Author Topic: Headphone practice amps (Read 203 times)

juggernaught · « **on:** September 18, 2008, 09:35:48 AM »

I'm looking into different headphone practice amps, and I wanted to get opinions from people who've tried various brands like pocket rocket, fodera private practice, TASCAM, raven, etc.

wayne · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2008, 09:37:58 AM »

Love my Cafe Walter from BassNW. No frills, no tricks, just YOU.

C-Ya......wayne

juggernaught · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2008, 09:43:20 AM »

looks cool. i also wanted to note that i'm looking for one that is portable (battery powered) and hopefully has an input for my mp3 player.

-devon

jseitang · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2008, 03:31:01 PM »

fodera makes a pretty good one.

hieronymous · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2008, 09:16:24 PM »

The Cafe Walter meets both those criteria - it has a mini-headphone input with separate volume control and can run on two 9V batteries. I've got one - sounds great! It's more of a true sound of the bass unit - doesn't color the sound, perfect for an Alembic!

I also had a Fodera at one point, but I think there must have been something wrong with it - way too noisy. Plus it had RCA plugs for the CD player input - not nearly as convenient as the Cafe Walter.

tdukes · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2008, 05:35:24 AM »

I just use a boss micro br. It plays mp3s' and has looping and
slowdown features I like, but it really doesn't sound that good.

It also can't transpose pitch, which I would like to be able to do
without affecting the speed. I'd like to be able to go up or down a minor third or so.

Does anyone know of an all-in-one that will power headphones, has
simple guitar effects, has looping (where you place A and B marks and
it just plays between A and B over and over again), will do real-time
speed adjust without changing the pitch, and do real-time pitch adjust
without changing the speed?

I would like for it to be able to play .wav, .mp3, and .ogg, but any
of the three would be ok.

Todd.

chuck · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2008, 06:36:44 AM »

For simplicity and low cost I like my Fender unit.
No frills just on,off, volume.
Chuck

frank · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2008, 11:28:50 AM »

I have a little Mark II and it doesnt have a headphone jack. Does anyone know of an external headphone input I can use with my head?

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2008, 12:53:22 PM »

Here is one I recommend:

https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=H400

juggernaught · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2008, 01:16:22 PM »

not very portable is it....

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2008, 01:30:47 PM »

not at all

malthumb · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2008, 02:38:47 PM »

I use and would recommend a Korg Pandora. Be it a PX3B, PX4B or PX5D, they're all good. I have the PX3B. I also have (but don't use much) a set of Dragonfly Stethoscope earphones. They attach by suction cup to the back of your instrument and fit into your ears just like a stethoscope. You get ONLY the resonant sound of your instrument.

No batteries.....no electricity.....no muss, no fuss.....the ultimate in simplicity.

malthumb · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2008, 02:54:54 PM »

Pictures of the Pandora and the Dragonfly

juggernaught · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2008, 03:21:14 PM »

I went ahead and ordered the Cafe Walter. The idea of getting a very clean sound appealed to me. In addition, it had a simple 1/8 input, so I can plug my ipod in.

I didn't really need anything that did anything like slowdowns, pitch, etc.

I've seen the dragonfly. Very interesting. Talkbass has a deal where if you contribute a certain (reasonable) amount, you get one of those for free.

malthumb · « **Reply #14 on:** September 19, 2008, 07:41:21 PM »

juggernaught wrote I've seen the dragonfly. Very interesting. Talkbass has a deal where if you contribute a certain (reasonable) amount, you get one of those for free.

Yup. That's how I got mine.