Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

[Frogman]

I'm coming off a fairly long hiatus of not playing. No longer playing in a band. Need something to jam on at home, so looking for something I can crank the poweramp to get the goods but not be super loud.
I currently have a RedBear MK60 and a USA Randall XL cab with WGS ET65's & Retro 30's in an X pattern (8 ohm) -- this is obviously a no-go for home use and don't want to spend a bunch of money on a quality attenuator to make it usable -- makes more sense to me to get a smaller amp.

Guitar: '81 Greco Les Paul Custom with PAF 36th Anniversary's and Blackout Modular preamp

Tones: Mastodon, Down, Sabbath/Ozzy, stoner stuff (Sleep, Red Fang, Kyuss, The Sword, etc)
(commonality between most these bands are overdriven British amps)

Budget: $300 (used)

Options:

Blackstar HT-5R (combo or head into my 4x12)
Blackstar HT-5R Metal (combo or head into my 4x12)
Jet City JCA2212RC (combo)

With reverb, 2 channels and an FX loop, I'm leaning towards one of the HT-5R's.

Any idea if the metal version is simply the HT-5R with more gain on tap, or is it voiced differently?

I'm wondering if the original HT-5R would have enough gain for me, considering I have BMP loaded pups -- and I have a vintage MXR 6 band EQ I can always throw up front.

Thoughts?

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

They are all good choices and I mY have a few extra: any of the smaller Orange offerings could be good (dark terror would be great).
Also, this one won't get many upvotes but it's my personnal favorite: get a Hotone Heart attack. I know, it's 5w and solid-state but it's by far the best sounding home-amp I've played and sounds amazing through a good cab (and can get loud too). Keep you bigger amp for those times when you can really open it up (it's what I do with my jcm800, dual rectifier and hiwatt) and the hotone when you want to sound great without having the walls shaking too much... Just a thought...

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Take a look into the Randall Diavlo series as well. They may lean a bit more towards the modern sound, but they can be dialed in to sound British-ish too.

The Blackstars will have enough gain, I'd say.

FWIW, I'd consider looking into the 1-watt amp market as well. I just sold my Randall 5-watt Diavlo because I thought it was too loud for bedroom practice through a 1x12 with a fairly efficient speaker.

 

[Pilatvs]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

+1 on the Hotone
Pretty much the only amp I use at home. No cleans at all, but really great gain tones. Only cost $100 or so. More money for coke and whores!

 

[Jacew]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

My friend has HT-5. Great for searing 80's riffing (dio, leppard, van halen), but you might want something punchier and less bright for stuff you mentioned.

Though I haven't delved much into it to dial in tones. That's just impression I got when trying it out.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

+1 on the Hotone
Pretty much the only amp I use at home. No cleans at all, but really great gain tones. Only cost $100 or so. More money for coke and whores!

Yeah, they're amazing and I can't believe they aren't more popular right now. Plus, considering how cheap they are, if one needs a clean channel, he can just buy a second head more designed for cleans (they have a vox-inspired head and a tweed deluxe one as well).

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Orange Micro Dark and an Orange 1x12 cab.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

I have a Jet City JCA22, and that thing is WAAAY too loud to crank at home. I run it through a ported 1x12 loaded with an Eminence Wizard, and it's starting to get uncomfortably loud (without ear plugs) by the time the volume gets to 2 out of 9.

Another thing to consider is that high gain amps like the Jet City and Blackstars tend to get mushy when pushed into power amp breakup. I've yet to crank my Mini Jubilee that loud, but my 2555 starts getting overly compressed and mushy above about 6 on the master volume. That amp starts to come alive around 2.5 on the master and sounds its best at 4-5; just when the power tubes are nearing breakup but haven't actually got there.

 

[Jigsisme]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

The Orange is what you want...dark terror series will do, all day long. I like same music and my dark terror works perfect. Even better when you run a boost and eq.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

The Orange is what you want...dark terror series will do, all day long. I like same music and my dark terror works perfect. Even better when you run a boost and eq.

