The Red Iron Amps Lil' Mo: A Review

[nmiller]

I recently decided that I wanted a small (5W max) tube amp to take to jams and on road trips. Portability was the main factor, but I also wanted to keep the price as reasonable as possible without resorting to one of those $99 Epiphone tube amps. I quickly concluded that a mini tube head and separate cab would be the best solution.

I looked into the 1/2 Watt Z.Vex Nano Head, but there were several features about it that I didn't like. First, changing tubes is a major undertaking involving solder. Second, there didn't seem to be any clean tones available from it. I like to play on the edge of breakup, but the Nano Head seemed to distort at any volume.

Instead, I found the Red Iron Amps Lil' Mo. While it's considerably larger than the Z.Vex amp, it puts out a full Watt of power - enough to get some reasonably clean tones out of it as well as overdrive. It uses a 12A_7 preamp tube; the space in the tube model means that it can take a 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AY7 or 5751 instead. For an output tube it uses a single 6AQ5, which is tonally like a smoother 6V6 with slightly less gain. My amp came with a NOS Sylvania 12AT7 and 6AQ5, but I see the Red Iron website has since been updated to list a 12AX7 as stock. I experimented with several preamp types and ultimately settled on a new Electro-Harmonix 12AY7. This gave me a little extra headroom and sweetened up the overdrive a bit with more output tube than preamp tube distortion. I have yet to experiment with power tubes; 6AQ5s are no longer produced, but they are very cheap and abundant on the NOS market.

The overall tone of the amp is designed to replicate classic Marshall overdrive. It does this to an extent, but it reminds me too of old Ampeg Jets and Geminis. There is no tone control, but at all volumes the tone is smooth and creamy with enough trebble to give substantial clarity. It's certainly not twangy like a Fender or chimey like a Vox, but I prefer warmth to brightness. There is a toggle switch to increase the gain; this upps the volume a little too, and attenuates the trebble just a hair.

I have ordered a custom 1X6 cab from Lopo Line; it will arrive in a few days and I have purchased a Weber Signature Alnico (early breakup) for it. In the meantime, I have run the amp through the speakers in two combo amps. One was a custom open-backed amp with a new Jensen P10R. The speaker is a 4-ohm model and the amp is designed to run through 8 ohms, but according to the Red Iron website, the amp has low enough power that it can run through 4 ohms with no problems. The amp can get a bit flubby in the low end when overdriven through this speaker. I also ran the amp through the 1961 Jensen P12S in my old Guild 50-J. The flubbiness in the bass was greatly reduced in this speaker; since it is a larger cone, I suspect that the difference lies in the age of the speaker. I expect that the 6" Weber will be too small to produce any bassy flub.

The Lil Mo's quality of construction is quite rugged. There are spiffy, Jetsons-inspired guards around the tubes in place of traditional shields, and the tubes can be easily removed for transport in a backpack (my original goal in purchasing this amp).

All in all, this amp perfectly suited my needs. It's ultra-portable, easy to operate (just an on/off switch, volume control and gain-boost switch) and sounds like a much larger amp. It achieves overdrive at very usable volumes and can power much larger cabinets if the need arises. And, at $350 shipped, it saved me enough from the Z.Vex amp to pay for a custom 1X6 cab.

Here are a couple of photos from the Red Iron Amps site. My amp is royal blue with a matching pilot light, but the layout is about the same.

[Hoodster]

I'm after something like this as well, but even the Tele clean clip on that website sounded very dark and muffled.

[dorfmeister]

I've got my eye on one of these. How are you liking it after a few weeks?

How much did the 1x6 lopo line run?

[nmiller]

Originally Posted by dorfmeister

I've got my eye on one of these. How are you liking it after a few weeks?

How much did the 1x6 lopo line run?

It's still working great for me. I've probably knocked it around more than I should have, but it's held up perfectly. I do take the tubes out when carrying it around, though. I use it when jamming with a largely acoustic group, and the volume range is perfect.

The Lopo line cost me $100 unloaded, and it's made as nicely as I could have hoped. It sounds a bit boxy, but I had them make it according to my max. external dimensions, not for tone.

I am actually able to fit the amp and cab in a backpack.

[Blue4Now]

I have the Nano and I can confirm there is almost no clean headroom. But I was not looking for clean with this amp. I play it throug a old Mesa 1X12 with a vintage 25 watt black back and it sounds freakin incredible cranked up. Amazing Marshal tones.

[dorfmeister]

Just arranged with Paul to build one of these for me!

[dorfmeister]

Originally Posted by nmiller

It's still working great for me. I've probably knocked it around more than I should have, but it's held up perfectly. I do take the tubes out when carrying it around, though. I use it when jamming with a largely acoustic group, and the volume range is perfect.

The Lopo line cost me $100 unloaded, and it's made as nicely as I could have hoped. It sounds a bit boxy, but I had them make it according to my max. external dimensions, not for tone.

I am actually able to fit the amp and cab in a backpack.

That is worth checking out. Were there any other high quality 6" speakers you looked into?

[nmiller]

Originally Posted by dorfmeister

That is worth checking out. Were there any other high quality 6" speakers you looked into?

I looked into the Jensen MOD 6", which are supposed to be voiced between a vintage Jensen and a more modern sound. Ultimately I went with the Weber just to try something different (my other two amps have Jensens).

[dorfmeister]

I'm curious which 6aq5's and 12a()7 type tubes you've experimented with for this?

[nmiller]

Originally Posted by dorfmeister

I'm curious which 6aq5's and 12a()7 type tubes you've experimented with for this?

I tried a Sylvania and an RCA 6AQ5 (preferred the RCA) and a Westinghouse and an EH 12AY7, EH 12AU7 and a Sylvania 12AT7 (preferred the EH 12AY7).

[Tonefish]

Man, I'm loving this little amp!! When cranked, I'm hearing more Supro-ish than anything with my setup.

[TDJMB]

I'm very interested in this topic. I get together with an acoustic guitar group but want to play electric. I could use my Roland Cube but want a tube sound. Could you tell me the dimensions of the cab? Thanks.

[nmiller]

Originally Posted by TDJMB

Could you tell me the dimensions of the cab? Thanks.

Mine is 9X9X7" (external dimensions). This doesn't include the feet (easily removable) or handle. This is about as small as you can get for a 6" speaker - you need to leave room for the speaker's mounting rim and the thickness of the walls.

[dorfmeister]

Originally Posted by Tonefish

Man, I'm loving this little amp!! When cranked, I'm hearing more Supro-ish than anything with my setup.

What other gear are you using with it?

What tubes?

[Jahn]

Originally Posted by Kim Hardee

I apologize. I didn't realize that was against the rules. I will try to remove the post.

No worries, just let the admins know you want to be able to post such things in the Dealer/Manufacturer's forum, and you're golden. It ain't easy navigating when you're new!