Small High-end Guitar Amps

**medblues** · 08-07-2016, 09:31 AM

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-07-2016, 09:34 AM

Damn. Now I'm going to have to make my own cabinet! Could take a while!

**christianm77** · 08-07-2016, 10:49 AM

Small High-end Guitar Amps-w-18-1981_juno_cabinet_1000px-jpg

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-07-2016, 11:29 AM

That will be my model

**plectrum99x** · 08-07-2016, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by bmw2002

This thread is very timely for me. I've been looking around for a small head type amp to use with my new (used) Buscarino Chameleon speaker. Been going back and forth between one of the Quilters (101, ProBlock 200, MicroPro 200 or 201) and Acoustic Image Clarus. I specifically like the small footprint of the Clarus Sl (R) series. Anybody have any experience with the Clarus SL, either the new version or the older 250 watt version?

Any small head type amps with a usable headphone jack? Will likely be an apartment-dweller soon and that would be a great feature.

Hi,
I own a Clarus series 4, 2 channel that I use with a pair of Buscarino Chameleons. This combination is great for my arch tops and produces a warm, round tone without even touching the EQ knobs. It appears to have a tremendous amount of headroom and is extremely clean. I tried a Raezor's Edge ER 10 prior to the Buscarino, but despite the speaker size difference—10" vs 8"—I felt that the Buscarino had a better overall and smoother tonal range. Hope this helps.

**jads57** · 08-07-2016, 12:07 PM

It kind of comes down to Fender or P.A. type clean basically. I've found the happy medium w/ my Quilter Aviator 1x12 and Micro Pro Mach 2 head and cabs. Light weight, loud clean headroom and versatile for all types of guitars.
If you just play archtops then maybe some are better at that. But I've ended my search!

**bmw2002** · 08-07-2016, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by plectrum99x

Hi,
I own a Clarus series 4, 2 channel that I use with a pair of Buscarino Chameleons. This combination is great for my arch tops and produces a warm, round tone without even touching the EQ knobs. It appears to have a tremendous amount of headroom and is extremely clean. I tried a Raezor's Edge ER 10 prior to the Buscarino, but despite the speaker size difference—10" vs 8"—I felt that the Buscarino had a better overall and smoother tonal range. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the input. I do really love the Buscarino Chameleon -- right now I'm using it as an extension speaker with my Allen Sweet Spot (so of course it sounds great), but am in the process of shrinking my gear footprint and a small head would be one way to do it. I may end up biting the bullet and buying a new AI Clarus SL-R and selling the Allen, although that would be wrenching (the sale part).

**mercosound** · 08-07-2016, 06:38 PM

I have an AI Clarus w/ a Redstone ER cabinet that sounds good to me (archtops w/floaters), but in terms of a really small rig, I'm very happy with the Henriksen Bud. It's definitely small, a bit heavier than it looks and the carrying case/gig bag is very nice, but outrageously expensive. All in all, it's a great amp IMO - Don

**bmw2002** · 08-07-2016, 07:11 PM

Had I not bought the Buscarino, I would be looking seriously at the Henriksen Bud...

**entresz** · 08-07-2016, 07:29 PM

I really love my Quilter Aviator Twin Ten- mainly because it sounds like a nice old tube amp. It pulls off a very convincing 50's tweed type of sound, really nice and punchy but smooth at the same time if that makes sense? The 8'' combos also sound really nice, it was hard to believe so much low end such a small amp could produce. I'm tempted to buy a MicroPro 8'' as my next amp, they apparently work very will with acoustic instruments. It would be cool to run my K&K Definity pickup into channel 1 and blend in the magnetic pickup. It would be great for big band gigs where I want a more acoustic archtop sound.

**agentsmith** · 08-07-2016, 08:14 PM

i did not like the quilter amps at all. Too muddy and no fender vibe to the top end.

**2bornot2bop** · 08-07-2016, 09:13 PM

You meant audio amps, right?

**Dennis D** · 08-07-2016, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

You meant audio amps, right?

...." - and vinyl too ! "........

**christianm77** · 08-08-2016, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by entresz

I really love my Quilter Aviator Twin Ten- mainly because it sounds like a nice old tube amp. It pulls off a very convincing 50's tweed type of sound, really nice and punchy but smooth at the same time if that makes sense? The 8'' combos also sound really nice, it was hard to believe so much low end such a small amp could produce. I'm tempted to buy a MicroPro 8'' as my next amp, they apparently work very will with acoustic instruments. It would be cool to run my K&K Definity pickup into channel 1 and blend in the magnetic pickup. It would be great for big band gigs where I want a more acoustic archtop sound.

I do this with an AER.

**troxelj** · 05-07-2018, 01:15 AM

My newest rig is a Grace preamp with a powered Buscarino Chameleon. I’m using a Neunaber reverb pedal with it as well. After trying just about everything, this is the best. It’s not a cheap rig, but it sounds better than everything else by a long shot. If I want more of a tube sound, The Carr Sportsman is my go-to. FWIW.

**feet** · 05-07-2018, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by troxelj

My newest rig is a Grace preamp with a powered Buscarino Chameleon. I’m using a Neunaber reverb pedal with it as well. After trying just about everything, this is the best. It’s not a cheap rig, but it sounds better than everything else by a long shot. If I want more of a tube sound, The Carr Sportsman is my go-to. FWIW.

do you mean a felix (or alix?) into the powered speaker? i do something similar with my fishman eq into either a roland ac33 or my carvin line array thing. sounds better than it should. i like using a transformer somewhere in line if possible to kinda analog things up some, but it works as is.

then again, my favorite high end little amp is my ac4hw1 (with that eq in front). four watts, tubes, 12" speaker, 30+ lbs, so what do i know?