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

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

I would have thought the Laney Lionheart was too big and heavy for your needs. You might be better off looking at the 15 watt Ironheart model, though it might be a bit too focussed on high gain metal for you.

There's also the Two Rock Exo 15, though I don't think it has power scaling, and the Cornell Plexi Seven and Matamp Minimat, but I don't think either have an FX loop.
 
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?
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Zinky 25 watt Blue velvet head would work nicely and stomp anything on the list in the ground. However they are not cheap and the early ones need a buffer or mods to ru pedals in the loop with any kind of cable length. I have a early combo and know these amps well. KILLER expressive crunches at levels so low you won't believe it but yet can fill a large room easily + a great clean. They also have a LIFETIME TRANSFERABLE warranty from Bruce!!
Here is mine from a live gig in the lobby of a old hospital unmiced from a camera on the floor above. Only effects are the delay and wah.

http://www.zinky.com/velvet25.html
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

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


Looks like you might want to look into the Marshall Class 5 - i love my little combo !
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

I guess this isn't necessarily classic rock, but boy does this guy make it sound good.

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

Bump cause this is exactly what I'm looking for in a new amp.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Interesting...

Mesa-Boogie Recto-Verb Twenty-Five





















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

probably nowhere to try one out in UK or Arabia

but the Carvin V3M Micro Series would be a contender at 35 LBS
three channels clean dirty and really dirty
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Sure it's not classy kind and very far from a compact head but I'm quite happy with a couple of AMT preamps + an Electro-Harmonix 44Magnum pocket power amp. I can wire any FX routing I like, parallel or series or really whatever. You really can't go more micro, it's a packers dream. I get flowers with <3 cards from my bad spine every day :)
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

The Express Plus 2:25 is a brilliant amp, and it meets all of your specs, except perhaps weight. I have the combo version. It is the best gigging amp I've ever owned. It's very intuitive to tweak, yet extremely versatile and packed with useful features. It does, however, seem to be quite hard on power tubes. It has already shorted out two of them with probably only about 100 hours of play time on it.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

I've been looking at the:
Traynor Darkhorse
& the Cravin VT16 head
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Decisions, decisions...

Everything says I am not going to find a fraction of the amps mentioned in any location I can test them, much less side by side - such is the way in NW England. Could well end up taking a punt on something and then hoping for the best, but which one...
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Chris of Arabia said:
Decisions, decisions...

Everything says I am not going to find a fraction of the amps mentioned in any location I can test them, much less side by side - such is the way in NW England. Could well end up taking a punt on something and then hoping for the best, but which one...
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Don't ignore the little jet City JCA22H. On weight I notice the Zinky is a little over the target thought it was lighter. The Jet City should meet the criteria well and I really like the one I have. It's currently on the market as my musical needs have changed and I simply don't need a pair of low wattage amps. Because of how well my 20 has performed I intend to look HARD at a Jet City 50 head in the future.
This is a really well built and GREAT sounding little amp that should get a LOT more respect than it does!
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Sorry to piggyback, but is the Class 5 still made? I just stumbled on it and the SL5, both are out of stock everywhere.
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Chris of Arabia said:
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.
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when you try it, put up a review.. Ive not heard of, and def not heard of this one and some on your list. Like the Fargen. Id LOVE to have a mini that can give all the tone at a bedroom volume and crank too and delivers a juicy brown tone. Im eyeing the new Freidman Pink Taco, tho its out of my price league, it sounds awesome!
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

There's also the currently non-existent (because it's not in production yet) option of the Egnater Detroit 18 which, on paper, looks like amazing value, and from the few clips/vids out there, sounds pretty damn good too.

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

I figure Orange may be cheaper in England ... I have my eyes on a dual terror since they are lightweight and 30 watts
 
Re: Small Amp Head Options - What's Out there That I've Not Considered?

Well Christmas in the UK proved an almost complete blowout where the amp search was concerned - I'm already back in Riyadh. I got to try just the TM18 and a JVM1 whilst I was there and wasn't sold on either of those, though I did rather like the TM18 clean channel; for the gain/overdrive channels, neither was really to my tastes. The search continues, but not for a while now, as I've no idea when I'm next in the UK...
 
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