Best low wattage plexi tone amp

[millsart]

Given my longtime love of all things Hendrix, in addition to my current playing style shifting towards more of a dirty bluesy style ala Jimi I've been recently been purchasing a few new effects pedals to try to really come close to his tones. Octavia, Axis Fuzz, Uni-vibe clone (Microvibe so maybe not a clone but it does the job) Teese wah (this thing can do most anyone) and so forth.

Naturally it would make sense to have a plexi style head to play such effects through to really complete the who vintage vibe. Crunchbox through a HRD does get a Marshall vibe but its much to 80's JCM and overall metal. not bad but not right either, know what I'm saying ?

I know theres some other good plexi style pedals, CM makes a fine one I hear, but I sort of want to get a bit more authentic.

Problem being the 1959HW and other true Plexi style heads are not only expensive but darn loud! Some of the loudest sounding amps I've even played in fact and unlike some more modern fare, the more you crank it, the better it keeps getting.

But money aside, theres no way I can crank a 100 watt head or even the 50 watt version.

I've got to do most of my playing at home when the family is sleeping these days.

So I needless to say, I'm looking for something thats voiced very similar, all tube and low wattage.

Not to diss modelers but I'm not a fan really. They sound fine when you use the built in effects but I want to load the frontend with my analog effects and not clip some cheap A/D converts like what happened when I used to have a POD XT.

All of the little cheap 5 watt tube amps by Epiphone, Crate etc all sounded a bit too American voiced to my ears. Good amps for dirty blues sure but not a vintage british voicing.

Vox makes some nice stuff with the AC30 and AC15 but they are a bit too chimey and while vintage, they didn't have the plexi crunch and bite.

What can you all tell me aobut the Orange Tiny Terror ? I don't know much about Orange amps though they are certainly British and I'm guessing they'd have the right voice ?

Does anyone do any mods to amps like the Valve Junior that can really turn it into a mini plexi ?


How about this Songworks Hi/Lo Plexi ? http://www.songworks.com/hilowattplexi.html
Sounds promising but I know nothing about the company


Any other builders out there got something that might do the job ?

 

[newking70]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

ceriatone 18w

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

The Trace Elliot Velocette and Gibson Goldtones have a certain Plexi sound to them.

The Velocette I own has a Pentode / Triode switch to it which allows it to boucne between 6 watts and 15 watts. It's Class A, so both are VERY loud and I would hesitate to call it anything remotely close to an apartment amp.

For rehearsals in 6 watt mode it sounds great. For gigs I would kick it over to 15 watts and likely consider plugging it into a 2 x 12 or even a 4 x 12.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

I agree with Skarekrough. A lot of people don't know much about the late 90's Gibson Goldtones, which Joe Perry used a lot, but are now discontinued. They're a really good cross between the Vox and Marshall sound....the vintage sound.

You can find them for decent prices NOW, but not for long. They'll be big collectors items someday, especially if Gibson never reissues them.

Here's my 2-12 with 2 15W stereo sides, equalling 30 loud watts. Plus, it has a boost and reverb. I'd suggest the 1-12 version of this amp. These things sound as good as a Dr. Z for less than half the cost.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

There's loads of great options in the higher price bracket. The Fargen miniplex is absolutely killer, and the 65 London does fantastic Vox and Marshall tones at a very manageable volume. Marshall's handwired 18w is also great, though i'd rate it not as good as those other two.

Bearing in mind that these amps aren't cheap, I'd suggest you go for the Ceriatone 18w Marshall clone. Great tone for the bucks.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Try the zvex nano head. It is 1/2 watt and all the clips of it on youtube sound friggin awesome if you ask me. It is not too loud also, but suprisingly loud enough to be noticable! I want one of these bad! Check em out on youtube.

 

[millsart]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

The Ceriatone stuff certainly does sound like a good option (darn shipping is BRUTAL though, to bad I don't live in SE Asia lol)

Sounds like their 18watt TMB models are a bit more Plexi superlead style and not based on Bluesbreakers and similar 18 watt offerings.

