Need help choosing a new amp

[rogue3]

You need something that can go down to about 1 Watt, even 5 Watts will be too much.

So do you think the 1 Watt Marshall DSL 1 or the Blackstar HT 1 are worthwhile ?
Or are they just a marketing ploy that haven't really got that Tube sound to them ?

My 2 cents, and the one i use.It is vintage kit now,but, the tone is amazing.

Cranked plexi @ 1 watt.The Cream Machine.

12ax7 preamp,12au7 power tube. Power tube and preamp tube overdrive,the way it was meant to be.This thing rages,when i want over-the-top Marshall crunch,and dialed backed GREAT blues tone,without lifting the house foundation.(i already have enough of those,lol).
The downside is not much clean on this one,but,hey, when i reach for it,i want scorched!(plus takes a clean boost from an od pedal for that next level.)

back plate has A LOT of functionality built in quality.

I have a Metal Shredder as well(same config,but 2 preamp tubes and a solid state output,4.5 watts).amazing.80's Van Halen at the flick of a switch.
Or house friendly Metallica.Sabbath(is there such a thing? )

i suggest you check their current inventory.Especially their floor section pedal/ amps.

Hughes & Kettner delivers tone,imo, and can be trusted for quality. This looks interesting,solid state:

http://hughes-and-kettner.com/products/ampman/ampman-modern/

Even better,The TubeMeister 18.check out the sound demo by Thomas Blug.amazing.
Today,that would be the one i'd go for.with 1-12 cab. 24 hour sound level control.


http://hughes-and-kettner.com/products/tubemeister/tubemeister-18/tubemeister-18-head/

 

[ErictheRed]

Yeah, Tubemeister 18 is probably also good. There are a good amount of amps these days that do this, OP basically needs something that can go from 15-20 Watts all the way down to about 1W (some amps will call it 1/2 Watt, others maybe a 2W setting).

OP could also get something like a Mesa Mark V:25 or Fillmore 25 also, or a lot of other Mesas (and other brands) that use preamp distortion and a good Master Volume to achieve the same thing.

 

[cherrysunburst00]

Thanks for your advice.
I've taken a look at the Orange Rocker 15 on YouTube and this could be the answer. I'll try and get to a bigger retail store when our covid shit settles down enough to get there ( Australia) and have a play / listen before I take the plunge.
I think the Orange seems to tick the boxes of being able to be played at lower noise level due to the switchable wattage but still maintains the tones at those lower levels.
Could be on a winner, thanks !!

Thanks for your advice.
I've taken a look at the Orange Rocker 15 on YouTube and this could be the answer. I'll try and get to a bigger retail store when our covid shit settles down enough to get there ( Australia) and have a play / listen before I take the plunge.
I think the Orange seems to tick the boxes of being able to be played at lower noise level due to the switchable wattage but still maintains the tones at those lower levels.
Could be on a winner, thanks !!

I think you will be happy with the Rocker 15

 

[smallstar67]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to guitar so can you go easy on me if I ask stupid questions ?
I want to buy a low watt tube amp for playing strictly at home that is not going to have the neighbours calling the police every time I play. I like the tone you can get from a tube amp but know you have to crank it up to get them to work properly so what sort can you crank up but not be too loud ?
I've looked at reviews on Youtube and have narrowed it down to maybe the Blackstar HT 1 Mkii or the Marshall DSL 1 CR or would I be better to go to 5 watts in those models and use the low watt channels ?
Because of where I live, I can't get in to store to try them and have to buy on line so that's why I need some help.
I play a Les Paul and like blues, blues rock style music and play clean a fair bit too.
Hopefully someone that's played them both can give me a better idea of what will be the better choice.
Thanks in advance !

The Marshall Code 50 isn't a tube, but with the bluetooth hook up to your Ipad, it is a formattable practice AMP, The only thing I've found that sounds better is my new BlackStar 100watt and a 4x12 Marshall cab. Straight in, no effects or pedals it is shear perfection. The Code 50 however can model every Marshall ever made, with pre amps, and effects built in.

