Help me find "my" low-watt, tube amp.

[MesaBoogie]

So as required, the amp questionnaire below:

How much would you like to spend?
€400-500

What's the absolutely most you will spend?
€500-650

How many years have you played guitar?
10 yrs

Do you seek tone quality or versatility?
Predominantly tone with enough versatility (i.e. nice cleans à la first Dire Straits to classic rock grit à la Thin Lizzy, Rush, Led Zep, etc).

What is your primary guitar (include pup type and configuration)?
Les Paul w/ BKP Mules, ES335 ’57 classics, SG w/ BB2 and 498T, Fender Am. Strat, stock

What style(s) of music do you primarily play?
Jazz, Blues, Hard Rock

What one guitarist do you wish to emulate?
Emulate? I’m still trying to find my own sound (In no particular order: Page, Haynes, Lifeson, Young, Clapton, etc.)

Do you prefer to plug straight in, or will you be using effects?
* If you plug straight in, you will likely require 2 or more channels
* If you use effects, you may prefer an effects loop
Some drive pedals (modded TS9, OCD) and some “classic” stompboxes (phase 90, modded JH-1 Wah), so as of yet no real need for an effects loop.

What will be the primary use of the amp?
Home use and practice.

Do you prefer a combo or head/cabinet (and why)?
Preferably a combo for easier transport to practice although a head and 212 cab are cool…

What amplifier(s) do you have/had and why do you want a change?
MesaBoogie F30 which is just too loud and heavy for regular home-use and practice and a Fender 30watt DSP thingamajig which is nice for testing purposes but doesn’t really cut it tone-wise.

Please list five amps (minimum) that you have researched (if you can't do this, you're not serious)

• Blackstar HT-5 (€400 combo, €377 Head),
• Hughes&Kettner Tubemeister 18 (€589 combo, €489 head),
• Orange Tiny Terror (€598 combo, €415 head)/Micro Terror (€118 head),
• Egnater Tweaker 15 (€649 combo, €444 head) and
• Fender Pro Junior/Blues Junior (€517 and €555 respectively).

Blackstar HT-5 Pro’s: Price/value ratio very good in my opinion. Seems portable, reputable brand, 12” speaker.
Cons: EQ only for drive channel, only tone control for clean.
H&K Tubemeister 18 Pro’s: Head looks cool, combo not so much, EQ for both the clean and drive channel (I believe), heard nice things about them.
Cons: Combo has a 10” speaker which may be too “squeaky” for my tastes. A tad more expensive than the Blackstar.
Orange Tiny Terror/Micro Terror Pro’s: Cool looking amp, classic rock british voicing. Switcheable wattage making it even more useable for home use.
Cons: Might be “too” simple/ one-dimensional, no 3-band EQ, Micro Terror being a hybrid amp and only available in head.
Egnater Tweaker Pro’s: Many options, very customiseable sounds, heard nice things about it.
Cons: The price is a bit of a bummer, might be too loud for the intended use?
Fender blues/pro junior: thrown in to get a fifth amp Pro Junior might, again, be too simple and a 10" speaker is a bit of a con. Heard they love pedals, but I would like a good "drive" channel on the amp itself.

[JCM900MkIII]

The Tubemeister has one EQ section for both channels. But it has seperate master and gain dials (+ lead boost on B)

[blues_n_cues]

marshall class 5.

[chupe442]

Really like my Blackstar HT5 setup..

[MesaBoogie]

Originally Posted by blues_n_cues

marshall class 5.

Care to elaborate? From what I gather, it has only one channel (which might be a good thing) but also a 10" speaker. As I don't know that much about amps, my preconception about 10" speakers might be wrong, but I think they might be to "squeaky" in comparison to a 12" speaker...

[Roman4405]

I have the HT-5 combo and really like it for at home, it sounds great at low volumes. The only problem I have with it is that I can't seen to find a sound I like with the volume turned up when I play with a band. It sounds too, I don't know, thin maybe? Maybe a speaker change would hep it, just my opinion though, still a great practice amp that you should take a closer look at for a great price.

[randelli]

Don't discount a good 10" speaker. 10's are generally tighter and more focused than a 12 and do not fart out on the lows.

Super Reverbs and Bassmans are prime examples of 10" amps.

[Who]

I can only speak from my experience, so I'll list the ones I've used...

I had a Bugera v22 that was a good amp, and would easily meet your needs. I wanted to get a "better" amp, so I started shopping around.

I played the crap out of a Blackstar several times in the store. Each time I could easily walk away, because I felt it offered nothing over the Bugera. Each time I was in, I'd also play a Blues Junior. The BJ had MUCH " better" clean tone than my Bugera, but the drive channel was not as good, and the overall versitility for home practice didn't seem to warrant the high price.

