Amp for small/very small venues

[ratherdashing]

We have a gig coming up at a place that is maybe a bit bigger than my living room (Falconetti's on Commercial Drive if you're from around here). It's a cool venue, just very small. Even if I could fit it on the tiny section of floor they call a stage, I'm pretty sure my Stiletto Ace would be mucho overkill in that room.

I'm going to rent a small amp for the gig, and I'd like it to be no more than 15 watts. If we get more gigs like this, I'll probably buy one.

I'm currently ogling the Traynor YCV20WR. I've had good experiences with the Traynor all-tube amps, and this one looks to be a good choice. Two channels plus boost means it will work well as a drop-in replacement for the Stiletto. I've heard good things about it from other people.

The other guitarist is renting a Blues Junior, which wouldn't be a bad idea either, but I'd like to avoid us having the same amp.

If you guys have any other recommendations, please let me know. It has to be around 15 watts all tube, and have a clean and dirty channel.

Thanks.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Mesa Loanstar Special. Set the clean at 15 watts, dirt at 5 watts. Independant reverb for each channel. You can use the FX loop for a bit of boost for solos if need be.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

All of these amps have a small form factor. In order of my preference:

1. Koch Studiotone 20w
2. Bad Cat Alley Cat 7.5w
3.
4. Fender Blues Jr. 15w

I'm not kidding when I tell you the Koch Studiotone is a phenomenal little amp. Very small but w a 12" speaker and very loud. Loud enough for gigging. The best small amp I know of. I like Bad Cat amps a lot too. They are very touch sensitive and bright. Very very loud for a tiny amp. No reverb tho.

You could go with a Fender Blues deluxe. Great Fendery sounds. Not as small as the other amps but still smaller. Pretty loud for its size. Only 1 channel tho. The other two amps I previously mentioned have 2-3 channels.

 

[cream123]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

i was not impressed by the koch in any way. but that's just me.

 

[cream123]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

btw, orange tiny terror is great if you want to take a 1x12 or something along.

 

[tehsuperfox]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Also check out the Fender Super Champ XD if you're on a budget. Great amp for the money.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

i was not impressed by the koch in any way. but that's just me.

Maybe the one you played was a counterfeit It's JUST you LOL! Seriously bro. I don't believe anyone can play one and not think it is an outstanding amplifier. There must have been something wrong with it. There are so many tonal options on that thing. Check out the front panel.

3 channels! OD+ channel w H, M, L switch. Mid shift switch & bright/dark voicing. Impossible NOT to get great sounds on this amp.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Is that Koch foot switchable? Those switches are way too tiny for me

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Laney 5 watter or its bigger brother, the 20 watts head with a 2x12" cab..

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Is that Koch foot switchable? Those switches are way too tiny for me

Yes. The switches are small but I don't have any problem with them. Could be the photos. Love the switches in fact. My Budda has pull knobs and I hate those. At least bearfoot I can switch w my toe while I'm playing my Koch LOL!

 

[Extant]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

btw, orange tiny terror is great if you want to take a 1x12 or something along.

Only one channel, though.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

i like the Koch stuff but it's pricey for me...

i will say i liked the Traynor idea.... those little 20 watt amps with a greenback speaker were cool!!!

 

[pinto79]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Check out the Krank Rev Jr Pro.

I played one at Tom Lee in Surrey. Pretty sweet little head. 20 watts, 2 channels. Very cool.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

I just got the Traynor's bigger brother, the 40 watter. I tried the 20 in the store, and man, did it ever sound awesome!

It's nice caus it gets really worked up at low volume so you can really get that full sound in small gigs. I would of got it, but I needed something bigger.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

The whole point of a lower wattage amp is so you can drive it hard & have it saturate at lower volume then a 50 or 100 watt head. One channel with a good booster or two is all you need with that kinda rig... At the same time, I haven't seen many "pro" 15-20 combos with two channels... most likely for that very reason.

 

[cream123]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Maybe the one you played was a counterfeit It's JUST you LOL! Seriously bro. I don't believe anyone can play one and not think it is an outstanding amplifier. There must have been something wrong with it. There are so many tonal options on that thing. Check out the front panel.

3 channels! OD+ channel w H, M, L switch. Mid shift switch & bright/dark voicing. Impossible NOT to get great sounds on this amp.

i'm not a fan of extreme tonal options. i had a boogie for a while, its just too much to have to dial in....

 

[Bludave]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Get a Deluxe Reverb. Put the amp on a chair. Set the volume at 3, which will be loud enough for most clean work then get a stomp box to boost for a solo. Your done. The amp will have more versatility than a 15W amp. My problem with a 15W amp is when you play with a drummer, the drums will usually drowned you out. So you have to raise the volume to compete with the drums. When you do that you will loose all of your headroom and your cleans, a 22 to 25 W amp will be better and you will be able to use this amp in larger venues as well.

Of course the other alternative is to go acoustic in a small place like this. Now all you need is a PA and maybe an acoustic amp.

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Just remembered this one! A Fender Princeton Reverb reissue. Fantastic sounds. Plug in a pedal and you can gig small venues all day. 15w but loud! The great new is that it's less than $1000.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

Get a Deluxe Reverb. Put the amp on a chair. Set the volume at 3, which will be loud enough for most clean work then get a stomp box to boost for a solo. Your done. The amp will have more versatility than a 15W amp. My problem with a 15W amp is when you play with a drummer, the drums will usually drowned you out. So you have to raise the volume to compete with the drums. When you do that you will loose all of your headroom and your cleans, a 22 to 25 W amp will be better and you will be able to use this amp in larger venues as well.

Of course the other alternative is to go acoustic in a small place like this. Now all you need is a PA and maybe an acoustic amp.

my original 65 is easily drowned out by a loud drummer for sure.... still i love these amps.. i want a reissue oneday... i like the sound of the reissue a fair bit even if most people mod them

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Amp for small/very small venues

These have nice grind and chime and are way louder than you might think for 15 watts. One channel, but you can get a Bad Monkey for $30 to take care of that. Set it on 5, roll back the guitar to 7 for clean, up for full, and bring in the Monkey for all out.