Low Volume Tube Amp?

[Ray175]

I've been down this road as well, tried attenuators, modelers, etc....

You can get good tones out of today's modelers for tv-volume playing. But when you've played a tube amp, and want THAT, it's very hard to get THAT from anything else.

I play with a PRRI, it has a 12" speaker. I play it on about 3-3.5. While that IS "low volume" for a tube amp, if I'm playing my wife can hear me, anywhere in the house. The only tube amp I have played that actually sounds great at tv volumes is the Harmony 8418, which is a little different in that it has an octal preamp tube.. it sounds very old-school/Charlie Christian/T-Bone Walker.

If a PRRI (or the 5-watt Swart mentioned above) is still too loud for you, I would say you need to look into a SS amp (like the Quilter... which I have heard nothing but raves about), or a modeler ... even possibly the new Fender Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb... because it's a modeling amp, it can be played at very low volumes.

+1 for the ToneMaster Deluxe Reverb. I play mine at 0.2 watts late at night and non-one in the house has any problems. During the day I play at 1 or 5 watts depending on how much clean headroom I want. For playing out, I can go up to a full 22 watts if needed......

[MaxTwang]

... and at low volumes you don't want to hear any transformer hum or power tube/valve hisses.

Add fan noise to distractions you don't want at low volume. Some power amps have cooling fans and for some reason manufacturers don't spend a couple $ more for a quiet fan which my be OK live but at home or in the studio fans can be a problem (and replacing a fan with a quieter model could void your warranty).

[d115]

From what I'm gathering, I'm probably better off with SS. Cant afford any increased issues with my tinnitus
From this website, a lot of people love the DV Mark little jazz and Quilter 101 reverb(coupled with a Raezers Edge 10er.)
Musicians friend has the DV Mark for 299 with their coupon applied. Guitar Center matched the price so I ordered it. I'll return it if im not happy. Had to try it at nearly 1/3 the price of the other option.

[DRS]

On thing I have found for low volume clean listening is to use a fair amount of good quality reverb and turn the bass up.
My Boogie MkV:25 sounds really good for low volume cleans with a Hardwire RV7 reverb set on plate of hall.

[rabbit]

This is probably a BAD idea and of course not a tube amp.

Supposed to impart a 3-D spatial perception and possibly worth a thought.

Best of luck to you:

BOSS - WAZA-AIR | Wireless Personal Guitar Amplification System

[Marcel_A]

What a strange add. The woman is playing an acoustic guitar through her headphone . . . .

Another thought: since a few weeks i use a Koch Jupiter. It's hybrid. It has a dimmer wich allows you to dail in your tone and play it at pretty much any level you feel comfortable with.

I really like the tone that comes out of the 12 inch speaker!