5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

[Seraphial]

Hey guys

I've been thinking about getting a 5w stack for apartment/bedroom use (may still have to invest in an attenuator tho) and wanted to get a few opinions. I'm considering the Blackheart Little Giant, Epiphone Valve Jnr, Blackstar HT5 (pricier than the rest but getting good reviews) or the Orange Tiny Terror. I've played the Blackheart and was impressed, but having heard a few youtube clips of the Epi I think I prefer the more vintage tone of it compared to the Little Giant.

However, my question was more on the cleans than anything. I'd like to start with a nice clean as I boost everything with pedals. Anything have any opinions on the rest of the above list? I know 5w don't give a lot of headroom, but I was more looking for the fender type cleans before breakup. Maybe people have modded their existing heads and have some thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[guitarded]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Don't know about the others but unless you want to mod it, you should forget about the Valve Junior. It is not a clean amp even at low volume levels. There are some mods that can give it more clean headroom and there are tube kits available as well to clean it up a little more. It is a great amp for what it does though. I got mine for 99.00 but the current price is still a bargain.

Hey guys

I've been thinking about getting a 5w stack for apartment/bedroom use (may still have to invest in an attenuator tho) and wanted to get a few opinions. I'm considering the Blackheart Little Giant, Epiphone Valve Jnr, Blackstar HT5 (pricier than the rest but getting good reviews) or the Orange Tiny Terror. I've played the Blackheart and was impressed, but having heard a few youtube clips of the Epi I think I prefer the more vintage tone of it compared to the Little Giant.

However, my question was more on the cleans than anything. I'd like to start with a nice clean as I boost everything with pedals. Anything have any opinions on the rest of the above list? I know 5w don't give a lot of headroom, but I was more looking for the fender type cleans before breakup. Maybe people have modded their existing heads and have some thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Skullkrusher]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

I bought a Marshall MG10 for in home practice. It's 10 watts vs. 5, but quiet enough none the less. It's got a headphone plug in too! That's come in very handy late at night several times.

I think it's awesome for $90.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

I bought a Marshall MG10 for in home practice. It's 10 watts vs. 5, but quiet enough none the less. It's got a headphone plug in too! That's come in very handy late at night several times.

I think it's awesome for $90.

Funnily enugh, my very first amp was an MG50. Agree, decent for bedroom practise and noodling, but unfortunately been bit by the tube bug for the last few years. I have a G-DEC to mess around on now but never really been satisfied, tho it does give a few useable tones.

 

[guitarded]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

I got a line 6 Spider III 15 watter, which is sufficient for practice... Has a headphone jack and an mp3 input as well as some very simple effects. Does not really satisfy as much as a low wattage tube head, but it's cheap and portable, and I can plug my MP3 player into when I'm in the backyard

I bought a Marshall MG10 for in home practice. It's 10 watts vs. 5, but quiet enough none the less. It's got a headphone plug in too! That's come in very handy late at night several times.

I think it's awesome for $90.

 

[Hoss]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

cleans are going to be VERY difficult with those amps...of the ones you have listed...i'd suggest the Tiny Terror...and the clean on it is subjective as well!

 

[Skullkrusher]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

I owned a Tiny Terror. I found it to bee too loud for practice here at home. The little guy sounded phenomenal, but was still just more than I needed at home.

 

[karpathion]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

well this is funny iv'e been thinking about getting one of these myself. the tech at my local rock shop has the epiophone and the blackheart. i think i like the blackheart better.
it's got a little more umph to it. i'd like to hear one modded.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Any other recommendations then on tube amps? Really don't want to go down the POD route

There's a couple of 1w amps out there...

 

[trevorus]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

My Valve Junior does a fine clean, and it's not extensively modded. Jumpering one resistor and the changing to the Fender style input resistors is the only tone type mod I made, the other is a standby switch. If course, I'm running it into a Vintage 30 in a big open back cab. Your speaker will make a big difference as well.

 

[Skullkrusher]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Egnater has the new "Rebel 20" out. It's switchable between 1 and 20 watts. Has some other little tricks to it as well.

 

[FAC]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

(may still have to invest in an attenuator tho)

I agree...5 W is still loud for an apartment.

Here is another consideration. It's a combo, but the Carr Mercury would fit the bill...8 watts, very nice cleans, great cranked sound, built in attenuator. New ones are $$$$$$$$$$, but there is a used on on the bay right now--current bid $787--which is probably cheaper than, say, a tiny terror head+cabinet+attenuator (I am not the seller, by the way).

Here is Carr's website: http://www.carramps.com/ Steve Carr is great to deal with.

As mentioned, it has a great clean sound, but if you need it cleaner, Steve told me you can use a 6L6 in place of the stock E34L.

 

[guitarded]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

My Valve Junior does a fine clean, and it's not extensively modded. Jumpering one resistor and the changing to the Fender style input resistors is the only tone type mod I made, the other is a standby switch. If course, I'm running it into a Vintage 30 in a big open back cab. Your speaker will make a big difference as well.

Try http://bitmomusic.com/

There are a lot of inexpensive mod kits available, or you can buy a modded amp from them. I met them at an amp show. I was pretty impressed with their floor sample modded juniors.

 

[guitarded]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

I hear ya, but my PODXT gets some really nice clean tones through the headphones, and I can play as loud as I want. The biggest problem I have with that is being up to all hours of the night playing.

Any other recommendations then on tube amps? Really don't want to go down the POD route

There's a couple of 1w amps out there...

 

[Lu_B]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

I've got a Matamp Minimat 4w, its loud by has a build in attenuator which comes in useful for that late night playing!

Before that I has a 5w Epi Valve Special Combo - I found it noisy and even after a tube swap to JJ's and a new Celestion tube 10 speaker it was still pretty mediocre. Heads might be better but I never tried one of those

 

[jerryjg]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Why are you dead set on a head/cab? At that level, a combo with an open back may well give you the best clean tones.
Anyhoo, too bad noone picked up one of these when I mentioned they were being clearanced out awhile back, cause now its too late;

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/....-Amp?sku=481209&CJAID=10383227&CJPID=1225267

This was by a good margin the best little 5W unit I had seen around .But Nooo, Sheeple have to go with something that doesnt frighten them.Likie a Tiny Terror.Bleech.

 

[rammer69]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Egnater has the new "Rebel 20" out. It's switchable between 1 and 20 watts. Has some other little tricks to it as well.

i second this, i have a tiny terror, 2 X valve jr, & rebel 20, the rebel is my fav, i purch @ gtrCin naperville IL $$ 500 out the door W/a spk cable, i just gota chance to jam again last nite, for about 5 hrs, i LOVE the REBEL, i also have a VHT PITTBULL CL, & 5150, but they are too big & bulky to carry around, with a bad back, that is why i have the rebel, if something happens to it , i will buy another one....

 

[Rowan]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Odd. I find that my old ass valve junior combo does cleans pretty decently. But I never turn it up very loud. Its my bedroom practice amp and rarely goes past 10 o clock.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Why are you dead set on a head/cab? At that level, a combo with an open back may well give you the best clean tones.

If I jam somewhere I can just hook it up to a bigger cab. I've also never had a head unit (all combos) so was interested in trying it out.

 

[Hoss]

Re: 5w heads for the apartment - cleans?

Dr Z. Mini Z also has a built in attenuator and is 5w...they go $500 or so used!

i've been considering one of those myself...but Strat g.a.s. is too strong right now! hahaha!