low wattage amps

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

Anyone have suggestions for a low wattage (8W or less) tube amp? I just can't seem to be satisfied with the gain tone I'm hearing from pedals or preamps. I'd like to be able to crank a low watt power tube at home without going deaf. I know there's a lot of kits out there, but I'd prefer one that's already built into a combo.

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 1088 Location: Espoo, Finland

Hmm, if I remember right, Orange does have few low wattage combos. www.orange-amps.com

If you can go only with headm, check out http://zvexamps.com/ and click on the Nano Head. It's a ½ watt and really small. I'm thinking of getting one my self. I've heard a few clips of it and it sound's very nice.

Mikko

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Cincinnati, OH

you need to get hold of a thing called a "lil' smokey". They are 1 watt, sound great SS amp, and they can actually power a 4 * 12 cab! They are quite the neat little amp!

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 1088 Location: Espoo, Finland

Oh, I almost forgat, Bad Cat Mini Cat 5w combo all tube amp. Very very nice. Little pricey though, but nice amp.

http://www.badcatamps.com/home.asp

Mikko

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 162 Location: Northwest Missouri

I like to play through cranked Fender Champs. The Champ has 6 watts, and can still get fairly loud. There are lots of modifications that can be done to Champs. 70's silver face Champs can still be bought at reasonable prices.

Sprinter (The Champ Junky)

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Anyone with experience hearing any amps on this list:
http://www.amptone.com/#lowwattamps

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 79 Location: Dayton, Ohio

Carvin offers a 16/5 watt "vintage" tube amp. I've heard good things about it, but never tried. It may be my next purchase.

http://www.carvin.com/cgi-bin/Isearch.exe?CFG=2&P2=VINTAGE16&P1=VINT

Tim

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5324

i've played through a Matchless Lightning..

incredibly sweet.. 15w combo, i think it's an 8" speaker.. might be 10".. class A..

it's so sweet, the tone is like honey.. i've played a few guitars though it, and the general tone is very sweet.. there's nothing that sounds like an AC-15 in this Matchless..

it's nice for a high-end low-watt combo.. the one that i played through was $1699.99 at Rockin Robin in Houston.. (it's one of the older production Matchless amps)

for low buck costs..

the new Marshall Microstack MG15MS is really alot of fun.. 15 Watts, two little 10" cabs.. it's just fun to play through.. lots of SS gain.. but, it does have a decent clean tone to it, too..

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2036 Location: VALHALL

I'd say Fender Pro Jr. 10W tube

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 11:10 pm

If yu're just looking for a cheap tube practice amp, try one of these.
http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=300
Also Kustom makes a small tube amp that Dave at B&T could help you with.

Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 29

liipotin wrote:

Hmm, if I remember right, Orange does have few low wattage combos. www.orange-amps.com

If you can go only with headm, check out http://zvexamps.com/ and click on the Nano Head. It's a ½ watt and really small. I'm thinking of getting one my self. I've heard a few clips of it and it sound's very nice.

Mikko

yeah, a nano amp with a 4x12 !! I heard nice feedback about these

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:30 am

Joe,

Hard to find exactly what you want in a small amp. I know, I've been looking for a while. The Class Act might be a viable solution for you.

RockinB

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:57 am

Joe,

Some of the new higher wattage amps have a "power cut" so that you don't blow the neighbors away... plus it really gets to that sweet spot!

Additionally, THD's hotplate will do the same thing to higher powered amps. Steer clear of Marshall's Powerbrake.

I've used a HotPlate on my 55 watt twin Rivera yielding excellent results.

Chuck

Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 332 Location: Phoenix, AZ

I'm with Sprinter in his suggestion for a low power amp. I don't have a Champ anymore, but it fits the bill for your requirements. Tube sound and overdrive and you'll never lose a penny on one of these. Silverface pieces can be had in the $200 range all day long.

~bob, the "vintage Fender amp" guy.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

Would a power cut / power attenuator of a high wattage amp have the same effect as lowering the volume via the guitar knob, and/or decreasing the dB on an EQ pedal? Do you lose something in tone if this is done?

Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 332 Location: Phoenix, AZ

>>Would a power cut / power attenuator of a high wattage amp have the same effect as lowering the volume via the guitar knob, and/or decreasing the dB on an EQ pedal? Do you lose something in tone if this is done?

Generally speaking, each and every audio device will have a "sweet spot" in tone and volume. For example, I have a couple of vintage amps that develop their best tone (IMO) between "5" and "6" with the guitar volume dimed. This will vary on the guitar and amp and is, of course, all subjective. Due to Fletcher Munson effect, lowered volumes will give the perception of less bass and treble and will require some EQ adjustments to maintain some "punch".

A "volume" box can be added to the effects loop (if your amp has one) which will allow you to overdrive the preamp section to develop some "growl" at lower volumes, but even so the tone can be compromised somewhat.

~bob

Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5

Have you heard the cornford 6 watt harlequin. All hand made out of England. These guys even make their own transformers. Great tone at low volume. It's an A class EL84 amp. You should try one.

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:10 pm

BobtheNuke wrote:

>>Would a power cut / power attenuator of a high wattage amp have the same effect as lowering the volume via the guitar knob, and/or decreasing the dB on an EQ pedal? Do you lose something in tone if this is done?

Generally speaking, each and every audio device will have a "sweet spot" in tone and volume. For example, I have a couple of vintage amps that develop their best tone (IMO) between "5" and "6" with the guitar volume dimed. This will vary on the guitar and amp and is, of course, all subjective. Due to Fletcher Munson effect, lowered volumes will give the perception of less bass and treble and will require some EQ adjustments to maintain some "punch".

A "volume" box can be added to the effects loop (if your amp has one) which will allow you to overdrive the preamp section to develop some "growl" at lower volumes, but even so the tone can be compromised somewhat.

~bob

Hey Bob! Nice to hear from you! ...as always... very informative.

Chuck

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 354

I got a blackface vibrochamp (silverface has the exact same circuit) for practice and think it is a great choice for a practice amp. It gets plenty loud, with a nice dirty growl running my Deans through it. I highly recommend it.

Randall

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

BobtheNuke wrote:

...Due to Fletcher Munson effect, lowered volumes will give the perception of less bass and treble and will require some EQ adjustments to maintain some "punch". ..
~bob

Ooooh, I had to look that one up:
http://www.webervst.com/fm.htm

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

As a followup, I bought a 70's vibrochamp and have enjoyed it. I've read a lot about replacement speakers and different tubes that I decided to delve in. Here's my impressions of what I've tried so far, in case any of you are wanting to get a Champ, or care to offer me more suggestions.

I first changed the speaker to a ceramic 8" Weber. Result: no appreciable difference, which was disappointing but it was a fun first experience to switch out a speaker and it was only $24.

The amp has it's original Fender power tube; a 6V6GT that I'm not sure who made (RCA? Philips?). First one I switched to was a Brimar. Result: gong! Harder to overdrive and not as rich a sound. Next, Mazda. Result: thumbs down. Not as sweet and it was noisy. Next, RCA grayplate. Result: ding ding, we have a winner. About the same sweet overdrive as my original but less noise. This makes me think that my original in an RCA too -- they do look the same.

Switched the R3Y rectifier to a Mazda. Result: no difference, but it's supposed to help the tubes last longer.

Next was switching the original Fender 12AX7 tube to a $10 Ei. Result: suprisingly sweet! richer overdrive. Dollar for dollar the best change I made.

I'm planning to sell the original speaker and Brimar and Mazda power tubes if anyone is interested. I bought the tubes from KOS NOS tubes (Mike) who was very helpful.