Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Chris of Arabia

Chris of Arabia

Desert RATT
I want to find something that fits (or very close to) the following specification:

  • 5-20w
  • Power scaling, or selectable output
  • Good crunch (British character)
  • Sparkling cleans (Fender like)
  • Classic rock tones, rather than modern metal sounds
  • Effects loop
  • 1 or 2 channels (foot switcheable?)
  • Must weigh no more than approx 25lb, as I have to be able to ship it as hold luggage on an aircraft

I tend to play Rush, Led Zep, Radiohead, QOTSA, Queensryche, Thin Lizzy, Allman Brothers, Gary Moore, Pink Floyd and so on

I've been looking around for a little while, and without being able to test any because of where I am, have been looking at the following:

  • Orange OR15
  • H&K Grand/Tubemeisters
  • Vox NT15H-G2
  • Laney Lionheart L20H
  • Mesa 5:25 Express Plus
  • Fargen Mini-Plex MkII
  • Blackstar HT-20
  • Suhr Badger & Corso

Clearly some are on the silly side price-wise, like the Fargen, though I like what it sounds like, as I do the Victory 'The Baron', which isn't available as a head. I'll be back in the UK around Christmas and want to go audition some stuff, so what might I be overlooking that could fit the bill?
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

I like my TM and my Class5, but I would not bat an eyelash at dropping them for a Fargen. That amp kills. I have played some of the other amps on your list, and the Orange would be my other pick for 70s crunch, though keep in mind, the orange like many modern amps is still focused hard on preamp gain for sustain and thickness...little bottles at lower volumes can only do so much.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

esandes said:
mini recto?
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Not one I've researched at all, but I'll add it to the list of things to be looked at. I know it's there, but I'd mentally put it in the modern, high-gain space. I've also parked things like the Orange Tiny Terrors, as I've never been too keen on what I've heard of them.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

A little over your 25 lb requirement (29 lbs), but I really like my 65 Amps Lil Elvis. Footswitch goes between clean and "bump" channel. Power scaling is amazing. Probably out of your price range, just throwing it out there.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

lpmarshall said:
A little over your 25 lb requirement (29 lbs), but I really like my 65 Amps Lil Elvis. Footswitch goes between clean and "bump" channel. Power scaling is amazing. Probably out of your price range, just throwing it out there.
Click to expand...

It's definitely on the eye-watering end of things. The other slight problem would be that there'd be no chance of trying one, as there looks to be only one UK dealer positioned exactly the wrong side of London. That Badger is making a good case for itself and I know where I can try one of those.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Chris of Arabia said:
I want to find something that fits (or very close to) the following specification:

  • 5-20w - check
  • Power scaling, or selectable output - nope
  • Good crunch (British character) - check
  • Sparkling cleans (Fender like) - semi-check
  • Classic rock tones, rather than modern metal sounds - check
  • Effects loop - Nope
  • 1 or 2 channels (foot switcheable?) - nope (just 1 channel)
  • Must weigh no more than approx 25lb, as I have to be able to ship it as hold luggage on an aircraft - check? Haven't weighed it

I tend to play Rush, Led Zep, Radiohead, QOTSA, Queensryche, Thin Lizzy, Allman Brothers, Gary Moore, Pink Floyd and so on

...

I'll be back in the UK around Christmas and want to go audition some stuff, so what might I be overlooking that could fit the bill?
Click to expand...

guitaramplifierPCBs sells some different boards for an amp like what you're describing. I've only tried the bare-bones marshall 1974x circuit, but the Superlite II is essentially the same circuit with a gain control and treble-middle-bass EQ controls so it's a lot closer to what you're looking for. Except without the effects loop. With some different preamp tubes (5751 in v1 and 12ay7 or 12at7 in v2), the cleans are as good as any amp I've tried, but are still more marshall-y than fender-y. The crunch is vintage cranked marshall sound, and it's surprisingly loud for an 18w amp.

Only thing that might be a deal breaker is that you have to put it together yourself, which deters most people from trying out this amazing little amp.

edit: Just the head puts the build at ~$300 and under 25lb.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

the mini recto is a beast. it'll do what you're after plus a bit more. the vintage mode on the gain side is brilliant. actually, the whole thing is brilliant. i love mine. it's far from a metal-only amp. cleans and low gain sounds are killer. the metal sounds are badass, as well, if you ever want to go there.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

jimijames said:
Only thing that might be a deal breaker is that you have to put it together yourself, which deters most people from trying out this amazing little amp.
Click to expand...

It's not a route I'd considered, but I've done it before with my Ampmakers SE5a. In this instance it's unlikely I'd go that route, as I'd really like to be able to try out whatever I'm going to go with beforehand.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

chewpac said:
the mini recto is a beast. it'll do what you're after plus a bit more. the vintage mode on the gain side is brilliant. actually, the whole thing is brilliant. i love mine. it's far from a metal-only amp. cleans and low gain sounds are killer. the metal sounds are badass, as well, if you ever want to go there.
Click to expand...

