I'm an old guy who only plays at home now and only uses small amps. I have Blackface '64 Champ but in all honesty, I don't use it much. I have a Vox Pathfinder10 (also the 15), a very early version (still has the gold threading) and I wasn't all that crazy about it until I did the famous LED mod. Now I love it. A few years ago I walked into my local Guitar Center and in the used section sat a Marshall MG15 with a price tag of $9.95. I figured with a price like that it must be broken since it looked brand new. Nope. Nothing wrong with it so I took it home. Later put a Celestion Eight 15 speaker in it. I have a number of Fender amps but picked up a Champion 20 for $59.00. Thank you for these demos, Mr. Elmo.
I have a Marshall MG-15 too and I have considered selling my Katana and Champion 40 and getting just the pedals I need and have at it with the little Marshall. For a small amp it rocks.
I'm not looking for an amp right now, but I get a kick out of watching you test them out. Because you seem like a cool dude and your channel is always entertaining. Thanks, rock on!
Thank you for your content! Your videos inspired me to start my guitar journey at 36) I use MG10, because it was only available when I bought my IBANEZ )) with great gratefulness from Ukraine
Kiitos Elmo...You made my decision easy. I bought the Blackstar 50r because it's adequate power for gigging as well. Excellent choice for that classic rock sound. 👍
@@JAF2991 i had a katana 50 first gen. It was wery boxy/small sounding so i Would go Blackstar. The new gen 3 katana should be better and have a fuller Sound 🤷🏼
Nice review! I was disappointed with 2 different budget fender amps. After using those anything sounds good lol The ISF on the Blackstar if you turn it more to the right is supposed to be more British tone and to the left more American tone. Blended in the middle. Thats what my booklet said. I have the Bronco Grey version.
Your starter/practice amp imho should at least be considered to be a keeper. As a total noob I'd recommend a Vox VT40x or Boss Dual Cube. One 10" with built in fx, the other low wattage but also battery powered as built in fx. I like the practicality and price of these type of amps. Headphone socket = 👌 If you're replacing and selling off gear you waist a lot of money if not carefull. Try to buy something as an add on to your gear
I have the vox pathfinder 10 (I have two and I’m about to get a third). It’s a great little amp that allows me to achieve a Brian May tone without too much noise. I have found that I can get a tone that is somewhat a combination of the vox AC 30 and his homemade Deacy amp made by his bandmate John Deacon
I have 3 Pathfinder 10s as well and the amp is good but has not a decent speaker. I had before a VOX DA5 (mid 2000) and has the same speaker size (6,5" 10W RMS 8ohms perfect for Pathfinder specification) but a bigger magnet. I put the speaker of DA5 into the PATHFINDER 10 and the result was much better: no speaker distortion and more mids. If you you have a chance to try this or with other 6,5" you will get a better sounding amp. Just pay attention to put a speaker with the same specifications that the amp requires. Cheers and have fun
@@pablomusicgear7288 on video is in spanish, though ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rRAv76ylAcI.html&ab_channel=SERGIONIGRELLI ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AVtTjl7P_Js.html&ab_channel=Guitarupicnic
Did you do the LED mod? Im looking for an amp that will get me in the range of Brian's tone and from this video and Elmo's other pathfinder vid, I am leaning away from it due to the poor OD sounds... what's your opinion on it without the mod if you haven't?
@@screamingguitars124 I have seen videos of people doing the mod and the sound demos and honestly I don’t hear a difference. In fact, I think the LED mod makes it sound a little bit worse.
I have a 10W Donner practice amp that came as part of a cheap guitar bundle; apparently it's essentially the same as the HB-10G, which is a clone of the Frontman 10. Like most Fender amps, it does clean well, but... Of all the basic bitch practice amps, I think the MG10 has the best overall balance. Full disclosure, I've always preferred The Marshall Sound (TM), and the MG10 does this well. I'm pretty sure part of it is the dissimilar LEDs in the clipping circuit, and I have no idea why the other practice amp manufacturers haven't figured out what a lot of us amateur builders have known for some time.
I would say they are all much of a muchness but then I saw your face there Elmo with the Frontman 20G at 29:19! :D Thanks Elmo for taking a bullet for us ;)
My main amp is the vox pathfinder 15r. my secondary amp is Peavey bandit red stripe. The Peavey is not secondary because it is less good amp than the vox but because it can be a bit loud for an apartment.
Honestly take a look at used gear. I picked up an old Peavey 15w Tranbstube Series Amp with reverb and it is just amazing, costed me €50 inkl Shipping. I also picked up a used Squier Bullet Stratocaster (made in 2010) all original, non modified and it is also just amazing (sound, feel etc) So €150 for amp and guitar + €20 in Strings and basic tools. My point is, do not forget to look at the used markets (Reverb and local).
