Any guitarists on here? (tiny amp Qs)

deathpunk dan · 01-24-2011, 11:24 AM

Looking for info and opinions on tiny (1w and less) Class A tube amps. I no longer play in bands and while my hot rodded 1982 Marshall JCM800 2205 head (redone to eliminate diode clipping, essentially a JMP mkII) sounds like nothing else cranked and paired with my les paul jr (even a dude from Green Day gave me 'good tone' props)...not even an attentuator (hot plate) really works well for playing in the house.

I was playing through some crappy solid state 10 and 15w garbage combos but they sound awful. My girlfriend bought me a 5w Class A head a few years ago, but even that is too loud (you'd be shocked how loud a 5w amp is at full chat). While I do have a few pedals (tube screamer, blues driver, boss stage EQ etc) I prefer overdriven tube crunch to pedal fizz/fuzz.

So now I'm on the hunt- I think- for a Zvex Nano. It's a .5w point to point wired tube head that makes a great recording amp and or for playing in the house or in other low volume situations.

They are about $500 new, and hard to find used. I was wondering what others are playing through for good tone at reasonable volume.

My main guitar is the LP JR, but I do have others.
Influences/styles I like:

Jimmy Page
James Williamson (Iggy n the Stooges)
Zal Cleminson (Sensational Alex Harvey Band)
Chuck Berry
Ronnie wood
Keef
Mick Taylor
Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
Marc Bolan
Wayne Kramer/Fred Smith (MC5)
Eliot Easton (Cars)
Izzy Stradlin (GnR)
Johnny Thunders (NY Dolls)
Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys)
Mick Ronson
too many others to list...but you get the picture

WolfeMacleod · 01-24-2011, 11:27 AM

You might try the Jet City PicoValve. 5watts, with a 2.5watt switchable.
It's based on the THD Univalve.

scottmandue · 01-24-2011, 12:16 PM

I know nothing...

But like you whereas I love my old Fender tube amps they are a bit much for playing in the living room.

Epiphone made some tiny little amp I was looking at but never got around to getting one.

Gogar · 01-24-2011, 01:21 PM

Epiphone "valve junior." it's 5W, sounds ok but there are some mod kits for it that add a gain stage and a tone knob. The kit is called "BitMo." not bad for about $150 all in.

Steve Viegas · 01-24-2011, 02:05 PM

I do not know if this is in the class you are talking about. It is certainly not a tube, but it has gotten solid reviews from the people I know who use them.
MightyMoe™ Guitar Strap Amp Portable Battery-Powered Practice Amplifier

As a disclaimer, I do know the guy who developed it. He is a good guy and a guitarist.

Superman · 01-24-2011, 02:10 PM

I'm getting back into bass guitar, after a 30-year hiatus. I'm having a good time with that, but I hafta say.......I sure wish I had kept some of the equipment I used "back in the day." Incredible. Vintage Ampeg SVT "blue line" amps are going for $2000! Fender Bassmans are going for over $1000. Heck, Sunn Model T's are the same. And those old Fender Twin Reverbs.........

ERH · 01-24-2011, 02:43 PM

I've had this for years.

Mesa Boogie V-Twin Pedals

as with a lot of my toys it is better than I am...

Ed

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

Epiphone "valve junior." it's 5W, sounds ok but there are some mod kits for it that add a gain stage and a tone knob. The kit is called "BitMo." not bad for about $150 all in.

My only problem with the Valve Jr is that it doesn't sound that great (as you mention) and it is still very loud.

I have a Univalve and even with tube combinations that should be down around the 3-5 watt range (like a 6G6 power tube or something), it is waaay too loud.

What I have been doing lately (and it actually works well) is to set up the Univalve for clean (I happen to be using a Mullard EL34) and then plugging in a Digitech RP150. The tone is actually very nice and it still has that "punch" of power. I also use a Barber Direct Drive and the overdrive is nice and thick but it still retains the note clarity and harmonics of the Class A...

I'd like to have a Zvex Nano also...

targa911S · 01-24-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

I'm getting back into bass guitar, after a 30-year hiatus. I'm having a good time with that, but I hafta say.......I sure wish I had kept some of the equipment I used "back in the day." Incredible. Vintage Ampeg SVT "blue line" amps are going for $2000! Fender Bassmans are going for over $1000. Heck, Sunn Model T's are the same. And those old Fender Twin Reverbs.........

