Lunchbox amps?

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Zoltar
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Lunchbox amps?

Post by Zoltar » Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:15 am

Anybody have experiences with low wattage class A tube amps? Comparisons would be nice.

Traynor Dark Horse
Vox Night Train
Mesa Boogie trans atlantic
etc

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Post by vapour trail » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:58 am

I've heard the Vox quite a lot, guitarist from a band I mix had one for a while. I liked the sound, not really ac30-y but a touch fender-y. more shimmery then f.i. a tiny terror. He was playing a guitar with not too hot humbuckers on it.

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Post by jgimbel » Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:46 pm

My personal favorite kind of amps. I don't own many, but I've played a bunch. The Night train is pretty nice, definitely a kind of unique sound, not totally Vox, not totally Fender. Not my favorite, but definitely usable. I haven't used the Traynor or Mesa Boogie, now I'm going to be looking into them, thanks! The Orange Tiny Terror is nice. a lot of people like them for high gain stuff, but I really like them with single coil Fenders (similar to the sound of the Marshall Haze amps, a really nice thick but detailed cleaner sound). I've tried those Vox AC4TV amps that are pretty cheap, but I couldn't get any sound I liked out of them. Very cheap solid state sounding, despite being tube. Some people love them. The Epi Valve Junior is great with the right guitar into a nice cab. My personal favorite lunchbox amp I lust over is the Egnater Rebel 20. Tube mix knob, bright switch, amazing amp. Not so much for high gain stuff, but that's not what I do much myself. My dream is to have a practical rack of a bunch of lunchbox amps, haha.
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metanoiastudios
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Post by metanoiastudios » Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:57 pm

jgimbel wrote:My personal favorite lunchbox amp I lust over is the Egnater Rebel 20. Tube mix knob, bright switch, amazing amp. Not so much for high gain stuff, but that's not what I do much myself.
+1. I have one of these, and it's an EXTREMELY versatile amp. Even if you wanted to do heavy rock and metal, it'll get you there without problem. It's hard to find a good hi-gain amp that actually gives you a great clean sound.
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Post by Nick Sevilla » Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:55 pm

Crate VS15 something or other. Only 15 Watts, but really nice Watts.

Not made anymore...

I will not part with mine, no sir...

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Zoltar
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Post by Zoltar » Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:45 pm

metanoiastudios wrote:
jgimbel wrote:My personal favorite lunchbox amp I lust over is the Egnater Rebel 20. Tube mix knob, bright switch, amazing amp. Not so much for high gain stuff, but that's not what I do much myself.
+1. I have one of these, and it's an EXTREMELY versatile amp. Even if you wanted to do heavy rock and metal, it'll get you there without problem. It's hard to find a good hi-gain amp that actually gives you a great clean sound.
I have a mini dream of a 2x12 with 2 small heads on it. I was originally thinking the traynor dark horse and ? but I like the looks of the Egnater Tweaker. I am also interested in the jet city picovalve. I don't expect anybody to have time with those amps.

I wasn't super thrilled with the Matamp minimat, it had a nice sound with lots of character, but i didn't feel it had much latitude or variation.

I might rethink the traynor. I would love to support 'hand made in Canada'

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Post by SpicerAck » Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:05 pm

one of my favourite amps is my little Harmony 303A. i think it cranks out about 3 watts through a Jensen alnico 8 inch. it is VERY warm sounding, to the point that i usually only run strat bridge pickup on it to keep it from getting muddy, but has a great almost Champ like sound.

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Post by jgimbel » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:33 pm

Yeah if we're going to get into vintage combo amps, I love my 1960's Ampeg Reverberocket II. I believe it's about 18W, most incredible amp reverb I've ever heard, beautiful thick clean sound, and only lightly but smoothly overdrives when cranked. One I'll never let go.
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Post by darjama » Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:25 am

I saw a friend's band last night, he was playing one of the AC15 heritage combos. It killed, even with an acoustic with a magnetic pickup the overdriven tone was superb.

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-3db
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Post by -3db » Tue Sep 28, 2010 3:53 pm

I have a Tiny Terror and it's kind of dark. Definitely not harsh. 7w and 15w settings are not too much different. But it sounds great through a 4x12.

I also have a brand new ZT Lunchbox I've yet to try, but supposedly is 200w and gig ready.
Um excuse me, these headphones aren't working...

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Marc Alan Goodman
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Post by Marc Alan Goodman » Tue Sep 28, 2010 4:59 pm

Little harmony's and magnatone's are always a hit.

Fender Pro Junior usually takes the cake. If you're looking for just a head you can buy a head cabinet for it.

And I've heard magnificent things about the bad cat cub but have yet to try it myself.

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jgimbel
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Post by jgimbel » Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:08 am

Marc Alan Goodman wrote:Fender Pro Junior usually takes the cake. If you're looking for just a head you can buy a head cabinet for it.
TO user ipressrecord uses his Pro Junior all the time through his iso cab with clients, and every time I hear his guitar sounds I ask him how he got them. I've got him playing guitar for my live band now in a hostage situation and when we practice I use his Pro Junior with my Jaguar, and now I really want one of those. I like it SO much better than the Blues Junior I had and sold.
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-3db
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Post by -3db » Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:38 pm

The Pro Jr is great. I never considered it a lunchbox though. Here's mine
Image
Um excuse me, these headphones aren't working...

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Post by Knights Who Say Neve » Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:59 pm

The VHT special 6 is pretty nice, like a Champ that's been to the gym.
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Post by douglas baldwin » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:30 am

Check out the newest Guitar Player magazine - Dec 2010, Dweezil Zappa on the cover. They review five little low-watt amps:

Dr. Z Monza
Egnater Tweaker
Mesa/Boogie Transatlantic (Editors' Pick)
Victoria Ivy League (Editors' Pick)
65 Amps Tupelo

As to what constitutes a true Class A circuit vs. simply EL84 tone, I'll let others duke it out while I watch from the corner...

BTW, I play a Mesa/Boogie Lonestar Special with the 5w/15w/30w switchable power and I can just sop that tone up with big ol' piece of crusty bread all night long.
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