You had a good point with those battery powered amps. I think the only benefit of these is, that they look more like an amp, specially the Fender, the Vox and the Marshall, that also have that classic brand name and logo.
I think the most important consideration is the clean sound because that’s how you develop your ability to create a good tone and develop good playing habits. I have several larger amps and cabs- Fender, Peavey, HiWatt etc and a slew of pedals but I mostly play the little Marshall you reviewed with a ( I think essential ) reverb pedal. I get a pleasing tone even at very low level so I don’t disturb the household. BTW, no small solid state amp has a really good overdrive. For that you need a good pedal as well.
I like my positive grid spark and spark go for practice. Can't beat the space savings. I use my spark go on my nightstand for my bedroom and spark for a small space band practice. Tone is fine. When it comes to practicing it's all good though. I really wanted to like the boss kitana air but I had to sell it. Spark just was easier to control if you have an iphone. I found the android app sucked for the Boss and Spark, but maybe it's gotten better. Not mad at either of these amps for actual practicing. For gigging I just would go straight in with my PodGo. Easy, no amp setup. No bullshit to deal with when it comes to setting anything up.
I would agree with your ranking Elmo. I'm partial to Blackstar but the Marshall did sound better, slightly, than the small Debut. I will say however that there's a giant difference in tone between the Debut 15 and the 50R. I just picked up one of those for practice and it really sounds fantastic on both the clean and overdrive channels. Blackstar is marketing it as a pedal platform and they aren't kidding. It takes pedals extremely well, all analog, and has an effects loop for $250 here in the US. If you get a chance to review it I would love to hear your thoughts. Keep they videos coming!
I have a Blackstar Debut, but a 10-watt version. It does what it is made for - it's a beginner-level amp for learners. Considering the price, hey - you can't go wrong. I mean you get a decent-sounding amp for practicing your chords and scales which will not make your neighbours call the police on you. This little box will have you covered for months/years until you really NEED something more powerful or feature-packed.
The blackstar is great but with two mini speakers. I think about the speakers change moment. For the price is better to go to Debut 50r with atenuator. Ive got a Pathfinder 10, but with a 8" celestion speaker and the led mod. Killer amp. Strong building and great sound. Take reverb and overdrive pedals very well. I feel that today all the practice amps are great and u can gig in some little pubs with one of this great amps. 10 watts throw only a half of volume than a 100 watts amp. The SPL of the speaker put the power of the amp and depends of config to cut in the mix to hear your instrument with others.
Perfect timing. Watched your vids on Harley Benton’s and Marshall’s. Looking for a small second combo to accompany my Blackstar ht5 for a two amp rig for home fun. Before watching this video my Favourite is the Harley benton5 watt valve combo. Dsl5 in second place.
In a previous video I mentioned I own the BOSS Katana Mini it blows these amps away, I always recommend this amp it's perfect for home use for travel, Fender Frontman is so horrible and brutal, what I would love to see Elmo is using some pedals with the Mini reverb , compression pedal, oh I know there is a modification people are putting an external speaker jack to their mini's I'm not so brave, but that would be a brilliant feature , BOSS Katana Mini all the way,
I just got one too, and it's great! However, these are bigger amps and, well, just bigger and better than the Katana (well, not the Fender, but the other ones are quite decent) 😊.
Thanks for the video and you play awesome , i think for me the Benton then between Marshall and Vox, Black Star and and Fender is too bright , cheers bro
My first amp was a budget small Marshall with a clean/od channel. I remember I was like 15 yo. Had got given this free LP knock-off by my mates dad and I needed a way to make noise come out. I tried a Fender. Laney. Peavey and the Marshall. I had no idea what I was doing or anything about amps. I ended up with the Marshall. I can completely understand why I chose it whilst simultaneously acknowledging now that the thing sounded terrible! Things have come a long way now in terms of budget equipment
MY ears: #1 Fender #2 Harley Benton #3 Vox #4 Marshall #5 Blackstar Fender has always been hard to beat regardless of price range, Solid State or Tube (it's not a bias of mine; it seems to be fact to the ears). Harley Benton surprised me here---actually pretty nice. Had a Vox (Valvetronix VT 30 I think) and couldn't bond with it, had one personality "Yuck"...can't believe this one even came in third, but Marshall and Blackstar sucked so bad my hands were tied.
Okay Elmo, we love you, the white stripes,…….. not so much! I really dig that blackstar! The Harley Benton didn’t sound too bad but that blackstar stuff man it’s pretty killer! I triple dog dare you to get some maiden riffs out there! Come on! You can do it! Wicker man! Golden years! Rhyme of the ancient mariner! Get er done bro! Hahahaha!!
