Tiny But Powerful Amps

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:51 am

So I'm looking to have a portable amp that I can take with me when I have to use public transport, preferably one with a carry bag.

The snag is that is has to be able to keep up with a LOUD drummer whilst staying as clean as possible.

I've tried a ZT Lunchbox and although it was nice it didn't have very much bass.

I've also heard about the Phil Jones AAD AG-100 but apparently that can't keep up with drummers.

Does anyone know of any others that are a similar size/price?

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:55 am

A Hayden little Mofo? Played a gig with another band once, and the guitarist turned up with his head in a bag over his shoulder, and used my cab, the cheek!
Not sure how much clean headroom they have though.

Jack

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:32 am

you'd probably need an EQ pedal to go with it. and a cab. obviously.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:37 am

Hows about the ZT club 12, with the 12 inch speaker it'll give you much more bass.

I've been close to buying one may times....

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:57 pm

stewart wrote: 44 Magnum

you'd probably need an EQ pedal to go with it. and a cab. obviously.

This is what I'm thinking for New Zealand. I'll buy a second hand Marshall cab out there, because I can't imagine the price on one changing much after one year of ownership.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:10 pm

I saw this recently.

link

I don't know anything about it but if you're going to look into pedal sized amps it's one to consider. Audio and Video samples are on that page.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:12 pm

stewart wrote:Electro-Harmonix44Magnum

you'd probably need an EQ pedal to go with it. and a cab. obviously.

or the calibre 22 was what I was going to suggest for portability.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:25 pm

get liek a pod/direct box and plug into pa?
if your going small and CLEAN, stay away from the tiny tube ampz

James · Post by **James** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:47 pm

Sloan wrote:if your going small and CLEAN, stay away from...

..Tila Tequila

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:23 pm

James wrote:I saw this recently.

Diago Little Smasher

I don't know anything about it but if you're going to look into pedal sized amps it's one to consider. Audio and Video samples are on that page.

I also saw that. Â£30 more than the EHX 44 Magnum. I wonder how 5w compares to 44w in these amps. I suspect that power ratings aren't much of an indicator of anything for some reason.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 6:46 pm

othomas2 wrote:Hows about the ZT club 12, with the 12 inch speaker it'll give you much more bass.

I've been close to buying one may times....

I watched a few samples earlier, this looked great.

Anyone heard an archtop through the ZT lunchbox acoustic? Theres one video of the guy from 300guitars on youtube but he has way too much treble dialed in.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:30 pm

CRATE POWER BLOCK!

You can still find them on ebay and i have to confess mine is one of the best purchases i have ever made. Stroll in, borrow someone's cab or DI to the desk.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:42 pm

Fran makes a good point. I should never have sold it!

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 8:27 pm

i wanted a powerblock for ages but they're not all THAT easy to find for a decent price anymore.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:31 am

You should have said, i had two not long ago..

Jahsoul · Post by **Jahsoul** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:49 pm

I played the ZT Club and it did have great bass. I also played through a cab and that sounded even better. I think they are great combos, however, I'd never want to only have that amp. It is solid state as hell, which is no problem, but it sounds cold at times.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:06 pm

Fran wrote:CRATE POWER BLOCK!

You can still find them on ebay and i have to confess mine is one of the best purchases i have ever made. Stroll in, borrow someone's cab or DI to the desk.

+1, they are on CL quite often in my parts of the co, $100-150

SeismicProfile · Post by **SeismicProfile** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:27 pm

Fender 85 or Fender Deluxe 85. They can be found pretty cheap and they are very loud and very clean. It's probably been said before but Jonny Greenwood also used this as his main amp for sometime. It's solid state but it gets the job done if your looking for a good clean amp. Handles pedals great as well. Good luck.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:50 pm

SeismicProfile wrote:Fender 85 or Fender Deluxe 85. They can be found pretty cheap and they are very loud and very clean. It's probably been said before but Jonny Greenwood also used this as his main amp for sometime. It's solid state but it gets the job done if your looking for a good clean amp. Handles pedals great as well. Good luck.

That looks interesting, I can't find any decent demos though, but if it accepts pedals well thats always a bonus.

foll · Post by **foll** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:21 am

Jonny Greenwood uses 85's dirt channel, which takes pedal really well. You can hear that in Devi Ever's demos too.

ZTamp would be fine with large cabs, not too far from a powerblock.

If you want small and clean, solid state is the only way to go.

I used a catalinbread DLS as "preamp" into zt lunchbox by its own at a gig. It was loud enough to compete with a twin reverb, and sound decent.