So with my wife's permission (lol) and some birthday cash I found myself swinging by and hanging out with an older gentleman a few days ago who was selling this:
A VHT (Gasp) special 6 Ultra.
You know, those chinese hand-wired eyelet-board single-ended 6 watt tube amps.
Now, I realize when looking into these things, people had relatively strong opinions both ways about them. Personally I thought they were a little harsh sounding (like a fender champ) in a bunch of videos; but those were all through the VHT chromebacks that are stock with the combos. My dad built me a killer 2x12 cab with British Webers that sounds just awesome with most anything I play with it.
So I thought hey, 175$? What could I really lose.
I'm still blown away by how nice and easy grooving this amp head is. Paired with my 2x12, I love the crunch, the clean, and the Ultra distortion. It's just really fun to play with all my guitars.
Now the features boiled down to the reason I bought it.
Of my other amps, my original Spider II head has no effects loop and quite frankly sounds sooo 2004. I played all through highschool with it so I keep it out of sentiment. My killer tube amp, a Phaez Daisycutter, is absolutely gorgeous sounding. ALL the cream you could ever want, warmer than coffee on a hot summer day. Problem? LOUD. No effects loop. I live in a basement suite right now and my upstairs neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate the killer tone. And a lot of the music I play is pretty effects driven.
So I would use my PODHD500. Love it or hate it, once the drums start pounding nobody knows or cares except for me.
Cue the VHT. Does all that I need it to at low volume, and does so with warmth and soul pleasing tubes.
Anyone else have any thing to add?
Cheers!
A VHT (Gasp) special 6 Ultra.
You know, those chinese hand-wired eyelet-board single-ended 6 watt tube amps.
Now, I realize when looking into these things, people had relatively strong opinions both ways about them. Personally I thought they were a little harsh sounding (like a fender champ) in a bunch of videos; but those were all through the VHT chromebacks that are stock with the combos. My dad built me a killer 2x12 cab with British Webers that sounds just awesome with most anything I play with it.
So I thought hey, 175$? What could I really lose.
I'm still blown away by how nice and easy grooving this amp head is. Paired with my 2x12, I love the crunch, the clean, and the Ultra distortion. It's just really fun to play with all my guitars.
Now the features boiled down to the reason I bought it.
Of my other amps, my original Spider II head has no effects loop and quite frankly sounds sooo 2004. I played all through highschool with it so I keep it out of sentiment. My killer tube amp, a Phaez Daisycutter, is absolutely gorgeous sounding. ALL the cream you could ever want, warmer than coffee on a hot summer day. Problem? LOUD. No effects loop. I live in a basement suite right now and my upstairs neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate the killer tone. And a lot of the music I play is pretty effects driven.
So I would use my PODHD500. Love it or hate it, once the drums start pounding nobody knows or cares except for me.
Cue the VHT. Does all that I need it to at low volume, and does so with warmth and soul pleasing tubes.
Anyone else have any thing to add?
Cheers!