PALOMINO V15--15w

[piebaldpython]

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Palomin...A-Tube-Combo-Amp-Refurb-103046561-i1146110.gc

Have a couple of questions about this amp for those of you, like Guitar Gal, who have this model.
Are these American made or made in Vietnam??
How many tubes are actually in this amp?
Does this amp run "hot"? I only ask because reviews of the 30W model come right out and say that model runs "hot" and they need a fan.
How would you best describe the sound you get from this?
Can you get decent overdrive/crunch/distortion just from the knobs on the amp?
How does this amp sound at low volumes? Some amps sound like crap at low volume.
Thanks. Hmmmmmm........the 15W model goes for $280 and the 5W model goes for $160.......so uh, which would you be tempted to go for and why??? Bigger is not always better, so I'm curious.

 

[mrmudcat]

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Palomin...A-Tube-Combo-Amp-Refurb-103046561-i1146110.gc

Have a couple of questions about this amp for those of you, like Guitar Gal, who have this model.
Are these American made or made in Vietnam??
How many tubes are actually in this amp?
Does this amp run "hot"? I only ask because reviews of the 30W model come right out and say that model runs "hot" and they need a fan.
How would you best describe the sound you get from this?
Can you get decent overdrive/crunch/distortion just from the knobs on the amp?
How does this amp sound at low volumes? Some amps sound like crap at low volume.
Thanks. Hmmmmmm........the 15W model goes for $280 and the 5W model goes for $160.......so uh, which would you be tempted to go for and why??? Bigger is not always better, so I'm curious.

Ok first they were made in the u.s.a. but have read that maybe the newer ones are vietnam. I wouldnt get so hung up over it the tiny terrors are china the epi's are china and they sound great not much to a class a circuit and pcb instead of point to point wiring.Tubes are 3 12AX7 pre amp tubes and 2 EL84's Power .Having a boost switch 3 band E.Q. and gain,level knobs and I would say you can get a good tone and crunch hec yea!! Running tubes at low volumes best is to crank the volume to get the tubes crispy and use a external pedal and or volume on guitar for overall volume.Number one thing for me would be the 12 inch celestion speaker and the E.Q. shaping via the 3 band. So yea 15 watt but the lil 5 wouldnt be a bad thing!!!:rockon:

 

[Guitar Gal]

Pie,

I do not have the 15W Palomino you linked to, but I do have the 5W Palomino V8......so I cannot comment on the 15W version. The 5W version has 2 tubes.....one pre amp tube and one power tube. Also, the 5W version does not have reverb or a boost switch if you are looking for these two things.

FWIW.....The one I have does have a metal plate on the back that states that it was designed in the USA and made in Vietnam. Don't know if the USA made ones are any different as I do not have a comparison

I have been able to get good clean sounds as well as more distortion or breakup by messing with the gain and volume controls. To my ears, the tone knob does not do a whole lot. It also takes pedals well. I'm thinking about getting new tubes soon.

My 5W is pretty loud. It is perfect for my needs......YMMV....... I play at home and do not use it for gigs. IMO it sounds great at low volumes :dude:


:rockon:
GG

 

[mrmudcat]

Good call on the spring reverb G.G, forgot about that!!!:beer:

 

[F_BSurfer]

When I purchased my Pro Jr it was pretty much a toss up between the V16 and the PJr until the Jr was discounted. The V16 has awesome cleans and great tube overdrive,boost switch provided some tube distortion, I did not really like it but it took pedals real well. For the money it is a really good amp. The one I was looking at was made in St Louis Mo. have not seen one made in Vietnam.

When Loud Tech purchased Crate I believe I read that they would be discontinuing the Palomino line. Might want to wait and check out the Black heart line

 

[piebaldpython]

Palomino 15w

Just wondrin', but how long do tubes last.....OR.......how often do you have to change them?......I'm getting some serious GAS for this Palomino 15w for $280 from GC!!! :rockon: Reason being that it's tubular with NO effects. I've done the Digitech pedal review and for me, playing blues and slide....I just have no need for a flanger, phaser, auto-wah, octave, etc. That being said, the Fender SCXD is kinda cute too with it's tubes and I guess if I had to I could overlook the effects. ahhahhahahahah

 

[Duff]

I have a V8

End of the line V16s probably have all the kinks worked out and could become collectors items, being cream colored with that beautiful gold trim. I played a couple and they sound nice. Put a multi pedal in front of it and you can get just the tone you want if you don't exactly like the natural tone. I use one on my V8 and get tones I would never imagine that amp would be capable of, great tones.