I've played one othe Marshall 18 watt hand wired and it was a very sweet amp for some classic blues but it didn't quite have the plexi fury (nor do I think it was designed to) Way to pricey for me though


XXXplorer, agree 100% about the Nano clips I've been checking out. That thing sounds really impressive and the price/volume levels would be right. I wonder how it takes to pedals ?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

I know Voodoo will make a 6v6 plexi.

Really, IMO for lower volumes I'd just go with a Plexi-Tone and a decent tube clean-ish amp. They sound THAT good.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

There's a company called Frenzel that makes amps with both Fender and Marshall voicings, and they're either on EEKbay or direct from the website and usually under $1,500 for the highest priced model/options. The clips sound good...:scratchch:

PS...+1 on the Gibson Goldtone amps...I got to play a half stack at GC while they were still in stores, and I just wish I had the dough at the time...best thing I've heard for a LONG time.

 

[millsart]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Seems like those Goldtones are starting to shoot up in price these day, at least from what I've been able to find while searching. The 15 and 30 watt combo's are now fetching some rather high prices though they do have a little 5 watt guy thats still quite cheap (though perhaps for good reason)

Fuchs Amplification looks to have a rather intresting 7 watt EL34 powered head for a modest $899, not to shabby....


The Fargen Miniplex certainly sounds great as well though at $1600 its getting quite pricey. I'd just as soon as buy a Marshall Plexi reissue 50watt for a few hundred less I suppose


How's the tiny terror ? Thats still seems like a pretty cool option maybe as the price is very reasonable.


Never had the privilege of paying a CM plexi pedal either though I have to ask how well does it really respond to a boost ?

I've got a MI Crunchbox and while it gets a cool cranked 80's Marshall tone, I don't find it very dynamic with pedals in front of it.

What I'm ultimately looking for is something that I can have just on the edge of breakup and then use a couple of various pedals to push it over the edge such as my Keeley or Axis Fuzz cranked up.

I want to hit the input with not just a boost but some fuzztones as well and in my experience, I've not found any pedals that can really react like a multi stage tube input section would.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Plexi tone has it's own built in Boost.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Not knocking Ceriatone at all, but have you looked at Trinity Amps versions of the 18-Watt Marshall? Might be better cost-wise after including shipping. The "SIII" version may be what you're looking for: http://www.trinityamps.com/Trin18Over.htm Good sound clips IMHO.

Also, I've heard all good things about S2 Amplification and their Category 5 "Tsunami" looks like a really interesting take on the 18-Watt theme. Steve claims the ability to shift from push-pull to single-ended for power control/attenuation. Here's the site, but you'll have to drill down to find that amp: http://www.category5amps.com/

Still even 8 tube watts is really loud for playing in a house while people are sleeping... You're going to need an attentuator for that, but cutting down 8 or 18 watts is a lot easier and more transparent than trying to reduce 50 watts to tolerable levels.

Hope this helps,

Chip

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Seems like those Goldtones are starting to shoot up in price these day, at least from what I've been able to find while searching. The 15 and 30 watt combo's are now fetching some rather high prices though they do have a little 5 watt guy thats still quite cheap (though perhaps for good reason)

I can't vouch for the 5 watters. I do believe they may very well just be borrowing the name.

The prices are high for the heads and combos with two speakers. But i still regularly see the 1 x 10's going for $400 and the 1 x 12's going for a little more.

Keep in mind, they do have the output and CAN be plugged into an external cab.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

I've said before and im sure I'll say it again...18 and 20 watt Marshalls DO NOT sound like Plexi's...not a bit in the least IMO.

Now, how low wattage are you talking and whats your budget???

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

I've said before and im sure I'll say it again...18 and 20 watt Marshalls DO NOT sound like Plexi's...not a bit in the least IMO.

Now, how low wattage are you talking and whats your budget???

JMO, but I think this might be your best answer right here. If you are playing mostly at home, have you considered a Tweed Deluxe or maybe even a Champ/Vibro Champ? When you say Jimi Hendrix, is the sound in your head from one of his studio recordings? Some times our eyes trick our ears into hearing things that are not there. It is no secret that back in those days a musicians live rig also kind of had to do double duty as the PA. In the studio however, a guitar player was afforded much more freedom as far as what equipment he could use.
Good luck with your quest.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

zzmore is right...a tweed Fender can be VERY Marshall in the right setting...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Here's my take on this subject - you may disagree wit it if you like.

