Best high gain amp at low volumes

[cakire82]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Been dying to check out one of those! they seem pretty cool man! My only concern is that they seem to want 8ohm cabs? Everything I have is 16ohm.

I think you can use with 16ohm. This from the user's manual;

"The integrated miniature stereo power amp delivers maximum output of 2 x 1. 5 Watts at 4 ohms. However, you can connect diverse systems with impedances of 4, 8 and 16 ohms as well as headphones with 200 ohms"

 

[cakire82]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Blackstar HT-5. Blackstar HT-5. Blackstar HT-5.

+1 +1 +1
Definitely the best head option in the market for these purposes.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

the blackstar is good.

 

[ken361]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Engl's rule!!:naughty:

 

[KiD CuDi]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

it's gonna be hard to get more bedroom-level punch than a 50W 6l6 amp, even if it is a run-of-the-mill 50W 6l6 amp.
You use any pedals?

I'm starting to think that modeling may be a good idea in your case. I mean, it IS hard to find all-tube amps that sound good at low-volumes, and it can be done, but there's no guarantees.
I wonder how many people would hate my bedroom tone? I mean, not hate it, but would take modeling over it.
I've tried modeling and hybrid amps and while it's fine for the bedroom, the modeling amps I've tried just lack the feel of the tube amps I'm used to. I'd rather have the bedroom tone suffer a lil and keep my loud stuff the way it is.

I have an mxr wylde overdrive and a crybaby. So 20 watt 5881 tube amp(krank rev jr)doesn't beat 50 watt 6l6? If that's the case I'll stick with what I've got

 

[Stef]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Peavey JSX

 

[pinto79]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Been dying to check out one of those! they seem pretty cool man! My only concern is that they seem to want 8ohm cabs? Everything I have is 16ohm.

From the E530 Manual: The integrated miniature stereo poweramp delivers maximum output of 2 x 1. 5 Watts at 4 ohms. However, you can connect diverse systems with impedances of 4, 8 and 16 ohms as well as headphones with 200 ohms.

Being a solid state amplifier section, it's not affected by Impedances like a tube power section would be.

 

[pinto79]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

I think you can use with 16ohm. This from the user's manual;

"The integrated miniature stereo power amp delivers maximum output of 2 x 1. 5 Watts at 4 ohms. However, you can connect diverse systems with impedances of 4, 8 and 16 ohms as well as headphones with 200 ohms"

You beat me to it!

Another thing with these is you don't use a speaker cable, you have to use a Stereo Y cable (An Insert cable) and run either both sides of a stereo cab, or use only one side of the Y cable to drive a single cabinet.

A Marshall 1960 cab with the Stereo/Mono switch would be best I think, 8 ohms per side gives a total load of 4 Ohms!

 

[lex666]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Tech 21 TM30 or TM60

Seriously. These amps sound excellent - at any volume. :14:

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

I have an mxr wylde overdrive and a crybaby. So 20 watt 5881 tube amp(krank rev jr)doesn't beat 50 watt 6l6? If that's the case I'll stick with what I've got

if you can afford the JSX that thing is Übër PWNZÖRS over the VK. You would have everything you like about the VK and then some.
Have you played one before?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Looking for a good bedroom/practice amp that has crushing high gain tone without having to be cranked.

I've kinda been looking at the krank rev jr, krankenstein jr, blackstar ht-5 so if any of you guys have had experience with these amps please share your thoughts/experience.

VOX VT15

I love my AD series VOX Valvetronix. It sounds fawesome on the JCM 800, 900, 2000, Mesa Dual Rectifier, SLO 100, and Dumble settings. It just slays.

 

[KiD CuDi]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

if you can afford the JSX that thing is Übër PWNZÖRS over the VK. You would have everything you like about the VK and then some.
Have you played one before?

Lol I wish! The jsx is way outta my price range I'm limited to about $750-$800 and that's pushing the envelope a little so...

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

looks like there's two schools of thought here.
regular amp which sounds good at low volume
vs
modeling

if it's just for the bedroom, go with modeling and keep your current amp for playing loud.
if it's for more than that, keep you current amp and hit it with pedals for low volume, or upgrade to a better amp which sounds better at any volume.

it's gonna come down to personal taste, your playing habits and what you want, and budget.
oh and RE: the JSX, ever consider used?

 

[pinto79]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Lol I wish! The jsx is way outta my price range I'm limited to about $750-$800 and that's pushing the envelope a little so...

The Engl E530 is right under that range. There would be enough left over that you could get yourself and a buddy a burger and a brew to celebrate righteous tone!

 

[Pestilent Sleep]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

I have an mxr wylde overdrive and a crybaby. So 20 watt 5881 tube amp(krank rev jr)doesn't beat 50 watt 6l6? If that's the case I'll stick with what I've got

I seriously doubt you can beat the 20 watt Rev Jr. for hard rock and metal at bedroom level volumes. Lots of punch and clarity, and it can still get really loud if you want it to.

 

[Stef]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Lol I wish! The jsx is way outta my price range I'm limited to about $750-$800 and that's pushing the envelope a little so...

line6 pod

 

[KiD CuDi]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

I seriously doubt you can beat the 20 watt Rev Jr. for hard rock and metal at bedroom level volumes. Lots of punch and clarity, and it can still get really loud if you want it to.

I think that's what I'm gonna go buy that along with the guitar world review sealed the deal for me.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Honestly, you can't go wrong with a Vox VT series combo. They have so many great tones and for ~$200 you'll have a great bedroom practice amp that can also go loud enough for small gigs.

I bought my AD15VT 3 years ago when I started university, and although it's seen occasional action lately, it's still a great little amp that I wouldn't get rid of. The ENGL preamp is a great idea too but you could save yourself several hundred bucks this way.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

Hey GJ,

Does the Jubilee have a pentode/triode switch to go down to 25 watts? I believe I've seen it on Jubilees although I could be wrong. Do you run yours at the full 50?

It does have the half power switch on the front. That's one nice thing about the Jubilee's, although I rarely use it. The tone gets looser, so I just use it at 50 turned down a bit. I've got it biased perfectly w/JJ E-34L's (hotter EL-34's), and Sovtek 12AX7LPS.

 

[PLVTONIVS FILIVS]

Re: Best high gain amp at low volumes

The Vox valvetronix series is great and cheap. I like my AD50VT 2x12 a lot.