HawkeyeKane
2477 posts
Apr 17, 2014
2:00 PM
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I've been seeing blurbs about these amps around the TGP forums for a while now. They look like they might have some harp potential, despite the onboard Tube Screamer circuit. I particularly like the look of the 5 watter. When's the last time you saw a 5W tube amp that came with a spring reverb?!
Then they have a 2X6V6 15W combo...
and a 2X6L6 30W combo.
The Tube Screamer would be redundant for harp, but the rest looks promising. Whaddy'all think?
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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SuperBee
1923 posts
Apr 17, 2014
4:09 PM
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They've changed the aesthetic of the 5 watt amp, but I don't know if much else has changed?
I played one which had the same aesthetic as the larger amps. I matched it with every speaker cab in the shop. And used my own mics, and turned it up...I set it up with the store owners ahead of time so I could play various amps when they did not have a storeful of customers.
I didn't buy anything I tried that day, but the 5 watt ibanez was promising I thought. I liked it as much as the laney cub. The tubescreamer, as you say, is redundant with a harp. And I think the reverb is probably new...
Just comes down to price for me...and the flip side is that there was nothing about it that appealed enough to make me spend $. I've got this all covered in 5 watt amps. If I was looking for a 5 watt amp though...I dunno...the reverb is a point of difference I guess.
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HawkeyeKane
2478 posts
Apr 18, 2014
7:07 AM
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It'd take a look at the schematic and a peek in the chassis to see what could be improved for harp. But for the money they're going for, I'd say they'd probably be a good value.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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Goldbrick
413 posts
Apr 18, 2014
8:24 AM
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I just ordered the old style on closeout with tuner pedal for $169 so will report on that. Sound like it would be great for my slide guitar-and will hope it works for harp on the clean setting
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Apr 18, 2014 8:40 AM
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HawkeyeKane
2480 posts
Apr 18, 2014
9:17 AM
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Does the original model have the reverb too?
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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Goldbrick
415 posts
Apr 18, 2014
9:30 AM
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No Reverb
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/amp_page13_jp.php?ampl_id=4&series_id=4
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DukeBerryman
345 posts
Apr 19, 2014
10:27 AM
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Stop distracting me with cool amps, Kane! I like the 15/5 head - got an effects loop, the return bypasses the tube screamer section. You can plug a guitar into the Return input and it's pure tube power stage. I want to try that with a mic. Plus, "affordable".
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DukeBerryman
346 posts
Apr 19, 2014
10:38 AM
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@HawkeyeKane Also checked out your band website - didn't realize you were in Springfield - I was thinking Kane County, actually. Great band!
Personally, I never made it further south than the river boats and strip clubs in Peoria. But would love to spend the summer in Springfield, IL, esp the 4th.
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HawkeyeKane
2482 posts
Apr 19, 2014
12:01 PM
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Thanks Duke. Yeah the summer is definitely the high point of the year in terms of live music around here. The IL State Fair is the big one for everyone. Whereabouts might you be?
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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DukeBerryman
348 posts
Apr 19, 2014
1:53 PM
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I am in the San Fernando Valley, CA. I used to have a Fender Champion 600 and Vox AC4TV but traded those in for a PA and two small solid state amps. So, I really am in the market for a tube head. Plus, I got this guitar in January for my 45th. Added a white knob over the weekend and would be pimp plugged in to the Ibanez:
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HawkeyeKane
2483 posts
Apr 20, 2014
12:49 AM
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A head? Well... here's the one bitbof advice for you in that area. Either find a music store that has the TSA30H in stock and try it out. Or....wait a little while, because VHT has the new Special 44 coming out soon, and considering VHT's good track record for both harp and guitar thus far, it'd prolly be a safe bet that the new one will at least have harp potential.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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Barley Nectar
358 posts
Apr 20, 2014
5:16 AM
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As much as I dislike new amps I must say, that 5 watter is sharp. Very nice look. The demo sounds like a little amp to me. IMO, most new amps SUCK due to cheep build quality and non tech friendly construction. Vintage amps with eyelet/turret boards are so easy to maintain and mod that I can't consider new gear. True point to point amps can be a PITA. The VHT Sp 6 may be an exception with it's eyelet board. Are the larger VHT's built in the same manner?...BN
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DukeBerryman
349 posts
Apr 20, 2014
8:27 AM
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@HawkeyeKane You're right, the 44 looks perfect. It's on the VHT website, but don't see it for sale anywhere yet. I don't know if I'll ever be able to decide, but the Special 44 or the TSA30H are at the top of my list right now.
