Which amp and why?

[Sportrider24]

I'm looking to order a new small tube amp in the next couple of days for home use. I've found several within my budget but no one has any in stock locally so I'm hoping that some of you can give me some guidance.

My guitars are a Gibson Reissue Melody Maker with 1 single coil and an '08 highway one Tele. I like to play the blues. anything from Bonnomassa to BB, classic rock, love nice cleans also. Not big into metal. So, below is what I've narrowed my search down to with what I think I would be the best option to the worst. What do you think?


Ibanez TSA5 tube screamer combo - Not a lot of videos regarding this amp but by specs it seems like it has most everything I'm after. Just wish it had reverb.

Fender Super Champ X2 - I love the idea that it has so many models and effects. I'd imagine the cleans on the first channel are second to none in its price range. This one definately has everything I'd ever need but somehow I think the Ibanez would sound better.

Blackstar HT1R - This amp also has everything I require and 1 watt is probably all I'd need for home use but I can't help but think that the Fender and the Ibanez would sound better.

Any advise?

[ast370]

I love the sound of my TS amp, I have the head and speaker set up so I don't know about the combo per say but IMO it sounds bluesy but doesn't reach metal gain levels at least by itself.

[maryjane]

the champ xd has great voices, and if you play outside you can line out or mic to the p.a.

the twin and tweed voices sound very authentic to me, with fender guitars.

[musicmatty]

The new Fender 'Excelsior' 13watt amp with it's 15' speaker and Tremolo effect.. tube amp..very cool amp and certainly worth a ganter for home use and very easy portability with it's size and weight...$300. in stores


Also..It's worth comparing the 13watt Excelsior to it's kin, the 15watt Blues Jr. and the 15watt Princeton Reissue..

Specs: Excelsior $300.
Controls Volume, Tremolo, Bright/Dark Switch
Tubes 13 Watts of output power, Two 6V6 output tubes, Two 12AX7 preamp tubes
Speaker 15" Special Design, 8 ohm
Weight 33 lbs
Dimensions 21" (53.34 cm) H x 19.5" (49.5 cm) W x 9" (22.9 cm) D
Also 1/4’’ speaker plug may be disconnected to use Excelsior with an 8-ohm, 15W minimum, external speaker enclosure
Inputs/Outputs Guitar, Mic, Accordion each with individually optimized circuitry


Fender Blues Junior Amp Features: $500.

Type: All tube (El84's)
Output: 15 watts into 8 ohms
Speakers: 1-12" Fender Special Design 8 ohm, 50 watt speaker
Channels: 1 Channel
"Fat" switch with footswitchable on/off
Reverb
Chrome panel
Vintage chicken-head knobs


Princeton Reissue:$850.

Amp Type: Vintage Reissue Series Tube Amp Output: 15 watts into 8 ohms
Tubes: 3 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AT7, 2 x Groove Tubes 6V6, 1 x 5AR4 rectifier tube
Speaker: 1-10" Jensen Special Design C-10R
Channel: 1 channel (2 inputs)
Controls: Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Speed, Intensity
Effects: Reverb, Vibrato
Covering: Black textured vinyl

Excelsior Demo Video

[Loganloveguitar]

I have heard nothing but good things about the super champ, I would say go for it

[Sportrider24]

Thanks for the input and the info in that Excelsior. It looks like a Fender has come out with another great amp at a modest price! I went back and forth all day between the 3 amps I've been considering and in the end I chose the little Ibanez TSA5. I'd almost went for the Super Champ but my gut told me to go with the Ibby. If it sounds anything close to TSA15 big brother, I'm sure I'll be happy with it. I'll give a review after it delivers next week

[Davo17]

Marshall class 5. A plexi-ish sound that sounds great with teles, and apparently Gibsons too. Great interesting cleans too.

Another great little low volume amp is the fender champ 600. Twangs and rocks, and gets bluesy.

