I got to play a DV Mark Micro 50 and some other amps

**konstantine** · 03-07-2017, 05:40 AM

I was at Just Music in Berlin with my Sadowsky SH yesterday and checked some lightweight amps, was mostly interested on he DV Mark Micro 50 so it was the first I tried though a 2X12 cab, I really liked it, it is voiced great for jazz and fells great to play. It has that Princeton sweetness, but with less highs if it makes sense.

pros:
great price
extremely light
solid blackface-y tone without hurting tubes - a little less glassy (not a bad thing)

cons:
the reverb kicks in very fast, and its very wet-y, I would prefer to use my pedals, but I could live with that on a gig
might not be loud enough for some use(r)s, although I think it will carry most gigs

(I didnt try the OD)

I also tried the Katana 50, it was after the DV and I so didnt really care for it, it didnt feel as good playing through it, and I wasn't so keen on the clean voicing (plus I couldnt get rid of the delay).

Then I tried the H&K Tubemeister 18 and Deluxe 20, punchy little amps but are not sweet enough for me.

Lastly, there was a Champion 20 in there and I think someone in this forum was raving about it, so I didnt have anything to loose (other than time=money :P). The tweed clean had some fake breakup, I hated it, the blackface clean was decent, it felt fake but I liked it more than the Katana, the reverb on this amp is a joke. I guess if someone wants a really small-light amp and dirt cheap could use it - I wouldn't!

To conclude, I feel that for smallish gigs and jams the DV mark is really a great choice combined with a light cab and its voiced better for jazz than most of the SS acoustic amps that are the usual suspects to full-fill the need for the small portable jazz amp.

**lawson-stone** · 03-07-2017, 08:43 AM

Note the impedance of the 2x12 might have reduced the volume. A 4 ohm speaker might be quite loud. I have the DV M 50 and with a 4 ohm 10" speaker it's quite loud.

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**carlescountry** · 03-07-2017, 09:32 AM

Is it noisy?

I have the DV Mark Little GH 250 and I think it's a bit noisy.

**lawson-stone** · 03-07-2017, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by carlescountry

Is it noisy?

I have the DV Mark Little GH 250 and I think it's a bit noisy.

Noisy in what way? It has a tiny fan, but I rarely notice it. If I'm using a wireless connection with the guitar, there might be stray interference, but not typical.

**DonEsteban** · 03-07-2017, 10:31 AM

Just to answer some questions...

First I totally agree with konstantine's review.. maybe except the reverb thing. I find the reverb sounds kind of strange at home/studio levels (almost as if there'd be some chorus involved.) But once I hit the stage the first time it felt really good, a nice sounding reverb. My HoF is in temporary retirement.

Fan: It's temp-controlled, only runs when necessary. I played some really loud indoor gigs and even then, the amp never warmed up significantly. The fan never started a single time. I stressed the "indoor" because I imagine now with summer coming and playing outdoors in Spain's hot sun will make the fan unavoidable. But I have yet to hear it the first time, especially in my studio at low volumes - it's dead silent. (I have the micro 50 not the 250, remember)

Noise: The amp is as noise free as a SS amp can get, no hiss, no white noise, nothing audible (don't use the dirt channel)

Talking about the dirt channel, this is technically not a second channel but an build in overdrive (gets you an extra 2 volume and 2 sound controls but the clean ones stay active). The sound is nothing for me, but maybe good to have some day, joining a jam session and not having my pedals.

Volume: As mentioned earlier, I played some really loud blues-rock sessions with it over my 1by12 open cabinet (Celestion V30), volume control was at 50% max. This little thing starts to sing as it gets louder, similar a good tube amp, amazing.

I'm very happy with it.

PS. Not affiliated to DV mark in any way, just a happy user...

**konstantine** · 03-07-2017, 12:25 PM

lawson-stone; it didn`t really felt that it doesn't have enough headroom for me, usually when I need to play louder than that there is a PA available or I have to shoot the drummer. I mean it could definitely make my archtop feedback.

carlescounty; it was virtually noiseless, the fan didnt kick-in and the signal was as clean as expected from a good SS.

DonEsteban; thanks for giving more hands-on experience, its a great little amp, that sounds much better than its weight or its price

btw, i´m not affiliated to DV Mark either, I even went to the music store for a totally different reason, and since I had my guitar with me, I sat and played some light amps.

**carlescountry** · 03-07-2017, 02:07 PM

It is not the fan.

I have a Raezer's Edge 12ER speaker. When I connect it to the DV Mark GH250 it makes too much noise (hiss) if I compare it to the AI Clarus. I don't know why.

**DonEsteban** · 03-07-2017, 02:51 PM

Oh, that's a tweeter loaded cabinet. These (electric) guitar amps are not designed to be used with a tweeter loaded cab.

The AI Clarus is also for acoustic instruments, thus being designed to be used with tweeters. So it better shouldn't hiss.

The electric guitar on the other side doesn't produce sounds that need a tweeter, therefore electric amps and cabinets have none. Has not to the least something to do with the unpleasant harshness of distorted sounds you get, when using a tweeter loaded speaker system.

**carlescountry** · 03-07-2017, 03:36 PM

Ah, is it? Well, you've taken a load off me. Thank you!

Tomorrow I will test it with a RE Twin 8 light, which has no tweeter ..... Anyway, I had thought to buy an speaker Eminen Guitar Legend 1218 for the DV.

**Guido_59** · 03-07-2017, 04:02 PM

I'm Italian and time ago I look to this mini head and I had bone to liston. Before bit I listone in otner shop otner mini head from Quilter USA the 101 mini head.
Quilter to my ears is better and then buy it.
So my cons is listone also Quilter 101 mini head if you can and after decide.