This is all an effort to find a head to go with a pine speaker cab I have with an 10" 16ohm Eminence Legend speaker. I definitely want 6V6 or 6L6s. Also would like something with a handle.
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HawkeyeKane
2484 posts
Apr 20, 2014
11:47 AM
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44W through a single 10"? Mmmm....I dunno. Awful lot for a speaker of that size.
Goose, I do believe all the VHT Special series are handwired.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Apr 20, 2014 11:54 AM
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DukeBerryman
350 posts
Apr 20, 2014
12:17 PM
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@HawkeyeKane You're right - I got rid of my 12" speaker cabinet, and for good reason, I was down sizing. The Ibanez 15/5 head would be more in line with the 10" cab. I'm hoping to get some woody, kinda dry tone with the combination of the pine cabinet with an Eminence 10".
Also love that you can turn off the Tube Screamer preamp on the Ibanez head, makes the gain control completely optional.
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HawkeyeKane
2485 posts
Apr 20, 2014
12:57 PM
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The Special 44 has that too Duke. Albeit probably not as high quality as a TS circuit, the pull boost on the 44 serves the same function and it has a footswitch control. Two 10's would work better with that beast. Get yourself another matching pine cab with a stiff 10" 16 ohmer, and I bet that sucker will kick some major ass for both harp and guitar.
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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DukeBerryman
351 posts
Apr 21, 2014
3:26 PM
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OK, I did i t- I traded in a $100 pedal and ordered the TSA15H. And I blame you, Kane, for making this post and causing me to spend money!
PS: You can borrow it whenever you are in the San Fernando Valley
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Barley Nectar
360 posts
Apr 21, 2014
6:02 PM
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He had his way with my money too. I bought that Copperhead with his advice. Glad I did!...;)
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DukeBerryman
353 posts
Apr 21, 2014
7:41 PM
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@BarleyNectar I checked out some videos of the Copperhead - that's a 6V6 piece of art. That head deserves a real nice speaker.
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HawkeyeKane
2487 posts
Apr 21, 2014
8:43 PM
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In the words of Master Yoda, once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. He wasn't kidding. I'm a full-blown amplification junkie anymore. Love playing them, comparing them, analyzing them, studying them, tinkering with them....hell if they had the right components I'd probably fornicate with them too. ;-)
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Hawkeye Kane - Hipbone Sam
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SuperBee
1927 posts
Apr 21, 2014
11:04 PM
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Nonononono....
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DukeBerryman
355 posts
Apr 22, 2014
3:55 AM
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@Kane Next thing you can help me with is my singing - I wanna join a band, and I have to learn how to carry a tune. Wouldn't hurt at jams, either. But that's another thread, Master Yoda.
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DukeBerryman
358 posts
Apr 25, 2014
10:38 PM
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And... here it is. Very nice, basic 6V6 tube amp, with a solid state preamp you can turn on or off. I like the boost switch without the preamp - adds a nice treble grit. I'm just getting started on the mysteries of the preamp - will be fun to tinker with that part. But I appreciate the plug-and-play aspect of the power amp section. Don't really need any pedals, but I always use the Flat Cat with my mics. Totally silent amp at rest - I haven't even tried the efx loop yet. Classic 6V6 sound, I'd say, with a creative preamp.
Last Edited by DukeBerryman on Apr 25, 2014 10:39 PM
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Barley Nectar
366 posts
Apr 26, 2014
8:27 AM
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Duke, I have the Copperhead teamed up with a Ragin Cajun. These are in a Fender Tremolux size 2x10 cab semi open back. This is an excellent harp setup IMO. I have not tried the Copperhead on it's own. I have another one coming for my Champ II. So we shall soon see.
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DukeBerryman
359 posts
Apr 26, 2014
9:44 AM
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@BarleyNectar That sounds like the perfect combo - esp the semi open back with the 10' speakers. I'd love to play thru a 2x10. I'm trying to get into a band, so maybe. My cab with the Eminence Legend is semi open back:
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DukeBerryman
360 posts
Apr 26, 2014
11:42 AM
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Ready for anything!
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