January 22, 2010

Attack of the mini amps

When I was a kid learning to play guitar, one of the dreams I had often was of the day I would have a full stack behind me.  A head and a couple of 4x12 cabinets were the be all end all for every guitar player I knew.
The site of the metal stage shows of the day with multiple rows of full stacks behind the band only fueled the fire.  While the full stack may still have a place in the guitar world a trend towards the compact tube amplifier has surfaced and there are quite a few choices.
I haven’t played all of these amps but I thought I would do a little round up of what’s out there for the guitarists who are looking for a big sound without the back breaking weight of a full stack. Here’s a roundup of some great entries in the 30 watt or less all tube amps.
Vox night train image
  • Channels: 1
  • Tubes:2 12ax7 2 el84
  • Output: 15 watts
  • loop: no
  • Reverb: no
  • street Price: $500
  • Head only


Orange Tiny Terror
  • imageChannels: 1
  • Tubes:2 12ax7 2 el84
  • Output: 15 watts
  • loop: no
  • Reverb: no
  • Head or Combo
  • street Price: $600 head $900 combo


Orange Dual Terrorimage 


  • Channels: 2



  • Tubes: 4 12ax7 4 el84



  • Output: 30 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: no



  • Head Only



  • street Price:head $900


    Epiphone Valve Jr.
    image



  • Channels: 1



  • Tubes: 1 12ax7 1 el84



  • Output: 5 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: no



  • Head or combo



  • street Price:head  $129 combo $159






  • Fender Pro Jr.image





  • Channels: 1



  • Tubes: 2 12ax7 2 el84



  • Output: 15 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: no



  • combo only



  • street Price: $399




    Fender Blues Jr.image


  • Channels: 1 (with Fat switch)



  • Tubes: 3 12ax7 2 el84



  • Output: 15 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: Yes



  • combo only



  • street Price: $599



    image


  • Channels: 1



  • Tubes: 1 12ax7 1 el84



  • Output: 5 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: no



  • Head only



  • street Price:head  $199



    image


  • Channels: 2



  • Tubes: 3 ecc83 2 6v6



  • Output: 15 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: yes



  • Head Only



  • street Price:head $599



    image


  • Channels: 2



  • Tubes: 1 12ax7 1 12bh7



  • Output: 5 watts



  • loop: yes



  • Reverb: no



  • Head or combo



  • street Price:head  $399 Combo  $499



    image


  • Channels: 1



  • Tubes: 3 12ax7 2 6v6 2 el84



  • Output: 20 watts



  • loop: yes



  • Reverb: no



  • Head only



  • street Price:head  $599


    image


  • Channels: 2



  • Tubes: 3 12ax7 2 6v6 2 el84



  • Output: 30 watts



  • loop: yes



  • Reverb: yes



  • Head or combo



  • street Price:head  $799 1x12 combo $899



    Mesa Express 5:25
    image


  • Channels: 2



  • Tubes: 5 12ax7 2 el84



  • Output: 25 watts



  • loop: yes



  • Reverb: yes



  • Head or combo



  • street Price:head  $1099 1x12 combo $1229


    Mesa Transatlantic
    image


  • Channels: 2



  • Tubes: 4 12ax7 2 el84



  • Output: 25 watts



  • loop: no



  • Reverb: no



  • Head only



  • street Price: $900 (unconfirmed)
  • 1 comment:

    Dave MacLeod said...

    Great post. I had a great lunchtime last week testing out the Vox, the Tiny Terror and the Blackstar HT-5. Of the three the Blackstar impressed me most - although the Vox looks superb in the flesh. If you're interested in these might also be worth checking out the Bugera V5, which offers amazing value for money.

    Where do you want to go?