Adding a boost and an eq to the price, brings to the table more options worth considering, if he has not got these pedals. IMHO

Inviato dal mio MotoG3 utilizzando Tapatalk

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Orange Dark Terror does seem about right.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Jet City JCA22H hands down. Makes the Orange terrors sound mushy sloppy and tiny side by side. I know because I have run them side by side bought a Jet City. My jet City KILLED through a 1/12 Blackstar cab loaded with a WGS Retro. A retro/ET makes a great speaker combo for that amp!!! The new JCA22HCustom head is only $365 new with warranty here http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/jet-city-amplification-custom-jca22h-20w-tube-guitar-amp-head?cntry=us&source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgfulqInl1gIVVVmGCh34oQ5FEAYYASAB EgI9j_D_BwE&kwid=productads-adid^221957295827-device^c-plaid^323968481463-sku^J26511000000000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Also, this one won't get many upvotes but it's my personnal favorite: get a Hotone Heart attack. I know, it's 5w and solid-state but it's by far the best sounding home-amp I've played and sounds amazing through a good cab (and can get loud too)

I love the sound of these. But at that price there's always this or that pedal or gizmo around that I feel I should get instead. Really wish I'd make up my mind and pull the trigger.. :lmao:

But yeah, an awesome little head for practice & messing around...& at a pretty sweet price too :bigthumb:

 

[Paully]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

https://reverb.com/p/bugera-v5-infi...BVOZP4tlB1vqE8VhM4MaAorGEALw_wcB&hfid=5277295

 

[HyBr1d]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

I have a Blackstar Ht 5 Metal, I think it depends on if you’re looking for amp distortion or pedal distortion...I personally should have gone with the basic HT-5, because I quite honestly have never liked the distortion channel on the HT-5 Metal...For me, never seems like I can get enough treble...I’m running it into a Marshall 1963(I think...the 2x12)I actually have a Peavey 6505+, Then stacked on top of that a Marshall TSL 60, then on top of that I have the HT 5 Metal. I run probably a 12-15 pedal chain into the clean channel, can get some really nice tones from blues to metal, depending on the pedals used...Though the greatest feature(and the reason I’ve never gotten rid of it despite not using the “metal” channel) is the headphone jack in the back! It’s absolutely perfect! I(You, anyone) can play anytime you want without fear of waking the house up!!

Or, you could go for a used jvm1 combo(I’m actually looking to unload mine) or a jcm1 head/combo...1 watt, switchable to .1...And both have Effects loops(the Blackstar has an effects loop too, forgot to mention that) But the Anniversary 1 watters aren’t exactly cheap...lol got offered $350...sorry have to add 250 to that to make me budge from $700)
I’d go for a Blackstar, it’s been a life changer for me being able to play(electric) at any time, as much as the ears can take from the headphones!!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

This may not be what you have in mind, but
I have been staring at the Joyo BanTamp Zombie
It seems in the ballpark
They have the Meteor that supposed to be the Orange Clone
And the Jackman, the JCM clone

They are around $150 new

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Out of those you listed, Jet City will eat Blackstar alive. Jet city has massive amounts of gain and is all tube/warmer sounding. If you take the time to put the proper tubes in and use the equalizer in front you will have a killer hotrodded british tone for home use. As a bonus it will be plenty loud for use in a band or as backup amp.
The Blackstar HT-5 series are crap imo, solid state nasty buzzy sound. Generally uninspiring and bland.

 

[Undone]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Yeah, they're amazing and I can't believe they aren't more popular right now. Plus, considering how cheap they are, if one needs a clean channel, he can just buy a second head more designed for cleans (they have a vox-inspired head and a tweed deluxe one as well).[/QUOTE


They also have the Purple Wind which does a reasonable plexi sound. I have the Hear Attack and Purple Wind. Love those little amps! You may alsovwant to check out the Joyo Zombie. It's like a Heart Attack plus with more low end. I prefer the Yamaha THR10X for bedroom jamming.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

+1 on the Yamaha THRX

 

[Wattage]

Re: Low watt tube amp for hard rock and metal

Man there are so many brilliant little amps out there it is hard to pick just one

I personally love Orange but spend sometime looking you'll be rewarded big time.

Jet City, Blackstar both make great stuff. All the Hotone, Joyos etc are pure fun, just turning them on and seeing what they can do cracks me up everytime.

Look at the Fender Mustang line too, ridiculously good practice amps even though they are not tube.