I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

[everdrone]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I always use my custom 30dba earplugs and low volumes (attenuator or turn down volume and use distortion pedal). you may want to keep one of the larger amps and just get an attenuator so that you have an amp with all the dynamics that 50+ watts has to offer, including the low end response.

I go to rock shows about every weekend. I note that bands use half stacks and sometimes a 212 cab for rock/hardrock at ALL the rock/hardrock venues in Austin and San Antonio still, meaning it is rare to see a 212 and I never have seen a hardrock band use a 112 cab. I saw one band use a orange tiny terror and orange 112 cab for light rock/soloing once and it sounded pretty good.

 

[wahwah]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Every time I think someone needs a bigger amp for gigs I think of wahwah and his small Princeton (I think) combo on stage at festivals.

In my case it's a Super Champ from the Rivera era, rated at 18w but notoriously loud for their size, and it has a Celestion G10S-50 in it, which helps with the headroom. It never fails to look ridiculous on stage, and sound huge in the PA. I do love that little amp.

To the OP, I think it's probably worth having amps in a variety of ranges for different applications and sounds. If I do a fill in gig in a noisy bar with a loud band unmic'd, my Super Champ will get swamped. In which case, I will take a 30w combo, which does the trick. I also keep a 100w 2x12 combo, which has a master volume and fortunately sounds good at any level. It's a favourite amp of mine from years ago and I would never part with it. This gives me a selection of amps at 5, 18, 30 and 100w. All bases covered.

Cheers...................................... wahwah

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Now that's what I'm talking about WahWah! I'm jealous that you have 2 original super champs!

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Now that's what I'm talking about WahWah! I'm jealous that you have 2 original super champs!

Those are actually Rivera designed SC's from the early-mid eighties.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Those are actually Rivera designed SC's from the early-mid eighties.

I know. I had the opportunity to buy a prosonic dirt freaking cheap and passed on it cuz I didn't know what it was. I didn't realize to later and the guy had already sold it. I was a sad Mr 9finger that day

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I saw an old used Prosonic in GC earlier this year. It was the head model, and IIRC they wanted $600 for it. I should have jumped on it. I was a sad Agileguy that day.

 

[JeffB]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Yknow.. Paul still makes amps Don't overlook them,they kick serious ass.

 

[che_guitarra]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

When it comes to amps I always prefer a minimalist approach. I have a 1x12 5F1 which is all of 5 watts - and it's freakishly loud, too loud for home use with a ceramic speaker. All it has is a volume knob, which is also the on/off button. Tweed at it's best.

 

[Matt42]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I saw an old used Prosonic in GC earlier this year. It was the head model, and IIRC they wanted $600 for it. I should have jumped on it. I was a sad Agileguy that day.

How is the prosonic? I've got a friend that has one, and I'm sure sometime in the next five years or so, he'll be selling some of his electric gear. I was already planning on trying to buy his Lonestar Special if he does. Maybe the Prosonic will be worth looking at as well.

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I've had good luck with my 65 Amps Lil Elvis head and the extension cab. The power scaling feature makes it sound great when I need lower volumes, and when it needs to be cranked I have the headroom. It's only rated at 12 watts but it's plenty loud when I need it to be. And it beats lugging around heavy heads and cabs.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Small amps don't have to be lunch box amps.

Big amps are cool, and they are fun but they are not practical for 98% of guitar players today.

The OP's initial post is about lunchbox amps. It's other people bringing up the little combos.
I simply can't use small combos. They are extremely unsatisfying to me.

 

[Scorpion]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I think you can get the most awesome sounds from these little heads.i have a vox night train a 15 watts pure valve amp and for The price it sounds better than high watt heads that i tried. If you have money Go with The mesa transatlantic.great

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Well since this thread got resurrected.....

I've started my journey down that small amp path with a VHT Special6 Ultra. It's a very cool little piece and does what I need it to do for the most part. I've still not acquired all the pedals I want to try with it yet. I don't think you'll be seeing my big amps in the trading post anytime soon though. There's still a few 5/6 watt amps I want to try, then I'll move up to the 18 to 25 watt realm. Mesa and Fender both have some cool, albeit more expensive, amps in that range that I'm really curious about.

The Mesa Trans Atlantic was on my list until I seen the 5:25+. It got bumped rather quickly after that.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I think these days smaller is definitely the way to go. Having a loud tube amp just isn't practical when you're either playing at home or doing small gigs. I know for some folks headroom becomes a big thing, but I find headroom only seems to be a problem if you're playing with some seriously loud folks to begin with. My 15w amp gives me far more power tube saturation at reasonable gigging volumes than my Shiva and yet is still plenty loud at home.

 

[everdrone]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I want a nice orange tiny terror combo that weighs 37lbs... combos weigh alot. then I would want a fender pro junior that weighs 20 pounds! but they would never sound as chuggingly awesome as my head/cab.

one speaker in a cab will never sound like 2 speakers in a closed back cab, especially if you like heavy music

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

I'd really like a traynor darkhorse if I could justify it.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: I think I'm going to sell all my big amps and buy a bunch of little ones!

Actually, I'm really interested in the Darkhorse and was thinking of starting a thread to ask about it.

I really like the looks and what I've heard of the sounds, I'm a bit worried about buying one without trying it first, but there is nowhere I could try one.

It seems more versatile than a Tiny Terror or Night Train, and is also a bit cheaper. No FX loop, but then a lot of other amps of this size don't have them.

The only thing in a similar class that looks comparable is the Tweaker, which is more expensive and also a bit bigger and heavier.

Edit: There's also the Tubemeister, but that costs even more than the Tweaker