That thing is way more flexible than I'd assumed. We'll add that to the 'try' list.

 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Chris of Arabia said:
It's not a route I'd considered, but I've done it before with my Ampmakers SE5a. In this instance it's unlikely I'd go that route, as I'd really like to be able to try out whatever I'm going to go with beforehand.
Click to expand...

Totally understand that - there aren't many good demos of the amp floating around but it really is nearly identical (circuit-wise) to the TMB channel on the 1974x amp Marshall makes. So, if you can find a marshall 1974x combo or head to try out, I would, and then if you like it then you know you can get something very nearly identical for cheap with the superlite II. Just my .02
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

If you try the mini recto, it's a good idea to try it through a cab you're familiar with at the correct ohm load. first time i tried it was with a fresh 16 ohm orange cab with a V30 that was not even close to broken in - it was a safe mismatch, but you lose a bit, and it even tells you this in the owner's manual. through an 8 ohm cab with a speaker that's broken in, it was a world of difference.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

In addition to the Mini-Recto and 5:25 Plus, I'd look at the TA-15. I've only played it a few times, but I definitely liked it's versatility from what I heard.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Ibanez TSA15H or the 30 watt TSA30H. Both have the triode/pentode scaling feature and an on-board TS808.
Worth test-driving if there's a dealer nearby.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

^ Yeah, I've played one of those (15W version) and it sounds great for blues/rock..nice creamy, fat, round sound. Sweet cleans too.

The new Hayden Mofo's (MkII) sound pretty cool for classic rock/metal in demo's. They're available in 2/15/30 watt versions and are pretty inexpensive (start at £250) ..might be worth checking out :)
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

I would recommend the Mesa TA-30 over the -15, as the -15 does not have a loop or reverb. I like the 5:25 & 5:50 a LOT, but I opted for the Mark V. For a classic rock, blues, and county music club amp, these Express amps are hard to beat. The mini-rec is amazingly versatile as well, more than I thought it would be.

One of the things I like about Mesa is that even their small amps have a professional feel and pro features. And their powerful amps are remarkably controllable and toneful at low volume

Good luck in your quest.

Bill
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

I picked the OR15.

It's 100% british but as long as you don't need loud pristine cleans, the amp does have sweet cleans, midrangey crunch tones, and saturated lead tones with vintage orange inspired thick fuzzy grind that works well for blues, blues rock, psychedelic rock, and classic rock and even some harder or even stonerish rock

Benefit of so much gain and the range of the eq section is that you can get more hard rock with hints of 80s marshall bite, or just thicken up any bridge single coil. The amp is warm and has chime with sometimes spongy bass which I don't mind. It doesn't have 2 channels but the guitar volume works great instead. It does have an FX loop.

So the orange OR15 might be a cool one or you might find it fizzy or buzzy. Different people have varying opinions on this amp but I liked it for my kinda stuff more than the tubemeister 18 or the DSL40c
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Hey, I actually have one that's not really on the list. A VHT Special 6 Ultra. They made a Special 6 with a few less options, but the Ultra has some really cool extras. It responds really well to tube swapping as I have found.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Chris of Arabia said:
I want to find something that fits (or very close to) the following specification:

  • 5-20w
  • Power scaling, or selectable output
  • Good crunch (British character)
  • Sparkling cleans (Fender like)
  • Classic rock tones, rather than modern metal sounds
  • Effects loop
  • 1 or 2 channels (foot switcheable?)
  • Must weigh no more than approx 25lb, as I have to be able to ship it as hold luggage on an aircraft

I tend to play Rush, Led Zep, Radiohead, QOTSA, Queensryche, Thin Lizzy, Allman Brothers, Gary Moore, Pink Floyd and so on

I've been looking around for a little while, and without being able to test any because of where I am, have been looking at the following:

  • Orange OR15
  • H&K Grand/Tubemeisters
  • Vox NT15H-G2
  • Laney Lionheart L20H
  • Mesa 5:25 Express Plus
  • Fargen Mini-Plex MkII
  • Blackstar HT-20
  • Suhr Badger & Corso

Clearly some are on the silly side price-wise, like the Fargen, though I like what it sounds like, as I do the Victory 'The Baron', which isn't available as a head. I'll be back in the UK around Christmas and want to go audition some stuff, so what might I be overlooking that could fit the bill?
Click to expand...
Test drive Orange. The crunch is sick. Sometimes i do not like thd highs on em. Too buzzy. Then i throw on the delay or reverb, all gooooooood
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

+1 on the Mesa TransAtlantic.

I'd also recommend a test drive of an Egnater Tweaker.
 
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