Kingley
3225 posts
Oct 27, 2013
12:41 AM
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I was thinking today that many of the people on this forum are home players and don't ever play out. A lot of those players seek the old school basic valve amp and mic sound with no effect pedals in the chain. So with that in mind I thought it would be good to discuss small valve amps for home use. I'm strictly talking about amps under 10 watts nothing larger. No solid state or battery powered amps. Given that vintage amps aren't easily available to all, I think it would be also be a good idea to keep it just to modern amps that are available to buy brand new. So just to recap, I mean no amps larger than 10 watts, no battery or solid state amps and no vintage gear and no amp modelling pedals or tube overdrive pedals, etc.
Given those parameters here's the only ones I can think of.
Harpgear HG2
VHT Special 6
Blackheart BH5
Are there any others out there that are still in production?
Last Edited by Kingley on Oct 27, 2013 12:42 AM
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SuperBee
1496 posts
Oct 27, 2013
1:06 AM
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There's a couple of Laney models I think, and a vox. Dunno about the ibanez 5 watter. I'm pretty sure Marshall have a 5 watt amp. What about the fender EC champ?
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Kingley
3226 posts
Oct 27, 2013
1:16 AM
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Well thought of SuperBee. I'm not certain if the Ibanez and Marshall are still in production. Here's the designations of the amps.
Laney Cub 8 and Cub 10
Ibanez TSA5
VOX AC4TV
Marshall Class 5
Fender EC Vibro Champ
Anymore?
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SuperBee
1497 posts
Oct 27, 2013
1:28 AM
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Vox Li'l Night Train (2 watt)
Sherlock 'angry ant' (5)
Kustom Defender (5)
Black star HT series
Bugera V5
BWM Chimp
Vintage 47 Oahu Suitcase
Marshall JTM 1H, JMP 1H, JCM 1H
Fender Greta
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Last Edited by SuperBee on Oct 27, 2013 4:45 AM
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Rick Davis
2596 posts
Oct 27, 2013
10:35 AM
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I am aware of a new 5-watt tube amp (5F1 circuit) in a tweed cab that will be offered soon. Price will be under $400.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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SmokeJS
170 posts
Oct 27, 2013
10:52 AM
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I don't need another small combo for harp but if a company like Mission was to put one out with a Lil' Buddy in a nice tweed cabinet.......
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Kingley
3227 posts
Oct 27, 2013
11:31 AM
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Rick - I'll be interested in hearing more about the Mission 5F1 amp. The 5F1 is one of my favourite amps for harp.
SuperBee - More great additions there. Those Vintage47 amps are very cool looking things. A lot of the other amps are new to me.
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1847
1241 posts
Oct 27, 2013
11:46 AM
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i posted a track using the hughes and kettner
i like it
the ultimate is the magnatone amp
10 watts ten inch speaker
super bitchen...but pricey
the new mission amps sounds interesting
especially nice if it were to have mercury magnetics tranny
and a 10 inch speaker option.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Rick Davis
2597 posts
Oct 27, 2013
12:04 PM
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The one I am thinking of is not from Mission amps.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Joe_L
2370 posts
Oct 27, 2013
12:12 PM
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Darn near every boutique amp company names a tweed Champ clone. It's hard to beat one of those.
I built one a few years ago. It's is my best sounding amp. I've got some good sounding amps. Ten watts can be loud around the house.
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Last Edited by Joe_L on Oct 27, 2013 12:13 PM
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Kingley
3228 posts
Oct 27, 2013
12:24 PM
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"The one I am thinking of is not from Mission amps."
The plot thickens....
Joe L - I agree the tweed Champ sounds great. It's a pretty hard act to beat. I keep toying with the idea of building myself one.
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Rick Davis
2598 posts
Oct 27, 2013
2:30 PM
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Mission Amps is still planning the little Memphis Minnie amp but it is a few months away. It will be a very high-quality Champ clone like the Harpgear HG2.
The amp I talking about will be similar to the VHT Special 6, also imported from China. But it will be more of a tweed Champ clone with 8-inch speaker, point to point wiring, etc.
