Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

[Deathviper1777]

Merry Christmas Players!

im looking to get a Mini or Lunchbox amp head to go with a line 6 1/12 cab.
I do use pedals and i like a decent clean channel as well. Ive been looking at the Peavey 6505 MH and the EVH lbx 3. do any of these have the ceramic parts the tubes sit in? or does that even matter?

whats the best bang for the buck? it seems all amps are made in China anymore so i guess that doesnt matter. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Old Guy]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Merry X-Mas!!!

I concur with these recommendations:
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/blog/2009/08/10/the-top-5-best-small-all-valve-guitar-head-amps/

 

[Deathviper1777]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Merry X-Mas!!!

I concur with these recommendations:
https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/blog/2009/08/10/the-top-5-best-small-all-valve-guitar-head-amps/

thank you! im looking now.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

^^^ Kind of a shame they used a picture of a DSL 15H with their write-up of the Marshall 2061X. That’s gonna cause a bit of confusion.

 

[Deathviper1777]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

the Marshall DSL20hr is whats available now? wonder how that compares?

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

the Marshall DSL20hr is whats available now? wonder how that compares?

I have this head. Absolutely love it!!!
Started off playing it through a 1x12 and
it sounded great. Now I run it through a
2x12, even better.

 

[Deathviper1777]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

I have this head. Absolutely love it!!!
Started off playing it through a 1x12 and
it sounded great. Now I run it through a
2x12, even better.

Thanks!
does it do a nice clean as well? does it seem well built?
Thanks for your reply!

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Thanks!
does it do a nice clean as well? does it seem well built?
Thanks for your reply!

Yes, it does have very nice cleans. I do play enough cleans via
split humbucker or single coil that cleans are also very important
to me. My Strat and Tele tone is more than acceptable through this
head. There's enough head room and tone shaping capability to make
me very happy with my decision to own it. It also takes pedals very well.

With that being said, the bread and butter is in the authentic "Marshall
Tone" you get. It scratches than itch like a sharp nail. Love it. For under
$500 I don't think I could be happier. Hope this helps.

Oh yeah, very pleased with the construction. Seems very sturdy.

Peace,

Darrin

 

[Deathviper1777]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Yes, it does have very nice cleans. I do play enough cleans via
split humbucker or single coil that cleans are also very important
to me. My Strat and Tele tone is more than acceptable through this
head. There's enough head room and tone shaping capability to make
me very happy with my decision to own it. It also takes pedals very well.

With that being said, the bread and butter is in the authentic "Marshall
Tone" you get. It scratches than itch like a sharp nail. Love it. For under
$500 I don't think I could be happier. Hope this helps.

Oh yeah, very pleased with the construction. Seems very sturdy.

Peace,

Darrin

Darrin,
thanks a million! i just ordered one. i appreciate your time. i cant wait to get it!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

^^^ Kind of a shame they used a picture of a DSL 15H with their write-up of the Marshall 2061X. That’s gonna cause a bit of confusion.

Yup, but the DSL15's green channel is probably a much better pedal platform than the 2061x if that is what your looking for.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Darrin,
thanks a million! i just ordered one. i appreciate your time. i cant wait to get it!

Let us know how you like it. This video indicates it is impressive for the price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXHeIdR_Qhg

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Yep! Let us know!

 

[rbc]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

There's the Peavey Classic 20 MH Guitar Amp:

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Hey DV, has the amp arrived yet?

 

[Ascension]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Haven't seen that DSL 20 and was surprised to see it had EL34's in it at that wattage. Need to play with one of those amps! It's probably the same concept as the PRS MT 15 which runs a pair of 6L6's at low voltage.
Wonder how it stacks up to my little Jet City JCA 22H Custom?? So far it's been my favorite lunch box head by far under $500 so--.
The PRS is $650 or so and is a bad little rig.
That DSL 20 is very interesting in that it's running those EL 34's and should have a lot tighter bigger bottom end because of them. Will watch for your review when you get it.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

Haven't seen that DSL 20 and was surprised to see it had EL34's in it at that wattage. Need to play with one of those amps! It's probably the same concept as the PRS MT 15 which runs a pair of 6L6's at low voltage.
Wonder how it stacks up to my little Jet City JCA 22H Custom?? So far it's been my favorite lunch box head by far under $500 so--.
The PRS is $650 or so and is a bad little rig.
That DSL 20 is very interesting in that it's running those EL 34's and should have a lot tighter bigger bottom end because of them. Will watch for your review when you get it.

The Marshall Mini Jubilee also runs a pair of EL-34s, but they run closer to $900 used or $1300 new. The Mini doesn't have the same mojo as my 2555, but you can't really tell the difference unless you actually swap cables between them.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Mini Amp Head for around 500$

There's also the Marshall Origin 20 using EL34s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=234&v=aFwTPNgKiLE

This amp can also be switched to 5 watts or 1 watt.