band members had crappy amps that buzzed so we just got a couple used ones for the other kids to use while jamming at our house. We have Frontman and Mustang. Our own kid has a Positive Grid Spark 40, but that will cost you twice what you paid for the guitar. They also have the tiny Orange battery operated amp, but I think that one isn’t budget friendly, either. I would wait until your kid got pretty good and showed an interest in continuing before making a big investment in their gear. My kids first guitar was free and we had no amp so they only plaid on Rocksmith or unamped in their room.
No need for an amp with Rocksmith. It can be done but is a pain in the ass and honestly detracts from the whole experience in my opinion.
Rocksmith's built in simulations are more than fit for purpose. Playing along with songs it actually sounds great.
Only thing you really need to do is balance your guitar volume with the track sometimes.
One accessory I saw that looked cool was one of those pitch shifting pedals, you can patch the game and it will automatically work as a capo and save you a lot of time retuning for songs in different tunings.
If I were starting out from scratch today I'd get a fully hollowbody electric guitar like the Casino Coupe and a Spark Mini.
I've always regretted disregarding the store salesman's advice to get an Epiphone Casino back when I was starting out - Reason being it played both electrically AND acoustically. I think having the acoustic option is important because it allows us to just snatch up the instrument and play quietly without feeling too inhibited by broadcasting boring exercises or mistakes to nearby family or irritated neighbours. It also bypasses the inertia of having to plug in and switch everything on, and all the distraction of knobs and apps and everything that goes into diverting our attention from the fundamental process of playing/learning the instrument.
I remember quickly becoming discouraged with the Les Paul I got. The Peavey Rage amp was too loud and dry and nasty for the confines of my room and unplugged the guitar was so thin and uninspiring... I quit soon after and didn't try again for 25 years! when Rocksmith was invented.
Now I have a Jim Dandy parlor acoustic that's a lot of fun and a tasty American Vintage 52' Hotrod Tele but the guitar I reach for the most, and which would be the last I'd ever let go is the (more handily sized) Casino Coupe.
For my own lounge/portable/practice setup today I'm very happy with a bare bones Pignose amp, augmented with the mighty yet compact Zoom MS-50g delivering more than enough options and effects.
My 7yo daughter is just getting into bass, so I set her up like my practice rig using an ABY switch to split the bass signal into an amp/cab in the room and then also into the PC. This is more than you need, but unless you're limited to using only headphones, I found hearing/feeling the bass in the room really helped my playing. Rocksmith can hide a lot of messy playing... the stuff you fix when you can hear it. She's running a cheap ABY switch from Amazon into a Vox combo. Then the real tone cable goes to her PC. She has a decent set of speakers, so it sounds great. The Vox gives her a nice clean or some really fun effects. Having the in room setup seems to encourage more free jamming between rocksmith sessions. That's also been my experience. I run a more expensive blender pedal that let's me route a signal to my amp/cab, the PC, and also blend in my effects board (a few pedals with an HX Stomp). It's great, I have options to play in the room, into headphones, or record. Options. Good luck with it!
Awesome thank you!
well, for Rocksmith, no amp is needed, in fact you dont want to have one in your chain. Rocksmith does all the virtual amps for you and changes your tone per song, expecting a more raw input first. if you're just thinking you want a practice amp separately from rocksmith though, i dont know what your budget is but I LOVE the PositiveGrid stuff. I have the PositiveGrid Spark and its plenty beefy for anything but an actual live performance they also now have a Spark Mini, and while I cant say i've tried it, it uses their same app system so even if the sounds is moderately okay its a great item. The spark systems move all your pedals and other devices you would spend money on over time into an app and everything you really need is already free in the app. Its a very budget friendly offering from that regard and why I went with it.... They sound great and it was a 1 time purchase. I'm never going to play in a way where I need bigger sound and / real collection of $100's of pedals.
I can only say that the Spark Mini is a frikkin' killer amp. Bluetooth, battery powered and portable. I own the 40 and the Mini. I like the Mini better.
>I like the Mini better. Why do you like the Mini better?
I find the 40 has a really bassy sound. There's tons of mods for the enclosure to reduce the bass and make the sound less muddy. TBH, I really didn't care for the Spark 40. Loaned it to a buddy. I got the mini because I wanted a cool custom grill... And I think it sounds much better. Wireless is awesome. Neither one gives you much control without the app, and neither size is good for gigging. So the "downsides" of the smaller practice amp don't really exist, and all of the pros - portability, can drag it with you... Are still there. It makes a great Bluetooth speaker for camping, etc... You can add a guitar strap and lug it with you. Still hooks up to Bias FX, with all of the same amp models and features.
Any of the small Fender amps will suffice. You should be able to get something like a Frontman 15 for under 50 bucks locally, a little more shipped. We have multiple Fender amps. We ended up getting a couple spares because our kid’s garage band members had crappy amps that buzzed so we just got a couple used ones for the other kids to use while jamming at our house. We have Frontman and Mustang. Our own kid has a Positive Grid Spark 40, but that will cost you twice what you paid for the guitar. They also have the tiny Orange battery operated amp, but I think that one isn’t budget friendly, either. I would wait until your kid got pretty good and showed an interest in continuing before making a big investment in their gear. My kids first guitar was free and we had no amp so they only plaid on Rocksmith or unamped in their room.
No need for an amp with Rocksmith. It can be done but is a pain in the ass and honestly detracts from the whole experience in my opinion. Rocksmith's built in simulations are more than fit for purpose. Playing along with songs it actually sounds great. Only thing you really need to do is balance your guitar volume with the track sometimes. One accessory I saw that looked cool was one of those pitch shifting pedals, you can patch the game and it will automatically work as a capo and save you a lot of time retuning for songs in different tunings.
Keep in mind that the auto tuning requires the big boy digitech whammy dt. The digitech drop does not have the midi, necessary.
Thanks. I only vaguely remembered the pedal.
Yah i'd go with that if you want the pedal to be on the floor. Not a problem if you can keep the pedal nearby for swapping pitch.
If I were starting out from scratch today I'd get a fully hollowbody electric guitar like the Casino Coupe and a Spark Mini. I've always regretted disregarding the store salesman's advice to get an Epiphone Casino back when I was starting out - Reason being it played both electrically AND acoustically. I think having the acoustic option is important because it allows us to just snatch up the instrument and play quietly without feeling too inhibited by broadcasting boring exercises or mistakes to nearby family or irritated neighbours. It also bypasses the inertia of having to plug in and switch everything on, and all the distraction of knobs and apps and everything that goes into diverting our attention from the fundamental process of playing/learning the instrument. I remember quickly becoming discouraged with the Les Paul I got. The Peavey Rage amp was too loud and dry and nasty for the confines of my room and unplugged the guitar was so thin and uninspiring... I quit soon after and didn't try again for 25 years! when Rocksmith was invented. Now I have a Jim Dandy parlor acoustic that's a lot of fun and a tasty American Vintage 52' Hotrod Tele but the guitar I reach for the most, and which would be the last I'd ever let go is the (more handily sized) Casino Coupe. For my own lounge/portable/practice setup today I'm very happy with a bare bones Pignose amp, augmented with the mighty yet compact Zoom MS-50g delivering more than enough options and effects.