**Mellow-G** · 03-09-2017, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by konstantine

also tried the Katana 50, it was after the DV and I so didnt really care for it, it didnt feel as good playing through it, and I wasn't so keen on the clean voicing (plus I couldnt get rid of the delay).

Constantine, Thank you for this thread. Following advice from my thread on whether to go for a 12 or 15" speaker I decided to go with a 12" Cannabis Rex and turn my Peavey Classic 30 into a head. Since then and after reading your thread and one on the Katana head I am now going to sell or Part exchange my Classic 30 for either the Micro-50 or the Katana KTN HD. Can you please tell us what the tonal differences between the 2 amps would in your opinion be and why, in more detail, you preferred the Micro-50. My tone search is for mellow warmth and soft highs without a booming bass. Unfortunately I can only get the Micro-50 to order so cannot try one. The Cannabis Rex has arrived and will soon have a cab so that is fixed.
Thanks again, Graham

**EarlBrother** · 03-09-2017, 10:49 AM

How are DVs at practice/headphone volume?

**konstantine** · 03-10-2017, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by Mellow-G

Constantine, Thank you for this thread. Following advice from my thread on whether to go for a 12 or 15" speaker I decided to go with a 12" Cannabis Rex and turn my Peavey Classic 30 into a head. Since then and after reading your thread and one on the Katana head I am now going to sell or Part exchange my Classic 30 for either the Micro-50 or the Katana KTN HD. Can you please tell us what the tonal differences between the 2 amps would in your opinion be and why, in more detail, you preferred the Micro-50. My tone search is for mellow warmth and soft highs without a booming bass. Unfortunately I can only get the Micro-50 to order so cannot try one. The Cannabis Rex has arrived and will soon have a cab so that is fixed.
Thanks again, Graham

Hi Graham,

I will try, although describing tone and sounds with words its not easy neither can be accurate since different adjectives have different meaning to most of us.

Micro-50's basic sound is just perfect for what you are describing; "mellow warmth and soft highs", maybe the lows through the DV 2X12 cab where a little too present (DV Mark is MarkBass and know for their bass mini heads and cabs after all) but it was very easy to remove some with the Bass knob, I was happy with Mid and Treble on 12 o clock.

Katana´s basic sound on the Clean preset was modelled with a different sound in mind, not as warm neither as fat, but also not as chimey and real as a Princeton RI for example. It reminded me more what I got out of modellers or software amp sims, even though I can make them sound decent with some tweaking, they never feel right to me. I've only played a few minutes with it, perhaps you can tweak it more but I usually prefer amps that I can set everything on 5 more or less and sound great right away, tweaking only to fit the sound to the room and the band.

DV seemed pretty solidly build and all knobs felt great. I´m a professional musician and reliability is no1 in my book! Boss on the other hand as I pointed on the OP had a problem with the Effects knob, it took me a few trials to remove the delay and in general it didn't felt as solid.

Boss may win in versatility though, if thats what you are after.

All in all, for a jazz musician Micro 50 ticks all the boxes: is extremely portable, seems pretty reliable and sounds great.

I hope that this helps.

Konstantine

**konstantine** · 03-10-2017, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by EarlBrother

How are DVs at practice/headphone volume?

I don't know about headphones, but it sounded great at low and loud volumes!

**Mellow-G** · 03-10-2017, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by konstantine

Hi Graham,

I will try, although describing tone and sounds with words its not easy neither can be accurate since different adjectives have different meaning to most of us.

I hope that this helps.

Konstantine

Well Konstantine you have provided an excellent reply with a perfect description. I now have the confidence to place an order for the Micro-50. The Micro has interested me for a while but was quite happy with my Classic 30 however with age progressing at an unwelcomed speed I am struggling with the weight. I have seen an excellent jazz demo on the tube and my store provides a 30 day full return if not satisfied so I have a safety net. On another thread that you have probably been watching is a Polytone pedal being developed so perhaps that could also be good for fine tuning if required, he looks to be onto a sure winner with them when ready.
Thanks again
Graham

**Woody Sound** · 05-01-2018, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by DonEsteban

Talking about the dirt channel, this is technically not a second channel but an build in overdrive (gets you an extra 2 volume and 2 sound controls but the clean ones stay active).

I hadn't read this before. Are the Little 250's the same?

**DonEsteban** · 05-01-2018, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

I hadn't read this before. Are the Little 250's the same?

As far as I remember the Little 250 series has two real full channels. Hence the two sets of three-way sound controls.

**Jim Soloway** · 05-01-2018, 04:13 PM

I have a new Micro 50 Jazz head and after using it for a month I love it. Great tone, very usable tone controls and as quiet as any amp I've ever used. I understand that many earlier ones had some noise issue. Mine does have a fan but it never come on.

**Woody Sound** · 05-01-2018, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by DonEsteban

Oh, that's a tweeter loaded cabinet. These (electric) guitar amps are not designed to be used with a tweeter loaded cab.

The AI Clarus is also for acoustic instruments, thus being designed to be used with tweeters. So it better shouldn't hiss.

The electric guitar on the other side doesn't produce sounds that need a tweeter, therefore electric amps and cabinets have none. Has not to the least something to do with the unpleasant harshness of distorted sounds you get, when using a tweeter loaded speaker system.

You should be able to turn off the tweeter on the RE. (At least I you can on mine.) That will tell the story better. I am skeptical that the hiss frequency only comes out of the tweeter. Anyway, try turning it off all the way and see if the hiss actually goes away.