kcearl
I see deaf people
Cheers, the ones ive got coming are desrcibed as audio valves...but im thinking this may be the start of a micro collection so ill look out for that book
Cheers, the ones ive got coming are desrcibed as audio valves...but im thinking this may be the start of a micro collection so ill look out for that book
kcearl
I see deaf people
If you're looking for a low watt tube amp, try the Egnater Tweaker 15w. I bought one a couple/few weeks ago, & I'm still amazed at how good this little amp sounds. Running it through a 1x12 Greenback cab, it's awesome. Fender-ish cleans, Marshall-ish crunch/drive, & can even do metal with a boost pedal. Best $400 I ever spent on gear. Another plus is you can use pretty much any tube in the power section (It comes stock with 6V6's, but you can use EL34's for example). I'm planning on buying a couple sets of 6P3S's (Russian made), as I've heard these tubes really make this amp shine. The only setting I don't think sounds convinving enough is the AC/Vox tonestack, it's ok, but not as good as the Marshall (Brit) or the Fender (USA).
Of course, it's only 15 watts, but it is pretty loud for such a small amp. I can say if you're looking for the Marshall "roar" (just like Greg mentioned), buy one of the 50 or 100 watt Marshalls & be done with it. While I'd love to have one, it just isn't gonna happen here at home. The Tweaker is plenty loud for what I do, & one of the 50/100w beasts would be overkill for my use, I'd never be able to appreciate/use the power tubes being pushed on a 50/100w amp, so the Tweaker works for me, YMMV.....
Looks the business!
aaronmcoleman
The truth is out there!
The rebel 20 was one of those amps i had to mess with a lot to get a sound i really liked, but once i did i liked it a lot.
But, you're right, some folks really like one thing while others don't get too inspired...i don't like any Humbuckers (so sue me), shh don't tell jimmy page.
kcearl
I see deaf people
well my lil one arrived an hour ago...been playing it with my latest axe (as you geetarists say) and its a disaster....its way way way too fucking loud for my apartment lol
five watts my arse...i think its even louder than my 15 watt Vox...the cabinet takes 30 watts
so Ive no idea what it sounds like breaking up...i tried a pedal in front of it and Ive no idea how that sounds either haha
it has some nice cleans at low volume though
five watts my arse...i think its even louder than my 15 watt Vox...the cabinet takes 30 watts
so Ive no idea what it sounds like breaking up...i tried a pedal in front of it and Ive no idea how that sounds either haha
it has some nice cleans at low volume though
aaronmcoleman
The truth is out there!
who said 5w was quiet?
5w is still loud, but you can get some breakup at LOWER volumes than bigger wattage amps. When you're in an apartment the only options are 1) ampsims, 2) clean amp with pedals for OD, and 3) piss off neighbors.
5w is still loud, but you can get some breakup at LOWER volumes than bigger wattage amps. When you're in an apartment the only options are 1) ampsims, 2) clean amp with pedals for OD, and 3) piss off neighbors.
E
ecc83
Well-known member
There are (at least) two separate design philosophies going on in the 5W amplifier I am familiar with.
Yes Mr Aa, 5 watts IS loud, 106dBSPL from any self respecting guitar speaker! But it is way down on the destructively high SPL of a 30 or 100watt output stage and in many situations a very fair approximation of a big amp can be wrought from a 5wattter if correctly designed (e.g. It was found that the op stage had to be push-pull just like the big boys). So, loud yes but not as anti-social as a 100W stack and FAR less tiring/damaging to all about it. Then of course such an amp is a fraction of the size, weight and cost of the biggy.
For the bedroom jockey, an overdrive channel can be provided that can produce dirt at any degree of filth at any volume. Ok, no one is suggesting that such system (essentially a VERY good pedal!) is absolutely the same as a smoking 100W rig but many people find it very acceptable for recording and low level practice.
Dave.
kcearl
I see deaf people
power attenuator
Btw this five watt is as loud as my Vox 15 watt..i have another 5 watt and an 8 watt and this is waaaaaaaaay louder..plus we have cardboard earthquake proof walls here..its a nightmare for noise
kcearl
I see deaf people
I was using an overdrive with it today...soinded nice but i want to hear the tubes overdrive...so ill stick an attenuator on it...that should fix the loudness problems
E
ecc83
Well-known member
Yes, " attenuators" (or power soaks as I prefer to call them) can be very useful. The difficulty can be in picking the right one for a given amp/speaker/desired sound combination. One gets various reports..."thin, screechy and wimpy"..and "tone sucked and dark". And tho' these seem contradictory results they can actually both obtain for the same power soak on different amp/speaker combinations!
