Ultra-low watt tube amplifiers

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punkin

punkin

Univalve & Avatar Speaks
This may seem a bit weird but, sometimes you just can't crank up the mesa...the neighbors, the wife...the dog. They just don't seem to like it as much as I do.

I have a power divider which lets me turn up the power a bit and keep the speaker volume down (only slightly) but, to get the tubes into saturation...OMG! Still more than most are willing to tolerate for extended periods of time.

I've been looking for a super low power tube amp...like 1 watt or less. Even the 10 watt units I've played when driven nice and hard are too much. I travel and stay in hotels quite a bit and I would like to take something along just for practicing and maybe some recording experiments. I'm sure most of you will suggest a pignose or something small/transitor type. But I'm on a mission for a tube solution if possible.

I spotted one made by Z Vex. but would like to check into other options if they exist. Any ideas?
 
Something to remember: speaker sensitivity. Most specs are at 1 watt @ 1 meter. A speaker that has 95 db sensitivity is going to put out 95 db three feet away with a one-watt amp. It's gonna be loud when it's cranked up. Maybe someone makes one with a master volume so you can get distortion at like 1/4 watt.
 
That Goldtone is pretty dang loud. The original 50s Gibson Skylark (6V6 version) is only about half the volume and sounds like a little stack.
 
You need to check out Steve's (UpstateNY on this forum) custom hand wired amp. It uses 1 interchangeable power tube and is straight tone. Look in the for sale section or send him an email. He's not only got a cool product, but he's the nicest guy on this board and you won't find a single person who doesn't love him!

If you put a 1w yellowjacket in that, you'd have a 1 watt tone machine.

H2H
 
Thanks all. Seriously, I'll look into each and every one of your suggestions. I also found a dealer near me that has a ZVex Nano-Head 1 watt tube amp. I'm going to demo it later this week. I'll let you know how that turns out. The guy at the store told me that even though this is a 1 watt amp, it packs a respectable punch. He warns me that it won't be a silent killer but, compared to my 50 and 100 watt units, it will be much tamer.
 
punkin said:
Thanks all. Seriously, I'll look into each and every one of your suggestions. I also found a dealer near me that has a ZVex Nano-Head 1 watt tube amp. I'm going to demo it later this week. I'll let you know how that turns out. The guy at the store told me that even though this is a 1 watt amp, it packs a respectable punch. He warns me that it won't be a silent killer but, compared to my 50 and 100 watt units, it will be much tamer.
Click to expand...

That looks totally cool!! :D
I bet you could build a little 6" or 8" cab that would sound good.
 
I can vouch for the Zvex sounding good but its still loud (I heard it through a 4x12 though so take that with a grain of salt).
 
when you say you stay in hotels - does that mean you fly? Meaning you need something extra portable? If that is the case, the nano might be exactly what you need - even has a tiny built in speaker if I recall.

Is the amp from UpstateNY the one that can run on batteries? Those are so cool to me - maybe more versatile than a nano.

Other suggestions - The old silvertone with amp in case sound nice and are like 2 watts - at least the 1 pickup version. The 2 pickup red ones have more like 6-8 watts and a larger speaker and even tremolo on some of them.

Other off the wall idea - do you use a computer to record? Or do you just want to play? I have gotten good results with the GT Tube Ditto DI. Get some nice growl, and it is tube (though obviously not power tubes). I know you are looking for guitar solutions, but I can get the best motown bass sound direct - and great guitar sounds too.
 
My suggestion for hotels is a Pod and some headphones. Unless you like getting kicked out of hotels....or you have management who take care of such things and has the hotel give you your own floor.

H2H
 
I found an old Kalamazoo (Gibson before Epiphone for anyone too young to remember) at a yard sale, paid $20, was pleasantly surprised by the watt and a half across an 8 inch speaker. It aint fancy, just volume tone and tremelo but it's a killer low wattage practice amp.
 
I don't know what your price range is, but check out the microbaby by emerysound. It's exactly what you need.

http://www.emerysound.com

Or you could just get a power soaker like a thd hotplate.

http://www.thdamps.com/products/hotplate.htm

Edit: I missed the part about traveling and staying in hotels. The nano-amp would probably be better for that, but for studio stuff I'd say get an emerysound or a power soaker.
 
I have a Garnet 5W tube amp, and it is still take-the-paint-off-the-walls loud. I second a POD for this setting (actually, a Vox ToneLab would be better).
 
Thanks all. Some really good suggestions.

Someone asked if I fly...yup...lots, hotels...usually extended stay or furnished appartments.

The power soaker I've already got but I don't care to ship the big beasty and it's cabinet anymore.

The POD and the nano head are the two suggestions popping out right now and the prices are about the same.

Again, thanks for the ideas.
 
i don't understand the big deal. just turn the fuckin volume down. who cares about saturation if all you're doing is practicing.
 
I didn't realize this got elevated to "big deal" status.

Simply put, I've got the funds, I hate packin' a big ass head or even a combo unit around (it's a pain in the ass in the airports plus baggage) and, as I noted in my original post, I was also intending to do some recording with the thing...saturation at that point does become kinda nice and if it can be had at a lower volume...tada! the best of both worlds.

To those who offered info toward my quest, I say thanks. :)
 
If you know how to read schematics, and use a soldering gun,... heres a site with links to plans for building your own,.....


www.AX84.com


and there are many different ways to go on your quest,... including having me build you one,.....


Under $500

Steve
 
I demo'd and bought the ZVex nano head amp today...I'm a happy camper. :)

At first the thing looks like a toy, but play it into a speaker cab and the thing simply cooks!. It's got a mini speaker inside which doesn't sound "hi-fi" but it passes for monitoring/practicing but most of all, a nice edgy sound when cranked up (1/2 watt).

This thing is almost coat pocket size and sounds very cool but probably not for jazz but heck yea for rock-n-roll. I'm thinking a very practical solution for those who can't crank the big toys without a disturbance of the peace complaint from the neighbors.

I have no connections to the company...simply a pleased shopper offering a bit of feedback on a product I recently purchased. I did look into the POD and Vamp stuff but I guess I'm stuck in the old school ways.

Thanks all for the input.




sjl
 
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