I eventually bought a Blackheart BH15, which I felt was superior to the Blackstar and Bugera. That was returned in a week, when a deal ($300) on a Peavey Classic 30 came up. The Peavey spanked all the other contenders in every possible category. I sold the Bugera for what I had paid for it ($275usd).

Still, in my mind I always feel I'm missing out on something "better". BUT.... I have never played something "better" for my needs AT ANY PRICE. this includes $1K amps. Sure, I've tried out some expensive stuff in the stores, but I control my urges, knowing full well that the "awesome" stuff is only awesome when turned up louder than I'll ever use it.

Recently, I did fall into a Fender Blues Junior deal ($275). It sounded great, and I knew if I don't love it, I can sell it for what I paid. Brought it home and started doing an A/B with the Peavey. The Fender DOES do a Fender clean sound better, and if that was all I wanted, I'd keep it over the Peavey..... I'll be selling the Fender.

Moral of my long story... Put a Peavey Classic 30 on your short list, and play all the contenders in your own style.

Second moral of story.... If you can get a good deal on any of these used... Buy them all. You can always get your money back out, and think of the time spent reselling as your "rental" fee!


EDITED TO ADD.... I was worried that the C30 would be too loud for home practice. It works just fine for home.

[randelli]

+1 on the Peavey Classic 30.

[blues_n_cues]

Originally Posted by MesaBoogie

Care to elaborate? From what I gather, it has only one channel (which might be a good thing) but also a 10" speaker. As I don't know that much about amps, my preconception about 10" speakers might be wrong, but I think they might be to "squeaky" in comparison to a 12" speaker...

it fits your criteria & will probably sound closest to the thin lizzy or Zep tone that you want. takes pedals well. budget friendly for you. can run an external cab or headphones. for cleans just roll back the guitar volume. it works very well w/ the pedals you have listed.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Of the ones you mentioned in the 1st post, i like the lil Orange TT the most !

Great little amp !!!

[Hector Arcadius]

Although I like the features and the looks of the TubeMeister, I personally believe that the Blackstar is the best deal in it's price range. Even if you don't ever use the drive channel, the rest of the package is still worth it, IMHO.

I own their 1-watter and I wouldn't mind getting the HT-5R as well.

Both of them are built overseas, btw.


The Egnater is a superb amp, as it seems, but only if you can afford paying extra for it.

[Ginger Beer]

Sometimes I gig with my Marshall haze 15 head and a marshall 1965 4x10 cab. Sounds great. None of that small amp high end harshness, plenty of volume and takes pedals beautifully.

[Rhust]

Originally Posted by blues_n_cues

marshall class 5.

I wish this was reddit so I could down vote this :| the c5 gets recommended but I have no idea why... it's certainly NOT a bedroom amp. and it's not a band practice amp either... no drive channel, which he asked for.... I swear people don't read what the OP wants before they post...


a classic 30 is a great amp, as already mentioned... the Tubemeister, to me, is very modern voiced, but your influences are more classic. the c30 can get loud, but it's gain controls make it pretty usable low volume-wise. as usable as a 30w tube amp can be anyway... I had a C30 that I let go because I didn't need 2 big amps...

the Tiny terror sounds good too. as does the egnater... the tweaker, imo is a great sounding, low-gain amp... with some cool options to find YOUR tone... the TT is the opposite. much simpler, less versatile, but does sound good... between tube changes and switches, the tweaker can unlock 100s of tones....

10" speakers of quality sound as good, sometimes better than 12s... a bass heavy amp will sound MUCH better with the tight bass of the 10s.

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

have you tried a marshall major?

[matmont1305]

Tommy, your Marshall Major recommendations are a welcome change from the usual Class 5 ones.

Should he go for an 8x12 cab too?

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

Originally Posted by matmont1305

Tommy, your Marshall Major recommendations are a welcome change from the usual Class 5 ones.

Should he go for an 8x12 cab too?

tough to transport. i'd go for a couple 6x12s.


if other people are always gonna recommend the same thing, i'm gonna always recommend the same thing.

a major can do everything he's looking for.

[rjwilson37]

Out of what you have listed, I would do the TT since it has a great Rock tone to it and is the best priced amp you have listed there. I like the TT Combo over the Tweaker Combo, but I like the Tweaker Head with a Rebel Cabinet over the TT head with PPC112 cabinet. The Tweaker with a nice cabinet/speaker sounds great, but the Tweaker combo with the stock speaker I just don't like it. Plus the TT combo in your price range has the switchable wattage which really comes in handy. I have the Blackheart HD with 7/15 switchable wattage and I like it a lot.

[Hector Arcadius]

Originally Posted by rhust

i wish this was reddit so i could down vote this :| the c5 gets recommended but i have no idea why... It's certainly not a bedroom amp. And it's not a band practice amp either... No drive channel, which he asked for.... I swear people don't read what the op wants before they post...

a m e n

[TWANG]

I have a blackheart bh5 combo. fully modified.
full board mods, better 1/2 power switch, better tubes, better speaker,
tone stack cut switch, etc.
it'll do everything you want.
pic and details via pm request.

