Low power pedal friendly tube amp with headroom for humbuckers

[Cali Dude]

I agree, my gremlin works with everything and I run a Strymon Flint in front for trem & verb. I run a super overdrive through it as well and is much more flexible than my other low wattage combos.

Cool rig!

 

[Teleand5e3isgold]

I'll suggest the VHT Special 6, but the base model, not the Ultra. It is a 6 watt all tube beast that is Hiwatt clean at lower gain settings and is reminiscent of mid-late '60s Marshalls when cranked. However, if you are playing at bedroom levels there is no way in hell that you will EVER reach any noticeable tube saturation without using a power attenuator. They take pedals great. They are relatively lightweight and have a VHT branded 10" speaker that is surprisingly efficient, albeit bassy like most 10" speakers are for guitar. The Special 6 is quite fond of pedals and is a really good jazz amp as is. They are modder faves, but honestly, mine sounds so good I haven't changed anything. If I could, I would put the chassis in a pine Tweed style cabinet with a 12" speaker. I think it would make this combo even better. If you used a neodynium speaker it would lighten the weight to at or below 30 lbs. The stock cabinet is MDF and the speaker has a substantial magnet for a 10", so it is surprisingly heavy for a small combo. I didn't want to like this Chinese made amp, but it is top notch in build quality and its sound. It's worth a look.

 

[turftone]

I'll suggest the VHT Special 6, but the base model, not the Ultra. It is a 6 watt all tube beast that is Hiwatt clean at lower gain settings and is reminiscent of mid-late '60s Marshalls when cranked. However, if you are playing at bedroom levels there is no way in hell that you will EVER reach any noticeable tube saturation without using a power attenuator. They take pedals great. They are relatively lightweight and have a VHT branded 10" speaker that is surprisingly efficient, albeit bassy like most 10" speakers are for guitar. The Special 6 is quite fond of pedals and is a really good jazz amp as is. They are modder faves, but honestly, mine sounds so good I haven't changed anything. If I could, I would put the chassis in a pine Tweed style cabinet with a 12" speaker. I think it would make this combo even better. If you used a neodynium speaker it would lighten the weight to at or below 30 lbs. The stock cabinet is MDF and the speaker has a substantial magnet for a 10", so it is surprisingly heavy for a small combo. I didn't want to like this Chinese made amp, but it is top notch in build quality and its sound. It's worth a look.

Why not the Ultra?

 

[Teleand5e3isgold]

Why not the Ult

Why not the Ultra?

Because the base model is cleaner, lower gain, and at least a marginally more pedal friendly version. There's nothing wrong with the Ultra, it just seemed less appropriate for the listed attributes. The straight Special 6 is one of the cleanest tube amps I've ever heard, and remains so unless you dime it with the boost engaged.

 

[AndrewG]

If you're looking for a tube amp you're looking for one rated at 6 watt or less. My Cornford Carrera is perfect for this use but I'm sure there are other less expensive amps out there that will work just as well.

I gigged the 20W Hurricane for a few years. Wonderful top quality, great sounding amps and it's a shame that Cornford are no more. My small amp now is a slightly modded (speaker upgrade), Marshall DSL5CR. Fine little amp, but the stock Celestion Ten-30 isn't really good enough. My smallest amp is a 2W Hayden Lil' MoFo, 1x8, and perfect for the home and intimate gigs.