 

[Cory]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to guitar so can you go easy on me if I ask stupid questions ?
I want to buy a low watt tube amp for playing strictly at home that is not going to have the neighbours calling the police every time I play. I like the tone you can get from a tube amp but know you have to crank it up to get them to work properly so what sort can you crank up but not be too loud ?
I've looked at reviews on Youtube and have narrowed it down to maybe the Blackstar HT 1 Mkii or the Marshall DSL 1 CR or would I be better to go to 5 watts in those models and use the low watt channels ?
Because of where I live, I can't get in to store to try them and have to buy on line so that's why I need some help.
I play a Les Paul and like blues, blues rock style music and play clean a fair bit too.
Hopefully someone that's played them both can give me a better idea of what will be the better choice.
Thanks in advance !

Understanding your price range would help, but if you’re going for something that sounds awesome at a somewhat modest price, I’d look no further than any of the 20w Friedman amps - they have wide range of options - all are true tube amps with great master volumes - I currently own a Bogner 20th Shiva (w/ reverb and KT88’s) - it’s my desert island amp - does everything you could ever possibly imagine - the gain channel has separate channel volume knobs (one for the actual channel and one for the boost which also adds more gain) and it has a global master volume - so basically you can crank the channel volume knobs to get the tubes cooking a bit, but still play at bedroom levels by keeping the MV low - it’s a pricey amp (around $3k just for the head), but sometimes they pop up on the used market and you might be able to snag one for in the low $2k range - all that being said, I’d start with a Friedman 20 watter and be done with it.

 

[GySgtFTL]

Headphones.

 

[shawn7]

I have owned a blackstar HT-1RH (my buddy owns it now) and a Marshall DSL 20. You have narrowed to a great selection. Now, I personally recommend for the 1 watt range, the original Blackstar HT-1RH, which you can find used in perfect condition. It's simply the best 1 watt amp you can buy at a great price. It sounds better to me (a classic rock player) than the MkII. The MkII was designed to compete more with the Fender sound. The original HT1 has more of a Vox and Metal sound, but it's own thing. Get or build a 10" open back speaker cab for it, it sounds superior with a 10", I used a 12" V30 with it and an old Crate classic rock style 10" sounds better than the V30 with it at low volume.

I have a blackstar HT-5CR which has great features, but, I intend to get the original HT-1RH again some day, and will probably sell the HT5 to do so. It sounds better.

The marshalls under the 20 watt range lack bass. Just take my word for it, My buddy also has the coveted hand wired anniversary special 1 watt (a 1k, 1 watt amp), and to copy that sound on another marshall you have to turn the bass and mid completely to 0 lol. I have also watched videos (which are now gone from youtube) where the 1 watt and 5 watt marshalls were criticized for lack of bass. It's just not in the circuit.

I'd go as far to say at lower volumes the Ht-1RH is one of the best sounding little amplifiers I've ever heard. So get the original one, try a Mesa tube in the preamp, and have fun!

 

[zdoggie]

depending on your budget you might look at a tone king or a small magnatone .

zdog

 

[blouie]

Totally understand if you want a real tube amp but for home, I would try a Boss Katana. You get a lot of value, practicality and enjoyment for your money.

 

[Spartom]

Another vote for the Orange Rocker 15. I play mine on the 1/2 watt setting with an OD pedal after the wife goes to bed. Sounds fantastic and she can’t hear a damn thing.

 

[redking]

Marshall 1 watt amp and hope it's still not too loud or check out an amp sim like Guitar RIg 5. The perceived loudness of tube amps is not linear, but exponential, so the problem you will have with a tube amp at home on its own is that it's always "too loud", no matter how "small" the wattage is. Eg. a 100 watt tube amp is not 10 x louder than a 10 watt tube amp as one might think. It is only about twice as loud. Therefore a 1 watt tube amp is about 1/4 of the perceived loudness of a 100 watt tube amp - still pretty loud when you crank it up. (This is why Jeff Beck can get away with having 2 Fender Pro Jr.'s in his rig along with his 100 watt Marshall - the 2 Pro Jr.'s combined are nearly the same perceived loudness as the Marshall)

 

