5W Tube combos - BUYING THE TREND

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:11 am

Got a few bucks to spare and I'm looking for a highly portable, simple amp.
So far my front runner is the Champ 600 - I tried it out once (albeit with a junky squier tele) and really liked the tone. Also, they're about the right size for me and look great.

There are other options, though:
Epi Valve Jr. - tried out (under not-ideal settings) and thought it was a bit tubby sounding. I also don't like the look.
Crate Palomino V8 - haven't tried, but in the price range
Peavey Valve King 8 - haven't tried, but I have Peavey loyalty. I've heard it's raspy w/ single coils, which is all I have.
Blackheart Little Giant - tried out, liked well enough. A little big, though (and emo-looking).
Fender Vibro Champ - haven't tried, but like reverb and such. Two-edged-sword is that it isn't the simplicity I'm looking for and it's a bit heavy.

The guitars are a Ric 325 copy (highest output of the bunch), a 335 w/ lipsticks and a tele bridge PUP, and my Eko 290.

I'm looking for a strong clean tone with little to no distortion (cranked the 600 and it stayed pretty clean) - even then, I'll probably put low-breakup groove tubes in. I DO NOT want Marshall crunch or blues tonez. I DO want a speaker jack, which I believe all these have. Trying to keep it under $250, but could sell my bassman for something great. This will mostly be for dormroom practice and a regular rehearsal w/ piano and drums.

Thoughts? Opinions? Anything else I should look into before I make a final decision?

dodgedartdave · Post by **dodgedartdave** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:40 am

buy a Blues Jr. It's 15 watts and WAY better then any of those amps. You can find em all day long used on craigslist for $250.00.

Just my opinion.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:58 am

dodgedartdave wrote:buy a Blues Jr. It's 15 watts and WAY better then any of those amps. You can find em all day long used on craigslist for $250.00.

Just my opinion.

I like the Blues Jr., but it's WAAAYYYYY too loud for the dorm and too heavy to carry the 1/2 mile to practice - definitely looking for about 5 watts and under 20lbs.

dodgedartdave · Post by **dodgedartdave** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:04 am

DuoSonicBoy wrote:
dodgedartdave wrote:buy a Blues Jr. It's 15 watts and WAY better then any of those amps. You can find em all day long used on craigslist for $250.00.

Just my opinion.
I like the Blues Jr., but it's WAAAYYYYY too loud for the dorm and too heavy to carry the 1/2 mile to practice - definitely looking for about 5 watts and under 20lbs.

How bout's a Pro Jr.? Ever try those? Great amp and only 2 knobs.....

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:16 am

dodgedartdave wrote:
DuoSonicBoy wrote:
dodgedartdave wrote:buy a Blues Jr. It's 15 watts and WAY better then any of those amps. You can find em all day long used on craigslist for $250.00.

Just my opinion.
I like the Blues Jr., but it's WAAAYYYYY too loud for the dorm and too heavy to carry the 1/2 mile to practice - definitely looking for about 5 watts and under 20lbs.
How bout's a Pro Jr.? Ever try those? Great amp and only 2 knobs.....

I like the looks of it, but it's still over the top for the dorm - we're looking for conversation-level volume, here! And 2x as heavy as the 600.

dodgedartdave · Post by **dodgedartdave** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:30 am

DuoSonicBoy wrote:
dodgedartdave wrote:
DuoSonicBoy wrote: I like the Blues Jr., but it's WAAAYYYYY too loud for the dorm and too heavy to carry the 1/2 mile to practice - definitely looking for about 5 watts and under 20lbs.
How bout's a Pro Jr.? Ever try those? Great amp and only 2 knobs.....
I like the looks of it, but it's still over the top for the dorm - we're looking for conversation-level volume, here! And 2x as heavy as the 600.

When I lived in the Dorms, I played a Fender M-80. It's a crappy amp, but loud as Fuck. They all hated me, but at the same time, wanted to be me. I may be the wrong person to ask.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:55 am

Dude, I can play my 50w watt 2x12 half stack at conversation volume, it's not like big amps won't go quiet- you just go master the "low register volume dial jiggle".

And a 15w amp isn't gonna be 3 times as loud as a 5w amp. Plus a 5w tube amp won't stay clean at band practise levels.

superfuzz · Post by **superfuzz** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:28 pm

Gretsch now "Make" a 5 watt jobber, though it is essintally a Fender Champ from looking at it. Those blues, and pro, juniors are apprently really good amps. I have yet to actually try one out though.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:10 pm

dodgedartdave wrote:When I lived in the Dorms, I played a Fender M-80. It's a crappy amp, but loud as Fuck. They all hated me, but at the same time, wanted to be me. I may be the wrong person to ask.

When I lived in Uni accomodation we had a guy a couple of flats down who started campaigning for some committee using a mic into his stereo that he stuck on a chair outside his window. We stuck a mike through my Marshall and shouted him down. LOLz

iCEByTes · Post by **iCEByTes** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:24 am

loved the Palomino look

its very classy

really cool for an little amp

got high score at consumers judge
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=487826

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:53 am

Of the amps you listed, I'd take the Vibro Champ in a heartbeat.

I must be misunderstanding your comments though, as the Champs didn't have reverb, are very light, and were about as simple an amp as was ever made. Easy to repair & keep up, probably simpler than any other amp you listed. . .esp. if you got a straight Champ (no trem).

Will · Post by **Will** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:21 am

drasp wrote:Of the amps you listed, I'd take the Vibro Champ in a heartbeat.

I must be misunderstanding your comments though, as the Champs didn't have reverb, are very light, and were about as simple an amp as was ever made. Easy to repair & keep up, probably simpler than any other amp you listed. . .esp. if you got a straight Champ (no trem).

The new fender vibro champ is a tube 5W combo with variable preamp voicings and DSP effects ($249 too!!!!). I like the idea, but I really want something dirt simple, which is why I'm leaning towards the one knob Champion. The champ also has a 4ohm speaker out so I can use my 2x12 cabinet if needed.

My girl and I are going to guitar center on friday to check some things out with my own guitars - I'll also be looking at a Vox AD15 valvetronix, FWIW.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:48 am

Ah, didn't realize you were talking about the XD. Yeah - does nothing for me. However, you may be able to find an original Champ for somewhere near your price range and THAT would be sweet.

Actually, there is one for sale right now on the HCFX Spam thread. Nice SF Champ that would walk all over the 600.