I think a lot of people who look for "Plexi" tone really haven't played a Plexi. They know the sound from countless recordings, and aren't getting it from whatever over-powered master-volume amp they are playing. I put myself in this boat - back in the 80's I was playing a 2203 with the master on 2 and thought I was getting great tone. Years later, I built a modified version of an 18 Watter, because the power level was better suited to someone who doesn't play out anymore.

I was immediately struck by two aspects of the 18 Watter's tone: 1) Even though its circuit has very little in common with what we consider a "classic" Marshall (Plexi) it still sounds very Marshally. 2) The tone of this little amp is actually much better than my old "thottled" 2203's. (I recently resurrected some old demo tapes from back in the day, so I have a good reference to compare.)

I think that many people, when they think "plexi", really mean the sound of an overdriven output stage, as opposed to the preamp overdrive found in master-volume amps that are found nearly everywhere these days. If you want "Marshally" combined with "output stage overdrive" then the 18 Watter will give it to you. It may not be exactly a Plexi sound, but it's close enough for a lot of people who don't really know plexi tone first hand.

So, that's what a normall 18 Watter gets you - I love mine. I get some additional flexibility from my "Lite II" variant, and don't miss the extra tone controls. The so-called TMB (which has an extra 12AX7 and a full tone stack) gets closer to "big amp" sound. Still closer is the 6V6 Plexi, basically a full-on Plexi amp with 6V6's instead of big-bottle output tubes. Many people feel the octal 6V6 does a better impersonation of an EL34 that the little 9-pin EL84.

I say find an 18 Watter and try it for yourself. You may find it does what you want. If not, then look at the more complex alternatives.

One more thing to keep in mind: 18 Watters are still too loud to be apartment amps. However, the good news is, they are easy to tame. An attenuator for an 18 Watter (Weber 25-watt MiniMASS) is a lot cheaper that one for a 100-watt Plexi. An 18 Watter with MASS will go from bedroom to bar gigs with no problem, unlike some of the really specialized "mini" amps.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

My Ironsounds 18watt is a killer cross between a NMV JTM-45 and a SLP at lower volume, but they aren't offered in either kit or built form new. The Ceriatone 18 watt sounds good, but the absolute best that I've heard was the Fargen Miniplex(the MkII especially).

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

I will say this...attenuators AND master volumes are garbage IMO...they both suck tone and don't do the job you're looking for. The are both ok at trimming down the volume a little but not for using a 100, 50 or even 20 watt amp in your bedroom.

Now, on the other hand London Power Scaling WILL do what you're asking and is Much better at doing it! However it has to be added into the amp and is more $$$ than an attenuator.

Now, if I were you I'd look into a 50 watt Marshall head and having power scaling added to it....there are some small guys out there doing it from the factory now (Reinhardt comes to mind) so maybe you coudl save and swing that.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Best low wattage plexi tone amp

Got to agree about the attenuators, I haven't heard one that didn't suck at least some tone and feel out of an amp. But that new MkII Miniplex has the London Power Scaling and all I can say is WOW. It sounds wonderful at a whisper or full out under gain or clean. It's simply a great amp design. Can't wait to get back home and a/b/c with my 18watt, and my buddy's Miniplex MkI and Miniplex MkII.

I will say this...attenuators AND master volumes are garbage IMO...they both suck tone and don't do the job you're looking for. The are both ok at trimming down the volume a little but not for using a 100, 50 or even 20 watt amp in your bedroom.

Now, on the other hand London Power Scaling WILL do what you're asking and is Much better at doing it! However it has to be added into the amp and is more $$$ than an attenuator.

Now, if I were you I'd look into a 50 watt Marshall head and having power scaling added to it....there are some small guys out there doing it from the factory now (Reinhardt comes to mind) so maybe you coudl save and swing that.