What low-watt amp heads?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs' started by mosbergvik, Jul 8, 2005.

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  1. Jul 8, 2005 #1
    mosbergvik

    mosbergvik Member

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    So, I have got myself a beautiful 1x15 cabinet loaded with a 15" Weber California Alnico with paper dust. And no I want a amp head on top of it.

    I want a quality head that, all tube and low wattage so that it can deliver tone without ripping heads of. I have seen a couple of them boutique heads, but I haven't seen any with REVERB yet. Man, I got to have reverb:) I was hoping I could get the amp and reverb in the same unit/cabinet, without having to deal with a separate reverb unit.

    Can anybody help me out?
    Or would you say that a separate reverb unit is best for those low wattage heads?

    Thanks
    Regards Pål, Norway.
     
    mosbergvik, Jul 8, 2005
    mosbergvik, Jul 8, 2005
    #1
  2. Jul 8, 2005 #2
    rubberbelly

    rubberbelly Member

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    What kind of sound are you looking for and what is "low-watt" for you? There are actually numerous choices for your such as Fargen, Allen, Matchless, Dr. Z, Bad Cat that might fit the bill for you.
     
    rubberbelly, Jul 8, 2005
    rubberbelly, Jul 8, 2005
    #2
  3. Jul 8, 2005 #3
    Reeek

    Reeek Member

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    If you can find this amp in a head you would be doing yourself a favor and buying it! I own one and it's just awesome!

    Hi-Mu . . .

    http://www.amptone.com/himu5-5.htm
     
    Reeek, Jul 8, 2005
    Reeek, Jul 8, 2005
    #3
  4. Jul 8, 2005 #4
    Lifewithoutpain

    Lifewithoutpain Member

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    Mesa/boogie LoneStar Special: 30/15/5 watts, 2 channels, 2 reverbs. I love mine!
     
    Lifewithoutpain, Jul 8, 2005
    Lifewithoutpain, Jul 8, 2005
    #4
  5. Jul 8, 2005 #5
    Dave Orban

    Dave Orban Member

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    Well, for my money, the best low-watt amp head out there is the Alesssandro Beagle.

    I actually run mine inito a 1x15 Jenkins cab with the paper cap Cali, just like yours. Sounds AWEsome -- even without reverb...! Makes it worth the effort to throw a Fender RI Reverb Tank in front of it, IMO...
     
    Dave Orban, Jul 8, 2005
    Dave Orban, Jul 8, 2005
    #5
  6. Jul 8, 2005 #6
    rickc007

    rickc007 Gold Supporting Member

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    what "Lifewithoutpain" said

    warm and sweet

    got mine on order
     
    rickc007, Jul 8, 2005
    rickc007, Jul 8, 2005
    #6
  7. Jul 8, 2005 #7
    thesedaze

    thesedaze Member

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    thesedaze, Jul 8, 2005
    thesedaze, Jul 8, 2005
    #7
  8. Jul 9, 2005 #8
    mosbergvik

    mosbergvik Member

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    Ah, many to choose from:)

    With low-wattage I mean 10 watts and lower. I hear they still blow your leg pants if you have an efficient speaker/cabinet. But they break up earlier, which is nice. And, my style is mostly rock, blues and stuff in between.

    What about the Emery Superbaby?
    http://www.emerysound.com/Superbaby.html

    Can be ordered for 675 USD, a lot cheaper than many of the amps mentioned. Still, no reverb, but a simple design with 1 preamp, 1 power and 1 rectifier tube. Was covered by Vintage Guitar recently.

    Thanks folks.
    Pål.
     
    mosbergvik, Jul 9, 2005
    mosbergvik, Jul 9, 2005
    #8
  9. Jul 9, 2005 #9
    flicker180

    flicker180 Supporting Member

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    i've got some old Bogen K-15s that rock the house with 6L6 action... :) can pick 'em up on the 'bay for roughly 120 or so...

    dave
     
    flicker180, Jul 9, 2005
    flicker180, Jul 9, 2005
    #9
  10. Jul 9, 2005 #10
    m1911

    m1911 Member

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    Get a Dr.Z MAZ 18 Junior and you'll be all set!
    Mark
     
    m1911, Jul 9, 2005
    m1911, Jul 9, 2005
    #10
  11. Jul 9, 2005 #11
    thesedaze

    thesedaze Member

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    10w amp pushing a 15"? Why the 15" if your only pumping out 10w? I'm not sure what the California's rate, but if they are supposed to be like the JBL's, those put out a mean load. Maybe you should consider using a low wattage Jensen p15r or something of that sort.
     
