Recommendation for small tube amp
Hi,
I have been using a solid state modelling amp and fancy trying the real thing but there is so much to choose from.
Can any one recommend a good small tube amp combo around the 15W range for practice, recording and small gigs? I have been looking at the Orange Tiny Terror and quite like the sound of that but I would appreciate any other recommendations.
Cheers
Mark
What kind of sound are you after? What styles do you play? I like the tiny terror quite a bit.
Sure wish there was a PRS option in this range.......yes I know of the sweet 16 but it is not high gain enough.......
Secretary of Crackwood Addiction
I know it's quite a bit more power, but I really like the Blackstar Soloist 60. It's a very versatile combo with EL34s, and a single 12" speaker. It has two channels plus a boost, and it sounds good at bedroom levels. It's fairly light for a 1x12 combo at about 45 lbs as I recall. Blackstar makes a matching 1x12 ext cab for a cool stack.
Last edited by 11top; 12-01-2012 at 11:43 AM.
Sh*tter's full
I have the Mesa Mini Rectifier. I love this amp!!! Very versatile. Easy on the back too as long as you have the 112.
Carvin V3M
http://www.carvinguitars.com/guitara...icroseries.php
They have combos and head options.
I have the V3M head and a 2x12 and 4x12 cabinet.
Very loud, I keep it on the 7 watt setting in my home, and it can still blow me away, so I have to turn it way down.
Master volume, so you can get just about any sound clean or dirty at low volumes with it.
Here is a combo demo with 1x12.
http://www.carvinchannel.com/play.php?vid=313
For what you're describing, it's pretty hard to beat an old SF Princeton Reverb for tone and affordability...
The BadCat mini is nice.
What is your budget?
I'd love to hear what the ideal spec for a PRS amp of this type would be. As you're saying the Sweet 16 is not that amp...
Wasn't a "one-off" "10-Watt Perfect 10" recently released? Would that meet the specs that are being sought??Originally Posted by james
A sweet 16 with the DNA of the 2 channel h red gain channel would be perfect for this
That is an excellent amp! The Mini Rectifier and the Dark Terror are two small amps that crank out some incredible tones.
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In that power range, I've got a Mesa TA-15 and the Carvin V3M. For private practice, I love the TA-15, but it just do it for me in a band setting. The Carvin is great for what it is, and can DEFINITELY cover the gain side.
That said, I'm going to get up on my soapbox again: I absolutely LOVE my THD BiValve. You'll have to find one used, or as the last of the NOS out there, as I believe Andy has stopped making them. You can use such a huge variety of tubes, AND mix and match to really draw out your own sound. The built in attenuators isn't the most transparent, but there are so many ways to control the output level, that you don't really have to use it. For example, the low input only uses one preamp tube, reducing preamp gain. The high input uses both, increasing volume and gain (a large increase in gain, esp with humbuckers). Yu can lower the voltage the tubes draw, reducing output. You can run 6v6s for 18-ish watts or EL34sor 6L6s for 25-30 watts. You can also mix and match any of these (with the appropriate voltage selected). OR, you can run it on ONE power tube, cutting the output in half.
If that doesn't work, try the attenuator.
Have I mentioned here that I love this amp?
Good luck on the hunt. Try out everything you can get your hands on.
I have a Cornford Harlequin so I can play in the house. 6 watts, Great tone, boat loads of gain but it really misses the PRS paisley
Rivera Venus 3 combo...a loud 15 watts Class A but sounds great at low volumes and can keep up with a drummer when needed. Loves every PRS I've plugged into it. (as well as other brands). Covers both Tweed and Blackface needs with the mid notch push/pull and has a ridiculous amount of gain if you need it. Reverb and Presence controls. The 10 inch speaker in the combo is amazing...only drawback is no footswitch but use your volume and tone knobs and you don't need a stinkin' footswitch!!!
It's the only amp I've ever nicknamed..."Belch"...it belches flames!!!
check out the youtube vids on it...it's amazing.
Last edited by DirtyMoonsRJT; 11-30-2012 at 02:05 PM.
-Bob
I love my Blistertone but it is LOUD.......give me a 10-20 watt amp with HIGH gain potential, channel switching would be nice, reverb or a loop for a verb pedal, NOT imported but made in MD, half power switch would be nice, head or combo...........I am guessing if these are not priced out of line they will be popular. Lot of people on the forums have one of these already with another manufacturers name on them becasue PRS does not make one.
Secretary of Crackwood Addiction
How about a 2 Channell "H" with half the power (or a half power switch). It would also be a 1X12 open back combo.
Bill
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YOu'll have to let us know your rough budget and what you're into.
Personally, i'm a big fan of the Laney Lionheart amps. The 20 watt combo may be right up your street. YOu can also get a 20 watt head or the 20 watt 4 x 10 combo.
Not cheap new but pretty much mint conditions ones pop up from time to time on ebay for a steal.
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