OT: Smaller Amps With Good Tone?

[Spudmurphy]

The blackheart amps are getting a great reputation - for such a low price too.

These are bedroom "Killers" !!

[mb99zz]

I had some time on my hands a few weeks ago and stopped by my local guitar shop. I fully inteded to buy a Roland Cube and just wanted to hear the differences between the 15x, 20x, and 30x. I played each cube and thought there were OK -- but I just wasn't overly impressed by their sound.

I also tried two of the newer Fender Champ models. I can't remember the exact units I tested. One had a ton of different amp models to choose from. It was almost too versitile for my liking.

Overall, I felt dissapointed in the Fender Champs and the Cubes. Then I saw the Blues Jr and gave it a shot. For me personally, it was the best amp I tested that day. Yes, it's more expensive than a Cube and has way less features, but it sounded great. It had fantastic clean tones, great bass, and the volume was easy to control.

As a side note, I ended up buying a used USA made Fender Deluxe because it has similar clean tones (I got a GREAT deal on a used on)...and I wished I had bought the Junior. The Deluxe's volume is hard to control in my house. The junior would have served me much better.

[candid_x]

YOU ARE ALL WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (just kidding)

I have been absolutly blown away by the new Laney Lionheart 5w combo. Amazing tone and a great price.

J

I've been really curious about this little amp. Not inexpensive, though.

[dannymusic]

I know you've all heard it before, but...

microcube

BTW, if you have a EBMM piezo equipped axe, there are mag and piezo inputs from stereo cable. what else do you need, mun??

[matty]

You may want to check out some of the smaller builders. A few months ago I purchased Richter 5.8. It's 5 or 8 watts (class A) depending on whether you use a 6l6 or 6v6 tube. Sara Richter makes these amps outside Chicago. I made some sound clips and posted them on YouTube. Here's a link and I hope this helps!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxnXZYe7crA"]YouTube - Richter 5.8/Ernie Ball MusicMan Silhouette Special[/ame]

[Jonny Dubai]

I've been really curious about this little amp. Not inexpensive, though.

It is a real beauty. And cheep next to the cornford!!!!

J

[seahwk51]

I recently purchased a Fender Super -Champ XD comes in 5 & 15 watt its similar to the line 6 Spider as it has 2 tubes and is also component based. Lots of variation of sounds from old blues , blackface ,British metal.I bought it strickly for home use , sounds good even at low vol levels and the price point was good too.Check them out on youtube.

[spkirby]

Cornford Harlequin... 6 watts, 12" speaker, point to point, all tube, pine cabinet. Sublime...

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Has anyone here tried a Mackie guitar amp? From the spec they seem like an ideal small gig / rehearsal amp. Never seen one in the flesh though!

[wolfbone07]

For at home play I like my Tech21 Trademark30. It sounds good at low volume, has sansamp XLR out, and reverb.

[Slingy]

I had some time on my hands a few weeks ago and stopped by my local guitar shop. I fully inteded to buy a Roland Cube and just wanted to hear the differences between the 15x, 20x, and 30x. I played each cube and thought there were OK -- but I just wasn't overly impressed by their sound.

I also tried two of the newer Fender Champ models. I can't remember the exact units I tested. One had a ton of different amp models to choose from. It was almost too versitile for my liking.

Overall, I felt dissapointed in the Fender Champs and the Cubes. Then I saw the Blues Jr and gave it a shot. For me personally, it was the best amp I tested that day. Yes, it's more expensive than a Cube and has way less features, but it sounded great. It had fantastic clean tones, great bass, and the volume was easy to control.

As a side note, I ended up buying a used USA made Fender Deluxe because it has similar clean tones (I got a GREAT deal on a used on)...and I wished I had bought the Junior. The Deluxe's volume is hard to control in my house. The junior would have served me much better.

I have had this amp for years and the best thing you can do is get a small volume box from ebay or put a volume pedal in the loop. The clean channel really starts to sing at up around 7 to 8, and with the pedal in the loop you can keep it nice and low.

[philiprst]

Do 2x12 cabinets have similar characteristics to a full 4x12 cabinet? It would seem to me that the 4x12 would have more bottom end. But given my experience in the home and car audio, technically the 2x12 should have similar frequency response if the internal volume is exactly half of its 4x12 counterpart. Hmm...

You are right, when it comes to volume all that matters is the volume per driver. In my opinion 4x12s do have more apparent bottom end because the cabinet panels are larger and resonate at lower frequencies.

[MingusBASS]

We have the Laney Lionheart amps at work and they sound superb. I'm going to employee purchase one of the 5 watt combos soon.

[Ripper]

Seems like everyone's been talking about a 5 watt amp.. hmm..time to share mine here.

Ibanez 5 watt 2 channels tube amp, a very nice small amp for room use ...:



Guess however this may not be available for you guys in the US..

[zenmba]

Seems like everyone's been talking about a 5 watt amp.. hmm..time to share mine here...(

Ripper, the Valbee sounds sweet! No, I haven't seen any in the States yet (and I believe they have been out for a few years already).

I would really like a JSX 2x12 Combo! I have the 2w Micro Cube which is fine for practicing.