ShortScale.org

UK shortscalers, we may, finally, have our semi-cheap equivalent of the $99 Duosonic. Except it's an amp. And £165.

Linkety

Power Tone Volume Input
Power Tone Volume Input

I am smiling at you, while having no clue what you're on about.

I want that. I don't need it even in the slightest but I want it. It's almost too cheap to resist.

Ridiculously cheap.

From what I can tell it distorts pretty much straightaway, which I guess is what you expect with a 5Watt amp.

To paraphrase euan ' I cannae do it'.

I already have a 6w amp I like a lot and I can't justify another similar sized amp just because it's so cheap.

I just found it odd that everything is labeled twice. Is that normal?

Sure, it's cheap, but is it much use to anyone?

Cheep as chips as the Duke would say!

I wish I could.

That's only £30 more than I paid for my Orange Crush 30R a couple of years ago. Took the back off that the other day as I was bored, yikes, how cheep did that look????? The only thing going for it was the spring reverb. Unbranded 4ohm 40w speaker, the electrics aren't even boxed, they all sit in an 'L' shaped metal plate which is screwed to the back!!!

Forgive me here but what use are these 5w amps (not just this particular model) to anyone in relation to cost? They seem to be fashionably on the uprise lately.
I understand the need for a 'practice' amp but some of these type of amps are like £300. Its good for bedroom playing and perhaps the yearly outing to the studio to record, but what else?
I dont get it.

someone opened a market, everyone wants to be in the party.

Who are they aimed at? Bedroom Noel Gallaghers with more money than sense?

initially people who wanted a cheap valve amp - epi junior
then other manufacturers starting bringing out more expensive ones which actually creates a market.

timhulio wrote:Power Tone Volume Input
Power Tone Volume Input

i got it.

why is the left front corner swollen, like?

Fran wrote: Its good for bedroom playing and perhaps the yearly outing to the studio to record, but what else?

You just explained it. I don't play guitar in a band and I'm not likely to, I don't want to play through some shit ss practice amp all the time, but I can't be cranking a 40W tube amp in my bedroom, so I bought a 5W tube amp that sounds nice at reasonable volumes. Tbh, at £169 that's still quite expensive for what it is. I think I paid £90 for my EVJ. I'm sure that will sound nicer than the EVJ but not double the price nicer.

Gavin wrote:

Fran wrote: Its good for bedroom playing and perhaps the yearly outing to the studio to record, but what else?

You just explained it. I don't play guitar in a band and I'm not likely to, I don't want to play through some shit ss practice amp all the time, but I can't be cranking a 40W tube amp in my bedroom, so I bought a 5W tube amp that sounds nice at reasonable volumes. Tbh, at £169 that's still quite expensive for what it is. I think I paid £90 for my EVJ. I'm sure that will sound nicer than the EVJ but not double the price nicer.

Aye, they are expensive for what they are as there is no scope beyond the bedroom.
Most 30w - 40w valve amps operate on the basis they will be used at low volumes besides gigging volume, the pre amp section is often separate to the master, nowadays there is no need to crank the amp to push the valves like your playing at Stonehenge.
Considering you can buy several second hand valve amps of this size for £300 and upwards i dont see the point in these 5 watters.

I gig with a five watt amp.

How long has the AD5 been out for? I knew nothing of it.

Fran wrote: Most 30w - 40w valve amps operate on the basis they will be used at low volumes besides gigging volume, the pre amp section is often separate to the master, nowadays there is no need to crank the amp to push the valves like your playing at Stonehenge.
Considering you can buy several second hand valve amps of this size for £300 and upwards i dont see the point in these 5 watters.

This is true but.........perhaps this Youtube demo by Realdocloco of a couple of 5W amps can convince you of their value as a quality practice amp.



For me, I think the deal is you get a decent tube sound from such a small, light amp. It takes up no room. Easy to just pick up and go, you can stroll about the house and check out the acoustics of each room without breaking your back. Easy to take round to your mates for a jam session....
horses for courses I guess.