[GuitarMaven]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to guitar so can you go easy on me if I ask stupid questions ?
I want to buy a low watt tube amp for playing strictly at home that is not going to have the neighbours calling the police every time I play. I like the tone you can get from a tube amp but know you have to crank it up to get them to work properly so what sort can you crank up but not be too loud ?
I've looked at reviews on Youtube and have narrowed it down to maybe the Blackstar HT 1 Mkii or the Marshall DSL 1 CR or would I be better to go to 5 watts in those models and use the low watt channels ?
Because of where I live, I can't get in to store to try them and have to buy on line so that's why I need some help.
I play a Les Paul and like blues, blues rock style music and play clean a fair bit too.
Hopefully someone that's played them both can give me a better idea of what will be the better choice.
Thanks in advance !

Get a Soldano. They sound great loud. If the cops arrive, they’ll want to try it. I bought a BlackStar practice amp and traded a 40 watt Soldano inspired amp for a BlackStar 40 watt. Guess what gets played all the time? The BlackStar practice amp!! Here’s why. It has a place to plug in my iPhone for backing tracks, I can play it loud with some distortion and some reverb and play my jams. The BlackStar 40 is hell loud. Sounds great, but I play the practice amp all the time.. and I’m not in jail. The cops have come, abd they just said to keep up the nice jamming. So BlackStar practice amp!!

 

[ThatsRich]

I also learned this the hard way, 18w is loud(!) 5w is loud (!) and even 1w quite loud (guess how I know). without a separate gain and master volume, you won’t get enough distortion until you’re way louder than you want with any of these. To me, you go with something that has master volume control, or use a pedal of your choice, there are many. I’ve also messed with the Yamaha THR little boom box style amps, and like them, but they are digital so don’t really satisfy your stated requirements.

 

[shark]

I like my low watt fender blues jr.

BUT my roving amp eye is really liking what I see and read about the Friedman Runt 20.

a great amp for what seems to be about everything and only 20 big fat watts!!

 

[ThatsRich]

I like my low watt fender blues jr.

BUT my roving amp eye is really liking what I see and read about the Friedman Runt 20.

a great amp for what seems to be about everything and only 20 big fat watts!!

View attachment 555976

Low watt Blues Jr?
That Friedman looks promising tho! Those weren’t on my radar before reading this thread, was thinking a Bogner 3534 could be a “sell all my other amps and gain pedals” type solution but the Friedman is much more economical and probably home friendly

 

[shark]

well 15w is low wattage right?
also notice the friedman knobs go to 11!

 

[paul-e-mann]

If the sound you like, like me, is the power amp pushed hard you're going to be in trouble with even a 5W amp. Unfortunately the name of the game is LOUD. Where I live it's ok, but anywhere else I would be in trouble. Also, being new, and playing loud, is a recipe for police calls because no one wants to hear you practice, or play poorly very loud.

I would look for a low wattage amp under 5W you can push hard and loud, or get a good pedal platform and buy a nice OD. But keep at it man. I love the sound of my Marshalls cranked and there's nothing like it. When you dig into a chord and the fabric on your jeans flaps.

Take a look at the Supro Delta King 10, it really impressed me when I plugged into one the other week.

 

[Neffco]

Well, as a whole, we have managed to recommend every amp 20w and under. Lol. Good luck!

 

[lennoed]

Well, as a whole, we have managed to recommend every amp 20w and under. Lol. Good luck!

Yep……I’ve gone from having narrowed it down to 2 to 5 now but at least they’re quality amps !!

 

[Dolebludger]

Just a suggestion, but I recently bought a gently used Bugera G5 head that is all tube, offers 5W, 1W, and .1W settings. It has an FX loop, two channels foot-switchable, and a digital reverb that is actually pretty good. My used one was $180. New ones are about $280. In my small music room, the 1W setting is best. The overdrive channel has volume and gain controls and a three band EQ. It sounds great and not too loud through a pair of 1X12 cabs. The clean channel has only volume and tone controls, and leaves something to be desired. But the OD channel can be adjusted clean, crunch, or scream. I never use the clean channel, but the OD channel sounds 10X this amps price.