looking for a small, clean amp

[dijos]

I have a "real" amp that I love, but my wife does not love a 2x12 amp in the living room. Can someone suggest a little 2w, 5w amp that has reverb and plays clean, and is not ugly, AND is affordable. I've seen a few examples, but I wanted to know if there was anything that you really like. anything wood (like a console-looking cabinet) or retro-y is a plus.

[Wally]

Well, now you ask! heheh I just sold a little 2X6 Tiesco 'tiny twin' last week. Two 6AQ5 power tubes..maybe 8 watts.
Reverb and trem....didn't want to distort and low volume with good tone.
New? That small with reverb is a stretch. Maybe someone can clue you to something.

[JohnnyCrash]

The smallest tube amps with Reverb are not going to be 5 watts.

Peavey's Windsor Studio is 20w 1x12" and has Reverb. It looks sorta nice too, if matching the furniture is an issue.

Crate's V18-112 is 18 watts with Reverb.

These are in the $320 - $400 range. A used Peavey Classic 30 is small, has reverb, and I love them.

The next smallest bet would be to get a 5 watt combo and just always keep a Holy Grail Reverb pedal in the back of the cab.

[Wally]

ACtually, the lowest wattage amp with reverb (and trem) that I have seen was a single-ended 5 watt amp...one 6V6. The amp itself was not small physically. It was a Kustom Kraft Md. 808, IIRC, with one 12" speaker.

[robt57]

How about an attenuator for your REAL amp??

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by Wally

ACtually, the lowest wattage amp with reverb (and trem) that I have seen was a single-ended 5 watt amp...one 6V6. The amp itself was not small physically. It was a Kustom Kraft Md. 808, IIRC, with one 12" speaker.

Do they still make/sell them?

I thought an amp currently available was being looked for. In that case, perhaps used/eBay will be the best bet for smaller, older amps.

Come to think of it, it sounds like the wife wants something tiny and inconspicuous. If this is the case, maybe a POD and headphones is the best solution... I know it's not tube, but it sounds pretty decent and the wife will be happy :)

[markw51]

Have you checked out the Fender Vibro Champ XD? 5 watts, pretty small, has verb and other effects.


http://www.samash.com/catalog/showit...ffiliateID=330

[Wally]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

Do they still make/sell them?

I thought an amp currently available was being looked for. In that case, perhaps used/eBay will be the best bet for smaller, older amps.

Come to think of it, it sounds like the wife wants something tiny and inconspicuous. If this is the case, maybe a POD and headphones is the best solution... I know it's not tube, but it sounds pretty decent and the wife will be happy :)

No, the KKraft is an old vintage thing...and big. I had the feeeling that dijos is looking for something small and inconspicuos, also.
How about a THD Univalve with a Zoom,Pod or other small multieffects thing and some bookshelf sized 6" speaker....or two?

[Tele Fan]

I'd give a Blues Jr. a try. I can crank it to 12 on the regular volume and leave the master volume at 2 and my girl can't hear it over the TV in the next room. It does have the BillM mods but I'm not sure how much difference that makes in volume.

[Axis29]

+1 on the Vibro Champ XD. I want one of these something fierce, though I'm contemplating the Super Champ XD just as much... Or should I say waffling about the two?

Another suggestion might be an epiphone Valve Jr. or a Fender Champion 600 They seem to get good ratings from guys around here.


If you wanted something a little more serious, you could look at a silver face Champ or Vibro Champ.

Wood? Hmmm, I'm trying to think. I know they did some wood cabineted amps when Rivera came on board, but I bet they're probably a bit pricey.

How about a kit? There's another option, you could make your own cabinet? OR have one made in whatever wood you wanted.

Do they still make Pignoses? Although I guess they aren't really clean are they?

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by markw51

Have you checked out the Fender Vibro Champ XD? 5 watts, pretty small, has verb and other effects.


http://www.samash.com/catalog/showit...ffiliateID=330

Great recommendation. I think Mark has solved the problem!

A 1x8" will be very small for hiding behind the couch, it has a ton of built-in effects, and it is tube. The Solid State overdrive sounds scary, but I guess you can just not use it and turn the amp up :)

[Wally]

Well, that Fender sounds good for dijos purposes. In a more esoteric vein....
http://emerysound.com/Prelude.html Check o ut the micro, super....
SEt it in a bookshelf, hide a speaker, palm sized sansamp,zoom etc for effects. GP did a review several years ago of this amp, the THD univalve and about five other super small amps.

[stantheman]

My colleague Scott has a full Vox Super Beatle and that's his "bedroom amp".
His "living room amp" is a 2nd generation Tweed Blues Deluxe.
My own "living room amp" is a Rivera Era 410 Concert.
On Sundays though I pull out the '56 Tweed Champ.
Champs are real nice and they're compact with a punch.

[e-merlin]

"Sorry honey, I can't hear you!" At least that's what I plan on saying when the wife tires of the 5150 in MY living room.

[klast]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

The smallest tube amps with Reverb are not going to be 5 watts.

The 5 watt Laney L5T-112 has reverb. However, it's not small since it houses a 12" speaker.

Klas

[<jbc>]

Groove Tubes Soul-O Single. Get-em while you still can!

[Hoodster]

VCXD.

[KC]

small, friendly-looking amps: my GF doesn't mind the looks of the Gibson GA-5, which would work perfectly with a Holy Grail. Ditto (but bigger) for the GA-15, or the GA-15RV if you can find one (built-in verb, 12" speaker, half-power switch). Still small enough to be pretty inconspicuous. Great-sounding amps, too.

[Southern Ill]

Valvetrain 205 w/HolyGrail reverb.I got mine for around $550 shipped.It had Red/Blue tolex which I really didn't care for but now I love it.