Going To Buy a 5 Watt Tube Amp This Weekend

[markw51]

I see that the Peavey ValveKing Royal 8 has a gain control which the Champ 600 and the Value Jr. do not have yet it costs the same as a Champ 600.

Any reason I should not buy the Peavey?

I tried a Palomino V8 once and it was horrible so I am suspicious of these small tube amps. Most of them are available in my area by mail order only so I can't try them out.

Advice please.

[marshman]

Well, isn't there a GC right down 95/695? I know the exit was rt 41, if memory serves, but I haven't been there in ages, myself. If that fails, go past Baltimore to Catonsville--there's a big music store there in the middle of town that probably has one of each. Bills' music, I think it's called.

As for the amps, I prefer the simpler ones--the fewer component count seems essential to the vibe. I can't quite sink my teeth into a 6" speaker, though I do like the 6V6 tube, so I'm still debating the Champion 600 (or the new mini-Gretsch, which is said to be the identical amp in a different cab). I have a valve junior combo, one of the real early ones, that sounds pretty good after I tweaked it, but most of those issues have been sorted by now and the new ones are nearly 'right' right out of the box. Again, the little speaker is a bit of a let-down, but for in-home jamming, it's pretty good. If you're gonna try to play it with a drummer, the Epi VJr head/cab is probably the best bet, followed by the Blackheart series.

Though, if you read this forum regularly, you'll find a lot of bias towards the little Gibby GA-5.

[mistermullens]

Personally, I wasn't crazy about the Peavey, but to each his own. Tried this one? Looks pretty sweet.

Crate V5

[Tdot]

I tried one of the 5w Peaveys and didn't like it much, sort of generic and flat like it was missing the tube-soul.

The Epi VJ and Champion 600 sound/feel very different, I like (bought) both. And I bought the Peavey Mini Colossal with is really nice 5w/8", but not not in the cheap category.

When I tried the GA-5 a couple years ago I didn't care for it, but the $800 price tag at that time may have had influence on that opinion. I'd try one for $300 if they show up again.

[Sollophonic]

The Valve Junior is a great amp when modded. I have a version 2 combo which I changed valves, input stage, and Output Transformer on, which is the same mods that Epiphone have done with the version 3. I love mine, I am gigging with it tonight, and it is easily loud enough. You can gig with a drummer too, though the way I have modded it, it doesnt run crystal clean above about 11 o clock on the volume. Actually I have never run this amp on full volume, its just too loud!

I tried a Peavey Valve King Royal 8, and didnt like the gain on it, a bit fizzy. The Champion 600 Ive never tried.

I love my Valve Jnr

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by Sollophonic

The Valve Junior is a great amp when modded. I have a version 2 combo which I changed valves, input stage, and Output Transformer on, which is the same mods that Epiphone have done with the version 3. I love mine, I am gigging with it tonight, and it is easily loud enough. You can gig with a drummer too, though the way I have modded it, it doesnt run crystal clean above about 11 o clock on the volume. Actually I have never run this amp on full volume, its just too loud!

I tried a Peavey Valve King Royal 8, and didnt like the gain on it, a bit fizzy. The Champion 600 Ive never tried.

I love my Valve Jnr

Totally OT, but what is the story on that reso in your avatar? Please fill us in...

[Scott S]

I think buying a 5-watt amp (kit) this weekend (and putting it together in a week) is a great idea!

- Scott

[markw51]

Originally Posted by Scott S

I think buying a 5-watt amp (kit) this weekend (and putting it together in a week) is a great idea!

- Scott

What are you lookin at?

[Scott S]

I'm thinking a 5F2A kit would be cool.

- Scott

[benjsaynomore]

Gibson Goldtone GA-5

I have heard good things...never played one though...

[FirstBassman]

Originally Posted by marshman

Well, isn't there a GC right down 95/695?

Yes, there is a GC on Twinbrook Parkway.


But I can tell you that, over in Virginia, the only small tube amps that GC had when I was looking about two years ago was the Pro and Blues Jr and maybe one Palamino.
They did have any Epi's at all. They said they would get a couple in for me to look at but ever since the previous manager left the service has gone way down (IMO) and they never arrived.

[markw51]

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

Yes, there is a GC on Twinbrook Parkway.


But I can tell you that, over in Virginia, the only small tube amps that GC had when I was looking about two years ago was the Pro and Blues Jr and maybe one Palamino.
They did have any Epi's at all. They said they would get a couple in for me to look at but ever since the previous manager left the service has gone way down (IMO) and they never arrived.

All they ever have is the Champ 600.

[NortyFiner]

I put up a poll on this subject a little while back, voting between the Epi Valve Jr. and the Champ 600, and the Epi Valve Jr. won pretty decisively.