Hello. I really pay attention now to those parts where you say ' and lets see what it thinks of a little overdrive" . That's really an important moment. Also important is when you say" here's my clean which is not clean. Really important and you don't know till you do how important. Last Elmo what do you use generally for a clean. Do you turn your guitar down or switch amps. One more thing, sorry. There are some things that you play on almost every demo I've seen/ heard. I've seen/ heard these bits many times and can't place them or play them. Single note stuff mostly and you do something chromatic i think but it stumps me. I've taken enough of your time. Rock on! and thanks. I love delay too. Miss T.P. don't get the Jack White Stripes.
@@MrPolevaulter Hi there. one of the things sounds sorta like without love by the doobie bro's. Thanks for getting back to me and sorry for my delay. Just want to let you know that ur vid about not giving up and not saying I can;t is very inspiring. I think that many people will be helped by your words. People need more of exactly what you did there and I thank you. As for the snippets of music I'll try and get some more examples. The reason I was curious is that many players have a few things they play to see if hands and gear are working. This was pointed out by S.R.V. in an interview. Really not important. I wrote a longer thank you but my computer ate it. Thanks for info and inspiration. Also you've got a great fret hand pinky. Mines good but yours is superhuman. Thanks Elmo. Take care. uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
I am missing something. Why was the Boss Kantsna Mini not included in this video? Is that in a different category? The Fender Frontman amp is bundled in a package with a Squier Bullet. Perhaps they put a high price tag on it to make the package set look a great deal.
1 - Blackstar. Not my favorite on either channel, but this amp is the most consistent, seems versatile, and there wasn't anything I hated! 2 - Marshall. Best sounding drive. Cleans are warm but a bit too muffled. MG series gets a lot of hate online, but I kinda think it is unwarranted tbh. 3 - Vox. Usable channels, overall Vox vibe. There's a lot of sounds here that hurt my ears, but when dialed in wasn't bad. 4 - Fender. Good clean channel, but what a joke of an OD. OD hurt my ears a lot. 5 - HB. I think this amp is all around bad. Sounded like a small boxy amp. One of those amps that comes in a package deal that a kid would start with, and a sound their parent's wouldn't appreciate. Some of the amps here literally hurt my ears on the drive channel. I am using Presnous monitors. That Harley Benton and Fender are just a fizzy mess. They sound more like the amp and speaker can't handle the drive or are broken, rather than an actual guitar tone. The Blackstar and Mashall have decent drive, depending on what you play. Cleans? Fender and blackstar seem to have a decent clean tone. The Harley Benton just sounded like odd string noises, not sure how anyone could pick this amp.
:13 Wow that headstock is as close to looking like a Fender as you can get...without a lawsuit. Its just a little off on the curve next to the bone nut.
Oh man, look at THIS GUY! Good to see you Elmo. RU-vid hasn't put you at the top of my feed since your video about being let go at the school. Wow, how long has that been???
Vox ac30 has bright clean channel but when you crank it it gets very dark. Very ironic but thats why Rory, Brian May and Clapton (early marshall) used treble boosters on their cranked amps.
Thanks Elmo. I thought the Blackstar pulled off the "American" sound well, and the Marshall sounded like...a Marshall. 😊 1. Blackstar 2. Marshall 3. Vox 4. Harley Benton 5. Fender
I watched someone Walk up on the stage at a gig of ours with a vox Pathfinder 15, tubescreamer and a charvel and get a killer tone.. it's All in the fingers and your stompbox lol..
Do not look any further......go buy a Micro cube. I even sold my Boss Katana 50 just to keep my Micro cube at home. Insanely good amp for it's size and price. I've tried a ton of unexpensive amps and it always boils down to Micro cube as best amp ever made for that price range. If you want to spend a bit more money maybe the postive grid spark mini which looks encouraging.
I love it Blackstar ht5. It's great when you play clean. Turn on the overdrive that kicks in the reverb and equalizer. The nice little amp turns into a badass little powerhouse
Mukavaa nähdä myös Harley Benton joukossa. Sellanen käsitys mulla on että niiden laatu on parantunut siitä mitä olivat 2000-luvun alussa. Tai no, vahvistimista en tiedä mutta melkoista kuraa niiden bassot ja kitarat oli 2000-luvun alussa. Ainakin ne, mitä kokeilin mutta lienee vähän arpapeliä.
personally I wouldn't buy any of them they all sounded crap but if I was pushed id put in a few more dollars and buy the Blackstar Debut 50watt it sounds a hell of a lot better as has 12" speaker and its the cheapest amp worth a look, if I had more money I'd buy fender lt50 or the GTX50 or bit less money I'd buy a boss katana 50, most guys would buy an amp they would gig and practice with once they found their sound, the little amps are for a learner with a cheap guitar
What country do you live in ? I own a HB and it sits in the corner of the room and I don't play it. It has to many issues . Donner I don't know . I have the Ibanez 40 and it's a great guitar . No issues no problems no complaints ! I have had it for about 1 year and still no issues . I took it out of the box and plugged it in .
