Best boutique lunchbox/mini amps for hard rock?

[oddguitar]

Hello all,

Super long-time lurker finally posting for the first time. Here's the situation: I have a Bogner Ecstacy half-stack that I absolutely love, however my gigging days are over for the foreseeable future (no time) and a 100 watt head is total overkill for nighttime bedroom playing. *post edit* I have no intention of selling my Bogner, I just need something that is quieter and more portable (lugging a half stack to a friend's house to jam is a total PITA!)

So, in lieu of this, I'm searching for lower wattage lunchbox or mini amp that will still sound good at bedroom levels. I'm looking for rock to metal tones and want quality.

I've tried the Friedman amps and was very impressed with them. Others that look intriguing are the Bogner Atma, Mesa Mini Rec, Suhr Badger/Corso, EVH 5150 III LBX.

What are your recommendations?

Thanks in advance for your help.

-oddguitar

 

[Findthetone1]

It really depends on what you want to spend. Sub $1000 category has a lot of options. I have a 6505mh and am pretty impressed with it. The EVHlbx seems cool though it lacks a clean channel. I'd have to say given the current market trends for small amps your looking at the right time.

 

[Rdodson]

I've had my ATMA for a year and a half and still love it. It is a great amp. I've gigged mine both live and it the studio and it is fantastic.

 

[Elric]

The mini Jubilee that was announced @NAMM looks like pure s*x. Not boutique, but probably a future collector's item, fo sho.

https://marshallamps.com/products/ampli ... i-jubilee/

It is EL-34 based unlike a lot of minis.

 

[Badronald]

Keep the Bogner and buy a Fryette Power Station.

 

[rottingcorpse]

Keep the Bogner and buy a Fryette Power Station.

Bingo!

 

[Rick Lee]

Go retro. GK 250ML for $300ish. I still have mine from 30 yrs. ago and it sounds amazing.

 

[cecilbag]

The mini Jubilee that was announced @NAMM looks like pure s*x. Not boutique, but probably a future collector's item, fo sho.

https://marshallamps.com/products/ampli ... i-jubilee/

It is EL-34 based unlike a lot of minis.

I didn't realize these were el34. That makes them much more appealing to me. Thanks for the heads up

To the OP. If you dig your Bogner, the atma demos sound great and the features seem to make it the most versatile.

 

[andross182]

Take the mini rec off your list, it is no bedroom amp by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[ghosty999]

Go retro. GK 250ML for $300ish. I still have mine from 30 yrs. ago and it sounds amazing.

Just put new drivers/speakers into my GK 250ml, re-painted it and had it serviced. Speakers took 6 months to be made and shipped! And they where wired out of phase... so had to get that sorted, now they are in and it sounds great. The 250ml is VERY loud, like stupidly loud for it's size. It can be plugged into 2 4x12s and it will still have plenty of headroom. Its very solid state and comrpessed sounding. You can open the top of the amp and play with the trim pots, it can be pushed into death metal territory if wanted haha. The clean channel with compression and chorus is quite close to an ADA-MP1 classic 80s clean sound. Love it

 

[Speeddemon]

Engl Ironball (does hard rock well, but can do high gain modern metal too, way tighter than a Mini Rec! and at reasonable volumes too),

maybe the Peavey Classic 20MH?

 

[GOHOINC]

Atma. If you like the ecstasy this should be your go to. They just released the combo version too.

 

[Beyond Black]

I've got a Ceriatone Yeti and it absolutely destroys for modded Marshall tones. It's as good as any modded Marshall that I've had. I'd say give the 20 watt Son of Yeti a shot. If it sounds like its father, it'll kill.

 

[oddguitar]

Take the mini rec off your list, it is no bedroom amp by any stretch of the imagination.

Even at the 10 watt setting?

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

I honestly did not like the high gain tones of the ATMA. It just wasn't pleasing. Archon 25 and Mark 25 would be my go to choices. Nod to the mark 25 for versatility on top of great high gain tones at low volume. That eq is crucial for low volume.

 

[Encapsulation]

I honestly did not like the high gain tones of the ATMA. It just wasn't pleasing. Archon 25 and Mark 25 would be my go to choices. Nod to the mark 25 for versatility on top of great high gain tones at low volume. That eq is crucial for low volume.

Really weak mid-gain blues and classic rock tones on the mark 25.

I'm hoping the Atma will be better when it arrives tues.

 

[Speeddemon]

I honestly did not like the high gain tones of the ATMA. It just wasn't pleasing. Archon 25 and Mark 25 would be my go to choices. Nod to the mark 25 for versatility on top of great high gain tones at low volume. That eq is crucial for low volume.

Really weak mid-gain blues and classic rock tones on the mark 25.

I'm sorry, but then you obviously haven't explored Channel 1's Fat and Crunch modes.

As it currently is, I'd be perfectly fine with having the Mark V:25 as my desert island mini amp and see my sig of what the competition is...

 

[andross182]

Take the mini rec off your list, it is no bedroom amp by any stretch of the imagination.

Even at the 10 watt setting?

Yeah even at 10 watts. The volume difference between 25w and 10w is really minor (unless you are playing channel 2 on modern). Realistically the way to tame this amp for bedroom levels is a flat EQ in the loop where you control the return volume.

 

[Encapsulation]

I honestly did not like the high gain tones of the ATMA. It just wasn't pleasing. Archon 25 and Mark 25 would be my go to choices. Nod to the mark 25 for versatility on top of great high gain tones at low volume. That eq is crucial for low volume.

Really weak mid-gain blues and classic rock tones on the mark 25.

I'm sorry, but then you obviously haven't explored Channel 1's Fat and Crunch modes.

As it currently is, I'd be perfectly fine with having the Mark V:25 as my desert island mini amp and see my sig of what the competition is...

I have for hours actually, through multiple cabs. While they sounded decent(just decent), those modes are useless to me without having a clean channel to switch to.

 

[Speeddemon]

I honestly did not like the high gain tones of the ATMA. It just wasn't pleasing. Archon 25 and Mark 25 would be my go to choices. Nod to the mark 25 for versatility on top of great high gain tones at low volume. That eq is crucial for low volume.

Really weak mid-gain blues and classic rock tones on the mark 25.

I'm sorry, but then you obviously haven't explored Channel 1's Fat and Crunch modes.

As it currently is, I'd be perfectly fine with having the Mark V:25 as my desert island mini amp and see my sig of what the competition is...

I have for hours actually, through multiple cabs. While they sounded decent(just decent), those modes are useless to me without having a clean channel to switch to.

O.k., but if you want a bluesy classic rock gain channel + a true clean channel, most likely something like an Egnater Rebel 30 would be more up your alley.