The Peavey Valve King, I have heard both ways about. Apparently it's one of those things you either love or hate. But isn't it like that with most things in the guitar world?

[Brent Hutto]

Are you more interested in clean or overdriven tones?

Are you planning on swapping out speaker and changing/adding any components like capacitor or resistors?

I think as an unmodified (though perhaps with one or more tubes swapped) appliance for clean to slightly distorted tones the Champ 600 is hard to beat. But I think anything with a bigger box and speaker is preferable if you want heavier distortion and/or loud volumes.

Conversely, I think the Valve Junior is an easy route to the cranked tones that a lot of people dig. But I think for straight clean to edgy stuff it sounds like it needs to be turned up and allowed to distort.

Those are the only two mentioned that I've actually tried out. I think the Blackheart combo would be worth a look but you're unlikely to find one to listen to. I've heard some Peavey stuff that sounds real good but have never seen the amp you mention.

[Hoodster]

There are several YouTube videos comparing the Valve Junior and Blackheart Little Giant. The ones I've seen the Epi sounds way better -- the Blackheart sounds really dark and muffled in comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roIqs...eature=related

[electricbody]

What about those Blackheart amps?

[markw51]

Originally Posted by electricbody

What about those Blackheart amps?

Weighs almost 40 lbs! Want a little bitty amp that's light.

[pchilson]

For a 5 watt you should look at the Fender Vibro Champ XD. You haven't mentioned what price range but the VCXD is only $50 more than the Peavey. The Champion 600 is nice and cool and all but is limited. The Valve Junior is LOUD so if you need bedroom levels it doesn't really fit.

[klast]

Originally Posted by markw51

I see that the Peavey ValveKing Royal 8 has a gain control which the Champ 600 and the Value Jr. do not have yet it costs the same as a Champ 600.

I tried all three and ended up with the VJ.
The Royal 8 was best feature wise, with gain/master, headphone out and tone control. However, it sounded rubbery (speaker?) and the distorsion was fizzy.
The Champion 600 sounded much better than the Royal 8, but still a bit thin and anemic as compared with the VJ.

IMO, the VJ sounded best, with a clean sound that is a little rough around the edges, which suits me. However, it's too loud to get breakup at "home volume".
To complement the VJ I also bought a Valve Special, which provides a relatively nice bluesy crunch at low volume. The clean sound of the VS is not very good and it is very dark sounding.

Klas

[Rob DiStefano]

What are ya gonna do with that 5w amp? Use that to guide yer choice, and realize that 5w amps will be LOTS louder than ya think if you wanna hear that sweet, cranked Class A tone.

Personally, I've become an amp snob and I won't look at anything less than hand built. There are just too many benefits of hand wiring over PCB, at least for me. Second up are looking for quality components.

The best new tube amp deal of the millennium was the Gibson GA5 - beyond that, I'd scout out a Champ or build yer own 5F1. Or better yet, for a 5F1 that'll last forever, get a Li'l Dawg Champster Special. However, there are still some great deals on old Fenders to be had if yer patient and look around daily.

If a 5w tube amp will be too loud for living room playing, which it WILL, time to think lots smaller, like a Firefly.

[NortyFiner]

The problem with many of these little 5W tube amps, including both the EVJ and the Champ 600, is that they don't have one of the most basic things that MY little home amp would need: a headphone out. My wife works at home (she is a travel agent) so that is a more important feature for me than it might be for others...

[6942]

I have the 5 watt EV Jr. head amp.
Changed out the stock Chinese 12ax7 tube....to a 30% less gain NOS Sylvania 5751 tube....sounds "cleaner" IMO.
Changed out the stock Russian EL84 tube....for a lush sounding NOS GE EL-84.
Mate this amp with a good quality 12" speaker (Weber, Celestion, Eminence, or my fave....50s/60s vintage alnicos....and you're good to go.

Steve

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by NortyFiner

The problem with many of these little 5W tube amps, including both the EVJ and the Champ 600, is that they don't have one of the most basic things that MY little home amp would need: a headphone out. My wife works at home (she is a travel agent) so that is a more important feature for me than it might be for others...

Easy enuf to add a line/headphone out.

[FirstBassman]

Originally Posted by markw51

All they ever have is the Champ 600.

Yeah MarkW, that seems par for the course for GC.

They don't seem very big on tube amps.
I did forget, though, the 7Corners store did have that Vox thing ... AC15 or something.
But it weighs a ton.

- MarkH

[electricbody]

Originally Posted by markw51

Weighs almost 40 lbs! Want a little bitty amp that's light.

Find yourself a SF Champ. It'll be a bit too loud for apartment use, but if your neighbors are like mine, they do stuff you could complain about but don't.