High-gain, low watt tube amp options

[Dan]

While I love my Egnater Rebel 20, sometimes it doesn't have all the gain I want. I can run a Tube Screamer with the drive down and volume up for a little boost and get a good thing going, but I still would like an tube-driven, low watt, high-gain head.

Since I live in an apartment and don't gig or have any need for a very loud amp, I also want something with really low watts that I can really drive. Even the Rebel is a little too powerful when the neighbors are home.

From what I've seen in other posts and websites, it seems that the Blackstar HT-5 might be a contender because of its low wattage and more aggressive gain. Are there any other amps out there you guys could suggest?

 

[hipofutura]

You've just described the Phaez Daisycutter. There's a bunch of us MLP members who own one. Even though it's 18W, it will produce wicked hi-gain a very low (bedroom) levels. It's like a Marshall on hi-gain steroids. Terrific amp that is hand build and customized to your wishes.

 

[E6type]

Maybe a Krank Jr, but that's still 20w. Check this thread out:

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/squawk-box/81605-jet-city-3w-5w-coming.html

Although apartment living might require you to jam through headphones, even 3 watts gets plenty loud when driven.

 

[Deftone]

+3?

I absolutely love my Krank Rev jr. for Metal, love my Phaez Daisycutter for more of a Hard Rock tone and I'm really interested in the Jet City head. No bad answers here.

I'd talk to Randy at Phaez and see about a 5 watt, high gain head. Phaez amps are second to none for tone and you can't find a better value.

 

[Dan]

Wow guys, thanks for all the good info so quick. The Jet City looks really nice and the price is even better. I would love to hear more of this amp and see if it can really get that sort of Alice In Chains/Metallica/Metal sound I'm looking for. After looking at several threads about Phaez amps, I'm thinking that might also be a viable route. Deftone, are you still having a 5-watt head made by them? If so, I'll hang back and see how it works out for you.

Again, thanks.

 

[E6type]

Not to turn you down a different route but what about pedals? It seems that you could crank the gain on a decent pedal and still keep the volume on your amp down. Just sayin'....



Edit: I re-read your original post so nevermind.

 

[eddy999]

I'd say the hall amplification lil' devil - $500 new, 2 watt clone of the trainwreck express, using subminiature preamp (3) and power tubes (2)... The trainwreck express is a non master volume amp, and even this 2 watt version can get pretty loud maxxed out, however it also has power scaling to bring the overall volume levels down.
I've posted a few videos mostly clean to classic rock levels with the volume down at about 9 o clock - if I get the time i'll record a high gain demo for you as there's bags of gain available. This is a very dynamic little amp, as shown in the first demo.

videos I've posted so far on this thread: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/squ...mo-clean-overdrive-just-picking-dynamics.html

 

[Deftone]

Deftone, are you still having a 5-watt head made by them? If so, I'll hang back and see how it works out for you.

I'm just considering it, not ready to pull the trigger yet...I already have a little 5 watt tube custom build I'm really happy with. It's a Fender BF Champ style stuffed inside a Marshall Micro stack:

It needs pedals for hard rock/metal distortion but it sounds fantastic. (looks kinda cool, too)

BTW: I bought the Marshall at a pawn shop for under $170 and the custom tube amp build was $235 total. One of the things I like about these older, 80's "Lead 12's" is they use 10" Celestions and they were made in England.

 

[eddy999]

here's a very quick and crappy demo - i don't play Metallica so the riff's probably not right, but you get the general idea/gain levels.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMo-wTGo9Pk]YouTube - hall amplification lil' devil - high gain quick demo[/ame]

 

[Underliner6]

The tiny terror combo or the Mesa Boogie Express 2:25 combo. It has a switching between a 5 watt mode and a 25 watt mode. So if you ever want to gig or play with a band you will have the 25 watts of power you need. But in the apartment the 5 watt will be quiet enough for the neighbors.

 

[specflec]

Reason Bambino - head or combo - 8W switchable to 2W - two preamp sections which are stackable giving you great distortion - can be used with headset only or cabinets - nice for recording or live. I like it. Good luck!

Main Index - Reason Amplifier Company, LLC.

 

[Shelbyblues]

Reason Bambino - head or combo - 8W switchable to 2W - two preamp sections which are stackable giving you great distortion - can be used with headset only or cabinets - nice for recording or live. I like it. Good luck!

Main Index - Reason Amplifier Company, LLC.

I have looked at those.

They are built 2 miles from my house.

Reason Amplifiers lease office/warehouse space from my wife's employer.

I wonder if she could get me a deal......

 

[Deftone]

For price I think the Blackstar is cool. It's proably going to need a pedal to give you the distortion you want, but it's got a lot of features.

I use an EH Metal Muff Nano with my 5 watter. It's sounds excellent and I can crank the amp up to the sweet spot (about 40%) and use the pedal to control loudness. I run an MXR 6 band EQ in front of the MM, a Guyatone MD-3 Digital Delay after it (for echo) and a BBE stinger at the end of the line for when I want to sound like Dimebag. The whole package is pure sonic devastation.

 

[hipofutura]

Mark, I forgot you have a Champ type amp. Ignore my previous recommendation about a Champ.