Mini Heads

[Detroit1973]

Of all the Mini Heads Which are the Best Sounding? I play music in the style of Agnostic Front, Terror, Madball & i live in a Duplex so i'm looking for something that i can use at night. I'm looking to spend $600.00 Max.

Thanks in advance.

 

[nightlight]

I have three mini heads that I like a lot.

1) Mesa Boogie Mark V:25: This one is great, may miss a bit of the grunt of the larger Mesas, but has plenty of punch and tone. Has a 25-watt and 10-watt mode.
2) Victory Kraken: Maybe a little hard to find state-side, but it's compact and can go up to 50 watts, though it has a half power mode and even a 1-1/2 watt mode. Kind of like a British 5150.
3) PRS Archon 25: This amp is a beast. I only acquired it a couple of months ago, but it has grown on me. Such oversized tone for a 25-watt combo. Has a half power mode (13W). While most people don't like Celestion G12T-75 speakers, the pairing in the combo is something special.

You may be able to find them used within your price range, so don't jump at the first ad you see and be prepared to play a waiting game.

There's also one more amp that I have heard really good stuff about: the Peavey 6505MH. Supposed to be a real monster and is available new at under $499. You should be able to find a used one for about half your budget, and then be able to spend the rest on getting a good cab to go with it.

Happy hunting!

 

[dstroud]

I've got a Peavey 6505 mini and a Marshall DSL1. I would recommend either of those depending on what tone you dig. They are very different but both sound awesome.

 

[dfrattaroli]

Can only speak for the Mark V:25 and Friedman PT-20. Both great. The Mesa is really great.

 

[snowdog]

the problem with these are EL84's

 

[Rex Rocker]

I have a Krank Rev Jr. and a Randall RD1H.

The Krank sounds absolutely killer, but it needs some volume to sound its best. It's definitely not duplex-at-night-friendly. The Randall sounds good at low volumes, but it doesn't have the full-size-amp-like open airy top-end or deep thumping low-end of the Krank.

 

[paulyc]

Engl Ironball.

 

[Detroit1973]

Engl Ironball.

I'll have to check that out.

 

[glassjaw7]

The mini Jubilee sounds really good but possibly not the best to nail the tones you're after. But it does have EL34s

All of the Victory stuff looks/sounds great in demos. I'd love to try those out, as well as the PRS Tremonti head.

 

[paulyc]

Also, there’s a clip on here somewhere of psychodave playing his self modded Jet City 20 and it fucking kills, if I could get one of those that would be my first choice bar none.

 

[sleewell2]

i'd get a quilter and use some pedals. tube amps at apartment volumes is almost always disappointing.

 

[Detroit1973]

The mini Jubilee sounds really good but possibly not the best to nail the tones you're after. But it does have EL34s

All of the Victory stuff looks/sounds great in demos. I'd love to try those out, as well as the PRS Tremonti head.

The Tremonti one sounds awesome & i'm not really a tremonti fan.

 

[napalmdeath]

Another vote for the Mini MK V 25. I loved it.

Oddly enough, the best amp I've had for low volume was the EVH 50 watt head. Excellent volume taper, sounds killer at low volume. If I was concerned with being super quiet, that would be my choice.

A DSL20 might be up your alley as well.

 

[Detroit1973]

Another vote for the Mini MK V 25. I loved it.

Oddly enough, the best amp I've had for low volume was the EVH 50 watt head. Excellent volume taper, sounds killer at low volume. If I was concerned with being super quiet, that would be my choice.

A DSL20 might be up your alley as well.

The EVH is what i'm leaning toward now.

 

[shred-o-holic]

Engl Ironball.

Make that a double. I got mine in a trade a couple years back. It's a keeper. More fun with it than any of the prior larger ENGLs I have owned. Used it out live and rehearsals. Kept right up with 100 watt amps. Love it. I was all about an LBX before I got this one. That thought went away.

 

[shred-o-holic]

i'd get a quilter and use some pedals. tube amps at apartment volumes is almost always disappointing.

I own a quilter besides the Ironball. I have to disagree but I don't live in an apartment. But plenty of times I have the ENGL pretty low and it slays. The Quilter can get damn loud as well. Also keep in mind amps like the Ironball (some others too) have power scaling.

 

[shred-o-holic]

The mini Jubilee sounds really good but possibly not the best to nail the tones you're after. But it does have EL34s

All of the Victory stuff looks/sounds great in demos. I'd love to try those out, as well as the PRS Tremonti head.

The Tremonti one sounds awesome & i'm not really a tremonti fan.

I would think that would be an intriguing amp..

 

[Beyond Black]

Another vote for the Mini MK V 25. I loved it.

Oddly enough, the best amp I've had for low volume was the EVH 50 watt head. Excellent volume taper, sounds killer at low volume. If I was concerned with being super quiet, that would be my choice.

A DSL20 might be up your alley as well.

Agreed, the EVH 50 watt still sounds awesome at low volumes. Also check out the PRS MT-15. It is a vicious little fucker.

 

[D-Rock]

$600 and done.

 

[japetus]

$600 and done.

I finally got a chance to check one of these out. I tried it through a Marshall 1960 cab.. I was floored at how massive and thick it sounded. It's not usually the type of tone that I go for but man, what a great sounding amp. I actually think the clean channel might have enough headroom to keep up with a band too.