Smalles tube amp

[dg.riff]

I need a really small tube amp for bedroom use. I had a go on an Epi Valve Jnr combo today, which was good, but still too loud if I want to make the tubes sing. Does anyone know of any smaller/quieter tube amps than this?

If I want to be properly loud I'll use the Fender amp downstairs.

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Check out the Zvex Nano.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Smalles tube amp

I think some of the more bouteek 5W amps have a power scale that you can bring it down to 1W, or less !

Also, the BuMBOX is a killer Marshall sounding 1W head !



James

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Check out the Zvex Nano.

Good call . . . but pricey !!! (for what it is)



James

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Smalles tube amp

blackheart killer ant, it's 1 watt and i think(not sure) it's $100 for the head

 

[bancika]

Re: Smalles tube amp

I love low power amps, but I tend to build them for myself

 

[dg.riff]

Re: Smalles tube amp

What's the Peavey Royal 8 like?

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Smalles tube amp

I'd say Blackheart killer ant if you're not willing (as I am/was) to pay too much on a boutique fractional amp. It sounds great and won't empty your wallet too much either.

Beware though, even at 1 watt, the killer ant can be really loud. I'm pretty sure my downstairs neighbors can hear me when I crank the volume up to breakup levels (approximately 1/2 the way up) even if these new neighbors are quite tolerant. Bear in mind that I'm playing it through a home-made 1x12 cab that's quite massive and deep with a eminence wizard in it.

As surprising as it gets, I sometimes wish for even lower wattage for true appartment volume/late night playing...

Sounds like a good-enough reason to post a pic now isn't it?

 

[baritone]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Anything less than 5w could still be pretty loud, depending on the speaker.

 

[these_go211]

Re: Smalles tube amp

zvex nano is pricey but worth it. it sounds awesome and records well. as others have said though the 1/2 watt will likely be louder than you think. i love mine!

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Check out the Zvex Nano.

+100 on the ZVEX Nano, I work at a ZVEX dealership and just plugged into one of those a couple weeks ago for the first time. It drove a Marshall 412 cab LOUD and sounded amazing. You won't believe it till you try it out, I was astounded how loud it is and good it sounds.

 

[wanmei1]

Re: Smalles tube amp

The following pre amp tube swaps will pull the volume down.

5751 - gain factor of 70 = a 30 percent reduction.

12AT7 - gain factor of 60 = a 40 percent reduction.

12AY7 - gain factor of 45 = a 55 percent reduction.

12AV7 - gain factor of 41 = a 59 percent reduction.

12AU7 - gain factor of 19 = a 81 percent reduction.

You can aslo specify a low gain power tube.
Power tubes can vary plus or minus 20 percent so a 5 watt low gain would only produce 4 watts.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Smalles tube amp

The following pre amp tube swaps will pull the volume down.

5751 - gain factor of 70 = a 30 percent reduction.

12AT7 - gain factor of 60 = a 40 percent reduction.

12AY7 - gain factor of 45 = a 55 percent reduction.

12AV7 - gain factor of 41 = a 59 percent reduction.

12AU7 - gain factor of 19 = a 81 percent reduction.

You can aslo specify a low gain power tube.
Power tubes can vary plus or minus 20 percent so a 5 watt low gain would only produce 4 watts.

Vault worthy post --- thank you!

 

[Myles]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Anything less than 5w could still be pretty loud, depending on the speaker.

Excellent point ... many of the Celecstions are 1 watt in = 100dB out.

 

[Myles]

Re: Smalles tube amp

The following pre amp tube swaps will pull the volume down.

5751 - gain factor of 70 = a 30 percent reduction.

12AT7 - gain factor of 60 = a 40 percent reduction.

12AY7 - gain factor of 45 = a 55 percent reduction.

12AV7 - gain factor of 41 = a 59 percent reduction.

12AU7 - gain factor of 19 = a 81 percent reduction.

You can aslo specify a low gain power tube.
Power tubes can vary plus or minus 20 percent so a 5 watt low gain would only produce 4 watts.

Sorry ... it does not work like that at all. You are talking gain stage and all this does is change the preamp to output stage ratio of things. If this were true a Fender tweed Bassman would be a very quiet amp, much more quiet than a Marshall JTM45 which is basicially the same curcuit using three 12AX7s rahter than 2 12AY7s and 1 12AX7.

 

[Myles]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Not to go too far off base here but ....

In a bedroom situation it seems like most folks play to practice, have a good time, fool around or record. I know you say "tube" here but there may be better tools for the job ... what is wrong with a Line 6 POD and a great set of headphones? Heck, you can even play along with CDs. Seems like a better tool for the job from my POV.

 

[bancika]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Sorry ... it does not work like that at all. You are talking gain stage and all this does is change the preamp to output stage ratio of things. If this were true a Fender tweed Bassman would be a very quiet amp, much more quiet than a Marshall JTM45 which is basicially the same curcuit using three 12AX7s rahter than 2 12AY7s and 1 12AX7.

agree, gain factors are correct but that's not how it works.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Smalles tube amp

Gilmore Junior 1/2 Watt

Clips

 

[jeremy]

Re: Smalles tube amp

As surprising as it gets, I sometimes wish for even lower wattage for true appartment volume/late night playing...

you dont need less power you need a less efficient speaker, jensen has some that are around 95db which should calm things down quite a bit compared to your 103 db wizard

 

[bancika]

Re: Smalles tube amp

you dont need less power you need a less efficient speaker, jensen has some that are around 95db which should calm things down quite a bit compared to your 103 db wizard

that's also true, IIRC correctly, math goes like this: adding +3db on speaker efficiency is like multiplying the wattage by 10, e.g. 10W amp through a 103db speaker is about as loud as 100W through 100db...
cheers