I would love to get a real tube amp, but there are a few things keeping me from getting one now (cost, we're planning on moving, space, etc.) but the biggest factor being that I can't play loud since I have shared walls. Most of the time I practice, I use headphones through my Marshall AVT150H. It's a good amp and has lasted me many years, but I like the idea of the Strymon Iridium giving me different tube amps and cab sounds, and they sound great to me from videos I've seen online. It has the headphone jack so I can continue practicing but can also easily pick it up and practice in other rooms without having to move my amp. I'm pretty sold on it.

Why I'm asking for your help is do you recommend I hold off until we've moved to a new house and keep saving to get a real tube amp or spend now and enjoy? $400 (plus another $40 for CA sales tax) isn't a ton of money, but it isn't something to laugh at either. It could be a nice chunk out of a tube amp payment. We're not planning on moving for at least another year, so if I wait, it'll be at least a year before I could get a tube amp. Most likely though, even longer since moving is expensive and I'd need to make sure I have funds for that as well.

Another thing I need to consider is there are times where I get sick of wearing headphones and I do play with the amp turned up a bit (damn the neighbors haha). I may be missing something but it looks like I would need to get either monitors or powered cabs or something else to be able to play out loud with the iridium. So that's more money I would need to spend if I want to take the headphones off or if I want to play for people.

What would you do in my shoes? Anyone with an iridium have any suggestions?

Thanks

frankly I'm hearing rave reviews form guys I trust on the captor X by 2 notes.... I might get a captor for the home studio sicne then ic an just run the IRs in my DAW, but the X has 'em on board.

I have heard of that, but I hadn't looked into it at all. I'll check it out.

oh wait, you don't have a tube amp? I somehow missed that tube amp payment line.... help me out here, I'm sleepy

Haha, no problem. I understand how it goes. The captor x looks really cool. I watched some videos on it, but yeah, not really what I need this moment. Whenever I do get a tube amp and want to start recording things, I will definitely keep it in mind. It has really good reviews.

but as to your question about the Iridium, I wouldn't do it, if it comes out of your actual amp budget its wasteful and it'll be yesterdays news soon enough when the next gen comes along and blows it outta the water. Although Iw as looking at it as an IR host for live room IRs to use with my analog mix rig, there it'll make sense but this is like a stop gap for you and is that worth the scratch?

You make a good point. The technology always does seem to get better each year. I don't really see it as a stop gap though. The way I termed it may have come out wrong. I can save up for and have both. But if I bought the IR, I probably would wait to get the amp for another year or two after. Even once I got the amp, I'm sure I would still use the IR a lot. I mean I used the old Boss Gt-6 processor that I got back in 2000 or whenever it was until last year and that thing was as digital sounding as it gets haha.

but I always look at resale for new digital technology, the rate of improvement is so rapid I shy away from big purchases, I try to ask if something will be a timeless sound soon or if its flavor of the week.... when the lexicon PCM series came up used it was a good buy because they were in service everywhere still but some guys replaced them so it was going to come back in and it has a SOUND.... even a lowly alesis microverb is a good example of soemthing that's vibin' even though its outdated.... the line 6 modelers are a great example, how many green delays you see? you could see that was a game changer even though it was a middling sound, it had it right at your toes, its been bettered but is just now going obsolete and maintains surprisingly good resale in the age of strymon and toneprint. An analog chorus or delay is a great call as chips go in and out of production they're a good bet. In recording I invested paltry sums in symetrix and orban gear that's now quite valuable because that late 80s broadcast shit is made to a high standard and does its work without coloring the sound a lot which CAN be desirable.... I've dropped the ball too, but mostly I get what's a lasting piece due to utility or uniqueness. I could be missing the boat on the IRidium, but I have a feeling its not a future classic, its in a sea of competitors too. That's not a good sign for resale.

when money is an object be smart and get something that you MUST have or something that will do its work and be a resale item long after its outdated because its a unique piece.... who knows how long the strymon name will be on top? Digital is a rough field.

but I'm drinking beer and beating up my kid in super smash bros, so what do I know today?

Very good points about resale. I'm kind of a hoarder. I've only gotten rid of one guitar and the processor. Both of them I gave to my brother as a gift after he moved out of the state and no longer had a working electric guitar. Everything else, I still have. But it's good to think about just in case I ever do have to sell.

but I'm drinking beer and beating up my kid in super smash bros, so what do I know today?

That sounds like a great way to spend a Wednesday. Enjoy a beer for me.

That sounds like a great way to spend a Wednesday. Enjoy a beer for me.

4s for you, cheers! Punk rock dadding is the only dadding!