RM22 w/1-12 cab OR a RM50 LynchBox combo?

[johnodge]

I am at the crossroads...

I am looking for a practice/small gig rig to replace my Peavey VYPYR 75 practice/small gig rig. My main rig is a RM4/RT2-50/GenzBenz212G-Flex...

So I have two 2 module options in mind, and I really can't decide... The prices are very close...

Option 1 - RM22 head with a MTS 112 cab
Option 2 - RM50 LynchBox combo

I have all 4 Lynch mods (with Brahma and Scary DF'd), modded Tweed and JTM, Ultra XL, and Salvation Custom 3+...

PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE!!!!

Thanks!

 

[tehuk]

I would go for an RM22. Awesome practice amp and loud enough for open jams or small gigs.

 

[Julia]

RM22 head with a 112 cab. 18W is plenty loud enough. Actually I'd go for a 212 cab w/ Celestion Greenbacks... Avatar Speakers makes a nice 212 for the money. Go traditional, vintage, or contemporary depending upon your style. The contemporary is the heaviest and biggest. One of the other two is like a Marshall cab.

 

[yigba]

I've found in order to get a loud enough clean with the Tweed module in a Lynchbox I have to keep the gain at around noon and have to dial back the volume on my tele. The channel master is around noon also - anything more and the buzz is pretty loud. I then set the amp master at around 3 o'clock.

I seem to need all the wattage I can get from the Lynchbox to be at gig level. If you need "clean" clean I'd go with the Lynchbox.

 

[JKD]

The LB Combo is a great amp and absolutely freakin' sexy...but....the other thing to bear in mind is it's quite heavy and combos do not have the same tone/feel as a closed back cab.

 

[Julia]

The Tweed is toned after the bassman, and the JTM is similar. Early breakup. You can play ACDC with a Tweed.

If you need a lot of clean headroom at volume you'll need the power. EL84 amps tend to break up early. Me thinks the thing is weight for practice -- you don't want to load half a ton of gear for band practice.

But you said this is for home practice amp I'd actually think about another RM4 and maybe run a EHX .22 cal power amp after it to drive your speakers. That power amp is $100.

Or just grab another RM4 and a SS rack power amp and a couple 112 cabs (for stereo). Keeps the electricity use down and it's clean power and low maintenance. Carvin and Crown make some reasonable wattage power amps that will have enormous headroom in a practice situation. The Carvin weighs 4 lbs.

This or think about a GSP1101 and Carvin DSP200L and a 112 cab. Small lightweight and lots of tones available.

 

[m0jo]

I'd go either for RM22 or RM4+SS.
But then I allways go for the option with the most possible sounds.
If you don't really need the boosts on the RM22 then maybe the RM50 is a better idea.

I think overal the RM4+SS is a greaat idea (go Julia!) but the downside is that you'd either need to constantly switch your modules around or get more modules.
Of course you can run it with just 2 or 3 modules in.
This also lends itself the best to future changes, for instance if it turns out that eventually you actually do need more than 2 modules. ("need" :wink: )

 

[johnodge]

Ya, I already have a RM4... so I'm not considering another rack option...

So, I'm still on the fence....

For those with a RM20 or 22;
- do you have to change any of the module settings from a head/RM4 to the RM20/22, since the RM20/22 doesn't have a master volume

What about bass response? Which one has more? the RM20 combo or the RM50 Lynch Box?

Thanks all! What a tough decision to make when you don't have a local dealer that has stock!

 

[JKD]

The RM20 does have a MV but only when the Boost is engaged.

The only change I used to make if I ran with boost off was to turn down the channel volume quite considerably to get the same volume level.

The 50W is going to have much more low end, mostly due to the speaker difference involved but the 'cab' is bigger too.

That's not to say the RM20combo doesn't pack a walllop..it's loud as hell but EL84s pushing a Greenback doesn't have the same chunk/punch as the SuperV.