Advice: 5 watts or less with lots of gain for under $500 used!

[jimmyohio75]

I'm looking for a 5-7 watt amp (head) that I can crank with plenty of gain on tap for use at small gigs and home practice. I don't need reverb, effects loop or two channels.
I absolutely must be able to coax some great gain out of it wthout pedals (think ZZ Top "Just Got Paid").

My $$ limit is no more than $500 used. I just pulled the trigger on a new LP and I don't have much left for a second amp.

Here are some of my ideas:

Foreign: Night Train, Marshall Class 5, Vox AC4,
USA Made: Reason Bambino(used), Twister Dust Devil(used), Reeves Custom 6(used)

Anymore suggestions?

 

[Jamie_Mitchell]

$80 Alamo?

 

[pgissi]

I absolutely must be able to coax some great gain out of it wthout pedals (think ZZ Top "Just Got Paid").

How about new in the states for 399.00, made in the UK and has Marshall on the front. See the Class 5. The money you save you will feel like you just got paid for some tone.

Its a very loud 5 watts, non master volume so rolling back for some low watt cleans is doable.

Sounds even better when mated to a cab via the extension spkr jack.

Lastly, Bonamassa uses it for a live version of Just Got Paid on youtube

 

[eyeball987]

I just had a Blackstar HT-5 land in a trade deal today. I haven't played it yet. That would be another option.

 

[t-rey]

Another vote for the Blackstar. And the gain channel has a master volume so you can get pretty high levels of gain at low volumes.

 

[utterhack]

 

[jimmyohio75]

How about new in the states for 399.00, made in the UK and has Marshall on the front. See the Class 5. The money you save you will feel like you just got paid for some tone.

Its a very loud 5 watts, non master volume so rolling back for some low watt cleans is doable.

Sounds even better when mated to a cab via the extension spkr jack.

Lastly, Bonamassa uses it for a live version of Just Got Paid on youtube

Will the class 5 allow for an 8 OHM extension cab to be hooked up to it?

 

[pgissi]

Will the class 5 allow for an 8 OHM extension cab to be hooked up to it?

It is setup for a 16ohm extension cab with an included jack on the back panel which also acts as the headphone jack also with a flick of a switch.

Thru my 16 ohm 4x12 this thing absolutely roars.

 

[socalscott]

Hall Amplifications Lil' Devil 3W. $499 new, it's a Trainwreck Express clone, US built.
It's hi-gain, but cleans sparkle. You can hold a note and roll up the git volume and
it sings right into feedback. I requested a gain control out back($0).
Has a TMB tone stack and uses sub-miniature missile(tough) NOS tubes(3 pre, 2 pwr). Custom hand wound transformers. 8ohm speaker jack.
VVR feature lets you vary the voltage, home use perfection.
Find all this in a true lo-wattage, booteek clone for $500.

Crank it up, you quickly stop playing, you look around the room with a stupid look and pick your jaw up. You roll off the git volume and again you stop, smile at the Lil' Devil, mumble and pat it. Git buddies will giggle like school girls when they hear it.

 

[Iceman8.6]

The Blackstar HT-5 is the best low wattage/volume amp I've ever had

 

[drweller]

Another vote for the HT-5. That thing RIPS! Pretty good clean tones and all kinds of OD crunch to high-gain/vintage to modern type drive tones. 2-channel, foot switch, line/headphone out (selectable), effects loop. Can get some really great vintage style OD from the clean channel with the volume cranked.

Really, really fun amp. Quiet enough for home/evening/bedroom playing, loud enough to hang with a full rock band. Dirt cheap on the used market to boot!!

 

[Iceman8.6]