[Machine Man]

[Rhust]

Originally Posted by Machine Man

oh look, the fender version of the class 5.... same number of drive channels as the class 5...

I love champs, but cmon!

I will give you this... it will give great cleans and IS a bedroom amp. and has great cleans you can use with the pedals for drive...

[eaglewolf]

I have the older version of the HT-5. I bought it because a 100W Mesa Roadster was an incredibly stupid amp to buy for home use - though it did sound awesome when I was able to crank it. The HT-5 I still have, the Mesa I do not.

Your musical tastes sound similar to mine, and at least for me I felt the HT-5 does a good job for that. I have a couple of pedals I've used with it in the past, though typically I don't use them now. Some don't care for the HT-5's tone, so you would have to see if it works for you. I prefer my Mesa TA-15 to the HT-5, but from what I've seen of European Mesa prices I don't think there is any way you are going to end up with one of those for your listed budget.

If the Classic 30 is available, I'd consider that amp. I haven't played one myself, but there have been enough reviews on the amp that I would put it on the list. If you are not planning on gigging, then it might be a bit of overkill. However, if it does still sound good at low volumes then it would be worth considering.

The Blackheart is another amp that gets a lot of praise around here, as well as the VHT Ultra 6. Those might be good ones to check out too.

As for the Blues Jr., it wouldn't be what I'd first think of for your purposes. I have it specifically because I like the tones it gives with the Telecaster, but it definitely isn't a high gain amp. I've only used the OCD pedal with the BJ (which works quite well, by the way) so I can't comment on how other gain pedals would work with it. The tone you get out of it is superb, and if it is what you are looking for give it a try. At 15W it isn't exactly a quiet amp, but I've gotten some good tones out of mine at bedroom volumes.

You might also consider having an amp built for you. There are several builders that could probably give you what you want for the price you stated, some of which are members of this forum. The downside, obviously, is that you don't get to try one out before you buy it. That turns many away from custom built amps before they even look up the available brands. But it is another possibility.

David

[Roman4405]

I will say that even thought I have the HT-5, if I were to choose from the list in your OP I'd go with the Blues Jr with an OD pedal, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to go with that or a Vox AC15 in the future.

[eaglewolf]

Originally Posted by Roman4405

I will say that even thought I have the HT-5, if I were to choose from the list in your OP I'd go with the Blues Jr with an OD pedal, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to go with that or a Vox AC15 in the future.

I couldn't argue with that. It just wasn't what I thought of first as best meeting what he wanted. The individual tastes will rule in the end, as we will all vary a bit in what best meets our needs.

I will say that the AC-15 would be another amp I'd look at if it does what is needed a low volumes, but I've always had the impression that amp is a bit on the loud side. Never tried one out though, and I'd certainly love to.

David.

[Machine Man]

Originally Posted by Rhust

oh look, the fender version of the class 5.... same number of drive channels as the class 5...

I love champs, but cmon!

I will give you this... it will give great cleans and IS a bedroom amp. and has great cleans you can use with the pedals for drive...

Originally Posted by Rhust

I wish this was reddit so I could down vote this :| the c5 gets recommended but I have no idea why... it's certainly NOT a bedroom amp. and it's not a band practice amp either... no drive channel, which he asked for.... I swear people don't read what the OP wants before they post...

Where does to the OP ask for a drive channel? EDIT see post 28.

[Who]

Originally Posted by MesaBoogie, in the last line of the original post

.....but I would like a good "drive" channel on the amp itself.

[Machine Man]

Originally Posted by Who

Damn it. I "read" that post a few times and didn't see that.

My apologies to Rhust for jumping the gun.

[Rhust]

I would like a good "drive" channel on the amp itself.

from the Original post.

he also eludes to it later in other posts when he says

Care to elaborate? From what I gather, it has only one channel

and also didn't like another amp that didn't have a seperate EQ on the drive channel... further indicating he'd like a second channel to the amp...

some people try to help, but some people read the headlines and just throw in something even if it's not at all what the OP describes.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Originally Posted by Rhust

oh look, the fender version of the class 5.... same number of drive channels as the class 5...

I love champs, but cmon!

I will give you this... it will give great cleans and IS a bedroom amp. and has great cleans you can use with the pedals for drive...

I think i am a wee bit weird

But i prefer the Pro Jr over the little silver face . . . but i prefer the Tungsten Mozaic over both !

Tungsten Mosaic Amp Part 1 demo by Greg V. - YouTube

Tungsten Mosaic Amp Part 1 demo by Greg V. - YouTube

Tungsten Mosaic Amp Part 2 demo by Greg V. - YouTube

Tungsten Mosaic Amp Part 2 demo by Greg V. - YouTube

. . . and one day, i WILL have one, oh yes, i will !