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What are your recommendations for a nice little inexpensive portable headphone pre-amp, so I can rock out on an electric solidbody through headphones? Effects such as distortion, reverb, or even chorus are defintely plusses, but so is a small size. (Am I asking for too much in a little package? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/...icons/rock.gif )
Have you looked at the Korg Pandora PX4? I've considered one myself but they're not that cheap, though they occasionally run a special where they throw in a pair of cordless headphones.
That looks very nice, but I was thinking of something way cheaper, perhaps < $50. I just did some eBay surfing and saw the Arion Hot Watt II, which at $49, is more in line with my budget for this item; any feedback on it or something comparable?
I've got a pocket rockit that is a few years old that has distortion, chorus, and I believe reverb on it. It works pretty well. If you want it, I'll sell it to you for $30 + $5 shipping. I use a Line 6 POD now when I want to play through headphones. It sounds better, which is what you would expect for 300 smackers. PM me if you want it. Do a google search and you can see what the newest model looks like.
An old Rockman would be great...nice dirt, but not overbearing, good chorus...lots of fun...
Danelectro pocket studio. got mine for $25, distortion and slap echo, comes with headphones with a long cord plus a belt clip.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/...andosmiley.gif
Don't buy the AmPlug from Vox...the idea is good, I mean it is nice, but very cheaply made...every one I had, the plug in connection gets worn out quickly...maybe had I kept the headphones plugged in all the time, it might've lasted longer. If you can find an ARION HOT WATT II somewhere...it's about the size of a Walkman a bit bigger, has 4 effects choices and it's great. I lost the first one I had, or sold it, and just found another one on eBay...it should be here soon. Similar to a Rockman headphone amp but I like the ARION HOT WATT II much better. Look on eBay for one, you'll love it. Trust me.
Agree on avoiding the Vox AmPlugs! As far as these micro amps go, I've had good results so far from the Valeton Rushead Max ($40), and my wife is happy with the new Fender Mustang Micro even though it's overpriced (but in fairness it has Bluetooth on the aux input).
Both units sound great and have all the effects you want, and we like that they have USB rechargeable lithium ion batteries. We're not comfortable with these things hanging off our guitars and mandolins though, so we run instrument cables into a tuner and plug the micro amps into that (which also makes it way easier to work the settings).
I used to install these, along with an input jack for MP3 player, in electric mandolins. You could listen to yourself play as well as run backing tracks through it to play against. https://www.guitarfetish.com/Onboard...nes_p_567.html It had a crazy wiring diagram because I had to account for the different impedance between the various devices. Stand alone for playing is great. I've seen them put in small candy tins so that you can use them with any instrument. Use a stereo jack and wire it so that it is only turned on when the jack is installed so you don't burn through batteries.
I recently bought the Rushead Max based on a recommendation (most likely yours, thank you very much jparis51) and totally agree. It sounds really good and has all the effects I'll ever need for silent playing in my apartment. It's the best $40 I've spent in a long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by jparis51
Len B.
Clearwater, FL
You're more than welcome, enjoy!
I got a Valeton Rushhead Max off Amazon for $40.
https://www.amazon.com/VALETON-Headp...s%2C184&sr=8-4
Amazingly good sound and effects.
Will An Amp that cuts out the speaker as soon as you plug in a headphone work well enough?
:popcorn: