Lunch Box Amp Search

lespaul1963

lespaul1963

New member
I am looking to acquire a lunchbox head and am undecided in which one to pull the trigger on. I've studied offerings by Vox, Orange, Carvin and Egnater. I need at least 2 channels and the ability to reduce the power of the amp as included features. Tone wise, I'm looking for that classic Vox AC-15/30 clean/chimeyness and crunch and something with a higher vintage gain, like a JCM800. In the experience of the community, is there anything out there that even comes close to what I am looking for?
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

Orange Dual Terror? Just a tad bigger than "lunchbox" maybe. It has pentode/triode modes for controlling wattage
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

If you want to come down my way, I have an Awesome 15 watt for sale.
It is a George Dennis "Blue Beetle". Not a lot of small heads have a tube driven, Acutronis tank with dwell for the verb.
Two channels with some nice micro switches for shaping. Comes with a nice ATA. This amp slays any modern day Marshall 18......
Good Luck
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

Without pedals its going to be hard for it to be 'lunchbox' and all you want. The Vox nighttrain 50 is pretty close - in fact checking it out its better than I thought it could be. You could stick any plexi in a box pedal in front (or green rhino, OCD, plimsoul) to do a fatter gain if the second channel isn't cutting it.

Its a master volume so thats effectively the power reducer right there.
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

yeah if you're willing to do the "single channel plus pedal" thing, the original night train is probably closer to the size/portability idea of a true lunchbox (or in this case, DEATH TOASTER!!1).

I used to own a night train and the only thing I didn't like is the preamp gain can be pretty fizzy when the notes trail off, especially with the master below half. The thick mode didn't do much for me. Plenty of gain but no flexibility without the tone stack.

I use an MI Audio Crunchbox for my JCM800'ish tones (with my DRRI) and I don't miss channel switching much. I think a night train and a crunchbox, or something similar, would take you a long way if you're willing to skip the switching.

Best part about using a pedal as your "second channel", is you can always sell it and get a different one. I love not being locked into anything but a sweet clean tone. And the night train has a sweet clean.
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

Maynardo said:
probably the Mesa TA15 can do it for ya
Click to expand...

yeah probably. $900 is just a weird price-point for lunchboxes heads, though. You're in the range that's above the common lunchboxes (tweaker, NT, TT) but with the TA once you add a cab you may as well grab a full featured combo amp that's probably just as portable.

One of the best things about most lunchboxes is that they're not super-loud, somewhat versatile, and they're really affordable. The Transatlantic ain't in the budget for a lot of people. But if that's not an issue....

So to the OP... Can you give us more info?
Why a lunchbox? And do you need a cab, too?
Do you have a price range?
Is channel-switching a must-have?
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

I saw a guy use the TransAtlantic at a gig couple of weeks ago. Tiny little thing, and the cab looks like a toy. Dang good sounds coming from it, though.

VOX Night Train is a cool little number, and using the thick mode as a boost for leads would be cool. Don't know if that feature is foot switchable or not.

Tweaker has some good tones in it, but the trade off is that none of them are stellar. The amp tries to do too much to nail one sound. You stand as good a chance as any of having the vox-ish chime from that one.

If you're willing to use pedals for the second "channel" your options will open way up.
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but the Krank nineteen80 Jr, would be right up your alley.
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

devastone said:
I'm waiting on this one to come to the US, October is the date I got from H&K support: http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php5?id=142&prod=TubeMeister 18 Head
Click to expand...

Having owned an original Triamp and a Duotone, I think this thing's probably going to be amazing. I'm looking forward to hearing it. :)

Edit: looks like clips are up and they sound impressive.



And this thing is direct into a Behringer mixing board...

 
Last edited:
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

guitfiddle said:
I saw a guy use the TransAtlantic at a gig couple of weeks ago. Tiny little thing, and the cab looks like a toy. Dang good sounds coming from it, though.

VOX Night Train is a cool little number, and using the thick mode as a boost for leads would be cool. Don't know if that feature is foot switchable or not.

Tweaker has some good tones in it, but the trade off is that none of them are stellar. The amp tries to do too much to nail one sound. You stand as good a chance as any of having the vox-ish chime from that one.

If you're willing to use pedals for the second "channel" your options will open way up.
Click to expand...

nothing on the night train is foot-switchable, unfortunately. I dunno if it would even be that great, using the thick mode as a "boost" setting, because the character changes a lot without the tone stack. The setting that gives a nice "medium breakup vox crunch" on the gain knob in bright mode would be equal to "all out pissed off grungey hard rock" in thick. Some songs call for that but I'd be hard pressed to find a use for a lead boost that dramatic.

and about the tweaker... I couldn't have said it better myself. 3 good but not great voices.
The vox chime I think is actually pretty lacking in the tweaker. It has a vox spanky EQ, but EL84s breaking up is SO crucial to getting *that* sound. The cleans were good but the overdrive was disappointing.
When I owned a tweaker, it always felt so refreshing to play a DRRI, or it always felt so great to get to play a real AC15, or even a marshall Haze. The tweaker is the king of "amps that make you gas for other amps" sadly enough
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

Ever thought about the 'lil 15W Haze ?


84721592.jpg




Traynor also have the Darkhorse :


Traynor_1_option4.jpg
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

lespaul1963 said:
I am looking to acquire a lunchbox head and am undecided in which one to pull the trigger on. I've studied offerings by Vox, Orange, Carvin and Egnater. I need at least 2 channels and the ability to reduce the power of the amp as included features. Tone wise, I'm looking for that classic Vox AC-15/30 clean/chimeyness and crunch and something with a higher vintage gain, like a JCM800. In the experience of the community, is there anything out there that even comes close to what I am looking for?
Click to expand...

