< 22 watt help needed

[DrSlow]

Hey guys,

For home/messing around/recording I've been using a Blackheart Little Giant w/ a Blackheart 1x12 cab. I'm happy with it. It's got a decent el84ish tone, but I really like the way it takes pedals. It's what I would consider a neutral sounding tube amp. It lets me color it however I like it.

I've had it a while (maybe 2 years? hard to say exactly) and recently it's been acting a little squirrely. I changed tubes but it didn't seem to alleviate the problems. It makes random crackling/static-y noises. Borderline microphonic I suppose.

I'm looking to replace it. Keep in mind, It's not for playing out. I've got a '69/70 (parts from both years) silverface twin reverb for that and it's going with me to my grave. What I'm looking for is something low wattage, that takes pedals well, has a good clean sound, and is RELIABLE.

I've looked at Dr.Z's (Maz Jr and Carmen Ghia) and while I love them, they are just too loud for what I'm using them for. Something just feels wrong with playing an amp with the ME knob at 1. I'm aware of the air break, but now we are looking at $1700+.

My budget is between 0 and, lets say, $1200. Here are a few I've had my eye on, but have yet to get my grimy fingers on:

• Marshall Class 5 - First Impression...it might be a little too Marshally for me.
• Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue - First Impression...not too into the idea of a 1x10, but looks great other wise. Like a baby deluxe reverb.
• Mesa/Boogie Lone Star Special - First Impression...expensive.
• Orange Tiny Terror - First Impression...looks impressive.
• Orange Dual Terror - First Impression...looks impressiver.

Some I've ruled out:

Egnator - Tried a few, just not me.
Fender Deluxe Reverb RI - Too loud.
Epiphone Valve Jr. - Already have one.
Vox AC4TV - Not enough amp.
Vox AC15 - Too unreliable unless I go with one of the versions that are too expensive.

Things like Reverb, and Trem are nice to have, but I've got a vast pedal collection (pushin 40 stompboxes), so I've got those bases covered already.

Oh, and I play a strat, a tele, and a Heritage H-170 w/Duncan P-Rails. The amp needs to be pickup agnostic.

Thanks.

[nrandall85]

Ha, it seemed like you've ruled out most of what I would have recommended! I know you said not Egnater, but have you checked out the Tweaker? I'm really impressed with the way mine takes pedals and different pickups. Great amp for bedroom volumes and with the band.

I wasn't all that impressed with the clean sounds from the Orange Tiny Terror. A little too grainy sounding, and there was something missing with the top end.

I also was not at all impressed with the new AC15. The new AC30 kills, however.

If you're just looking for a house amp, the Princeton is a good choice.

[wrxplayer]

I have and like the Laney Lionheart 5 watt amp very much. They can be had pretty reasonably on ebay these days.

[Frank Speak]

Try out a VHT Special 6. I have the head and closed back 1x12 and love it. It's 6 watts so very manageable around the house. You can also run it in 3 watt mode if you like, but I rarely do that. If you search my name, you'll find some audio clips of it.

[Brazen]

Check out the Kustom Defender 5H head. It's 5 watts class A but it get loud the more you turn the knob. Also it only have a volume knob.

I have a Blackheart Handsome Devil half stack and it takes pedal very well. I used the Defender on the cab (1x12) and it'll drive that speaker. Sometimes I'll put in the 12AY7 to tame the beast and get clearer tone.

[smolder]

I know you don't live in NY city... But please, step away from the guitar center.

There are a ton amps that fit your description and a lot of them in your price range... Even more if you can stomach used. There is not a single amp on your list I would be excited about. Read more, search more and extend you sites... Small amp makers, clone makers and even some boutique guys can meet your budget.

[DrSlow]

Originally Posted by smolder

I know you don't live in NY city... But please, step away from the guitar center.

There are a ton amps that fit your description and a lot of them in your price range... Even more if you can stomach used. There is not a single amp on your list I would be excited about. Read more, search more and extend you sites... Small amp makers, clone makers and even some boutique guys can meet your budget.

Actually, our guitar center doesn't even have most of the amps I listed. It's really a wasteland up here. I'm not really sure what boutique guys can meet my budget. The only ones I'm familiar with are like Divided By 13, Swart, Doctor Z, 65 Amps, Tone King a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting about. Those are not really in my price range. Care to enlighten me a bit? Kind of why I asked the question in the first place.

As for doing research, I've been researching pedals and guitars for, literally, years. I'm not ignorant enough to think I could browse the web for a few weeks and know enough to make an informed decision. Especially considering I'll never to get try any of these before I buy them. I never really spent much time exploring boutique amps because, like I said, a '69 silverface Fender twin reverb fell into my lap when I was 24 and I've been happy with it ever since. There was just no need to scour the earth looking for the perfect amp. Just the perfect overdrive pedal. And fuzz. And delay...

[Kitten Cannon]

You have just described the Goodsell Super 17 Mk III. They don't come up used TOO often, but when they do they're often in that price range. Great trem, great reverb, killer clean tone, and you can push it just up past that edge of breakup. A high gain amp it isn't, but for everything else I haven't found a better amp yet. Sort of like an EL84 Princeton Reverb, almost, with a 12" speaker and a 5W option.

Check it: http://superseventeen.com/images/jody_09_mk3.mp3
From the site: Gtr1: Tremolo Rhythm- DeArmond hollowbody,w/Bigsby) Gtr2: "Steel"-Melody Maker w/ Bigsby Palm Pedals, and volume pedal)
Gtr 3: solo- (5w setting, Custom Shop NoCaster)

I was playing a Deluxe Reverb for a long time before I got my Goodsell a few years back. Ever since, that's been my main go-to for just about every gig where that wattage level is appropriate.

You may also want to look into the Savage Macht 12x or Macht 6 and the Nolatone 22 Tango. The former should be easier to find in your price range, the latter, who knows. TGP's Bobby D seems to really dig his Savage, and he describes it to be a lot like what you're looking for. I've played one and it does seem like a slightly more muscular version of my Goodsell, a little less prone to the high headroom threshold and a little more Marshall-y (whereas I think of the Super 17 as a Fender/Vox mashup more Fender voiced than anything else).

[sharpshooter]

Might you be intrested in Tweed,,as in a Victoria 518, or 5112?
Within your budget, and if you don't turn them up very far,will play clean. Will hold good value for resale also.

[Nolatone Ampworks]

Originally Posted by Kitten Cannon

Y

You may also want to look into the Savage Macht 12x or Macht 6 and the Nolatone 22 Tango.

I appreciate the mention of the 22 Tango here, but if the Z Maz Jr or Carmen Ghia are too loud for the OP's application, the 22 Tango will be too.

[JimRac]

Has your research included the Reason Bambino? If not, check it out. It's a fine amp.

Head $749
Combo $899

Unfortunately, I don't see any dealers in NY.

Jim

[Bensen]

Don't know about shipping and customs but my next amp will be the el34 by reussenzehn. 10 or 19w with any type of poweramptube:
http://el34.de/

[cnardone]

if you can find one used, a Suhr Badger 18 should be close to your price range. Alessandro working dog Boxer, new is just out of your range, used is definitely in your sweet spot.

If you are up for a build, one of the smaller Allen kits or one of the other builders that do Princeton remakes.

[DrSlow]

Thanks a ton guys for all the advice guys. Gonna check out a bunch of these...

[DaveDaveDave]

A Traynor YGM-3 reissue - PTP for $1100 is hard to beat, and you won't find a tremolo like that in any pedal anywhere.