Members profgalen Posted November 5, 2010 Members Share Posted November 5, 2010 http://www.ibanez.com/Electronics/model-TSA15HI'm seriously thinking about one of these. I like the sound of 6V6 amps. The Tube Screamer doesn't really interest me unless it could be modded like a TS pedal. I can't find a manual online and I would really like to know if it's adjustable bias or fixed, as I would probably be switching out the tubes with my favorite 6V6s. Any other 6V6 heads in this price range? Sorry to ask an amp question on HCEG but, you know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar777 Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 I just picked one up yesterday with the matching cab. The manual (printed in China) is not of much use. Comes in multiple languages, each language is about 5 pages each. 2 pages of warnings, 1 page of trouble shooting (plug cord in....turn switch on....), 1 page of switch and plug locations and 1 page telling you what each one does. It doesn't say anything about adjustable or fixed bias, and I'm new to tube amps so I don't know how to tell from looking at the tubes (or even if you could) I love the amp. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 I just picked one up yesterday with the matching cab. The manual (printed in China) is not of much use. Comes in multiple languages, each language is about 5 pages each. 2 pages of warnings, 1 page of trouble shooting (plug cord in....turn switch on....), 1 page of switch and plug locations and 1 page telling you what each one does. It doesn't say anything about adjustable or fixed bias, and I'm new to tube amps so I don't know how to tell from looking at the tubes (or even if you could)I love the amp. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Footswitchable Tubescreamer and boost built in? Looks like many player can make do with just this amp and a guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 I got one about 2 weeks ago. I love it. I use it with my Epi 1x12 cabinet. In the 5 watt mode, it's at bedroom practice levels without the boost. With the boost, it gets pushed to a very loud 5 watts. The 15 watt mode is even better. It's a much fuller sound. The Tube Screamer makes a really nice distortion channel. Add the boost at the 15 watt setting and it just screams. But it's still very smooth sounding. I quickly learned that the footswitch for it is very useful. I have no hesitance recommending this amp. It's a great buy IMHO. As for modding the TS circuit, I have no idea. I don't ordinarily mod my amps or pedals. There are some really good demos of it available on YouTube. EDIT: The TSA15H has really nice clean sounds. I can't say that about my Vox AC4TV8. I'm thinking of selling the Vox. The Ibanez is much better IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted December 26, 2010 Members Share Posted December 26, 2010 I haven't played one yet, but if I see one used for $200, I'll grab it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted December 26, 2010 Members Share Posted December 26, 2010 I haven't played one yet, but if I see one used for $200, I'll grab it.Mine was a repackaged blem. I got it for $225. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted December 26, 2010 Members Share Posted December 26, 2010 I'd get one for $225 as well. It would delay the inevitable Transatlantic purchase I see brewing probably around April or May. A usable clean tone is an absolute MUST. I have an AC15 and a 5E3 combo, but I have three 2x12 cabs and I'd like a head of some sort to play through them. At $225, this is practice amp territory... or cheap enough to leave it in the garage full time. As a Vox lover, I really like the AC4... but it just doesn't have any where near a loud enough and clean enough tone for me as I play clean or slightly breaking up all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PunkKitty Posted December 26, 2010 Members Share Posted December 26, 2010 Clean sounds are more important to me than distorted sounds. This amp has the cleans in both the 5 and 15 watt modes as well as very smooth distortion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members editorman1 Posted February 11, 2011 Members Share Posted February 11, 2011 I bought this amp 2 days ago, very disappointed.... The clean sounds are awesome, the options for connecting to just about any speaker cabinet is the most versatile out there today, BUT the overdrive section fails miserably and I would not consider it to even be slightly distorted. The distortion or overdrive is more of a clean guitar with a halfway clipping sound in the background. I am already looking for mods to this head, if done right, this could be the next most sought out guitar head on the market. Anyone know anybody that has modified this head yet? If so, please have them contact me @ grfx00@yahoo.com. I have contacted Ibanez, so dont even go there. They are protective of their wiring diagrams and not sure they really care to address this problem. ----UPDATE---- I recently played a tube screamer pedal and that is what my amp sounds like, so I believe this amp is in perfect working order. However, I am still disappointed that the TS is not what I would call a good distortion/overdrive pedal. Im looking for a mod that would replace the TS section with a heavier distortion sound so that I would not have to use any of my distortion sections on my Boss Me70. I tried the Blackstar, unfortunately, the overdrive section lacked only a little, and clean sounds were no where near the Ibanez lush clean tones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted February 12, 2011 Members Share Posted February 12, 2011 Unless yours is broken or something... a Tube Screamer into a clean-ish Fender is a VERY common setup. What does it look like on the inside? I was under the impression that it is LITERALLY the guts from an actual Tube Screamer pedal in front of a full tube amp. If that's true, you could do any of the Tube Screamer mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brianeharmonjr Posted February 12, 2011 Members Share Posted February 12, 2011 I got one recently and REALLY love it. The clean sounds are fantastic with plenty of clean headroom. The boost is really useful and the TS circuit is just about perfect. I'm a TS lover, but the circuit in mine is just about perfect. I always have a TS on my board, so it was a no brainer for me. I'm sorry editorman1 had a bad experience, but I think you might just have a dud. I'd suggest you take it back for another. The TS on mine has tons of gain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hooch1 Posted February 12, 2011 Members Share Posted February 12, 2011 Mine has lots of gain. I think you got a dud. I'd exchange it. I bought this amp 2 days ago, very disappointed.... The clean sounds are awesome, the options for connecting to just about any speaker cabinet is the most versatile out there today, BUT the overdrive section fails miserably and I would not consider it to even be slightly distorted. The distortion or overdrive is more of a clean guitar with a halfway clipping sound in the background. I am already looking for mods to this head, if done right, this could be the next most sought out guitar head on the market. Anyone know anybody that has modified this head yet? If so, please have them contact me @ grfx00@yahoo.com. I have contacted Ibanez, so dont even go there. They are protective of their wiring diagrams and not sure they really care to address this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members editorman1 Posted June 1, 2011 Members Share Posted June 1, 2011 Just for reference and hopes that someone is capable of making a killer mod for this amp, I have taken pix of the inside of the Ibanez TSA15H and you can look them up on my photobucket @ http://s1115.photobucket.com/albums/k541/bbby914/Music%20Gear/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lump Posted June 1, 2011 Members Share Posted June 1, 2011 In response to your other question, the Egnater Tweaker is a 6v6 in the same price range. I like mine alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted June 1, 2011 Members Share Posted June 1, 2011 I think the oddest thing about this amp is the lack of a good sounding video demo. The official video on Ibanez's site that sounds terrible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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