I shouldn't have brought digital into the discussion. Oh well...
I like the small amp sound, but I think my point is that most solid state amps can get that sound as well or better than these tube amps. And do it cheaper.
I've wanted a small tube amp for years, but I've yet to find one that offers something tone-wise a comparably sized SS doesn't. That's the bullet-point. Whatever slight improvements come from using tubes, I think is masked by the small form factor.
Real Talk Time: 5W budget tube amps
Moderated By: mods
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hotrodperlmutter
- crescent fresh
- Posts: 16665
- Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:29 pm
- Location: Overland Park, KS, USA
i fought about this for a while with myself. i loved the look of the blackhearts, and the epiphone valve junior things. they were gorgeous, but never did give me the warmth i was seeking. i needed a reason to stop loving my pathfinder so much, as it's a combo, and i wanted a head i could run some bigger cabs with.
after grueling testing times, i was ultimately put off by the hassle. i should've been blown away immediately. i never was, and just said fuck it.
my pathfinder is hands down the greatest bedroom amp i've ever played. and i found it in a head/cab configuration, and i run the head into a 2x12 wharfdale combo, and i love it in an extreme way.
after grueling testing times, i was ultimately put off by the hassle. i should've been blown away immediately. i never was, and just said fuck it.
my pathfinder is hands down the greatest bedroom amp i've ever played. and i found it in a head/cab configuration, and i run the head into a 2x12 wharfdale combo, and i love it in an extreme way.
So I just traded my Fender Champion 600 for a Harley Benton GA5 and €100
I basically felt like someone just gave me €100. The amps are pretty much he same, except that the GA5 has an "EQ" knob and the speaker is larger. With both amps the clean sound is great but the dirty sound is really only good for leads. They both had great blues tone. The Harley can handle pedals a little bit better, but that's still not saying much. All in all, if you buy a Fender Champ 600 over a Harley Benton GA5 you're a sucker and live in suckerville where your sucker wife makes you sucker-tash for breakfast.
However, niether of them will provide you with Albini tones.
I basically felt like someone just gave me €100. The amps are pretty much he same, except that the GA5 has an "EQ" knob and the speaker is larger. With both amps the clean sound is great but the dirty sound is really only good for leads. They both had great blues tone. The Harley can handle pedals a little bit better, but that's still not saying much. All in all, if you buy a Fender Champ 600 over a Harley Benton GA5 you're a sucker and live in suckerville where your sucker wife makes you sucker-tash for breakfast.
However, niether of them will provide you with Albini tones.
