What's the smallest tube amp that you really like?

[Longways to Go]

I've been mainly playing on my big tube amps at home recently, but I have a little gig coming up on Friday, so I drug my small solid state amps out of the closet to see which one to take out on Friday, because I prefer to travel light. They are all good fine amps (DV Mark Little Jazz, Roland Microcube RX, Schertler Giulia, Yamaha Thr10c), but I'm so spoiled on the tubey goodness of my bigger amps that I'm wondering about acquiring a really really small tube amp to catch the tubey vibe.

When I say small, let me just say that the Princeton is way too big for this idea -- I could be very happy with a 6" or 8" speaker. Is there a great sounding tube amp that is about this size of a Little Jazz?

BTW, 5 watts would be plenty and I'd love if it had a pine box.

[ptchristopher3]

I have a VERY modified Gibson LP Junior amp made by Mojo that fits this description. But for a stock small tube amp, I can think of nothing that would beat the Giulia or THR-10 (even though those are two very different amps).

[Jabberwocky]

Gries 5.

Ibanez TSA15.

[John A.]

I've been mainly playing on my big tube amps at home recently, but I have a little gig coming up on Friday, so I drug my small solid state amps out of the closet to see which one to take out on Friday, because I prefer to travel light. They are all good fine amps (DV Mark Little Jazz, Roland Microcube RX, Schertler Giulia, Yamaha Thr10c), but I'm so spoiled on the tubey goodness of my bigger amps that I'm wondering about acquiring a really really small tube amp to catch the tubey vibe.

When I say small, let me just say that the Princeton is way too big for this idea -- I could be very happy with a 6" or 8" speaker. Is there a great sounding tube amp that is about this size of a Little Jazz?

BTW, 5 watts would be plenty and I'd love if it had a pine box.

Fender Champion 600 or Bugera V5 are both pretty decent sounding and quite small (though bigger and heavier than a Microcube). I think there's also an Epiphone tube amp around this size.

John

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[Jbeckforever]

I have a VERY modified Gibson LP Junior amp made by Mojo that fits this description. But for a stock small tube amp, I can think of nothing that would beat the Giulia or THR-10 (even though those are two very different amps).

I own the THR10 and absolutely love the thing. Nothing touches it for overall versatility and portability. It sounds insanely good.

The cool thing is most other amps try to model the sounds of famous ones. The THR10 tries to model the circuitry and signal path of famous amps, rather than the sounds themselves. The result is a very organic and responsive tone that feels alive under your fingertips. Beats the heck out of most everything else in its price range and class.

[marcwhy]

Buy a little Frenzel and a 1x8 cab (or Frenzel could do a combo for you).

[Paulie2]

I don't know of any tube amps with 6" or 8" speakers that I really dig personally but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. I use a Fender Pro Junior with a 10" speaker that works perfectly and is very light and portable

[Greentone]

Fender 5f1 Champ Amp. This is one of the best amplifiers of all time. Intended as the amp to complement the student model steel guitar from Fender, it is actually a gorgeous sounding, all-tube, 5-watt beauty. You can go with different size speakers, but I really like the original Jensen 4-ohm 8" alnico magnet speaker.


An amazing amount of rock and roll was recorded with the Champ. That being said, at low volumes it is a great sounding amplifier for any kind of music.

[bmw2002]

Gries 5.

Ibanez TSA15.

I have the Gries 5 and it is a fantastic hand-wired boutique tube amp, but mine has a 12” speaker, which I think is standard for the amp — it’s physically about the size of a Princeton. Might be a bit bigger (dimensions wise) than what you’re looking for. (My wife certainly thinks it’s too big for our apartment.)

[neatomic]

$$ boutique, but no contest..fits your speaker size 8" weight (14lbs) and power(5w) parameters...and sounds great doing it...

swart space tone





swart amplifier co - Space Tone 6V6se all tube amplifier

cheers

ps- swart has a bunch of variations on the theme..so check out all their other small sized models too

[TH]

I have a silverface Fender Champ that I had modded to give more headroom. All the cost cutting "economy" parts replaced by higher grade parts and a Weber speaker. Smooth, the sweetest warmest and most defined jazz sound, like a horn. I liked it so much I found another on Ebay and had amp wizard Roy Goode mod that one too. It's LOUD when you need it to be and the best use of 6(?) watts ever.
Check out Rivera era Super Champ too if you ever find one. Almost like a Princeton's power in a tiny package. No substitute for the organic bloom of a little tube amp. And those Champs were class A circuitry too. Fast off the attack, warm on the decay.

David

If you do check these little guys out, there's lots of resource out there to clean up and get more headroom out of the Champ. Here's one with some good info:
https://schematicheaven.net/mods/cha...ifying_mod.pdf

Next to a tiny Roland cube so you can see the size. LP for reference size too.


