What Amp?

[just strum]

This is sort of like a what amp should I buy and 50 suggestions later one still doesn't know.

I will try to make it a little different in saying - I'm not buying an amp, but

For the people that have owned several over the years, does anyone have a thought on what are some of the good amps for a small practice room?

We will define small as anything from 10'x10' to 15'x18'

Amp: Keep it tube, don't venture outside of tube amp.

I know there are a lot of great amps out there, but a lot of those really are better suited for larger size rooms/gigs.

 

[M29]

I have to say I could not live without my Valve Junior, every time I play it I make a sigh and think...Oh Yeah! I have it in my computer room which is about 10 foot by 8 foot and it sounds great! I made up my own combo with a 12 inch speaker but I am sure the VJ combo would be fine.

M

 

[Robert]

Blackheart Little Giant - http://www.zzounds.com/item--BLABH5H

 

[ZMAN]

I would say that the perfect amp for a small room is the Blues Junior. It has a 12 inch speaker, and a great reverb. It is a master volume amp and the only thing lacking is a "Standby" switch. 15 watts and lots of power. I takes pedals well and is quite compact and easy to travel with. It can give you big tone and really can be quite loud if pushed. It comes in several editions. The normal black, and the Tweed, and you can pick up special editions like mine in a brown tolex with a wheat grille and a Jensen speaker. Some of the larger retailers have also had blonde ones. It doesn't do a lot of trick stuff like modeling, but it is just a great amp. Even some of the icons like Trower have used them in the studio to record.

 

[just strum]

I have to say I could not live without my Valve Junior, every time I play it I make a sigh and think...Oh Yeah! I have it in my computer room which is about 10 foot by 8 foot and it sounds great! I made up my own combo with a 12 inch speaker but I am sure the VJ combo would be fine.

M

I have the DVM Epi Jr and I am happy with it and I have to agree with you for room size. I was looking to others that fill that same situation (told the wife I need a back-up).

 

[just strum]

The Fender and the Blackheart are two good suggestions. I've considered the Blackheart on and off for awhile now. If I did, I'm not sure to go with the head or buy a combo when I finally do get around to buying or trading.

I still want to put new speakers in an old set of Advent cabs I have. They are great as far as construction. If I install new speakers, is there anything else I would need to do to the cab?

 

[oldguy]

Fender Super Champ XD.

15w, 6v6 power tubes, 10" speaker, enough digital effects for some cool sounds, footswitchable OD, lightweight, easy to move around.

Even if you don't wanna buy one......... if you get over this way, stop by and we'll jam on it for a couple hours.........I like it fine for a small amp.

 

[hubberjub]

If you're looking for something a little different you could check out a Soldano Astroverb. It's very compact and at 20 watts you would have no problems taking it to a gig. I got mine for <$500 (used) and I think it was a steal.

 

[sumitomo]

I've always been interested in the Little Lanilei from songworks,I haven't used one but I sure would like to try one.Its one of those hybrid types.Worth checking out.Sumi

 

[TS808]

I'm liking the idea of the Egnater Rebel more and more. It allows you to choose between 6V6 or EL84 tubes or you can combine them both. Also, it's rated at 20 watts, but there is a knob that allows you to dial in between 1 watt up to 20.

Another amp that I own and like is the Peavey Delta Blues 210. A jump from 15 watts (such as a Blues Jr.) to a 30 watt amp really isn't that much.

I know you said keep it all tube, but the amp I love the most for home playing is probably my Vox AD50VT 212. It maybe doesn't sound as "tube-like" as my Delta Blues. but for home playing, I think it's a great amp.

 

[just strum]

I'm liking the idea of the Egnater Rebel more and more.

Nice, yes - But it has divorce written all over it (Egnater is Latin for divorce).

 

[TS808]

Nice, yes - But it has divorce written all over it (Egnater is Latin for divorce).

I think the head goes for $599....and I would definitely view the Egnater as a keeper.

 

[just strum]

....and I would definitely view the Egnater as a keeper.

and the wife?

 

[Tarin]

It's obvious that Epi's, Blackhearts and Hot Rods were gonna be present in this thread (Blackheart's been smiling at me since a few weeks back). But what about the Peavey Royal 8?
I've read good things about it but haven't had tha chance to play it... yet.
has anybody tried them out?

 

[TS808]

and the wife?

Oops....yes she's a keeper too!

 

[just strum]

Tarin brings up a good one with the Peavey - any thoughts there?

Also, I know there are Blackheart owners out there that have had them for about a year+, how do you feel about them now that the "new toy" feeling has worn off?

 

[TS808]

Tarin brings up a good one with the Peavey - any thoughts there?

Also, I know there are Blackheart owners out there that have had them for about a year+, how do you feel about them now that the "new toy" feeling has worn off?

I've never tried the Royal 8, but every Peavey amp I've owned (Classic 30, Bandit 112, and now the Delta Blues) has been a real workhorse. They are built well, sound good, and in my opinion are an under-rated amp.

There is the Windsor Studio at 15 watts....that has a 12 inch speaker if I'm not mistaken.

 

[just strum]

There is the Windsor Studio at 15 watts....that has a 12 inch speaker if I'm not mistaken.

Yep, 12" speaker - $400

Is this a new amp or has it been around?

 

[TS808]

Yep, 12" speaker - $400

Is this a new amp or has it been around?

