Let's talk low wattage amps!

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rlord1974

rlord1974

Active member
So, I'm looking for you to share.....

I plan on running a two-amp (heads and cabs) rig. One amp will be a Matchless, and the other I would like to be:
* all tube
* of similar or lower wattage (e.g., 40 watts maximum, 15 watts minimum)
* able to get some good low end (this is a requirement, as the Matchless will not have a huge 'girth' to its tone) and perhaps a lower mid voicing (but am open to other amps with an upper mid voicing)
* able to do classic to modern rock, but metal is not in the game plan
* one good channel (dirty) is probably enough
* needs to clean up well with the guitar's volume knob

As I intend to "dime" this second amp and run it as a second crunch/gain voicing concurrent with the Matchless, the amp needs to be loud when dimed, but not so loud that club owners are going to have a fit!

Accepting suggestions. :rock:
 
The first thing I thought after reading your post was... Soldano Astroverb.
 
drewiv":17j9mset said:
The first thing I thought after reading your post was... Soldano Astroverb.
Click to expand...

Hey Drew:

I'll check it out. However, I tend to think something along the lines of a Dr. Z or Germino might be the way to go, but I could be WAY off base and, hence, the need for this thread!

:lol: :LOL:
 
Hmmmm. Definitely has "the look"! :D

soldano-astroverb-16-head.jpg


Have you played one Drew? Can it keep up with a loud drummer?

Keep the suggestions coming! :thumbsup:
 
It's only a single channel, but I think a Dr Z Rt 66 would sound huge along side a Matchless Independence. I tried one (into a Fender Tonemaster 2x12) alongside my 2x12 Chieftain back in '99 and it was an absolutely amazing duo.
 
rlord1974":3pjm92m9 said:
Hmmmm. Definitely has "the look"! :D

soldano-astroverb-16-head.jpg


Have you played one Drew? Can it keep up with a loud drummer?

Keep the suggestions coming! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

My buddy has one (combo version). He claims it can be quite loud and can hang in gigging situations (he used it at an outdoor fest a couple weekends ago). The way he describes it is very similar to the aspects you were looking for in your OP. If interested I can lead him to this thread for his input.
 
Mini Recto head.

Had an Astroverb combo. Not bad but didn't have any character. Flat. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough.
 
Check out this little fucker, lol. Gobs of gain and bite. The comparison is not all fair because of the volume difference (the YJM is much louder obviously), giving you the impression the Marshall simply has more balls/punch, but I dunno, sounds pretty cool for a 5 watt head! The dude shoulda played more chords so you could really hear the difference as opposed to all the single notes zipping by.

"Less talk, more play" starts about halfway in...

 
fender blues deluxe. Had to leave my 4x12 and bassman head at home. Played thru my friends deluxe 1x12 combo and a fulldrive pedal, and it sounded amazing!
 
If your thinking Dr. Z check out the Z28,Maz series (probably Maz18) or the Monza, all of those are about 20 watts or so. Route 66 IS LOUD when cranked. Killer amp but will piss the sound guy off if your running it dimed.
 
tripstan":1b32caqa said:
If your thinking Dr. Z check out the Z28,Maz series (probably Maz18) or the Monza, all of those are about 20 watts or so. Route 66 IS LOUD when cranked. Killer amp but will piss the sound guy off if your running it dimed.
Click to expand...

Thanks - good to know. What is the Maz series all about anyways? What tones do they have?

Yeah, the goal here is to run the amp WIDE OPEN to really get the power tubes breathing/working. As such, if diming an amp is WAY TOO LOUD, it isn't the right amp for this application.......

Keep the suggestions coming!
 
Fargen Olde 800 25 watt :rock:

I think this would be a great amp for what you're looking for. It may be too loud dimed though...
 
rlord1974":2huzn6e5 said:
tripstan":2huzn6e5 said:
If your thinking Dr. Z check out the Z28,Maz series (probably Maz18) or the Monza, all of those are about 20 watts or so. Route 66 IS LOUD when cranked. Killer amp but will piss the sound guy off if your running it dimed.
Click to expand...

Thanks - good to know. What is the Maz series all about anyways? What tones do they have?

Yeah, the goal here is to run the amp WIDE OPEN to really get the power tubes breathing/working. As such, if diming an amp is WAY TOO LOUD, it isn't the right amp for this application.......

Keep the suggestions coming!
Click to expand...
I've never played the Independence, but the Rt 66 at 32 watts is probably a very close volume match for its 35 watts...it was for my 40 watt Chieftain. As long as they are running into speakers of similar efficiency, they should be a good match, albeit a fairly loud one. I'd just get a plexiglass shield and have at it (that's my plan for my new amp)...there's really no other way to get the best out of those amps.
 
For years, I thought the Germino Masonette was the best lower wattage amp out there (25w JTM clone), but the Reinhardt Storm 33w is even better. Great classic Marshall tones and can get nasty and gainy, with a big low end, up to a hot rodded 800, which the Masonette can't. And it can do all this at less than gig volume.
 
How about a Bad Cat Tremcat? 30 watts with a half power switch down to 15... I wasn't expecting what I heard when I heard one. It can get a great rocking tone and cleans up well. It's the first combo I bought in a long long time. Might be a sick combination with a Matchless and I might have to sell mine :doh: (kids not because of tone).
 
loudgtr":oewq15jl said:
Fargen Olde 800 25 watt :rock:

I think this would be a great amp for what you're looking for. It may be too loud dimed though...
Click to expand...

Just checked this amp out online. I'm very intrigued. However, does it have more low end/low mid girth than a normal Marshall JMP or JCM 800? The amp I want has to have a little more than you would get out of a Marshall 2203/2204......
 
Check out the Morris: White Crow.

It's a 2 channel, loud 30 watt head with an EFX loop and a great master volume so you won't piss off club owners :)
Has a ton of bottom end and voiced for classic/hard rock. Sounds really good with lower gain settings too.

Couple of other bonuses...it's all canadian and i have one here in T.O. you can check out if you like.
http://www.morrisamps.com

Here's a clip i did with it that i've posted before...a bit long , but you get the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3c3w1SYSVU
 
Marshall 1974X
Jet City JCA22H
ENGL GIGMASTER 15
Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 or 5
 
Anybody have thoughts on:
* Fargen Olde 800 MKII
* Reeves Custom 30 MKII

???
 
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