MLD88 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hi guys, Recently bought a Korean epiphone sheraton and I'm looking to buy a small tube practice amp. Does anyone recommend one? I've been looking at the Laney cub 8 which seems cool and is reasonably priced - anyone got one of these? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hi guys, Recently bought a Korean epiphone sheraton and I'm looking to buy a small tube practice amp. Does anyone recommend one? I've been looking at the Laney cub 8 which seems cool and is reasonably priced - anyone got one of these? Cheers Hi, I've got a Peavey Royal 8 Valve King 5W. They are really cheap from Thomann at the moment as they're end of line, I think. Features: Gain, Master, Tone, Hi/Low gain inputs, Headphone socket (No point) This amp takes pedals really well and is apparently a very good modding platform. Tricks- Don't use too much pre-amp gain- get most of your gain by cranking the master (unless you want to swap out that particular tube for something less hot); keep the tone control about 12 O'clock. I play mine a lot at low volumes, running it clean and using my pedal board to get my various distorted tones and effects. When I'm in the mood (and in the house alone) I crank up the master volume and just add a touch of analog delay with my pedal board for a Marshallesque experience. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD88 Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Hi, I've got a Peavey Royal 8 Valve King 5W. They are really cheap from Thomann at the moment as they're end of line, I think. Features: Gain, Master, Tone, Hi/Low gain inputs, Headphone socket (No point) This amp takes pedals really well and is apparently a very good modding platform. Tricks- Don't use too much pre-amp gain- get most of your gain by cranking the master (inless you want to swap out that particular tube for something less hot); keep the tone control about 12 O'clock. I play mine a lot at low volumes, running it clean and using my pedal board to get my various distorted tones and effects. When I'm in the mood (and in the house alone) I crank up the master volume and just add a touch of analog delay with my pedal board for a Marshallesque experience. Alan Yeah that's another one I saw when searching the net. I'm exactly the same, I'll only now and again be cranking it up as it will just be used in the house, and I'm going to be plugging an effects unit into it. Thanks for the feedback. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Correction: Meant to say that tone is best set at 12 O'clock and above. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 That said, Martin............ If I was buying again I'd spend a bit more and get either the new Marshall class 5 (now with an attenuator in it) or the New Blackstar HT5R with the onboard reverb (or even the new HT-1R). I'm kind of waiting for the Marshall Class 5 to come with a few more features (Spring Reverb please Marshall). These low wattage valve amps are moving forward all the time it seems. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD88 Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 That said, Martin............ If I was buying again I'd spend a bit more and get either the new Marshall class 5 (now with an attenuator in it) or the New Blackstar HT5R with the onboard reverb (or even the new HT-1R). I'm kind of waiting for the Marshall Class 5 to come with a few more features (Spring Reverb please Marshall). These low wattage valve amps are moving forward all the time it seems. Alan I was actually looking at a class 5 today which was on sale in a music shop close to me. Down to £280.00! Bit out of my price range but looked a cracking amp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29Tudor Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I have, and really like, a Fender G-Dec Jr. Small, versatile, and loud enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I have, and really like, a Fender G-Dec Jr. Small, versatile, and loud enough. Yeah, but it's not a tube amp. I've been thinking of getting an Egnater Tweaker 15, has Brit/USA tones and everything in between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casino4Life Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I just purchased a Vox Pathfinder 10 to use with my Casino, and it has worked out quite nicely. Think of it as a mini AC 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I havn't got it yet (cash flow is too slow) but I am intending to get the Laney Cub 12. Not that the Cub 8 or 10 are not good but the 12 has more (not just more volume but more valves and more features)! Whichever one you get, you are getting all valve tone from a reputable manufacturer at a great bang-for-your-buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 The Vox Pathfinder 15R is a greaat little S/S state amp but it's incredibly loud and tubelike for a 15W S/S.It has a great reverb and a killer tremolo circuit plus headphone and boost footswitch jacks.Unfortunately they're not being made any more but they keep popping up on ebay etc from $75-$90.The Vox and Marshall modelling amps are also worth looking into as they have great effects&models and they can even run a 4-12 cab pretty well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mud guy Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I don't know know if you can get traynor in the U.K. (you'd think with Canada being a humble colony ;-)). I got a traynor dark horse, 15 watt or 2 watt (switchable), brit (marshall) pure (bypasses tone stack) and u.s. (fender) modes. I sold my vox ac4tv10 pretty fast after I got this. In the 2 watt mode it doesn't use an attenuator, instead it uses a 12AU7 tube as a power tube giving it a very distinct sound. Nice tube overdrive that doesn't drive the wife nuts, and nice an loud in 15 watt mode. It's like 6 amps in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I don't know know if you can get traynor in the U.K. (you'd think with Canada being a humble colony ;-)). I got a traynor dark horse, 15 watt or 2 watt (switchable), brit (marshall) pure (bypasses tone stack) and u.s. (fender) modes. I sold my vox ac4tv10 pretty fast after I got this. In the 2 watt mode it doesn't use an attenuator, instead it uses a 12AU7 tube as a power tube giving it a very distinct sound. Nice tube overdrive that doesn't drive the wife nuts, and nice an loud in 15 watt mode. It's like 6 amps in one. Now that is a very interesting amp. I may have to see if I can find one of those to try out. My favorite small amp, and they can be a little hard to find, is the Peavey Classic20. Great low volume tone, really responds to good tube upgrades and has the headphone jack. When I first got my Ric12, I got two of them and ran it in stereo. Where they really shine is pushing a 4X12 cab. Should be able to find one for $200-250. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mixhouse Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I really like the Fender Super Champ XD; it's good for both around the house and gigging in small clubs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouth58 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Blackstar HT1R (very wide gain range) Fender Champion 600 (simple but sounds great). Like previous posters said: Vox Pathfinder 15R or 10. They sound and look great and as cheap as a Boss pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxStrat Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 After trying several amps I decided to go with the Fender Blues Jr. NOS. 15watts and great tone at low and high volumes. The only thing I didn't like about it was it doesn't ( or didn't until I added one) have a standby switch. I think all tube amps should have a standby switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I think everyone thinks all tube amps should have a standby switch except the manufacturers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpplayer Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I have to put a vote in for the Epi Valve Junior. I have the combo model. 5 watts gives me enough power to play the backyard jam band gigs that I do- has no trouble keeping up with the rest of the band. The amp takes pedals well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blofeld Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I'm another happy Casino/ Pathfinder 10 user! Not a tube, but sounds like one. I think they're fabulous sounding amps for the price. I might try the little ACTV one day, which is a tube, but the Pathfinder does everything I need so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I really liked the sound from Alan's Peavey Royal 8 Valve King 5W, but, they have gone back up in price now that the major stockists have sold out. Thinking to myself that a Vox vt40+ would be a good compromise for me, especially with the wattage dial, so I can turn it down without messing with tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_edward Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 No love for the Blackheart? I have a 3w/5w BH5H - I switched out the tubes for Mullard's but other than that it’s bone stock. Anyone who plays it seems like it and there are lots of mods out there if you like to tinker. It sounds great and takes pedals well, if you use a pedal like a Tube Screamer that has a level control, you can get some nice crunchy and overdriven tones at low volume – if you mic’d it in 5 watt mode, you could gig it. Although I’ve never played one, Blackheart also make a 1 watt single ended class A tube amp (BH1H), that you can buy for $125 – pretty hard to go wrong – buying a responsive tube amp for that money. There are many opinions about what type of cabinet you might play any low wattage amp through, but there are as many options open as there are opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I took delivery of my new Vox VT40+ today, tube in the power amp, solid state pre amp. A great feature for me is you can vary it anywhere between 0 and 60 watts while still retaining the drive/effects/harmonics. I did crank it up full earlier, making sure my neighbours were out, and its very loud. Current playing at at night turned to about 1/4 watt and it still sounds great. Going to take me a while to get my head round all the features, 33 amp simulators, and 22 pedal effects + 3 reverbs . just using the AC 30 and the US Blues sims atm also a not bad acoustic guitar sim. A lot of amp for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I took delivery of my new Vox VT40+ today, tube in the power amp, solid state pre amp. A great feature for me is you can vary it anywhere between 0 and 60 watts while still retaining the drive/effects/harmonics. I did crank it up full earlier, making sure my neighbours were out, and its very loud. Current playing at at night turned to about 1/4 watt and it still sounds great. Going to take me a while to get my head round all the features, 33 amp simulators, and 22 pedal effects + 3 reverbs . just using the AC 30 and the US Blues sims atm also a not bad acoustic guitar sim. A lot of amp for the money. Congrats, Pete. How does my old LP Studio sound through it with her Gibby pups? I hope you're enjoying her! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 The Fender Blues Jr. is an exceptional little amp and really enhances the best qualities of whatever you plug into it.MY Epi L.P. Trad Pro sounds just like a PAF Les Paul through my Blues Jr. and my Casinos just ooze out the true Beatle vibe through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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