Oh I dragged an SVT around for 15 years, and I love the way they sound, nothing like it. These days, at age 60 and playing a LOT smaller venues I have found that Ampegs combo amp the BA115-HP is just right and still rattles the ceiling tiles in most clubs. I love mine and only weighs in at 80 lbs. When I DO play large outdoor venues, we just stick a DI on it and away we go.

Ampeg: Bass Amp Series - BA115HP

stealthn · 01-24-2011, 07:52 PM

Hook it up to your iphone...

deathpunk dan · 01-25-2011, 05:04 AM

RE: epiphone valve junior 5w. That's the amp my girlfriend bought me. It's still box stock, and the shop I used to entrust my marshall to wanted to get ahold of the epi and mod it...I just never got around to it.

It sounds okay, better with the tube screamer in front. But again, it needs to be cranked and it is just too loud.

I will check out some of these other suggestions.

Re: Ampeg SVT and Sunn bass stuff. My best friend always swore by those. Classic 8x10 ampeg cab. What a pain to haul up and down stairs, even with that grab handle in back. The sunn head was a beast. I think he later used a 4x10 hartke and a 1x15 or so bottom? P bass and ric 4003. The ric looked so cool a la Lemmy but felt like crap. His 79 p bass was just a better instrument IMO.

targa911S · 01-25-2011, 06:00 AM

i hate ric basses. When I sold my SVT all the tolex on the back was shredded like a hula skirt from being dragged up and down stages. It was a beast ...but a great sounding beast. I used a BGW power amp bridged mono to give me 900 watts of power. The thing would literally rattle yer nuts when you stood in front of it.

scottmandue · 01-25-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathpunk dan

RE: epiphone valve junior 5w. That's the amp my girlfriend bought me. It's still box stock, and the shop I used to entrust my marshall to wanted to get ahold of the epi and mod it...I just never got around to it.

It sounds okay, better with the tube screamer in front. But again, it needs to be cranked and it is just too loud.

I will check out some of these other suggestions.
IMO.

IIRC swaping out the speaker was the #1 mod and was reported to help a lot...

there were some electronic mods too, if you are handy with a soldering iron it might be DIY.

Gogar · 01-25-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

IIRC swaping out the speaker was the #1 mod and was reported to help a lot...

there were some electronic mods too, if you are handy with a soldering iron it might be DIY.

as indicated in post #4.

Products | BitMo Mod Kits

I have the "BitMo" trio and put it in myself. If you're not scared of circuit boards and stuff it's not too hard.

scottmandue · 02-02-2011, 12:54 PM

Just saw this while searching for a mixer here at work.

Vox tube amp switchable from 4, 1, and 1/4 watt

VOX Modern Classic AC4TV 1x10 Tube Combo Amplifier, 4 Watts

Have no experience with this unit but I want one!

deathpunk dan · 02-04-2011, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

as indicated in post #4.

Products | BitMo Mod Kits

I have the "BitMo" trio and put it in myself. If you're not scared of circuit boards and stuff it's not too hard.

I think this is the direction I'm going to go. Beats $500 for the Zvex and a lot more for some of the others.

Especially now that I've decided I want a G&L ASAT to mess with. Or a James Burton B-bender Tele...

scottmandue · 02-04-2011, 06:58 AM

I love my G&L, it is very early... kind of a musicman body with Teli pickups and blond neck.

However I have never played with a James Burton Teli so as I said...I know nothing.

Sounds like a nice setup (no pun intended)

Gogar · 02-04-2011, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathpunk dan

I think this is the direction I'm going to go. Beats $500 for the Zvex and a lot more for some of the others.

It was totally worth it, if for nothing other than the tone knob. Pre/Post is nice, too.

T77911S · 02-04-2011, 10:12 AM

i have been very interested in the very low watt class stuff too. i have a very old TRUE point to point silvertone single ended class A amp with a single 6v6. it has a bad multi cap filter cap. it is one with 3 caps in it and i cant find one. i am going ot have to mod it but i just dont have the time to mess with right now.

try some of the boutique stuff
aiken makes some great stuff
cornell
id put some of these up against ANY marshall, especially for the size

still not inthe 5 watt range but much bettter than 50 or 100 watts. they are great for just jamming with some guys, loud enough to keep up with drums but not something you have to blow everyone away with to make it sound good.