BTW, you guys left the Chickenhead 5F1 amp off your list.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Oct 27, 2013 2:35 PM
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6SN7
380 posts
Oct 27, 2013
5:05 PM
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Vintage 47 amps are worth looking at. I have a Supro Comet. I hear the Oahu Suitcase is a good choice. They are a high quality build.
http://www.vintage47amps.com/files/index.php?id=25
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SuperBee
1501 posts
Oct 27, 2013
5:51 PM
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I have a cab looking for an amp. It's a HG2 cab with weber sig8.
I think a 5F1 chassis will bolt straight in. Wondering what changes would enhance it for harp with a CM mic. Does it need any tweaks?
I've never used a 5F1 amp. Never actually seen a fender tweed amp up close and personal.
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Joe_L
2371 posts
Oct 27, 2013
6:17 PM
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If you can't get good tone out of a tweed champ circuit, you might as well just hang it up.
It was a pretty easy build. Couldn't be more than 25 or 30 parts.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by Joe_L on Oct 27, 2013 6:18 PM
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SuperBee
1502 posts
Oct 27, 2013
7:49 PM
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Thanks Joe. Good to know. I was wondering if it's worth adding a treble cut circuit or such.
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Joe_L
2373 posts
Oct 27, 2013
8:04 PM
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It might be a bit bright, but it'll sound very good. It'll sound quite "period correct".
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Kingley
3231 posts
Oct 27, 2013
11:31 PM
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"If you can't get good tone out of a tweed champ circuit, you might as well just hang it up."
Ain't that the truth!
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MN
282 posts
Oct 28, 2013
4:40 AM
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Kingley wrote: "many of the people on this forum are home players and don't ever play out. A lot of those players seek the old school basic valve amp and mic sound with no effect pedals in the chain. ... Are there any others out there that are still in production?"
===================
Don't forget the Marble Max. It's been my only amp since I moved to Europe in 2003. I've gigged with it a lot (including with a 10-piece band that includes horns -- lined out to the PA). I can't imagine playing it at home, this little thing is loud as hell and rattles the windows.
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Baker
342 posts
Oct 28, 2013
5:59 AM
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Just to add another – Epiphone Valve Junior combo.
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Stevelegh
869 posts
Oct 28, 2013
7:17 AM
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I don't know how any married man can run even a 5 watt amp at sufficient volume to get the valves cooking without causing a divorce.
I quite fancy one of these:
http://www.blackstaramps.com/products/ht-1r/
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rogonzab
401 posts
Oct 28, 2013
7:28 AM
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Stevelegh, those blackstar amps are really expensive. In my country they cost 2x more than any 5w tube amp, but I cant find info about there tonal characteristics over the rest of the 5w tube amps.
Do you know why those amps are that expensive?
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Stevelegh
870 posts
Oct 28, 2013
7:44 AM
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They're £169.00 in the UK, which works out at $273.00. Musician's Friend are selling them for $319.00, so it seems they're more expensive over in the US, but still not completely crazy when you consider what some people are happy to pay for a boutique amp.
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HarpNinja
3557 posts
Oct 28, 2013
8:23 AM
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Anyone try one of these?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/fender-pawn-shop-special-greta-2w-1x4-tube-guitar-combo-amp/h79026005001017?condition=used#used
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My Website
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A440
113 posts
Oct 28, 2013
8:44 AM
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The Fender Champ 600 (and the tweed Gretsch version of the same amp) is pretty decent, with a six inch speaker and 5 watts - more than enough for playing at home. Yes, the speaker and valves are cheap components, but these can always be upgraded over time.
Last Edited by A440 on Oct 28, 2013 8:45 AM
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Stevelegh
871 posts
Oct 28, 2013
8:54 AM
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The Champ 600 is way too loud to crank up and get a decent driven sound without using an overdrive pedal or an attenuator. I don't know how these are with the mods available from Alnico Magnet on Ebay. Has anyone tried these?
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HawkeyeKane
2121 posts
Oct 28, 2013
9:02 AM
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@HarpNinja
Yes, I've tried the Greta. It sounds cheesy with its internal speaker, but plug it into an external cab, and it sounds pretty darn good!
