[JamesPeters]

I usually don't use a practice amp. I just play unplugged.

That being said, I'm thinking about getting a Tech21 TM10 or a Roland Microcube.

You won't need to.

 

[JamesPeters]

I have a peavy rage 158 that is crap and I don't use.

That's the one you're selling on this forum here right? Thanks for warning me.

 

[JamesPeters]

That is the one. IT's crap for an experienced guitar player but a great practise/starter amp for a beginner.

For a small/inexpensive practise amp, I'd say it's pretty good actually. It's far better than a lot of other amps of that size. When it was first released people were buying them like hotcakes. I'm sure it still sells a lot.

 

[JamesPeters]

So do you think I should raise my asking price of 50$

Well I'm not buying it, so asking me won't help you much.

 

[JamesPeters]

What I would like is a Peters practice amp. 5-10 watts, 10" speaker, maybe the RamRod from Eminence. Master Volume, with a gain, treble and bass controls nothing more. Heck, I'd help fund the research and take the first mutt. Anyone else in?

If you mean something like an Electar Tube 10, or Epiphone Galaxy 10, I see no point in making it. It's been done, and there's no way I can compete in a lower-end price point market. I'm barely able to compete where I am as it is.

Anyway 5W-10W is not suitable for most of my designs, because of the lack of headroom alone. The higher gain designs just can't do what they're supposed to with that low headroom, the clean designs don't have enough power for most jamming situations, and the medium gain designs don't show their strengths nearly as well as they should. I'd also like to remind you that small combo amps simply don't sound right for the designs I make--they cannot not do them justice. If I've ever heard a small combo that actually sounds great, I might be more inclined to change my mind, but out of all the amps I've tried I haven't heard one yet.

Beyond that, my 20W class AB designs sound more "full" and "deep" than the 10W amps ever did, have extremely useful master volumes, and also have "low power" options which (if you really want to) will lower the headroom. My current class AB amps also allow for very useful features which the lower powered designs simply couldn't.

If you want a "Peters practise amp", look into the 20W Custom Dual Channel amps. Or perhaps even a 50W Custom Dual Channel, since it will still sound excellent at low volumes but also keep up with most "100W" amps in jamming situations. And if you don't believe me, you live in Calgary so you can come try one.

 

[JamesPeters]

James,

I'm getting off topic here, but I was wondering if you build anything that sonically resembles a Marshall 1974X? I recently tried one of those little 18-watters and its a sweet, sweet amp. Very pricey though.

Sorry, I don't make clones. I have too much respect for the other amp companies to do that, and when "it's been done" there's no point in my doing it anyway. Just so you know, if I made something like that, it wouldn't be less expensive. Especially in a case like this where I'd have to make a combo enclosure for it, buy a speaker (which I get no deals on) and so forth.

 

[JamesPeters]

I wasn't thinking in that price point. More along the lines of $800-1000CDN. Competing with the the Nova, MiniCat and Mini Z. A little more umph though. God, I hope I never have to keep up with a 100W in a jam, that's just wrong.

That's too low a price point for me to make any combo amp, unless I were to really cheap out and then what's the point.

As it is, I don't really like the Mini Z, MiniCat and so forth. (Not that I'm saying "they're bad amps", but follow me on this...) I don't want to have something out there that I don't feel comfortable having my name on. I fought an uphill battle as it was to discontinue the 10W designs, because people didn't believe me that the class AB designs were better. As soon as the class AB designs got around to the tonefests (instead of the 10W amps for a change), suddenly people were all "Whoa, who's this Peters Amps guy?!?!?" After that, there was a huge difference in how people saw me and my products. I'm never going back.

 

[JamesPeters]

Not looking for a clone. Just something in the same sonic neighborhood.

That's too bad. I'd love to find a Marshall-ish 18-watt amp for around $1,500. I may have to try building one myself.

I don't make non-master amps too, as a general guideline (not so much a strict rule). My strengths have been in making amps with good master volume controls, so I don't see any point in straying from that. As such you might think what I'd build wouldn't be close enough to sound like that amp.

$1500 CAN is too low for me to build a combo like that. I sold single-channel amps for $1700 (USD) which weren't combos.