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I’m search of gorgeous cleans at TV volume...

Discussion in 'Glowing Bottle Tube Amp Forum' started by Tarnisher, Feb 24, 2021.

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  1. Feb 24, 2021 #1
    Tarnisher

    Tarnisher Friend of Leo's Gold Supporter

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    I’ve decided that life is too short to wait until COVID allows me to put a band together again and resume gigging. But all my amps are just too loud for use in my apartment. I have some money saved from not going to concerts for a year, and I want to buy the best bedroom volume clean pedal platform I can afford.

    I’d prefer a head, as I already have cabs.

    I’m open to attenuation, although I haven’t been able to achieve what I’m after using my Weber Mini Mass.

    Life is also too short to live without tubes, so, good as they may be, I’m not interested in digital or solid state stuff.

    My current front runner is a Lil’ Dawg Prince.

    What else should I consider?
     
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  2. Feb 24, 2021 #2
    Charlodius

    Charlodius Tele-Holic

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    65 PRRI or silverface champ.
     
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  3. Feb 24, 2021 #3
    tele_savales

    tele_savales Tele-Holic Platinum Supporter

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    I just built an AA764 Champ and it's perfect.
     
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  4. Feb 24, 2021 #4
    northernguitar

    northernguitar Friend of Leo's

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    Play what ever tube amp your heart desires through headphones. Record 'dat when it sounds sweet.

    [​IMG]

    torpedo-captorx
     
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  5. Feb 24, 2021 #5
    hdvades

    hdvades Tele-Holic Silver Supporter

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    Well since you're dead set on having tubes and want a head my best guess would be a Marshall DSL1H. Gorgeous cleans maybe maybe not but it clicks all your blocks. I have a 5F1 clone and it does not do what I'd consider TV volume so I don't see how that Prince would be any quieter. I also have a small boutique attenuator and imho all it does is muffle the sound. If you want a good attenuator be prepared to bigger bucks. I was going to suggest a Fender Deluxe Reverb Tone Master...
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2021
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  6. Feb 24, 2021 #6
    VintageSG

    VintageSG Friend of Leo's Ad Free Member

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    Pity solid state is out of the equation. The Hotone Nano heads sound really good.
    Valve-wise, Marshall, Randall, Hayden, Blackstar and Vox produce/have produced 1 Watt heads that sound pretty good. 1 Watt can still be too loud.
    5 Watts and the world opens up. The Laney Lionheart L5H is a 5 Watt recording amp with more features than you could shake a stick at before your arm got tired. Again, Marshall, Blackstar, Randall, Jet City, H&K and others offer pre-built, but if you're handy with an iron, build your own. Champs and similar are simple builds, and a simple amp built with top notch componentry sounds better than more complex circuits, to my cloth ears anyway. A Champ-a-like at TV volume is a real treat. Robrob offers micro versions of amps to build too.
    For 'off the shelf' though, the Laney is a strong contender.
     
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  7. Feb 24, 2021 #7
    Hoodster

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    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Feb 24, 2021 #8
    41144

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    Vox AC 15 Head. Master Volume and built-in attenuation, keep off (or at least go very steady) on the Top Boost.
     
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  9. Feb 24, 2021 #9
    David C

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    I was going to suggest the Fender Tone Master series as well. They have a built in attenuator, so bedroom volume is right on par. Unfortunately it doesn't check your other box, which is the head version. They are great amps and you would never know you were playing anything solid state.
     
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  10. Feb 24, 2021 #10
    maxvintage

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    I'M very confused about what you mean by "cleans."

    In my experience good guitar--cable--good amp means "gorgeous cleans," although I'm enough of a grammar nerd to point out that "cleans" is a verb
     
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  11. Feb 24, 2021 #11
    Informal

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    No kidding... The Spark is actually a KILLER sounding clean amp at low volumes (IMO)
     
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  12. Feb 24, 2021 #12
    Tarnisher

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    I really want to like the DSL1, but I’ve watched a ton of demo videos and the cleans just sound adequate. I’m sure I could make it work with a preamp, but I’d rather buy one thing that works.

    I’ve heard that the Princeton circuit does better with clean low volume. Figured I’d discuss with Jim at Li’l’ Dawg before ordering.
     
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  13. Feb 24, 2021 #13
    Tarnisher

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    Oops- double post.
     
  14. Feb 24, 2021 #14
    Tarnisher

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    I’ve been eyeing that one- love the look, and very curious about the low-wattage mode. There’s a shop here in town that carries them, so I might take a field trip.
     
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  15. Feb 24, 2021 #15
    johnnylaw

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    I keep a little Pignose under the end table next to the couch. No sarcasm, just check them out.
    The wife thinks its my cutest amp!
     
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  16. Feb 24, 2021 #16
    schmee

    schmee Doctor of Teleocity

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    Acoustic guitar. Nothing more gorgeous at that volume!
     
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  17. Feb 24, 2021 #17
    Deathray

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    For me, it’s the ‘65 PRRI for sure. For an addictive clean tone at home, it’s a home run. I play a greater percentage of time with varying levels of drive, but when I got my Princeton, I noticed that I just couldn’t bring myself to dirty it up at first. It’s everything a clean amp should be.
     
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  18. Feb 24, 2021 #18
    mally

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    Vox MV 50 clean


     
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  19. Feb 24, 2021 #19
    2HBStrat

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    • Don't your amps have volume controls on them?
     
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  20. Feb 24, 2021 #20
    Muku

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    I recommend Tone Kings with large cabs. Fender on steroids. Wooly even at low volumes. Maybe not the best for distortion. Cleans are huge.

    I remember Swarts, 65, div 13, and Laney combos sounding good 15 years ago.

    If you are looking for pausable distortion at low volumes with glowing red tubes then perhaps headphones?
     
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