Small Tube Amp

TeleFrank · February 9th, 2005, 08:23 PM

I'm looking at a couple of options for a small practice tube amp. I play an AM Deluxe Tele and I've been looking at a Dr Z Mini Z, a Mini Bad Cat , or a Blues Jr. The Mini Z and the Mini Bad Cat are $300 more than the Blues Jr.
Will I notice that much of a difference in sound if I go with the Mini's? I don't play professionaly so the amp will stay in my house. I hope this isn't a stupid question !!

1612112 · February 9th, 2005, 08:41 PM

I had a Blues jr and absolutely loved it. I also gigged it a few times in smaller clubs, both by it self and through a 4 x 10 cab. It sounded good. The other amps you mentioned are better amps in my opinion, they get better tone... although that depends on what you're into. They are also hand wired and likely to last longer. There are many who would disagree with that and will flame that remark, but the way I look at it is that I've been playing professionally in clubs for many many years and my experience tells me this. But for a living room amp the Blues jr would be great.

On the other hand, if you're into nice things just because they're nice spend the extra cash, you'll love either of those amps and may be even look at the little Top Hat amps which are real gems.

On yet another hand I think you may find the Fender more versatile.

pjb

scotabilly · February 9th, 2005, 09:04 PM

I've played my Blues Junior at home and on several gigs, and would highly recommend it. On the other hand, I haven't played the other two amps and don't know much more than they are extremely well made and have an excellent reputation. Since you mainly play at home, I think it's strictly a question of your tastes, and how you'd like to use your money. Bottom line, I think the Blues Junior is a great "everyman" lower power amp, the 21st Century Princeton.

popthree · February 10th, 2005, 12:13 AM

what about an old Champ? they sound great. And you can still pickup the sf models for fairly reasonable prices on ebay.

guitar_ed · February 10th, 2005, 12:55 AM

The new Gibson Les Paul amp, 5 watts, all tube.

I have a Blues Jr, and I like the critter. It is flexible and sounds good.

Guitar Ed

Rob DiStefano · February 10th, 2005, 06:41 AM

Any Champ, any MMB - tried, true and totally proven ... both are PTP wired and will cost around $200-$250, plus a new speaker (a must!), maybe a health check, maybe some new tubes. IMO, those old small Fenders hold great value (not to mention Lusty Tone), way better than any of the PCB stuff sold today for 2 to 4 times as many pesos. BTW, it might've been a fluke, but one of absolute worst sounding amps I've ever pointed ears at was a Bad Cat Mini Cat - just a tin-roof-nasal-squawking sound - maybe it was the speaker, I dunno. I'll stick with Champs and MMBs. YMMV.

jb1911 · February 10th, 2005, 08:27 AM

What is an MMB?

weelie · February 10th, 2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb1911

What is an MMB?

http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/musicmaster_bass.html

bluescube · February 10th, 2005, 08:55 AM

Carvin Vintage 16?

Daddy Elmis · February 10th, 2005, 09:06 AM

check out the Reverend Goblin -- I bought one about a month ago or so. A 5/15 watt amp (switchable), single channel but three "voices" via its "Schizo" switch. Really, really good sounding amp -- very versatile. Check the Reverend thread on this forum and a couple over at the MusicPlayer guitar forum (they've got some sound clips over there).

jdfoosh357 · February 10th, 2005, 03:33 PM

I got a Vibrochamp for under $275 with new tubes & caps. It sounds greaaaaaat and I am very satisfied. However, when I at the shop I tried two other Champs w/ mods (I think tweed mods--for earlier breakup) and I didn't like them much. The origional suits me just fine. Go crank one up for yourself.

Matt Plescher · February 10th, 2005, 04:59 PM

Another vote for the Goblin, but you can't go wrong with a Champ or MMB either.

Cheers
Matt

popthree · February 10th, 2005, 05:18 PM

there have been some MBB's going down on ebay recently for very reasonable prices. there are a coupe going now, as a matter of fact.

Twang · February 10th, 2005, 07:51 PM

I have to agree with Rob D and the MMB.

I love mine which I got on fleabay for $182.50. There were 5 for sale at the time I got mine and they sold for between $170-$210.

With a new speaker it's a great sounding amp.

I couldn't be happier. :D

OaklandA · February 11th, 2005, 05:16 PM

If it's never leaving the house...Songworks 3350LT. Everything from cleans to heavy gain....the 6 1'2" speaker sound spretty good but it has a speaker out if you want more.

mike_levitt · February 12th, 2005, 12:09 AM

I've got a badcat mini, and a tweed champ, and a tweed princeton.

I've never played the Z...

For the money you'd spend on the badcat, you can get a really nice champ - like an all original straight up tweed one (or at least you're in the ballpark).

If I could only keep one, I would keep the princeton, as it's just like the champ, just bigger! They're all great amps, but the badcat is much more voxy sounding (which is why I got it - I wanted an AC30 kind of sound at low volume).

But seriously, if I were you, I would look for a champ or a vibro champ - even at today's prices they are still a bargain. Instant great tone. And the silver ones are just as good as the black.

It's instant great tone! Plug in and you're there.