Pop over to Music Gear, Equipment, Tuition & Reviews | MusicRadar The guys there have tried a shedload of combinations.
Dave.
G
Greg_L
Banned
lol @ an attenuator on a 5 watt amp. That's awesome. 
That's a cool little rig KC. I like it. Yeah 5 watts is not quiet. If you really want cranked tube sound at apartment friendly volume, I think you need like 1 watt or less. The new one watt Marshall heads (750 bucks, Lol) will scale down to .1 watts, and only then is it truly conversation volume with saturated tube sound. The Tubemeister, another 700 dollar head, will also scale way down. But 5 wide open watts will be loud. I tried em out, they work. My problem with that is that the speaker stays kind of stiff and brittle sounding when you're not kicking it in the butt. So it's like a trade-off. Ear-friendly volume is nice, but you're leaving a bunch of the table in the form of not getting the speaker and cab involved.
That's a cool little rig KC. I like it. Yeah 5 watts is not quiet. If you really want cranked tube sound at apartment friendly volume, I think you need like 1 watt or less. The new one watt Marshall heads (750 bucks, Lol) will scale down to .1 watts, and only then is it truly conversation volume with saturated tube sound. The Tubemeister, another 700 dollar head, will also scale way down. But 5 wide open watts will be loud. I tried em out, they work. My problem with that is that the speaker stays kind of stiff and brittle sounding when you're not kicking it in the butt. So it's like a trade-off. Ear-friendly volume is nice, but you're leaving a bunch of the table in the form of not getting the speaker and cab involved.
JCH
El Nacho
Hell yeah! why not? They're easy to make. I've built a few. L-Pad (Driver Attenuation Circuit) Designer / Calculatorlol @ an attenuator on a 5 watt amp. That's awesome.
kcearl
I see deaf people
Im going to get one for my wifes mouth too lol
kcearl
I see deaf people
kcearl
I see deaf people
lol @ an attenuator on a 5 watt amp. That's awesome.
That's a cool little rig KC. I like it. Yeah 5 watts is not quiet. If you really want cranked tube sound at apartment friendly volume, I think you need like 1 watt or less. The new one watt Marshall heads (750 bucks, Lol) will scale down to .1 watts, and only then is it truly conversation volume with saturated tube sound. The Tubemeister, another 700 dollar head, will also scale way down. But 5 wide open watts will be loud. I tried em out, they work. My problem with that is that the speaker stays kind of stiff and brittle sounding when you're not kicking it in the butt. So it's like a trade-off. Ear-friendly volume is nice, but you're leaving a bunch of the table in the form of not getting the speaker and cab involved.
Yeah i read somewhere its actually kicking out 16 watts of sound, and because i want it cranked, then the noise levels come in...it was actually too loud for me, let alone neighbours..plus like my singing, im pretty self conscious about my playing...synths, not so much
G
Greg_L
Banned
Bladow! Lolz....
16 watts is enough power to drive a guitar in a typical garage band, bar gig setting. That's pretty loud. Without ever having fiddled with an amp like yours, I would suspect that the lack of separate preamp and power section controls means that your amp has to be cranked to get into tube saturation? Is that how it works? I had an 18 watt tube head that actually pumped out approx 25-29 watts, and it was loud as fuck through a 2x12 or 4x12 cab. Actually, my 50 and 100 watt heads don't get significantly louder as far as pure decibels go, but the sound is way meatier and thicker. It seems a lot louder because of the percussive punch behind it, but I'm not so sure they're actually much louder.
kcearl
I see deaf people
That makes sense, yeah you have to crank it, one volume knob...i have a zoom g3 and its got some pretty good overdrives but it seems to miss the point sticking a digital pedal in front of it...i just want to learn about micing amps and recording them...the power soaks can be pretty pricey but ive found a boutique one for fifty bucks thats for 16ohms so ill give it a try...look out townsend
G
Greg_L
Banned
That makes sense, yeah you have to crank it, one volume knob...i have a zoom g3 and its got some pretty good overdrives but it seems to miss the point sticking a digital pedal in front of it...i just want to learn about micing amps and recording them...the power soaks can be pretty pricey but ive found a boutique one for fifty bucks thats for 16ohms so ill give it a try...look out townsend
That's cool. You'll be shredding 80's cockrock leads soon enough.