You're describing the Mesa TA-15 pretty much. I drove down to San Diego this morning and bought a used TA-15 and a matching Lone Star 1x12 cab and this thing is the most versatile and maybe the best sounding amp I've owned.

You can do the AC15 on channel 1 and set a Marshally tone on channel 2.

Has a great master volume for all levels of loudness.

Cute as a bug, too!

DSCF1043.jpg
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

I really don't mean to spam but there's a nice like-new night train for sale here.

It's a really really nice amp and does the "clean+pedal" or "dirt+pedal" really nicely. 7 or 15 watts... hard to go wrong, especially at that price!
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

welcome to the forum mr lespaul1963.
I know my post will sound patronizing, and its not my intention. I just got a vibe fromn your question and i think there are some things you might need to look into first before you consider parting with your hard earned cash on any amp. It will be in your benefit in the long run.
When you say you have "studied" these amps i get the feeling all you have done is look at you tube clips and read some forums and reviews on the net.
Please tell me you are actually going to play some of these amps before you make a decision.
Your ears are the best judge. Trust them.
Go to some shops and plug in to as many amps as you can.

While we are talking ears tho....all of the amps you mentioned are nice sounding and versatile amps, but you really should be forewarned....
if you want vox ac30 tones you need an ac30
if you want marshall jcm800 tones you need a marshall jcm800.
so...no...none of those amps will come close....however they can sound very very good within the constraints of their design. By the same token, a jcm 800 cant sound like a tweed deluxe, and no boutique bassman clone will sound like a mesa dual recto.
If you want a lunchbox amp, thats great, just enjoy what they are designed to do, not dream of tones that totally different amps can produce.
The trick with choosing an amp is getting the one that sounds closest to what you want when you plug in.
Also, dont assume that reducing wattage = reduced volume. Most amps in this category that have wattage dials, just sound thinner the lower you go. But you will find that out when you actually plug in to a few. Volume is more determined by speaker efficiency and eq curve than amp wattage. for example - with a 97db speaker, you can produce 97db of volume at 1 meter with only 1 watt. However, a 100w amp can only produce a nominal 3db increase over a 50w amp. So what that means is you can play higher wattage amps at lower volumes and get a good sound too. Im saying this cos im guessing you want low wattage with the assumtion that it will sound better at low volumes. It doesnt work that way in the real world.
You might find that you find more pleasing tones in an amp of higher wattage.
You really need to try a few with your own ears and hands.
Take a day or two to go into a few guitar shops and drive the staff mad by trying out everything that might take your fancy.
You may end up walking home with a sexy new lunchbox amp, you may find that after pluggin in to some different things that you want something that you had not previously though about in your internet research.
But one thing you will definitely get (completely free!) is knowledge and an educated opinion.
Dont trust us or anyone else on the net. Use your ears, pick your faves and then pick the brains of the forum and balance that with what your ears tell you. ANd im not talking about listening to you tube clips!
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

Gibson175,

I don't take your post as patronizing at all. Your concerns are of someone genuinely trying to be helpful. I've sought out and plugged into many of the amps suggested here, not only in music stores, but also a few owned by friends and available at a few open mic nights I've been to. The on-line reviews and you-tube clips helped to point me in the right direction, but typed words and crappy computer speaker sound don't get the job done. My ears are indeed the final arbiter. I asked as I am not aware of everything available on the market, and the suggestions heretofore made gave me a few others to check out.

I've owned AC30s, Bassmans and JCM800s and I agree that there is nothing that sounds or responds like the genuine item itself. I am seeking something that will get me in the ball park. Also, I do understand the relationship of power rating vs decibels of sound level and speaker efficiency to same. I understand that many players don't, so your mention is helpful to anyone reading your post that was unaware of the relationship even if it was directed at me.

The raison d'etre for my purposes of a lunchbox amp is something that has less headroom and therefore more likely to give up the tonal goodies at a lower level of volume. I find the tones of the ones I've tried adequate for my purposes with the power tubes earning their keep. I also find myself increasingly in playing situations where the stage volume has to be kept low and the room on the stage is somewhat cramped. Also, I am well middle-aged now and don't relish the experience of bucking a 50 or 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinet (not that I ever did, but I tolerated it for the last 30 years) anymore. I converted my Marshall Vintage Modern 50 watt combo into a a head and 2x12 cabinet rig as an interim solution.

The lunchbox amp I select will be run through a 1x12 cabinet with an Eminence Reignmaker 12" speaker. The cool thing about this speaker is that I can dial down the efficiency of the speaker and therefore reduce the volume. It actually works pretty well. So far I am partial to the Mesa Trans Atlantic and the Orange TH30 (not a true lunchbox, but it seems to fit my needs). I am waiting to try out the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Head before I pull the trigger.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone for their input on this thread. Everyone's suggestions are much appreciated, as there were one or two of these amps I did not know about, e.g., the TubeMeister 18 Head.
 
Re: Lunch Box Amp Search

Id say go for a nighttrain, dual terror or maybe even a Egnater Tweaker (there are lots of VOX style small heads) and a if you need marshall gain (the dual terror should cover that) get a Wampler Plxstortion or a crunchbox or another solid state device that is good at the JCM800 sound
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top