    thesedaze, Jul 9, 2005
    thesedaze, Jul 9, 2005
    #11
  12. Jul 9, 2005 #12
    drbob1

    drbob1 Silver Supporting Member

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    I've got the Superbaby and it's a definite keeper. At that price, you can spend fair coin on cool tubes and have a whole aresenal of sounds for less than $1k! I've got a number of speaker cabs, and an alnico Jensen 15" is a great sounding speaker-although mines a lower wattage version (P15S) so it doesn't like to be too distorted.
     
    drbob1, Jul 9, 2005
    drbob1, Jul 9, 2005
    #12
  13. Jul 10, 2005 #13
    mosbergvik

    mosbergvik Member

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    Why 15?
    I like the character of the 15's, the airiness, the growl, 3D and the warm fat response. It doesn't have quite the punch on the lowest bass frequencies compared to 4x10, the total speaker-area beeing less in a 1x15. But you can compensate with the cabinet design and amount of closed back. I've compared it to VibroKings and Super Reverbs with Jensen P10R, and my Weber California Alnico with paper dust cone doesn't have the same screaming highs that the 4x10 does. This is perfect for me since my '64 Fender Vibroverb Custom and strat are bright enough. But other speakers, like the JBL D15 F and my Weber but with aluminium dust cone, have more highs.

    The Weber California is a high power rating speaker, but it is also a very efficient speaker. A 10w tube amp will push it more than many will think, but the 10w amp will break up at a lower volume, wich is what I'm after right now. I want sweat spot at low volumes.

    Very nice amps listed in the posts above, but most of them are +1000$, many over 2000$.

    Seems like it's only the Fargen Bastage and Emery Superbaby(both heads) that can compete at 600-700 USD, still being quality stuff and with cathode-design power stage so that you can swap in and out any power tubes you like. That is nice. But none of them with reverb.

    Pal.
     
    mosbergvik, Jul 10, 2005
    mosbergvik, Jul 10, 2005
    #13
  14. Jul 10, 2005 #14
    thesedaze

    thesedaze Member

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    I just checked, the Weber version is only 60W compared to the 2-300W of a JBL 15".
     
    thesedaze, Jul 10, 2005
    thesedaze, Jul 10, 2005
    #14
  15. Jul 11, 2005 #15
    IPlayHamers

    IPlayHamers Member

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    Fuchs Lucky 7 would be perfect for Marshall/Express tones at low wattage. I got one coming soon. :)
     
    IPlayHamers, Jul 11, 2005
    IPlayHamers, Jul 11, 2005
    #15
  16. Jul 13, 2005 #16
    fr8_trane

    fr8_trane Supporting Member

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    Might not be "boutique" but the reverend kingsnake head is all tube 60/20 watts switchable (works really well for breakup at lower volumes. Just switch it on the fly to see this in action) w/ reverb and has 3 switchable preamp voicings that all sound great (pseudo BF, brit, tweed). I found the combo to be bass shy but with the head through a 1x15 I don't think low end should be lacking. $700 and you can gig just about anywhere with out Ripping any heads off;)
     
    fr8_trane, Jul 13, 2005
    fr8_trane, Jul 13, 2005
    #16
  17. Jul 13, 2005 #17
    r9player

    r9player Silver Supporting Member

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    Well I've been trying to sell my Auble in the Emporium (either with or without the matching Mad sound cab)
    2 Watter - Sound is very good repro of the sound the guitar produces.
    Has some headroom not great headroom, sounds huge with the 1x10 detuned cab, I imagine it'll sound huge through a 1x15.
     
    r9player, Jul 13, 2005
    r9player, Jul 13, 2005
    #17
  18. Jul 13, 2005 #18
    smilefan

    smilefan Member

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    Invest in an Uncle Spot outboard reverb. Sounds exactly,
    precisely like onboard reverb, The only outboard unit I've
    ever heard do this. Never have to sweat finding an reverb-
    equipped amp again. Mine is a permanent keeper.
     
    smilefan, Jul 13, 2005
    smilefan, Jul 13, 2005
    #18
  19. Jul 13, 2005 #19
    barron

    barron Member

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    How about the univalve? No reverb though.
     
    barron, Jul 13, 2005
    barron, Jul 13, 2005
    #19
  20. Jul 14, 2005 #20
    barron

    barron Member

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    Or you could go this route.











    [​IMG]
     
    barron, Jul 14, 2005
    barron, Jul 14, 2005
    #20
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