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Looking for a good low watt tube amp, 1-15 watts for early breakup..
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07-07-2015 06:48 AM
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I love my Vox AC-15. Sounds good and they are easy to find. The only downside is that they are extremely heavy.
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More info is helpful: budget, "vibe," head/combo, performance/recording/bedroom, etc. There are many great amps out there.
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5e3 is a nice choice.
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I potentially have a VOX AC4 as a potential for a low-watt. I used to play AC's like there was no tomorrow until I got into jazz. I just couldn't make the AC30's and AC50's work for me. There was a brightness I just had a very hard time getting rid of.
Originally Posted by P.J.
I haven't heard a 15 yet. I need to do that. I did hear an AC4TV demo that I thought sounded really nice.
...and, yes, VOX AC's are heavy. haha.
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The Starlite amp that is being built will have a Deluxe-ish circuit option on the second channel. Originally Posted by nickyboy
With the EQ engaged and the mids maxed out (effectively taking it out of the circuit) the bass and treble controls will be based on a Blackface.
Then into a dual 6v6 push pull power section. Running about 18 or so watts into a 12" Celestion Gold. Good times... good times.
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Get an old Fender Champ. You can't beat their simple beauty. My '59 tweed Champ is probably my favorite amp and I use it daily for practice and recording. Check out the blackface and silverface Vibro Champs too! They've got a great sound AND tremolo!
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I second that...don't have to go "desirable vintage" either, you could pick up a clean SF Vibro Champ pretty inexpensively. Originally Posted by dallasblues
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I agree on a Fender Champ. You can find silverface Champs reasonably priced on the used market. The VHT Special 6 is a souped up Champ and very affordable new. I have a small Fender Champion 600 which is great for home practice and does breakup early but can be tamed a little via speaker and tube changes. I'm thinking about one of those VHT Special 6s myself as I like having a tube amp to cover almost every size playing situation.
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I agree with Dallasblues--you cannot beat an old Champ for its signature breakup sound. Listen to Joe Walsh and the James Gang on the original studio recording of "Funk 49." That's a Telecaster plugged straight into a 5f1 Champ.
I have owned Silverface, Blackface, and Tweed Champs of every description. For all around greatness, it is next to impossible to beat the old, one-knob, 1955-1964 Tweed Champ with the 8" Jensen speaker. Clean: the amp is a beautiful Fender amp; dirty: the amp is a beast--all at conversation-level sound amplitude.
Over the last 15 years, I have built a bunch of these amps, as well as played a couple of good old vintage Champs. Well made copies with good speakers are quite good. Fender's reissue is quite good, too. Of course, a vintage amp with a speaker that isn't too tired is superb.
For breakup, I prefer my Champs to my Deluxes.
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Don't forget about the Epi Valve Jr. A super bargain at about $100 on the used market. Warm tubey sound, very loud for its size, not too big or heavy. Only one knob which will disappoint the tweakaholics. It is very modifiable though and has a reputation as a good modding platform.
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A champ is great, especially with a bigger speaker.
also I heard a vox ac10c1 the other day at a music store, sounded pretty damn good clean. Didn't get to hear it crunch though.
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Egnater Tweaker (15 watt version)....but you will need a reverb pedal.
Andy
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For good tube sound with early breakup (or by utilizing a master volume
two recent 15W tube amps i've played though are the Blues Jr. (with a replacement Eminence something...) (I know the Blues Jr. don't get any love around here) and a Epiphone 15w Valve Standard, which is now discontinued and you can find for very low $ (it's also heavy and has useless DSP effects built in, which can be removed/unused). (although, after reading this thread I'm going to checkout some champs...
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Low watts w/ early breakup
Tone King Falcon
Vox Night Train
Goodsell Champ/Princeton Hybrid
Ibanez TSA5
Bugera T5 (not shipping yet)
Carr Mercury
Carr Raleigh
Swart Space Tone
Fender Excelsior
Fender Rampart
Fender Vaporizer
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Palmer Drei. 3 blendable 5-watt power tube output stages: EL84, 6V6, & 6L6. Plus a couple of gain stages and a tone control.
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Really? It's a 6V6.... Originally Posted by spiral
I have the TSA15. One of the things I like about it is endless clean headroom, I can't get it to breakup even fully cranked. (I have a Cannabis Rex in it now but I don't remember the 7080 breaking up either)
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The OP still hasn't chimed in about his budget, etc., so I'm guessing it's wide open.
Excellent low-watt amps by Richter, Frenzel, and Jack Anderson.
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Thanks for all the replies .. Fender champ would prob be the best option .. The swart amps look really sweet, but out of my price range which is south of $500.. Thanks again
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I'm quite sure could get a silverface Vibro Champ or tweed Champ replica for under $500. I doubt you'd be disappointed! Originally Posted by Rich D.
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Marshall class 5 is a great sounding 5 watter if you dig the Marshall thing
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This thread makes me what a Champ with a 10" speaker. Like the VHT Special 6 seemingly is.
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Here's a pic of my old '59 Champ. As I mentioned before, I use it a lot for recording as well as practice.
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i had a silver face Vibrochamp which did Originally Posted by dallasblues
dissapoint me and i sold it ....
sounded small , no warmth there
(maybe it had issues ... dunno)
played a Victoria tweed champ that came
with a 12" speaker ....
sounded fabulous
just passing that experience along
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