Duffy

I'd go with the V16.

 

[piebaldpython]

Palomino 15w

OK, how hard is to change tubes?? How often do you have to change them, given one hour per day of use?? If you have a tech do the tube change, what kind of cost is that??

 

[Duff]

Changing tubes

I have not changed the tubes on mine and have had it for about a year. Took it to a great tech a couple weeks ago just to have it checked over. I took it apart, which you have to be careful doing because of lethal voltages even when unplugged. I researched with the help of people here how to do it. I brought it in to the tech apart so it would save me money.

He checked it over and found the tubes to be fine as well as everything else. Cranked it up, tested it and it sounded beautiful. Tube amps have a characteristic hum, especially when you turn up the gain, something like solid state amps. He put it back together for me and didn't charge me anything, but I buy stuff there a lot.

You shoudn't have to change tubes unless you want to for a long time playing it so infrequently. But a tube could possibly go at any time, but are made to last a lot of hours. You should handle a tube amp more gently than a ss. Guys change the tubes because they want to mess around and get different tones, or because they are experts and know just exactly what tubes they want. The factory knew what tubes they wanted so it should work great. Some experts are very refined in their search for a certain specific tone that they are striving, almost endlessly for; and sometimes endlessly for because they can't find that specific Duane Allman tone or some other specific tone that they are striving for. For them it is a quest or a hobby.

Tube amp guys can be very professional and even hobby oriented where they speak a special language full of specialized nomenclature. They know a vast amount about tube amp theory and function. Some of them are engineers and technicians themselves and know way more than most of us. Guys right here on the list. You will have a lot of support here.

At your level you probably just want to get a tube amp and play it for some time, it will be fine. Crate has a five year transferable warranty. Your V16 will sound awesome even without a pedal. The tubes are nothing to worry about.

Some amps have five preamp tubes and four power tubes and replacing them can be expensive, but with the V16 it won't be expensive. The chances of all tubes going at once are practically nonexistant. But follow the advice of the experts or a tech when one needs to be changed.

Tube amps are great and the Palaminos are super nice. Plus that is an incredible deal and they are going fast so it is a: he who hesitates is lost, type of thing. A lot of the V8s are sold out at many GCs.

I'd jump on it. If you are not a gigging musician this would be great, even gigging muscians mic them into the PA and they sound fabulous.

A tube amp is generally going to sound three times louder than a ss amp and a lot better, with a natural overdrive type distortion when pushed. Turn up the gain and work the volume. Then you get what is called "tube overdrive".
It is sweet.

Definitely don't wait around too long if you want a V16 because other people know they want them and when they get the money they won't hesitate.

Bottom line: it's your choice. But tubes are not a hassle, especially with an amp that only has a small number of tubes.

Duffy

 

[piebaldpython]

Palomino 15w

Up above, MUDCAT said the Palomino 15w uses EL84 power tubes, which according to the postings in the CHANGIN' TUBES item would mean the Palomino uses self-biasing cathode tubes, RIGHT???
Oh boy, I am getting severe GAS pains now!!! lolol

 

[mrmudcat]

You will be sticking to the same type tubes but a different/better brand ,so no need to bias anyway.Now if you want it a lil hotter you can bias the amp that way.(On some amps) Just buy the dang thing already the tubes will be fine for you atleast a year. (before I get all the smart replies about how often to switch tubes yada yada yada this will be a stay at home practice/recording amp ,so yea long tube life) Besides the nit picker tube sound differences most likely will not apply here unless we have a begginer "cork sniffer":rockon: :AOK: :thwap:

It is fun to try different tubes though:beer: