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Fender BJ vs. VOX AC15 vs. Blackheart HD v. Peavey 30


Bluemoon

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Posted

Went to GC today hoping to play these amps. No luck. The only one I was able to test was the standard Fender Blues Jr. I really liked it (I play mostly blues and classic rock--no metal), mostly because it had a lot of clean headroom. I use one pedal with my amp--a Fulltone OCD, which I love. This is practice amp. Will not be used outside basement.

 

What I didn't like about the standard Blues Junior is that it sounded a little cold.

 

So how does the standard Fender BJ compare to the following:

[ I know the response from a lot of people is going to be, "You need to play them." Unfortunately, I just don't have enough time on weekends to shop around (18 month daughter and twin boys that are five weeks old). I figure I can always return the amp if I hate it. The Peavey and VOX are pushing the limits of my budget, by the way.]

 

 

1. VOX AC15

2. Fender Blues Jr. NOS (with Jensen speaker)

3. Blackheart Handsome Devil (which is appealing because you can go from 7 to 15 watts).

4. Peavey Classic 30.

Posted

A few thoughts regarding your practice amp dilemma...

 

1 - You should have plenty of clean headroom with any of those choices. You will rely on the OCD for crunchier sounds, right?

 

2 - I'm assuming you like to practice loud because those are some pretty powerful practice amps. The 7/15 watt switch on the BH will only drop it -3db which is the minimum decrease audible to the human ear. My Blackheart Little Giant is only slightly quieter than my 15 watt Tiny Terror. In fact, in the Blackheart line I'd recommend the Little Giant instead of the Handsome Devil for practice. I generally run mine on 1/4 power on the 5 watt setting through a 2-12 and it is more than loud enough!

 

3 - Another thought, you don't really need a practice amp with a distortion channel if you are going to use the OCD. Some of the ones you mentioned are multi-channel I believe. Simpler is probably better.

 

4 - And the best solution would be to buy them all; then keep the best one and sell the rest! =D>

 

Good luck with whatever you decide, Bluemoon. It's a quest!

Posted

I've been trying, too, to make a decision between the Blues Jr. and the Blackheart Little Giant.

 

I have a marshall bluesbreaker pedal, I'm not sure if it will either make the Blackheart Bluesy enough or will make the Fender crunchy enough. I want to have my cake and eat it too, dammit. :-k

Posted
I'm assuming you like to practice loud because those are some pretty powerful practice amps. The 7/15 watt switch on the BH will only drop it -3db which is the minimum decrease audible to the human ear. My Blackheart Little Giant is only slightly quieter than my 15 watt Tiny Terror. In fact' date=' in the Blackheart line I'd recommend the Little Giant instead of the Handsome Devil for practice. I generally run mine on 1/4 power on the 5 watt setting through a 2-12 and it is more than loud enough! [/quote']

 

Going loud is not an option. I have a Valve Junior that was damaged in a basement flood. I didn't much like it. Spent too much money modifying it. I just want something that will give me some nice warm tones. I can use the OCD pedal to make it crunchy. I also want something with some versatility (at least a 3-eq). I had trouble teasing good tones out of the Valve Junior.

 

The amps in the 5 watt range seem to be pretty limited.

 

I am willing to spend around $550 or so.

Posted

The tweed version of the Blues Junior is the one that I like to try out guitars at GC with. Nice one trick pony, but like a lot of amps it just doesn't have any tone when you drop the volume below 2.5 or so, which makes it a problem for the house. Nice as the Blues Jr. is, I still can't give up my Crate VC3112 (30 watt class A, one 12" speaker) which more or less behaves at the threshold with the gain at 6 or 7 and the level (master) at, well, just barely on. Funny thing is it sounds like we're all gravitating towards small amps that use EL84's instead of more traditional Fender formula 6L6's.

 

However before you make up your mind, try the Princeton reissue. 6V6's are like baby 6L6's. Kind of like a Fender Deluxe vibe but even more home-friendly as far as volume is concerned since the Princeton has a 10" speaker instead of 12". Knocking down the wattage to 18 or 15 or 12 is nice, but you're still pushing a lot of air with a 12" speaker.

Posted

If it's only for practice and recording?

 

Absolutely, without a doubt, the Blackheart Little Giant 5 watt combo, or the Little Giant 5 watt head and 12" cab. Great Classic Rock tone, creamy all tube saturation. Loud enough for small gigs too. It's also got a 3 watt switch. Don't let these small numbers fool you, this amp is loud! Check out some vids on You Tube.

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blackheart-BH5112-5W-1x12-Little-Giant-Tube-Combo-Amp?sku=481675

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blackheart-BH5H-and-BH112-Half-Stack?sku=483078

Posted
If it's only for practice and recording?

 

Absolutely' date=' without a doubt, the Blackheart Little Giant 5 watt combo, or the Little Giant 5 watt head and 12" cab. Great Classic Rock tone, creamy all tube saturation. Loud enough for small gigs too. It's also got a 3 watt switch. Don't let these small numbers fool you, this amp is loud! Check out some vids on You Tube.

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blackheart-BH5112-5W-1x12-Little-Giant-Tube-Combo-Amp?sku=481675

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Blackheart-BH5H-and-BH112-Half-Stack?sku=483078[/quote']

 

Do you think the Little Giant is better than the Valve Junior?

Posted

 

Do you think the Little Giant is better than the Valve Junior?

 

 

 

Yes,

 

It has a warmer tone and greater pick response.

 

Also, it's got a 3-band EQ and a pentode triode switch to choose between 3 watts or 5 watts. None of these features are on the Valve Jr.

Posted

 

Yes' date='

 

It has a warmer tone and greater pick response.

 

[/quote']

 

i dont know about that....it's the same amp with an EQ.

 

if you didnt like the VJ,then i wouldnt buy the Little Giant. i had both and wasnt impressed by either one.

Posted

 

i dont know about that....it's the same amp with an EQ.

 

if you didnt like the VJ' date='then i wouldnt buy the Little Giant. i had both and wasnt impressed by either one. [/quote']

 

I had the VJ combo, so I am not sure if it was the amp or the 8' inch speaker that was the problem. I liked the clean sound I got out of the amp, but it would get dark and muddy at higher volumes.

 

 

Is this true of the Blackheart head + cab?

Posted

Blue that has to be one of the worst web sites I've ever of having the displeasure to read (aka: Little Lanilei 3350LT).

 

They only list a 12au7 and 12ax7a tube (which should only get you about a 1/4watt or so) BUT...

 

They state: "built in power soak to a Solid state class "A" booster "

 

Then they state: "Class "A" bipolar "Booster" output stage, NO IC’S!!!! "

 

So what is it? Solid State that's not solid state?

 

what they're using transistors instead of IC's for the power out? well solid state is still solid state.

 

Why too funny in their spec's for me.

Posted
Do you think the Little Giant is better than the Valve Junior?

 

Oh, hell yes! At one point I was using two VJ heads in stereo through one 2-12 cab and the Little Giant still kicked their collective ***. And it takes pedals real well.

 

I can't comment their 1-12 cab since I only used my Little Giant head through a 2-12 Avatar with one Celestion G12H30 and one Celestion Vintage 30. However, that Avatar cab fits your price range and it is very nice sounding. It makes for a big practice rig but it manages to sound full without needing to be blisteringly loud.

Posted

 

Oh' date=' hell yes! At one point I was using two VJ heads in stereo through one 2-12 cab and the Little Giant still kicked their collective ***. And it takes pedals real well.

 

I can't comment their 1-12 cab since I only used my Little Giant head through a 2-12 Avatar with one Celestion G12H30 and one Celestion Vintage 30. However, that Avatar cab fits your price range and it is very nice sounding. It makes for a big practice rig but it manages to sound full without needing to be blisteringly loud.[/quote']

 

Surf,

 

Would I have to do any upgrades on the Little Giant? I can pull my JJs out of my Valve Junior. I can also salvage the Hammond OT from it. Does the Little Giant all have a good output transformer?

 

I am attracted to this setup—a Little Giant head with an Avatar speaker cab. I figure if the Little Giant doesn’t work out, I still have a great cab I can use with an upgraded head in a few years.

 

Would the sound be a little warmer than a VJ and a blues junior?

Posted

Blue,

 

If you can do the Hammond swap, I would recommend it. I got a tighter bass and smoother treble from mine that way. The stock Blackheart tranny is a bit more substantial than the Valve Junior, but not as stout as the Hammond. You will definitely want the JJs over the stock tubes.

 

Is it warmer? Yes. It is still a lower cost amp with a PC board in it, but to my ears it was a great improvement over the tone I was getting from the VJ -- especially with the Les Paul -- more natural, and I liked having the TMB controls. Can't compare to the Blues Junior as I haven't owned one - sorry.

 

As for the Avatar cab - I agree with your thinking. It will serve you well with any reasonably powered head. It has done so for me. I have two - one currently lives under my Tiny Terror the other under my CeriaTone 18w Marshall clone. Great cab at a great price IMO.

Posted
Blue' date='

 

If you can do the Hammond swap, I would recommend it. I got a tighter bass and smoother treble from mine that way. The stock Blackheart tranny is a bit more substantial than the Valve Junior, but not as stout as the Hammond. You will definitely want the JJs over the stock tubes.

 

Is it warmer? Yes. It is still a lower cost amp with a PC board in it, but to my ears it was a great improvement over the tone I was getting from the VJ -- especially with the Les Paul -- more natural, and I liked having the TMB controls. Can't compare to the Blues Junior as I haven't owned one - sorry.

 

As for the Avatar cab - I agree with your thinking. It will serve you well with any reasonably powered head. It has done so for me. I have two - one currently lives under my Tiny Terror the other under my CeriaTone 18w Marshall clone. Great cab at a great price IMO. [/quote']

 

Does the little giant have enough power to drive a cab with a 12 inch celestion speaker

Posted

I used the 2-12 Avatar as I mentioned previously. Plenty of power. I generally kept it at about 9 o'clock when the wife was home! 8-[

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
Got the tweed BJ. Love it. (FYI: the NOS tweed version has a Jenson speaker--stock has eminence)

Sorry bout that. I thought it was Eminence. I A-B'd them at GC about a month ago and loved the tweed.

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