Flexible/light Tube Head

**skern** · 07-14-2012, 03:48 AM

Hey all,

So portability is a huge issue for me. By portable I mean, I don't have a car. I always assumed it was impossible to have a good tube amp that I could carry to gigs via public transportation, given their weight. For example, even a Blues Junior weighs 30lbs, which rules it out.

But recently I had a revelation: if I find a relatively lightweight tube HEAD, then I could carry that in my backpack, and then carry a relatively portable (i.e. less than 20 pounds) cab in one hand, and guitar in the other. Seems doable.

Then I realized the ideal situation would be if I had TWO cabs: one for smaller gigs, one for larger gigs (the larger one would be max 20lbs), so I'm not always lugging around the heaviest load I can carry. Or alternatively, I could just have two of the smaller version and bring them both when I need more power. Which means, I need a tube head that will work well with different sized cabs and/or be able to power two cabs at once. I'm sure they exist, but I'm just looking for some recommendations and thoughts before I begin researching (and saving).

Thanks,
Sasha

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 06:19 AM

The Port City Pearl head seems quite small on pictures and it should sound great!

**kris** · 07-14-2012, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by skern

Hey all,

So portability is a huge issue for me. By portable I mean, I don't have a car. I always assumed it was impossible to have a good tube amp that I could carry to gigs via public transportation, given their weight. For example, even a Blues Junior weighs 30lbs, which rules it out.

But recently I had a revelation: if I find a relatively lightweight tube HEAD, then I could carry that in my backpack, and then carry a relatively portable (i.e. less than 20 pounds) cab in one hand, and guitar in the other. Seems doable.

Then I realized the ideal situation would be if I had TWO cabs: one for smaller gigs, one for larger gigs (the larger one would be max 20lbs), so I'm not always lugging around the heaviest load I can carry. Or alternatively, I could just have two of the smaller version and bring them both when I need more power. Which means, I need a tube head that will work well with different sized cabs and/or be able to power two cabs at once. I'm sure they exist, but I'm just looking for some recommendations and thoughts before I begin researching (and saving).

Thanks,
Sasha

Good idea!
but I do not think so you can find small tube head.
My dream is small tube head and two 10" cabs with neodymium speakers.
:-(

**marcwhy** · 07-14-2012, 08:36 AM

Hmm, good luck on this one.

I'd suggest getting a small SS head (Acoustic Image, JazzAmp, etc.) and a "tube pre-amp" pedal to warm it up (assuming you don't like the head by itself), and then a small cab (1 x 8). This is all if "portability" is your primary factor.

You're new here -- welcome! Also look for posts in this Gear forum on the new Quilter amps.

Good luck!

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Hmm, good luck on this one.

I'd suggest getting a small SS head (Acoustic Image, JazzAmp, etc.) and a "tube pre-amp" pedal to warm it up (assuming you don't like the head by itself), and then a small cab (1 x 8). This is all if "portability" is your primary factor.

You're new here -- welcome! Also look for posts in this Gear forum on the new Quilter amps.

Good luck!

I was going to suggest this. An henriksen head is flat with the controls at noon and with something like a Barb EQ / Strymon Flint I think it could be an aewsome tool for a vintage tube sound. Or with a Blackbird preamp wich is real tube instead of the Barb Eq. Add a Lopo Light cab with a Jensen Tornado 16 ohms and you have 100w of power in a 6 kgs cab and a small pedalboard with two pedals and a small amp...

Quilter just released a head and it already has reverb and tremolo so you only need a cab - they have their own cabs but they are heavy. Since Quilter puts 200w in order to have a light cab you had to go with a Redstone RS-8 which is probably not that good for more rock gigs.

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by Hexatonics

What do you think this amp is?

Do you thing its a tube amp?

Does this guy get all the blues tones and required dynamics that tubes offer?

Do you know how portable this amp is? (Its very portable)

Which amp is he using hex?

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 08:45 AM

Vintage Sound Amps also make a princeton in a head format - it should be really small and light. Shoot Rick an e-mail, he answers fast as hell!

**Duesenberg** · 07-14-2012, 09:33 AM

There are a slew of small builders out there that can deliver what you're looking to obtain. The deeper you dig, the better your chances of finding an economical And functional head.

**TSP** · 07-14-2012, 09:45 AM

To solve this issue i went to Acoustic Image Clarus 2r head. It is solid state, but gives me 95% of what i want out of a tube head, fits in a backpack, weighs less than five pounds, is dead quiet, clean, warm and reproduces the sound of the guitar precisely. takes pedals well, super reliable, tweakable, built in good sounding reverb. the only thing it lacks is tube liveliness. i get rave reviews on my sound and its warmth. people think it is tube. i play it through a Raezers Edge Stealth 10 cab and get plenty of volume for any gig i have ever played.

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Hexatonics

NOt enough head room in the princeton for jazz. Unless the company you mention doubled the watts. You need a minimum of 30/35 watts on a tube amp for jazz.

