Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

[jeremy]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

very dependant on speaker. a 100 db speaker on a 3w amp will be too loud, a 90 db speaker on a 20w amp will probably be more quiet

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

I think the folks in here with anything greater than 15 watts are missing the point --- the O.P. wants to be able to crank it in an apartment.

I say 1W is what you're looking for and 3W-5W will be very hard to crank in an apartment.

not really looking for a practice 1W amp . . . being a drummer, I never live in/stay in/rent small apartments or condos. 50W through a 4x12 is just too much to ever hit the tone sweet spot. I'm thinking 5-15W depending on the amp design through a 1x12 (dropping the speaker cone surface area should help a lot too, plus selecting a driver with less sensitivity than say a V30 - maybe a G12-65 clone). I can use an attenuator on weekday evenings and crank it up on the weekends. I just want low enough wattage that I can get some nice power tube distortion at a reasonably loud level, not club volume.

I need to make some phone calls about the MM Mean 13 upgrade for the Little Giant. Might actually be affordable if I can find a used LG head.

check out this beast (half-way down the page): http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/catalog/kits/blackheart/BH-01.htm

 

[ES350]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

If you want lo-watt, look for some of the single-ended Rickenbackers, Lafayette, Univox, Kent, Harmony etc. stuff. Check out the 6973 and 6BQ5 equipped stuff...cheap and they sound great with some TLC...

 

[J Moose]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

I assume the 7 watts comes from just one tube so it's a single ended amp in that mode = true class A.
The pair of 84's in push pull config I take it as pseudo class A, I'm not sure. There is so much discussion beyond cathode bias as to what constitutes true class A that it would seem it's somewhat debatable.
I believe the TT uses some interesting impedance altering SS ciruitry but as to how it works I don't know.
To me the Marshall sound is characterised by power tube distortion and the TT that I played briefly in store semmed to have more raunch and crunch than a JCM 2000.

Nah, it runs both EL84s. The 7-15 watt switch is changing from pentode to triode. To be honest there isn't a huge amount of difference in volume between the the two, the change in tone/feel is a hair bigger.

The "Marshall" sound, like most guitar amps I think... is defined by the character of the midrange, and the TT sounds nothing like a Marshall. If it sounded like a Marshall I wouldn't have bought one... I wanted something different.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

'08 Rivera, Venus 3 / 15 watts switchable to 7 watts

All three sound great, but the Rivera is the best of the bunch. The Ampeg isn't a very loud amp and needs to be pushed hard to get any overdrive out of it. The '56 Princeton doesn't like hot pickups.


Sprinter 92

I really would love to own that Rivera Venus 3. Out of all the low wattage amps I checked out at the 08 LA Amp Show, that was the one that I loved the most. Rivera is sort of hit or miss, but that new 6V6 Venus is a hit.

I'm curious to hear more of your thoughts about it, now that you've owned it awhile. I remember it having the full range of tones from clean to blistering lead sounds. :smoker:

 

[Atomic Chameleon]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

The Tiny Terror is a killer sounding amp for sure (I have one) but it doesn't have an f/x loop and is very limited in the tones you can dial in. For only $50 more, the Egnater Rebel is a no brainer. If I were looking for an amp and didn't already own the TT I'd go for a Rebel.

 

[wanmei1]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

The "Marshall" sound, like most guitar amps I think... is defined by the character of the midrange, and the TT sounds nothing like a Marshall. If it sounded like a Marshall I wouldn't have bought one... I wanted something different.

Well if you own a TT then I can't argue 'cause I don't own one.
What speakers do you run with the TT?
In your opinion what are the amps strengths and weaknesses ?

 

[Baltar]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

my small amp is a diy 5e3 clone. i can run it with 6v6 (15w) or 6L6.
it's pretty cool and works well with my old celestion G12L-35.
i'd be interested in a marwatt clone or orange tiny terror as well.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Low wattage tube amps - who here uses them?

Well if you own a TT then I can't argue 'cause I don't own one.
What speakers do you run with the TT?
In your opinion what are the amps strengths and weaknesses ?

I've played a TT through all kinds of cabs... '70s basketweave 4x12 w/original greenbacks, a newer Ampeg 4x12 straight w/V30s... assorted 2x12s, mine is a closed back with some V30s that are about 10 years old & an open 2x12 w/alnico blues... a Fender Dlx with an eminence of some sort, I think a Cannabis Rex... and at home, mostly though the 10" in the Pro Jr.

Strengths? Well, I love the form! Its so small & easy to carry anywhere... loud enough to gig with yet real easy to pull back to "3am" domestic volume without really sacrificing anything. Very responsive to changes in picking attack & hands... not to mention letting the tone of hte guitar come through.

Does a solid medium grind, like a Mike Campbell/Tom Petty thing... think of an AC30 or AC15 running flat out. It doesn't sound identical to a Vox but its in that vein. Has a ton of gain... a little too much for me. Easily enough to make most metalheads happy...

It won't get super squeaky clean at a giggable volume, but getting that clean chime at a home/practice volume is no problem and one of the big reasons I bought the TT over the Egnater, besides the Egnater sounding/feeling like a POD.

Maybe at some point if anyones interested I'll snap a picture & type up some more detail on the TT...