And the Bugera Vintage 5, with an intermediate amount of gain, great reverb, and an attenuator built in.

Originally Posted by Sportrider24

I'm looking to order a new small tube amp in the next couple of days for home use. I've found several within my budget but no one has any in stock locally so I'm hoping that some of you can give me some guidance.

My guitars are a Gibson Reissue Melody Maker with 1 single coil and an '08 highway one Tele. I like to play the blues. anything from Bonnomassa to BB, classic rock, love nice cleans also. Not big into metal. So, below is what I've narrowed my search down to with what I think I would be the best option to the worst. What do you think?


Ibanez TSA5 tube screamer combo - Not a lot of videos regarding this amp but by specs it seems like it has most everything I'm after. Just wish it had reverb.

Fender Super Champ X2 - I love the idea that it has so many models and effects. I'd imagine the cleans on the first channel are second to none in its price range. This one definately has everything I'd ever need but somehow I think the Ibanez would sound better.

Blackstar HT1R - This amp also has everything I require and 1 watt is probably all I'd need for home use but I can't help but think that the Fender and the Ibanez would sound better.

Any advise?

[Sportrider24]

So I made an attempt to reach out to the one and only Ibanez TSA5 owner that has posted a video of the amp on Youtube to see how he liked it. He's not American but did his best to reply in english. Anyone care to make an attempt at decoding his replies for me?

Me: "sounds great! How do you like that TSA5 amp? I took a shot and ordered one tonight."

Him: "Amplifier is a grade which it is not made to be distorted by heaviness and can make a CRUNCH sound. I will think that I become a glossy sound, if the level of a TUBESCREAMER function is raised."

Me: "So no heavy distortion but good crunch with tubescreamer engaged. Good deal! Can you get crunch at low volume or does the amp have to really be pushed?"

Him: "I also regard volume with low TSA5 as saving the level and distortion of TUBESCREAMER in the state as it is."

Now I'm pretty sure I got his first reply but the second one has me baffled. No idea what he is trying to say.

[musicmatty]

Originally Posted by Sportrider24

So I made an attempt to reach out to the one and only Ibanez TSA5 owner that has posted a video of the amp on Youtube to see how he liked it. He's not American but did his best to reply in english. Anyone care to make an attempt at decoding his replies for me?

Me: "sounds great! How do you like that TSA5 amp? I took a shot and ordered one tonight."

Him: "Amplifier is a grade which it is not made to be distorted by heaviness and can make a CRUNCH sound. I will think that I become a glossy sound, if the level of a TUBESCREAMER function is raised."

Me: "So no heavy distortion but good crunch with tubescreamer engaged. Good deal! Can you get crunch at low volume or does the amp have to really be pushed?"

Him: "I also regard volume with low TSA5 as saving the level and distortion of TUBESCREAMER in the state as it is."

Now I'm pretty sure I got his first reply but the second one has me baffled. No idea what he is trying to say.

In the short..don't expect much from a 5watt amp..in your own words "Bonnomassa to BB, classic rock, love nice cleans" ...Save up a little more and get something that has a little more ass-end to it...just my opinion and experience of what you have stated that you are looking for ..some great options for $300.

[ast370]

I use my tsa15h on the 5 watt setting and I like the sustain and growl it will produce. It isn't a marshall jubilee but you will enjoy the blues/rock tones... Well at least I do, not that I don't like all the other amps listed...

[JohnS]

See current Guitar Player mag for TSA 5 review. Very positive.

[Sportrider24]

Thanks for the info on the TSA15 and the info on the guitar player article. I'm going to look and see if it's available online!

[Lunchie]

Ill +1 the champ 600. I think its an excellent little amp. I get to pick mine up from gc friday!

[bossking7]

Originally Posted by Lunchie

Ill +1 the champ 600. I think its an excellent little amp. I get to pick mine up from gc friday!

