need low wattage tube amp

S

SCOTT502

New member
I need recommendations on a low wattage (<15 watts) all tube amp strickly for recording purposes. Ideally I'd either want a head or a combo with speaker out capability to feed a 1 X 12 cab.

Musical tastes run the gamut from clean Jazz to down-tuned metal so I need versatility. More than likely I'll be hitting the front end with a pedal or two to help this.

I've looked briefly at things like the JSX Mini-Colossal and the Randall Rm20, but that's about it....I need good recommendations from you guys!

Thanks,

Scott
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

Orange Tiny Terror, Egnater Rebel 20

If you need an f/x loop the Rebel is the way to go. Only $50 more than the TT and tons more features too.
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

OOh....hadn't seen that Egnater yet. That looks pretty interesting, good price point as well. Thanks for the info! You or anyone else familiar with Egnater stuff / this amp in particular?
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

In the 5 watt range, you've also got Blackheart amps. That Egnater stuff looks pretty awesome, though!

Don't forget an AC15 as well.
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

Because they're very cheap and plentiful, it's probably worth your time to go to a local store and try out an Epiphone Valve Jr. It's not a loud amp but I've had some pretty good results with mine.
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

A blues junior and a couple of OD pedals will get you there and be fairly inexpensive.
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

Checked out the Blackheart website, pretty cool stuff although I'm leaning towards the Randall RM20 due to it's extreme versatility when swapping modules, the Egnater looks interesting though. I want the capability to get plenty of aggression from the amp itself without having to rely heavily on a stomp box for distortion. I would be using something like a Tube Screamer in front just to tighten things up and maybe bump it up a notch. I don't need or want an INSANE amount of distortion, I know the Randall Modules can be moded so that's a plus....but the price of the Egnater KILLS me!! Anyone know how aggressive that little thing can get?
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

Hey thanks for the other recommendations, I'll take a look at those as well, sheer volume is not a concern, just need enough to get the tubes cookin and the speaker moving.
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

I'll +1 the Tiny Terror AND the Egnater.... the Tiny Terror I've played with and it's great.... the Rebel 20 mostly because I really want an amp with those features to do well... haha... it's just got some cool features!
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

The little Egnator was really disappointing for me. I love single channel amps but this one had all the dynamics of a POD... which is to say it had none. I played a prototype back at the NY Amp Show & the final at a GC about four weeks ago... both with AII loaded Les Pauls and it wouldn't clean up when I lightened up my attack or rolled the guitar volume down.

The voicing switches are cool & it sounds pretty good when it's running flat out, which is all it really does... but I didn't like the way it felt to play and it really doesn't have a clean tone to speak of. Started breaking up with the gain around 9 o'clock.

The Tiny Terror is pretty wicked but something of a one-trick pony. It does seem to take pedals really well though which is a good thing.

Fender Pro Jr could be an option... I've gotten a fair amount of mileage from mine, either with pedals or I've had a few players stick their POD in front.

I haven't experienced the Randall RM20 though I'm curious. The Lynchbox half-stack was really groovy... sounded large and dynamic but the regular RM head left me flat. I'm not sure what all the differences were, speakers could be a lot of it, but they were worlds apart. The build quality also seems a little suspect...
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

im gonna throw a second vote for a blues jnr. master volume, awesome cleans, modable to hell and back and it takes pedals really well
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

Another recommendation for a Laney VC 15. ( though definitely not the Laney LC15. )
Similar to a Fender Blues Jr in using 2 x EL84's but with a higher build quality and more EQ knobs to play with.
It won't do high gain metal but if your into classic vintage sound then they're very good.
They're still made in England and ( after a retube ) have a Marshall sound to them.
Definitely worth hunting down and putting on your short list.
 
Re: need low wattage tube amp

zvex 1/2 watt. has controls and takes pedals well.
 
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