Fender Rivera Super Champ


These guys, when tweaked and modded give me all I'd want from a boutique but are real workhorses in price and sound.

[citizenk74]

My Kustom Tube 12A has a tube pre-amp, controls for gain and volume, a voicing switch, an 8" Celestion speaker, 12 watts, and tone for days. A dozen or so cubic inches up is my Blackface Vibro Champ - 8" speaker, all tube, tremolo Class A goodness. Neither one has reverb (pedal time!); a Joyo American Sound or SansAmp California Blonde adds tweedy tones to either.

[viccortes285]

I love the tone of Fender Princeton, I was raised on Fender Tubes Amps and still love them and own two DRRI 65 & 68.


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[neatomic]

another great independent amp company with a mini is vintage 47...if you want a real vintage old school tone! octal pre-amp tube.. even has 6x9 oval speaker!






The Mini


cheers

[christianm77]

I have a silverface Fender Champ that I had modded to give more headroom. All the cost cutting "economy" parts replaced by higher grade parts and a Weber speaker. Smooth, the sweetest warmest and most defined jazz sound, like a horn. I liked it so much I found another on Ebay and had amp wizard Roy Goode mod that one too. It's LOUD when you need it to be and the best use of 8(?) watts ever.
Check out Rivera era Super Champ too if you ever find one. Almost like a Princeton's power in a tiny package. No substitute for the organic bloom of a little tube amp. And those Champs were class A circuitry too. Fast off the attack, warm on the decay.

David

Man I'd love one of those. Sounds $$$ though.

Actually I'd love a Champ in general, but they are pricey new and hard to come by second hand.

[Gitfiddler]

Another vote for a vintage Princeton non-reverb or my personal favorite ‘little’ amp, a Fender Rivera-era Super Champ. I’m such a fan that I bought a second SC.

[neatomic]

except that op wrote!

let me just say that the Princeton is way too big for this idea


cheers

[christianm77]

Buy a little Frenzel and a 1x8 cab (or Frenzel could do a combo for you).

These look incredible for the money.

[guido5]

I love my Lil' Dawg Wonderdawg. A single channel hybrid of blackface deluxe and super reverb circuits with a lovely mid control that fits in a nice princeton 12" cab. A warm set of JJ tubes and a Weber speaker finish a sweet package...

He makes a killer tweed champ too... Tempting...

[TH]

Man I'd love one of those. Sounds $$$ though.

Actually I'd love a Champ in general, but they are pricey new and hard to come by second hand.

Nope.
On Reverb, they go from under $400
Fender Champ 1973 | Reverb

But DON'T get the post Fullerton solid state or tribute amps, those classic 70's point to point amps are great, can be found and are modible because it's all out there. They're good as is, get a speaker replacement and you'll hear a ton of difference and then you can change parameters at your leisure.

Ebay they start from about $500. It's a serious amp. I don't use mine as a convenience, it's my go-to amp for sound and it's SO portable.

David

[christianm77]

Nope.
On Reverb, they go from under $400
Fender Champ 1973 | Reverb

In the states maybe...

But DON'T get the post Fullerton solid state or tribute amps, those classic 70's point to point amps are great, can be found and are modible because it's all out there. They're good as is, get a speaker replacement and you'll hear a ton of difference and then you can change parameters at your leisure.

Ebay they start from about $500. It's a serious amp. I don't use mine as a convenience, it's my go-to amp for sound and it's SO portable.

David

Point to point would be cool...

I'll keep an eye out though. The used market is much smaller in the UK obviously....

[christianm77]

Whatabout this one :-D

1962 FENDER TWEED CHAMP - ANDY BAXTER BASS & GUITARS | eBay

[339 in june]

+1 for the 5F1 Fender Tweed Champ

If you are handy, you can easily build you one for cheap, and choose the speaker you like

I built mine with a WGS 8" and a "pine box" (recycled wine boxes !)

It sounds great, weighs a feather and was fun to build.

[TH]

In the states maybe...



Point to point would be cool...

I'll keep an eye out though. The used market is much smaller in the UK obviously....

Ah. Sorry. Some friends of mine are just headed back from London where they went for the holidays. Someone should create a pipeline of gear back and forth. Back in the day, friends would specialize in books and blue jeans, books that were somehow not available from publishers on one side of the pond or the other, and they'd fund entire vacations on the markets' ability to support them. P.G.Wodehouse had books published by Brit publishers that are unattainable here. A suitcase of books either way and a two week vacation for the efforts.

A little Champ in a flight case...

David

[neatomic]

70's silverface champs are great..but with new speaker (which is needed), new tubes and any repairs/mods/tweaks (that a 40+ year old amp requires)...you are approaching same $$$ for factory fresh already deliciously tweaked swart*!! and they look pretty cool too!!!

* or any other current handmade/boutique amp

cheers