my experience is it depends on your surrounding equipment/pedals/guitar. In my honest opinion, I've played 5 amps ever. a boss 100, a line 6 spider jam , a small line 6, a small fender amp that came with a starter kit. and a black star 5w. the line 6s and small fender were crap for different reasons. really the fender was ok just small and didn't push hard enough. the line 6s were crap. the smaller one sounded like a wet fart and the siderjam was good for throwing a party and hooking it up to music, but didn't play with pedals well and overall the mids and highs sucked. actually i have a partybox 710 i play with pedals to mess around and it blows the spiderjam out of the water with and without pedals, but i don't consider it an amp. the blackstar and boss are great amps. really I'm not a rock star and i just wanted amps and guitars that keep me playing. the line 6s and small fender didn't do that. i assume most any of these amps would do a good job keeping people playing.
I have line 6 flextone 2 from like 20 years ago. Looking to upgrade for mostly home play but also able to gig. Considering Boss Katana mk2 100w. Thoughts? Is 50w ex all I need ? It’s $50 cheaper than 100w
liked..the vox(pathfinder?) seems to have nice clean tones... I'm actually quite interested in the HB...based 100% on price....oh this is probably the HB10...I'm more curious about the hb40....(omg, the HB sounds terrible(so does the fender)..especially the dirty/O.D....sad) honestly, I wouldn't recommend any of these...even for the bedroom. Thank you for your suffering :)..I'm no guitar snob..I actually just run a kustom KGFX100....I don't play out anymore...I'm just some old guy who still plays :) EDIT: you came to somewhat my same conclusion...they are all shit.
I love the jingle jangle of the Vox. The tone you created in the demo is reminiscent of Tom Petty to me. With these little battery amps it's hit and miss on the quality of the amp's speaker. As they have to cut corners somewhere to keep the price down.
At least on my playback device, I thought the Vox handily killed them all. It's the only one that sounded like an actual amp. Nice cleans. Tons of gain available. The Fender and Blackstar sounded terrible. Fender sounded okay on clean, but the Blackstar sounded like a toy on both clean and overdrive. I'd say the HB and Marshall were usable, but that's about it.
The vox sounded ,way better than the others ,on all the other reviews ,the Vox comes out near or on top with the clean channel against the others,distortion on the Vox or the others is poor
The Harley Benton sounds like absolute crap to my ears. Everything is relative mind you. That said, the Vox sounds quite good to me and the Blackstar seems capable. So my choice in reversed order goes as such: HB, Fender, Marshall, Blackstar, Vox. But again, I'd be hard-pressed to buy any of these amps.
Honestly at this price point and wattage range, why not go for a bass amp... The ones with 6-8 inch speakers I mean adjust the clean to taste get an overdrive pedal, or delay/reverb and your good to go. But that is just my 2 cents... I read that Fender made the Frontman 15-B by using the same schematic as the Bassman and converting it to SS, but maybe I'm wrong.
I don't get why anyone likes Marshall, the hum is overwhelming and it sounds overall muffled like from under a blanket. Even a Harley Benton sounds 10 times better.
Bit of a surprise to find Vox at no.3, then again i have not tried any of their recent models, as i keep saying my Trusty Vox VT40X stiill skows most small amps how it should be done. Fender at no.4 is no surprise, chinese made junk at it's worst. Marshall still have factory in the UK but i doubt that this amp was made there They are still capable of making a good amp if you like the Marshall tone which is not clean enough for me. Choosing an amp that sounds good with your guitar is not easy, some just don't right. As usual the only way is to try for yourself, find a good guitar store take you own axe and keep playing until the right amp says buy me.
Tiny practice amps are just the worst. Even when there wasn't any amp sims they were horrendous. Not only they sound ugly, but they can't take any pedal at all. Seriously, before buying any amp like thoose consider the option of going all numeric, or having one of thoose tiny heads, like the ones joyo makes, with a harley benton cab (not the cheapest option around, but the best soundwise, and you can still buy a better/gigging head later and use the same cab), or go for used amps (best option if you want to learn how thoose things work !)
Lmao, that was me 20 years ago. I got one of the ultra budget Squier ones in a Squier strat bundle. You couldn't dial in a semi usable tone and it also picked up radio frequencies 😅
It's better than them or their parents spending money on an amp they use twice then never pick up the guitar again. At least with these amps they can see if they commit to it and won't have to be mad they spent a lot of money.
