Best low watt tube amp

Chas

Chas

New member
Got the Vox ac4tv a few months back. Was wondering what other low watt tube amps for studio or bedroom would be cool. So far the Vox has impressed. Had to get a MXR EQ to shape the "boxy-ness" out of the tone. The ac4 just had 1 tone switch. Any opinions?

:)
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

That 4 watt head looks bad ass - also like that is uses 6v6 since the vox is el84 so a different tone also!!!
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

Chas said:
That 4 watt head looks bad ass - also like that is uses 6v6 since the vox is el84 so a different tone also!!!
Click to expand...

One of my friends have the MATAMP, and through a 'regular' 4x12, man, it sounds soooooo HUGE.
Many, may people can NOT believe it is only 4watts whan fully cranked - i was one of them !


James
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

U get a much more volume from tubes per watt as compared to solid state. I have not had a chance to run the vox thru a 4X12 cab but I am sure u could do a small gig that way. I wish the ac4 had an open back. imo open back just sound better - more so with these small amps.
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

Just got my Blackstar HT-5 and it is pretty **** sweet for only 5 watts! I was fully expecting to hate the clean tone but it was much cleaner than I expected with it having a 12ax7 in the preamp.

The Overdrive channel is nice and thick pure tube tonal goodness. More metal than the more vintage sounding small tube amps I have Epi Valve Jr and Pignose G40v. Has the sound direct that the other 2 I needed pedals for and I am afraid to say I prefer the Blackstar HT-5 over the others with pedals for a cranked Marshall sound.

I haven't tried it through a 1x12 cab, and I am guessing it would be boxt, through the 2x12 Crate V Series cab it sounded great even with the crappy stock Crate speakers.
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

I think Carr makes a 5watter (beautifull looking amp) that can be atenuated right down to a 1/5 of a watt . . . if i remember correctly !


James
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

I think the downside of small combo's is there small cabinets that usually sound boxy and open up when you put through an open back 2x12.
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

I really love my Univalve. It also gets quite versatile in wattage as I get 6 watts with a 6v6 and 23 watts with a 6550. The built in attenuator also helps a bit with the volume.
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

I have a ...

Killer Ant
Blackheart 5-ht
Epi Jr
Gretsch 6150 (Supro 1609) in a 1x12 with attenuator
Tempo/Univox

They are generally all inexpensive and do a good job at various things. I like the KA for power tube toned distortion at TV volumes, Blackheart for it's flexibility and more modern to British styled gain structure and the Gretsch and Epi with an attenuator for a bit more volume. For me the amps that really have worked far better at low volumes than I expected are the 5e3 with pedals, and the Blues Jr. with or without pedals for classic vibe and blues. Pedal for other tones.
 
Re: Best low watt tube amp

SlowGroove said:
I think Carr makes a 5watter (beautifull looking amp) that can be atenuated right down to a 1/5 of a watt . . . if i remember correctly !

James
Click to expand...


After the MATAMP Mini Mat, the Carr Mercury must be one of the bad'est low wattages amps out there !

http://www.carramps.com/mercury.html


Specifications
Power 8, 2, 1/2, 1/10 watts
Tubes 2 12AX7, 1 12AT7, 1 EL34
Channels 1
Controls Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb
Switches 3-position Boost, Treble Cut, 4-position Output Power
Footswitch No
Reverb Yes
Effects Loop No

" Our new Mini-Mercury has the same electronics as the standard 1x12" Mercury but differs in its smaller cabinet and its warm and smoky 10 inch Eminence Lil Buddy hemp cone speaker. The cabinet measures a friendly 19.5" wide by 15" tall by 10" deep at the bottom sloping to 9" deep on the top. This is 2 inches shorter and 1 3/4 inches narrower than the standard 1x12" Mercury making it very compact. "



James
 
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