Looking for an amp head

[Jacew]

I got my speakers set for time being.

No I've been searching to upgrade the amp I'm running through them. Tiny Terror has brilliant overdrive for sure, but it's just too difficult to get cleans (slight break up is okay, I don't need big Fender cleans). Also, when playing with band, it's slightly bit "on the edge" when cranked. Just slightly more volume, or standing in the wrong place, and I get annoying feedback. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that a side effect of low wattage amp pushed "too far" into break up?).

So perhaps more wattage?

Also, running reverb into it turns to mush too easily. (Tube?) buffered fx-loop would be nice.

What options you would suggest? I thought AD30HTC to be perfect upgrade, but it lacks the loop as well. Egnater Rebel 30 was another I've been looking at, but they seem rare as chickens teeth in used market.

I did looked at Jet City JCA22H that Ascension marketed, but I guess it's not what I'm looking for.

 

[VinceT]

Looking for an amp head

Couple of questions: What’s your budget? What style of music are you making? What speakers/cab?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

What’s your budget?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Preferably under 600$ used. But I may flex it if something perfect comes along. 1000$ is absolute max.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Preferably under 600$ used. But I may flex it if something perfect comes along. 800-900$ is absolute max.

Sorry, I added a couple of questions in edit. What style of music? What speaker/cab setup?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Sorry, I added a couple of questions in edit. What style of music? What speaker/cab setup?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I like flexibility. Nice bluesy cleans and good hard rock/classic metal overdrive would be "core" sounds I'm after. Though I like Deluxe Reverb type wailing overdrive, so I'm not completely ruling that out.

I have Celestion G12H30 speakers.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Hmmm... I immediately think of the Egnater Tweaker in terms of tonal flexibility. The 15W is one channel, but they do a 40W two channel. Worth a play through if you get chance.

Ha! Just noticed that you’d already got eyes on the Rebel!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Got the handwired Vox AC30HWH head a few days ago and it’s amazing. Everything I’d hoped for.

Been running it through a Matchless two 12 cab with Celestion Alnicos some, but mostly through a Matchless one 12 cab with a Celestion 75 Hz. G12H30.

Has a 15 watt/30 watt switch.

Also a footswitchable Hot/Cool switch for going from classic AC30 sounds to a more overdriven sound.

Has a Master Volume control that can be switched 100% out of the circuit. Sounds like a vintage AC30 when out of the circuit...a much fuller tone.

The handwired circuit board is a thing of beauty.

I couldn’t be happier. Super rich and resonant clean tones too.

Here’s a nice demo: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N3EJGBgbRZU

Got mine for $1000 shipped. Well worth it.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Looking for an amp head

I see the 40W head on Reverb used at around $400


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Tweakers seem certainly worth looking at. Rebel just caught my eye, because the power seems more suited.

That Tube Mix feature sounds really interesting: Having both 6V6 and EL84 sounds like I'd get two amps in one.

AC30HWH is 1300€ new in Thomann, without shipment. I might catch regular AC30 head used for 700€ (which is about 900$), but I think I can get better for less.

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: Looking for an amp head

The egnater tweaker is good. I really like the OR15, but that may be pricey. An ac30 head is pretty good too. If you can find an OR15 it ould work great. Another less heard of: CR120, it is not tube but it is all analogue and sounds great. I love mine. 120 watts is plenty of power.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Looking for an amp head

For clean tones, a 15 watt amp designed for Overdrive, like the Nitetrain or Tiny Terror, is just not going to cut it.

Cool distortion tones...lousy clean tones.

But clean is not what those amps are designed to deliver.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

For clean tones, a 15 watt amp designed for Overdrive, like the Nitetrain or Tiny Terror, is just not going to cut it.

Cool distortion tones...lousy clean tones.

But clean is not what those amps are designed to deliver.

Yep. That's why OR15, great as it sounds, is not an option.

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: Looking for an amp head

To me, the OR15 cleans really nicely at higher volumes, just use the volume knob on your guitar.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

The egnater tweaker is good. I really like the OR15, but that may be pricey. An ac30 head is pretty good too. If you can find an OR15 it ould work great. Another less heard of: CR120, it is not tube but it is all analogue and sounds great. I love mine. 120 watts is plenty of power.

I really should try out those upper range Orange SS amps some day. Cheap combo I tried in a shop some years ago had nice distortion in it. I hated the cleans though.

I'm not buying one now though.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

To me, the OR15 cleans really nicely at higher volumes, just use the volume knob on your guitar.

Don't know about the OR15, but TT does that too. Except, that when I get into "clean" territory, volume cut is simply too much.

If I fiddle the knobs, I can dial in good cleans, with barely enough volume. Then I have to fiddle with it again to dial in good overdrive. It's just not working and I've come into conclusion that 15 watts is simply not enough.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Bought this for $150 (plus $50 for the unloaded cab :laugh2 5-6 years ago straight from the factory in Tianjin, China. Probably the best thing I've ever bought..bang for buck-wise.

This was at the very outset of the small lunchbox head craze, but I still have'nt played a 15 watt head I like more (and I've played quite a few since). The only other little head that does everything as well is probably the Mesa Mini Mark V and that's 25-30 watts (and ten times the price :laugh2

It has the whole range covered quite nicely ...everything from sweet cleans with headroom galore to really ballsy high gain.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Looking for an amp head

(Not my demo's.. and mine's called "Goldea" not "Aira" but they're the same amp :laugh2



Here's mine..



As far as reliability goes they're built like tanks..bigger & heavier than any other 15 watt head out there. I have'nt had the slightest problem with mine since I bought it..

They (Goldea) used to have a dealer in Europe..somewhere in Scandinavia too if I remember correctly..

I know they still make them. :bigthumb:

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Do you want to keep a good low volume overdrive tone and add a clean ability? Maybe the Fender Supersonic heads would be an option? Fender cleans with a Boogie like "burn" channel. I think the 60 watt heads, used, would be within budget and they would certainly have enough clean headroom. The 22 watt head might have enough headroom depending on how loud you need to play.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Looking for an amp head

And if you're looking for an awesome Orange-meets-JCM 800 type overdrive with absolutely killer sweet Fendery cleans (and don't mind looking at 30 watt heads) check out a Laboga The Beast "Classic" 30 watt head..

I actually bought mine online from a store in Finland..

Dude has some killer choices .. Hayden, Laboga, Guru's/Cicognani, Brunetti etc.. (and a physical store to try them out ), had the lowest online prices I came across and was really friendly/easy to deal with.

I get that most folk are probably going to stick with the familiar, but there's a lot of other cool stuff out there..so w/e..

 

[Jacew]

Re: Looking for an amp head

Do you want to keep a good low volume overdrive tone and add a clean ability? Maybe the Fender Supersonic heads would be an option? Fender cleans with a Boogie like "burn" channel. I think the 60 watt heads, used, would be within budget and they would certainly have enough clean headroom. The 22 watt head might have enough headroom depending on how loud you need to play.

Supersonic 22 is definitely interesting. I have been on the lookout for those too. Opinions about them seem a bit mixed though.