+2

[Sportrider24]

So my new Ibanez TSA5 came in yesterday. I spent some time playing with it last night and I'm kind of on the fence about whether I really like it or not. First of, it is not very loud at all. Seriously, my old Marshall MG15DFX is louder. I'd once had a Epi Valve Jr and I remember that 5 watter being much louder. I'm ok with the volume. I really didn't want a tube amp that would rattle the windows and had been considering getting a 1 watt. Sound wise I would rate it a 6.5 out of 10. I haven't had it long enough to really dial in the amp and my guitars so my rating might be a little harsh. I've read that speakers need to be broken in. Should I expect that the 10" Celestion will sound a little better within a week or two of playing?

Specs on the amp are 5watt all tube, 1-12AX7 pre and 1-6V6 power, Celestion Tube 10" speaker and Tube Screamer circuit built in.

[musicmatty]

Originally Posted by Sportrider24

So my new Ibanez TSA5 came in yesterday. I spent some time playing with it last night and I'm kind of on the fence about whether I really like it or not. First of, it is not very loud at all. Seriously, my old Marshall MG15DFX is louder. I'd once had a Epi Valve Jr and I remember that 5 watter being much louder. I'm ok with the volume. I really didn't want a tube amp that would rattle the windows and had been considering getting a 1 watt. Sound wise I would rate it a 6.5 out of 10. I haven't had it long enough to really dial in the amp and my guitars so my rating might be a little harsh. I've read that speakers need to be broken in. Should I expect that the 10" Celestion will sound a little better within a week or two of playing?

Specs on the amp are 5watt all tube, 1-12AX7 pre and 1-6V6 power, Celestion Tube 10" speaker and Tube Screamer circuit built in.

Not surprised at all..considering what you stated in your first post with regards to what you were looking for I played the new Excelcior the other day..Fantastic amp and very very classic..no doubt, it can take pedals for low volume breakup for desired taste For $300. and probably less for a 'floor model'...you should really try one out..I think your be pleasently surprised

[Sportrider24]

I raised the pickups in the Tele and it made a pretty good difference. The cleans are still pretty low volume but engaging the tube steamer even turned all the way down boosts the volume pretty well.

[lareplus]

Celestion Tube 10 is not generally a highly regarded speaker. . .you might consider upgrading to something with more pizzazz and higher decibels to get more volume. .

[studio1087]

I have the Ibanez TSA15H and the cabinet.

I don't think that you can go wrong with the 5 watt Ibanez or the Super Champ X2.

I would not buy a one watt amp unless if your goal is to crank it and play with a lot of gain all the time. You're not going to get any clean spanky volume from 1 watt.

I would have this be the determining question......

Do you want a simple true tube amp or do you want a modeling hybrid with many bells whistles?

Simple tube amp - Ibanez
Bells and Whistles - Super Champ

I think the Ibanez looks like a great no-nonsense tool and I like Tubescreamers but that's just me.

You can't loose either way. Enjoy.

[jefrs]

You want a 5 watt "does everything" amp ???

Simple is not the way to go for that. Simple amps are one-trick ponies.

The Laney Lionheart L5T-115 does go from Fender cleans through Vox chime and crunch to Marshall roar - which is to say, that with its two channels and its trick Drive control, it will go from very clean to very thick overdrive. It doesn't quite do metal, but that's what pedals are for. Not sure about the Keeley Mod+TS9, nice but the L5T does that type of drive by itself, so maybe something thicker. Goes from mousefart to actually rather loud, which is unusual for any valve amp. Quiet enough for late night whilst watching the box, loud enough to compete with a BJ ;)
Basically a SE 5 watt take on the rather nice Laney VC30 stage amp.
Around £500 new but often seen second-hand.

If you do want everything in the box then modelling - Vox Valvetronix AD30VT or Roland Cube20X here. Both discontinued, the AD30VT does turn up s/h but problem with many cheap amps is they just get slung in the trash when kiddies loose interest.