Mike

February 9th, 2005, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
TeleFrank NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1	Small Tube Amp I'm looking at a couple of options for a small practice tube amp. I play an AM Deluxe Tele and I've been looking at a Dr Z Mini Z, a Mini Bad Cat , or a Blues Jr. The Mini Z and the Mini Bad Cat are $300 more than the Blues Jr. Will I notice that much of a difference in sound if I go with the Mini's? I don't play professionaly so the amp will stay in my house. I hope this isn't a stupid question !! __________________ TeleFrank Pleasanton, Ca

February 9th, 2005, 08:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
1612112 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 229	Whhich would you rather? I had a Blues jr and absolutely loved it. I also gigged it a few times in smaller clubs, both by it self and through a 4 x 10 cab. It sounded good. The other amps you mentioned are better amps in my opinion, they get better tone... although that depends on what you're into. They are also hand wired and likely to last longer. There are many who would disagree with that and will flame that remark, but the way I look at it is that I've been playing professionally in clubs for many many years and my experience tells me this. But for a living room amp the Blues jr would be great. On the other hand, if you're into nice things just because they're nice spend the extra cash, you'll love either of those amps and may be even look at the little Top Hat amps which are real gems. On yet another hand I think you may find the Fender more versatile. pjb

February 9th, 2005, 09:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
scotabilly TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NJ USA Posts: 78	I've played my Blues Junior at home and on several gigs, and would highly recommend it. On the other hand, I haven't played the other two amps and don't know much more than they are extremely well made and have an excellent reputation. Since you mainly play at home, I think it's strictly a question of your tastes, and how you'd like to use your money. Bottom line, I think the Blues Junior is a great "everyman" lower power amp, the 21st Century Princeton. __________________ Scott Murphy King Kerosene, NJ Rockabilly

February 10th, 2005, 12:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
popthree Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Age: 43 Posts: 2,949 49 Photos	Re: Small Tube Amp what about an old Champ? they sound great. And you can still pickup the sf models for fairly reasonable prices on ebay. __________________ "chips are falling....." -Dr. Johnny Fever

February 10th, 2005, 12:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
guitar_ed Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bankrupt State of California Age: 47 Posts: 711 16 Photos	Dare I say it.... The new Gibson Les Paul amp, 5 watts, all tube. I have a Blues Jr, and I like the critter. It is flexible and sounds good. Guitar Ed __________________ Piss off a politician, register to vote. When you complain about the government, remember that you ARE the government. Voting is the ultimate act of civil dis-obediance. AIM - guitar_edg Skype - guitar_edg (had to change on 5/16/06)

February 10th, 2005, 06:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 4,915	Old Fenders are still yer best of friends ... Any Champ, any MMB - tried, true and totally proven ... both are PTP wired and will cost around $200-$250, plus a new speaker (a must!), maybe a health check, maybe some new tubes. IMO, those old small Fenders hold great value (not to mention Lusty Tone), way better than any of the PCB stuff sold today for 2 to 4 times as many pesos. BTW, it might've been a fluke, but one of absolute worst sounding amps I've ever pointed ears at was a Bad Cat Mini Cat - just a tin-roof-nasal-squawking sound - maybe it was the speaker, I dunno. I'll stick with Champs and MMBs. YMMV.

February 10th, 2005, 08:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
jb1911 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago area Posts: 92	What is an MMB?

February 10th, 2005, 08:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
bluescube Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 41 Posts: 1,071 6 Photos	Carvin Vintage 16?

February 10th, 2005, 09:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
Daddy Elmis Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: USA Posts: 961	check out the Reverend Goblin -- I bought one about a month ago or so. A 5/15 watt amp (switchable), single channel but three "voices" via its "Schizo" switch. Really, really good sounding amp -- very versatile. Check the Reverend thread on this forum and a couple over at the MusicPlayer guitar forum (they've got some sound clips over there).

February 10th, 2005, 03:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	Champ I got a Vibrochamp for under $275 with new tubes & caps. It sounds greaaaaaat and I am very satisfied. However, when I at the shop I tried two other Champs w/ mods (I think tweed mods--for earlier breakup) and I didn't like them much. The origional suits me just fine. Go crank one up for yourself.

February 10th, 2005, 04:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
Matt Plescher Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Michigan Posts: 837	Another vote for the Goblin, but you can't go wrong with a Champ or MMB either. Cheers Matt __________________ She's not your satellite She doesn't miss you So turn off your smoke machine And Marshall stack

February 10th, 2005, 05:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
popthree Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Age: 43 Posts: 2,949 49 Photos	there have been some MBB's going down on ebay recently for very reasonable prices. there are a coupe going now, as a matter of fact. __________________ "chips are falling....." -Dr. Johnny Fever

February 10th, 2005, 07:51 PM	#14 (permalink)
Twang Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Age: 44 Posts: 684	I have to agree with Rob D and the MMB. I love mine which I got on fleabay for $182.50. There were 5 for sale at the time I got mine and they sold for between $170-$210. With a new speaker it's a great sounding amp. I couldn't be happier. :D

February 11th, 2005, 05:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
OaklandA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,629 28 Photos	If it's never leaving the house...Songworks 3350LT. Everything from cleans to heavy gain....the 6 1'2" speaker sound spretty good but it has a speaker out if you want more.

February 12th, 2005, 12:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
mike_levitt Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 316	I've got a few... I've got a badcat mini, and a tweed champ, and a tweed princeton. I've never played the Z... For the money you'd spend on the badcat, you can get a really nice champ - like an all original straight up tweed one (or at least you're in the ballpark). If I could only keep one, I would keep the princeton, as it's just like the champ, just bigger! They're all great amps, but the badcat is much more voxy sounding (which is why I got it - I wanted an AC30 kind of sound at low volume). But seriously, if I were you, I would look for a champ or a vibro champ - even at today's prices they are still a bargain. Instant great tone. And the silver ones are just as good as the black. It's instant great tone! Plug in and you're there. Mike