Low Wattage Amps

[HillbillyDeluxe]

I play in a basic bar band that covers music, so I tend to use lower wattage amps because in my opinion anything over 25 watts is overkill when you're being mic'd. Currently running a Mesa Subway Rocket 22 for cleans and a Blackheart BH5H for my dirty. Any suggestions on some other under 15 watt amps that I could put in place of the BH5H for my dirty channel?

We are primarily blues and country, by the way. And my budget is anything under about 750 bucks.

 

[Mailman1971]

Here is a nice little 7 watter that a member let me borrow.
I made this Metal clip....but it can do other tones.
Custom made for $650 thru Baron amps!

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=117900

 

[racerevlon]

Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 or 5.
Blackstar HT-5
Epiphone Valve Junior 5W with a good pedal up front.
ENGL Gigmaster 15
Marshall Class 5 with a good pedal up front.

Everything except the Hughes & Kettner amps you should be able to find used cheap.

 

[Joeytpg]

Egnater stuff:

Tweaker
Rebel
Detroit

 

[gibson08]

Deluxe Reverb and a Zendrive.

 

[HillbillyDeluxe]

Any of y'all hear of the DV Mark Galileo 15? I've been checking that out lately.

 

[The Hoff]

Mesa Mark V is pretty sweet. Good for all venues.

 

[HillbillyDeluxe]

Mesa Mark V is pretty sweet. Good for all venues.

Wouldn't be anywhere near my budget.

 

[gibson08]

Any of y'all hear of the DV Mark Galileo 15? I've been checking that out lately.

No, FWIW, do you like it?

 

[Badronald]

For that kind of music a Deluxe Reverb and a good overdrive pedal. There are many to choose from. I've had great luck with Hermida, Fulltone, Xotic, Keeley, Lovepedal......

 

[Audioholic]

I have had an Engl gigmaster 15 for awhile and dig it, 2 usable channels. I am not using it though, actually any amp at the moment, so if you are interested in that amp, hit me up and I can sell it to ya and give more info.

 

[HillbillyDeluxe]

For that kind of music a Deluxe Reverb and a good overdrive pedal. There are many to choose from. I've had great luck with Hermida, Fulltone, Xotic, Keeley, Lovepedal......

Already have my pedal board set up. Modded everything to true bypass etc etc. Using a Mesa Bottle Rocket OD and a VooDoo Lab Sparkle Drive.

 

[Badronald]

For that kind of music a Deluxe Reverb and a good overdrive pedal. There are many to choose from. I've had great luck with Hermida, Fulltone, Xotic, Keeley, Lovepedal......

Already have my pedal board set up. Modded everything to true bypass etc etc. Using a Mesa Bottle Rocket OD and a VooDoo Lab Sparkle Drive.

Deluxe Reverb = Blues & Country

 

[Burn]

I'm GASsing hard for a Cornford Harlequin right now. I'll buy it when I get to England in september, but it might be a little more gougy-ly priced over there in the US. It sure sounds absolutely gorgeous though.

There's also a higher wattage version called the Hurricane. You might want to check these out: http://cornfordamps.com/audio.htm (especially clips 3 and 27)

Swart amps look pretty sweet too. I think they're a little bit cheaper and more American voiced.

 

[rupe]

one more for the Deluxe Reverb.

And yet another...one of the best amps ever made IMO.

 

[Burn]

one more for the Deluxe Reverb.

And yet another...one of the best amps ever made IMO.

Do you mean the reissue? Is it really that good?

 

[retrojet]

I'd seriously look at the Egnater Tweaker

 

[blackba]

Small amps are the rage now, so there are a ton of options.

Since you want some dirt, I would look into the following:
Egnater Tweaker 15 or Detroiter 5
Orange Tiny Terror or Dual Terror
Oranger OR15H

These may not be the best for a Blues or Country, but I think you will find one that has the crunch sound you want.

 

[Chris6870]

If you look at the specs side by side, the H&K Tubemeister 18 is hard to beat. 2 channels with boost on the lead channel, 1,5 or 18watt mode. Built in red box for line out, fx loop, big trannies, auto bias. .Small and light as a feather. And the clean channel sounds really good.There are any options out there but most seem to be lacking in one area or another, like the Tweaker is one channel, Jet City 20 is one channel and has no loop,Rebel 20 was a decent amp but lacked a bit in gain for me.

 

[HillbillyDeluxe]

If you look at the specs side by side, the H&K Tubemeister 18 is hard to beat. 2 channels with boost on the lead channel, 1,5 or 18watt mode. Built in red box for line out, fx loop, big trannies, auto bias. .Small and light as a feather. And the clean channel sounds really good.There are any options out there but most seem to be lacking in one area or another, like the Tweaker is one channel, Jet City 20 is one channel and has no loop,Rebel 20 was a decent amp but lacked a bit in gain for me.

One channel won't matter all that much to me if it is a low enough wattage that I can near max the thing out. I've been using my Blackheart BH5H on the 3 watt setting at about 3 o'clock and it works, just looking for something to change it up a bit. I won't really need good cleans out of it since I'm using my Subway Rocket 22 solely for that. Effect Loop isn't necessary either as I run everything out front. I've been lately, just running my Subway Rocket with a Keeley Modded DS-1 and it sounds stellar for what I do. Just kinda miss the 2 amp set up. In all honesty, I've been checking out that Ibanez Tube Screamer amp out. Lol.