It's been out I think for about 2-3 years. It might also have a feature where there is a switch to reduce the wattage to 7 watts too.

I like the idea of a 12" speaker in any amp....the only time I ever use 10" speakers if it's a 2 x 10 amp. I just think you get a fuller sound with a 12" speaker than you would with a single 10".

 

[wingsdad]

... what about the Peavey Royal 8?
I've read good things about it but haven't had tha chance to play it... yet.
has anybody tried them out?

I bought one soon after they first came out. I liked price tag ($190), the old-school simplicity of the choice of hi- & lo-gain inputs one tone control with pre & post Gains and it's one of those rare tube amps with that ever-important safety-valve, a Spousal Attenuator (Jack).

I didn't care much for the Really Crummy 8" speaker, but I liked the amp a lot and was figuring to upgrade it. Then, a month after I got it, my Tech21 Trademark 60 1x12 came in to the GAS station on trade-in. I traded the Royal 8 back to help cover the T21. But my dealer has them in stock, and I favor one if I take a guitar for a test drive.

I wish I could replace it, but because it doesn't have a reverb tank, I'd look at the other options for around $2 Benjamins, too.

A used T21 Trademark 15 or Trademark 30 would hit the spot for around the price point. But alas, they're not requisitely tubal.

 

[marnold]

I'd personally like something like the Little Giant except with the ability to get metal-caliber gain out of it :rockon:

 

[tunghaichuan]

I'd personally like something like the Little Giant except with the ability to get metal-caliber gain out of it :rockon:

Put a metal-flavored pedal in front of it. :dude: Works for me. :AOK:

tung

 

[markb]

.
A used T21 Trademark 15 or Trademark 30 would hit the spot for around the price point. But alas, they're not requisitely tubal.

And nor do they need to be

I like the Blues Jr given your required spec although having used quite a few Fender silverface amps I'd take issue with the "great reverb" comment above. I'd say its strengths are good tone and its pedal-friendliness. I used one with a TS808 reissue for a while and got many compliments.

 

[tunghaichuan]

Another vote for the Blackheart combo. They also make a Handsome Devil combo now that is an 18W style circuit. I got my 5W Little Giant combo on sale for $175 shipped which is a steal. Now they are about $350

The 5W Little Giant is a great platform for pedals. It has a lot of clean headroom for a 5W amp and doesn't get much distortion until it is putting out a decent amount of volume. This may or may not be a good thing depending on your needs.

The 3W setting is useless to me, it puts the amp in triode mode which sounds dull and lifeless, at least to my ears. The EQ is pretty marginal, the treble works okay but the mid and bass don't have a lot of range.

The combo has a 12" speaker, and does not suffer from boxy-ness like other small, low-wattage combo amps. I'm also of the opinion that there should be at least two 10" speakers for the best sound quality, one just does not cut it. And 6" & 8" speakers are the worst, better than nothing but really pale compared to a good 12" speaker.

tung

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I love my C-30, but maybe that is too big for your needs. I will also vote for the Blackheart Little Giant, but vote for the head version. I played through Spud's at his house when I visited in October, and he had it hooked up the one of the cheap blow out cabs that a bunch of folks bought last year, and it sounded awesome. I think that is the best bang for the buck, for a small tube amph that I have tried so far. The Peavey Royal 8 is worth a look though. I sure seem to like Peavey products so far.

EDIT: If the specific purpose is a small practice room, I say one of the little Blackhearts. My C-30 sounds good to me in the house, but the room is not that small, and I think in a small room, the Blackheart will have more room to breathe.

 

[Fab4]

If you can pony up the cash (and it ain't cheap), my vote would go to the Tone King Imperial. Try one if you get a chance even if you can't buy one, because they're absolutely phenomenal in the 20w range.

http://www.toneking.com/products/imperial/index.html

 

[Jimi75]

The Blackheart is a cool little amp, but unfortunately it has no much clean headroom. I think it is great for players that are looking for tube overdrive all the time. I am with OLDGUY and would suggest the Super Champ XD, which is a great sounding amp with a ton of clean headroom.

 

[Jipes]

This is sort of like a what amp should I buy and 50 suggestions later one still doesn't know.

I will try to make it a little different in saying - I'm not buying an amp, but

For the people that have owned several over the years, does anyone have a thought on what are some of the good amps for a small practice room?

We will define small as anything from 10'x10' to 15'x18'

Amp: Keep it tube, don't venture outside of tube amp.

I know there are a lot of great amps out there, but a lot of those really are better suited for larger size rooms/gigs.

My Laney LC15 is quite a bargain for a tube amp it is very compact and quite light. The sound quality is there and it's great to home practice up to rehearsals and even gigs in small clubs.

 

[ZMAN]

When I was looking for a Marshall, one of the guys at a local music shop mentioned the Blackheart. He said that he was getting one. I guess the 5 watt head into a cab of some sort gives amazing tone. I have a small room and it is just crammed with amps. Two 40 watters a 15 and a 22. I am lucky I can play fairly loud but I am leaning towards a 2/12 cab, and maybe moving a couple of the amps for some room. I think the 2/12 with my Marshall and maybe another 5 watt would be more versatile.
I asked him about combos and he seemed to think that most guys were buying the smaller heads and cabs and using a mic at gigs. A lot easier to move and most venues are relatively small. For home use he said they were great.

 

[Andy]

The Blackheart killer ant head would be great --- 1w under $200.