Hex I should have been more cleaer - Princeton chassis with a bigger transformer, around 35w 6l6. He can also put a 2-knob reverb (mix and dwell) instead of reverb and vibrato. It should be amazingly small and light! (He also a different tone stack from the blackface that he says it works much better for jazz)

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 10:49 AM

Yeah I know - I have one... love that amp! And it's so versatile...

But the OP said tubes so that's why I said - a Princeton Chassis, 35w 6l6, two-knob reverb, blackface specs should be a great and light / small head.

**kris** · 07-14-2012, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Hexatonics

Well the amp used in the video is a Fender Jazzultralight. You can buy the heads separately on ebay occasionally. That should do the job.

be sure what speakers it need/I think 2 OHM/.

**Abaddon2005** · 07-14-2012, 10:57 AM

CAJ Tube Top Amplifier

That seems to fit your description. Not sure if it's available widely though.

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by kris

be sure what speakers it need/I think 2 OHM/.

That's one one of the myths with that amp. 2 ohms is the minimum impedance - in solid state amps you can use higher impedance speakers - 4 or 8 ohms - but you will loose some power.

I use it all the time with a 4 ohms cab and a 8 ohms cab.

**Duesenberg** · 07-14-2012, 11:02 AM

I don't believe I've ever encountered a 2ohm speaker. If that's the case the OP would have to carry a 2X{10/12} cab. That would exceed the 30lb threshold.

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Duesenberg

I don't believe I've ever encountered a 2ohm speaker. If that's the case the OP would have to carry a 2X{10/12} cab. That would exceed the 30lb threshold.

Jensen neo amps (regular and neo) are made in 2 ohms; I bet there are others but it's not common. But you can use a 4 ohm or a 8 ohm speaker.

**Duesenberg** · 07-14-2012, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Jensen neo amps (regular and neo) are made in 2 ohms; I bet there are others but it's not common. But you can use a 4 ohm or a 8 ohm speaker.

Oh yes, SS; you're right. I have to get my mind out of the tube gutter

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Duesenberg

Oh yes, SS; you're right. I have to get my mind out of the tube gutter

He he this one is actually worth trying even for die hard tube fans.

**docbop** · 07-14-2012, 11:39 AM

A big part of tube amps sound is the rarely talked about transformers and the legendary tube amps all seem to have large transformers. Talk to some guys with vintage tube amp and they have to replace a blown transformer and the amp just doesn't sound the same any more. Transformers are key to tube amp sound.

If you want small portable you're talking SS, or spend time in the gym to lug that tube amp on the subway. Do SS amps sound like tubes, no, but the modern modeling amps are so close for portability they are worth it.

**Duesenberg** · 07-14-2012, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by docbop

A big part of tube amps sound is the rarely talked about transformers and the legendary tube amps all seem to have large transformers. Talk to some guys with vintage tube amp and they have to replace a blown transformer and the amp just doesn't sound the same any more. Transformers are key to tube amp sound.

If you want small portable you're talking SS, or spend time in the gym to lug that tube amp on the subway. Do SS amps sound like tubes, no, but the modern modeling amps are so close for portability they are worth it.

I agree that the stadium monsters have the heavy iron to drive them. I've always subscribed that you can't get away from the 'weight to sound' iron ratio. Some of these lunchbox amps sound really good; better than the ratio would suggest. Many have line out for going directly to the board.

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by docbop

A big part of tube amps sound is the rarely talked about transformers and the legendary tube amps all seem to have large transformers. Talk to some guys with vintage tube amp and they have to replace a blown transformer and the amp just doesn't sound the same any more. Transformers are key to tube amp sound.

If you want small portable you're talking SS, or spend time in the gym to lug that tube amp on the subway. Do SS amps sound like tubes, no, but the modern modeling amps are so close for portability they are worth it.

Yeah usually heads are not that much lighter than equivalent combos - you save some cabinet and speaker weight but all the rest is there. I still think a Barb EQ combined with an henriksen head should provide a very usable and light fender tube sound - Jack Zucker has some nice clips on that on the web.

I have always heard guys like Heyboer or Mercury did excellent transformer replicas - and amps in the blackface vein like Port City Pearl, Dr Z EZG-50, Fuchs Clean Machine, Tube Tone, Gries 35, VSA, etc... are supposed to sound excellent so someone has to be making good (and heavy) transformers these days...

**jorgemg1984** · 07-14-2012, 12:31 PM

Hex believe me: tube vs solid state is just the most endless and boring debate on gear foruns... so he said tubes it's tubes we will propose!

**kris** · 07-14-2012, 12:52 PM

Acoustic Image plus good quality cab/in ex.Redstone/ is the key.
If you will use EQ with it...you will get good jazz sound.

**cosmic gumbo** · 07-14-2012, 05:53 PM

I'm not aware of any light, compact tube heads that will do the job. To me, a small tube head would be a Fender BF or SF Bassman 50, it might fit in a large backpack, around 25 lbs or so. A Vox Night Train 15w is small and light - 17 lbs, but I don't think it has enough clean headroom. Probably some boutique head somewhere that might do the job, but tube heads need large ventilated cabinets, heat is the enemy of tube amps.