Members Sandman31774 Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 I'm in the market for a tube amp. Always had solidstate. I need a high gain tube amp. My only problem is I need to play at moderate to low volumes most of the time in my house. Is there an amp that can give me good tube saturation at lower non-cranked volumes? I'd prefer a head only and not interested in a combo. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it. No particular price range. Just need an amp capable.thanks,sandman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tonemeister87 Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 Zvex Nano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 17 Tubes Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 I know you have said specifics.... But I'd like to tell you about the Hughes and Kettner 20 Anniversary combo. That little amp rocks balls off. It may not do total shred....and it can get a little noisy when cranked on the gain channel. But it was the BEST low watt tube amp I've ever heard, and would rival even the mighty Mesa .22....flat out beat it, I'd say. Put your fav distortion pedal in front and you'll be in tube tone heaven...without the volume issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members adiohead Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 i've been playing my 6100 in 50W mode will go down to 25W too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bucketboy Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 my jmp-1/vht2502 combo sounds awesome at low volumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted October 18, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 i appreciate the replies...i'll keep these in mind..I'm just confused..so many amps out there! Please anyone else with even more suggestions.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members batotman Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 JSX, XXX, 6505, Uberschall, DSL50, all sound good at relatively low volumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hi-Gain Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 I built a Hi-Octane with a 1-watt option and let me tell you....1-watt is pretty frikin loud cranked! If your looking for power tube saturation, you may need to get a Hot Plate to knock the volume down. I play my JSX w/1960ax at very low levels late at night and it sounds great! My Rectoverb and TSL60 too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted October 18, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 do those hotplates change your tone or are they transparent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hi-Gain Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 Originally posted by Sandman31774 do those hotplates change your tone or are they transparent? I have one and I don't think it's too bad. You can switch on a low/high boost and that helps when your really cranking up the load. If you do a search, I think there's been a lot said about using one. If you can try one yourself, that would be best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joeinkc2 Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 bumbox bumlux 1 watt head, 275 shipped. nate burks builds these, hes an hcaf member. you can google bumbox custom audio to see his site, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted October 18, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 well i think i may end up getting a hotplate and then go with whatever wattage head i choose...i just don't have many opportunities to try amps in my area...music stores suck bigtime...I'm thinking maybe mesa rectoverb, dual rec, carvin v3 or possibly legacy. LET ME KNOW WHAT YA"LL THINK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted October 18, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 is $1250 a good or bad price for a new mesa rectoverb? I have an opportunity for one at that price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members batotman Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 I thought the recto sounded like poo at low volume and doesn't come alive till you start giving it some good volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shellshock Posted October 18, 2006 Members Share Posted October 18, 2006 Mesa F-50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 17 Tubes Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 Originally posted by Sandman31774 well i think i may end up getting a hotplate and then go with whatever wattage head i choose...i just don't have many opportunities to try amps in my area...music stores suck bigtime...I'm thinking maybe mesa rectoverb, dual rec, carvin v3 or possibly legacy. LET ME KNOW WHAT YA"LL THINK! I haven't owned a hotplate...just the sholz rockman powersoak. But I (and a few others) think you have to be careful with a hot plate. One of the reasons we love tube amps is becuase theysound so dman good, and you just want to turn them up louder and louder. Although I didn't use a "soak" in conjuction with a good tube amp gain....I still think if it's "good low volume" you seek...a good small amp is the way to go. Even if you use some preamp/FX/pedal with it. DO yourself a favor...check out that H&K 20 watter. Even if it isn't exactly what you are looking for...it will give you something to think about regarding low wattage tube amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Romanian Reaper Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 I play at super low volumes because I live in an apartment with really thin walls. I have a Splawn Competition Head (50 watts) and it sounds awesome at low volume. You should probably give us more detail on what type of tone you like though. Do you like more of a Godsmack, Dream Theater, etc. Mesa tone with thick bass and rectifier-type crunch or a Marshall tone? A JSX is the best of both worlds and you can swap tubes. That amp sounds great at low volumes also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 17 Tubes Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 Originally posted by Romanian Reaper I play at super low volumes because I live in an apartment with really thin walls. I have a Splawn Competition Head (50 watts) and it sounds awesome at low volume.You should probably give us more detail on what type of tone you like though. Do you like more of a Godsmack, Dream Theater, etc. Mesa tone with thick bass and rectifier-type crunch or a Marshall tone?A JSX is the best of both worlds and you can swap tubes. That amp sounds great at low volumes also. I think...FOR ME!...the temptation to crank it is too great. Hence using a smaller amp....the right tool for the job (FOR ME!)....is the right thing to do. Even though the H&K gets LOUD AS HELL...it is still a small tube amp combothat you can crank only so much. I do love my 64 twin and a preamp....I can get screamin tube tone at low volumes. I have the option of cranking the preamp and lowering the tube amp....or lowering the preamp and cranking up the amp..whichever sounds good to me. Kinda like a buil-in attenuator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nick Kay Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 Most high-gain amps are designed with a very clean power section, since they get most of their tone from the preamp. So don't worry about wattage - just get whatever sounds good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members troublehead Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 Alot of these mentioned above sound like poo at anything less than moderate house volumes. Just my opinion. My vote goes for anything Engl or Peavey XXX or JSX. I heard the Bogners do low volume well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted October 20, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 Thanks for all the responses!!!! I have a friend that wants to sale me a Bogner Uberschall. He's had it a couple of years and only has about 10 hours of playtime. I haven't heard it but will check it out. I'm gonna check out the jsx also. TO answer the tone i'm looking for that someone asked about earlier...that's the problem. I love so many styles of music it's hard to nail the sound I want. I love the old school Lynch tone from to zakk wylde to Vai to Satch....Many others in between. I guess I need something versatile...hell, i'm getting more and more complicated ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members batotman Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 BUY THE FUCKING UBER. I miss mine and hopefully will get another one next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted October 20, 2006 Author Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 he wants 2k for it...that's pretty good for a bogner uber with only 10 hours on it huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members batotman Posted October 20, 2006 Members Share Posted October 20, 2006 Originally posted by Sandman31774 he wants 2k for it...that's pretty good for a bogner uber with only 10 hours on it huh? If thats the truth then yeah its a fair price. The question is, which revision? I sold my Rev 2 for less than $2k and had to spend nearly $80 to ship it (and I packed the stinkin thing). I'd talk him down to $1900 if you can as he won't have to worry about the hassle of shipping it or ebay fees eating him alive. But.....$2000 still ain't bad on your end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.