zvex amps... this thing is tiny

  • Thread starter Thread starter msly
  • Start date Start date
Thanks for the link. I'd seen that amp before but had forgotten about it.

What's the MSRP?
 
...oh, and as a comment, I'd say that the one thing I don't like about this little fella is the difficulty in tube replacement. Looks like it could be kind of a bitch.
 
Zaphod B said:
Thanks for the link. I'd seen that amp before but had forgotten about it.

What's the MSRP?
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About US$450, I believe.
 
i know that i want one! i missed a guy selling one used on another message board by like 20 minutes (someone else snatched it up).
i'm trying an epi valve junior with a weber micromass attenuator first. if that proves still to be too loud, i may grab one of these, though i'm trying not to have to pay full price and then still have to buy a friggin' cabinet too!
 
That Zvex sounds like doggie doo to me. You can easily get that type of sound from a cheap diode distortion box.
 
ocnor said:
That Zvex sounds like doggie doo to me. You can easily get that type of sound from a cheap diode distortion box.
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you talking from your own experience? the nano sounds awesome and 110 % tube. loud too for it's size and wattage.

and you don't have to worry about tube replacement. the micro tubes they use for it were developed for the military end of the 60's and represent the total highlight of tube technology. they hardly wear or break down.
 
ocnor said:
That Zvex sounds like doggie doo to me. You can easily get that type of sound from a cheap diode distortion box.
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To My ears I thought it had a nice fat tube sound... but I guess my 30 years of playing and owning probably every tube and solid state amp means nothing.... LOL
 
msly said:
To My ears I thought it had a nice fat tube sound... but I guess my 30 years of playing and owning probably every tube and solid state amp means nothing.... LOL
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To each his own. I've also been playing since the 70's and I've owned quite a few amps. My idea of a "nice fat tube sound" would be Van Halen, Judas Priest, or the Scorpions. The micro tubes in the Zvex just can't get the big and warm spongy sound that comes from 5881 or EL34 tubes. IMHO even a V-amp or Pod sound more like a tube amp is supposed to than the Zvex does.
 
Can an owner (or borrower) post some clips? I wouldn't mind owning one if they sound good and were less expensive. I suspect that you could build one for a lot less. Z's stuff usually sounds top notch.
 
I had one. Wish I didn't sell it.

It sounds great. I sold it to get the last few shekels for a THD Bivalve.

I ran it through an old 70s Marshall 4x12...bit of a one trick pony...but what a trick !


Nathan
 
US$450? for a half watt?? yes it's tube and all that, but.. well i guess you could mic. it. but i much rather get a 100W solid state head than a half watt tube.. but then again I've alway's prefferd solid state over tube (and yes, I've playd a fair veriaty of both) but you can't seem to get a real clean sound from a tube, thats why i use tube dist. pedal... but seriosly you could probably build a 1/2 watt tube amp for less (salvaging tubes of corse) size is'nt to important.

edit: I know I probably just pissed every one off on this thread.. (sorry)
 
ocnor said:
To each his own. I've also been playing since the 70's and I've owned quite a few amps. My idea of a "nice fat tube sound" would be Van Halen, Judas Priest, or the Scorpions. The micro tubes in the Zvex just can't get the big and warm spongy sound that comes from 5881 or EL34 tubes. IMHO even a V-amp or Pod sound more like a tube amp is supposed to than the Zvex
does.
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well the Van Halen sound etc.... is really a more over saturated sound.... which I do like also.... but a driven tube sound like a fender black face..... sounds more like a true tube distortion.... but to say the clips sound like shit... is really not fair... they do sound like a good AC/DC blues rock sound... maybe not metal... but a true tube sound..... it in no way sound like a fuzz box... but like you said to each his own... pEace....
 
i tried a nano head through an orange cab and i thought it was silly and gimicky.

i would rather spend the $450 on the gibson GA5 5 watt les paul jr amp. (or $99 for the valve junior) at least im getting a handwired great sounding amP right out of the box. the nano amp did not impress me and for $450 it was retarded.
 
Nick_Black said:
US$450? for a half watt?? yes it's tube and all that, but.. well i guess you could mic. it. but i much rather get a 100W solid state head than a half watt tube.. but then again I've alway's prefferd solid state over tube (and yes, I've playd a fair veriaty of both) but you can't seem to get a real clean sound from a tube, thats why i use tube dist. pedal... but seriosly you could probably build a 1/2 watt tube amp for less (salvaging tubes of corse) size is'nt to important.

edit: I know I probably just pissed every one off on this thread.. (sorry)
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I'd rather have a 1/4 watt amp that sounds great than a 400,000 watt amp that sounds like shit.
For the most part, for recording, less is more. You are trying to push output tubes and you cant much do that with a 100 watt amp without blowing down the walls. You DEF dont want to push a solid state, yuk.
Check out the 5 watt I posted about in another thread. Find me a solid state ANY wattage that sounds better than that and I'll buy it right now.
 
tubedude said:
I'd rather have a 1/4 watt amp that sounds great than a 400,000 watt amp that sounds like shit.
For the most part, for recording, less is more. You are trying to push output tubes and you cant much do that with a 100 watt amp without blowing down the walls. You DEF dont want to push a solid state, yuk.
Check out the 5 watt I posted about in another thread. Find me a solid state ANY wattage that sounds better than that and I'll buy it right now.
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speaking of 1/4 watt amps, i was looking at the songworks little lanelei. i still might get one of those if the guy who makes them has resumed doing so.
as for your 5 watt english kit, i actually know a guy who makes mid range to "boutique" amps and if i can track hi down, i will ask him about making one when i get back home from my thanksgiving family visit. i might want one too!
 
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