@A440
The Champ 600 and G5222 are no longer in regular production. They had a limited run of the 600 in a full blonde cab, but I think it's about sold out at this point.
@Baker
Same thing goes for the EVJ. No longer in production.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Baker
343 posts
Oct 28, 2013
9:32 AM
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@HawkeyeKane – I didn't realise that.
I bought mine a couple of years ago, as new but second hand. They were pretty inexpensive and LoneWolf have developed some pretty good mods to turn them into a decent harp amp.– http://www.lonewolfblues.com/projepimod.html
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mr_so&so
750 posts
Oct 28, 2013
10:00 AM
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Has anyone done any tube swaps in the Vox AC4TV? Making that one more harp friendly would be my choice.
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MN
283 posts
Oct 28, 2013
1:43 PM
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Stevelegh wrote: "I don't know how any married man can run even a 5 watt amp at sufficient volume to get the valves cooking without causing a divorce."
===============
100 amens to that! LMAO. Not to mention the conversation: "You want to spend $300 on an amp to PRACTICE with!? Are you high?"
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1847
1242 posts
Oct 28, 2013
3:00 PM
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The Fender Champ 600 (and the tweed Gretsch version of the same amp) is pretty decent, with a six inch speaker and 5 watts -
i had an earlier tweed champ with a 6 inch speaker
not much good for anything, not even at home
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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chromaticblues
1498 posts
Oct 29, 2013
11:29 AM
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@Stevelegh
Your right! I have a 5 watt Kalamazoo and there is no way I can crank that thing up in my house!
What is the vox little night train?
I've never heard of it. Is it all tube and is it really 2 watts? That would be perfect!
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HawkeyeKane
2126 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:01 AM
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Okay...I've kept this one under my hat for a while now, but since this thread is running, I'll break the news here.
Boeman Electronics Calimazoo 2
That's right folks....the Zoo Deuce is getting reissued.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
2630 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:21 AM
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Tim, $800 makes it a bit of a laugher. Get the improved original from Greg for less than half that.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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HawkeyeKane
2128 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:28 AM
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The thread topic called for current production amps under 10W, Rick. The category of which, regardless of the price, this amp falls under. Kingley mentioned the EC Vibro Champ, the $1K price of which I consider laughable, but I agree that it belongs on the list.
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Hawkeye Kane
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HawkeyeKane
2129 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:37 AM
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A couple of suitcase amps to add to the list...
Blues Luggage Sonny Boy
Fritz Bros. Amp-in-the-Case
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Oct 30, 2013 10:38 AM
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Rick Davis
2631 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:40 AM
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The Kendrick Vagabond is $995
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Rick Davis
2632 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:43 AM
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The Victoria 5112 is $1249
(Go listen to the sound clips for guitar. Great tone.)
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Rick Davis
2633 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:47 AM
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The Tungsten Mosaic is $925
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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HawkeyeKane
2130 posts
Oct 30, 2013
10:53 AM
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Hohner Hoodoo Box
H&K Tubemeister 5
Marble MAX
Mergili Boy Elroy
Dr. Z Mini-Z
Carr Mercury
Marshall SL5 Slash Signature
Fender Pawn Shop Ramparte
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Oct 30, 2013 12:29 PM
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MindTheGap
35 posts
Oct 30, 2013
11:53 AM
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If this is about serious home use - well, any normal home - then a built-in attenuator is useful. For me, essential. Also a headphone output. Otherwise it limits the time you can practice and you'd need something else too.
E.g the Bugera V5 has 0.1, 1 and 5W, and even better the the BWM Chimp has a continuously variable one.
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HawkeyeKane
2131 posts
Oct 30, 2013
12:26 PM
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Point of note.....the Class5 seems to have disappeared from Marshall's home page products. Still readily available through vendors though. Anyone know the sitch on that?
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Oct 30, 2013 12:27 PM
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1847
1262 posts
Oct 31, 2013
3:32 PM
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Tungsten Mosaic MK II - $925/$1095
The Tungsten Mosaic amplifier is based on the 5F1 design, delivering 5 watts with a 6V6 and 9 watts with a 6L6 power tube...
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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