Mini Heads

[hammered]

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.

After owning the 5150 50 watt I wouldn`t call it a mini that thing was beastly loud and weight wise it was fairly heavy . You can get great deals on them

 

[D-Rock]

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.

After owning the 5150 50 watt I wouldn`t call it a mini that thing was beastly loud and weight wise it was fairly heavy . You can get great deals on them

I agree, but Fender actually does call it the Mini 5150III. Probably because the 100 Watters is so effin HUGE!

 

[Speeddemon]

While the EVH 50W is nice, it's nowhere near as versatile as the Mesa Mark V:25. Also, sure while it has bigger glass and iron, it's also double the weight.

Owning both the Ironball and the Mark V:25, I can attest to each of their strengths;
both can sound quite massive through a 2x12 or 4x12 and lose some of the typical EL84 tone. Both are built well and sturdy and weigh almost the same (Engl 15.4lbs, Mesa 16.5lbs).

Engl Ironball's pros:
-great, tight high gain sounds
-very functional powersoak (20W/5W/1W/off)
-footswitchable gain-boost that works on both channels
-footswitchable reverb (digital, but lovely sounding!)
-footswitchable master volume boost
-clean channel is nice, but not mindblowing. You can crank it into AC/DC territory though.

Mesa Mark V:25's pros:
-best mini heads cleans, BAR NONE.
-Crunch mode friggin' awesome and versatile; too bad it's on the Clean channel.
-super versatile with 6 modes in 2 channels.
-seperate reverb controls for each of the channels
-individual channel EQ's including presence
-Graphic EQ for more tone-shaping

For low volume playing, the Mesa's volume knobs can be very touchy. The Engl does this better and the powersoak helps even more.
The Mesa is more middy (so you'll need the graphic EQ to counter that), whereas the Engl is a bit dark/middy and you'll need to crank the treble and presence a bit.
Engl is more instant gratification, will remain tight sounding, whereas with any Mesa Mark, you'll best RTFM, if it's your first rodeo with a Mark.
The Mesa does have the annoying fan, which I've replaced with a Nanoxia Deep Silent (same air flow, 1/10th of the noise).

In the US, the price difference is $100 or 200, but in Europe, the Mark V:25 is more than DOUBLE the price of the Ironball. Something to keep in mind. And used, they're sometimes even close to TRIPLE the price of an Ironball (~€1400-1500 vs €500-600).

Having owned the Jet City JCA22H, while it can do a rendition of the Soldano thing, it's quite fizzy, needs at least the Resonance mod to bring some girth to the table, it's also not as versatile as either of these. I will say that Psychodave's modded JCA20 did unleash the fookin' fury!

And yes, the PRS MT15 looks promising too; simple layout, big glass, apparently good cleans and good gain tones, for a mere $600.

 

[D-Rock]

I should also say that I highly recommend the 50w 5150III. I probably play it more than my MT15.

 

[nightlight]

One thing to keep in mind is that a bigger amp doesn't necessarily mean you won't be able to play at normal conversation volumes, especially if it has a good master volume.

I shot a video where I was testing out a Soldano Avenger 50 in the middle of the night through a 4x12. Tone isn't fabulous through the ipad I was recording with, but in the room, it was really nice, punchy and clear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xib45HR0zY

 

[lowmantotempole]

$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.

A lot of people find it a little thick however... It’s loaded with ECC 83 preamp tubes. Take a look at the tube layout. If you replace a few with 12AT7 tubes it thins it out a little bit and helps the clean channel. Did that to mine. Amazing how much of a difference it made.

Those big bottle power amp tubes help with the bottom end.

 

[D-Rock]

$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.

A lot of people find it a little thick however... It’s loaded with ECC 83 preamp tubes. Take a look at the tube layout. If you replace a few with 12AT7 tubes it thins it out a little bit and helps the clean channel. Did that to mine. Amazing how much of a difference it made.

Those big bottle power amp tubes help with the bottom end.

Yup, been there. I was one of the very first to take shipment and experiment with AT7s in this amp. I then outlined the results on the PRS forum, TGP and other forums leading to others users giving it a try, and eventually recommending it.

 

[Norton666]

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.

The EVH LBX is an insane amp for the money. Can easily hang with a band and it also sounds great at bedroom levels.

 

[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.

The EVH is what i'm leaning toward now.

The EVH LBX is an insane amp for the money. Can easily hang with a band and it also sounds great at bedroom levels.

I actually prefer the 50 over the LBX. I had an LBX, but I thought the volume taper sucked. It was too loud at low volumes, and the power scaling was a major tone suck.

Oddly enough, another favorite of mine for low volume was the 120 watt Triple XXX! That amp killed at whisper volumes!

 

[D-Rock]

Oddly enough, another favorite of mine for low volume was the 120 watt Triple XXX! That amp killed at whisper volumes!

Absolutely! I get GREAT tones with both my XXX and JSX at whisper levels. Even better now that I run them both at 60w

 

[Elric]

The 6505mh is awesome. It's not the new sexy booteek hotness, though. Just an inexpensive amp that sounds absolutely killer and is crazy versatile. You'll probably get something else because, internet forums.

Modelers == low volume greatness, too, but that is not how rig talk rolls, as they say.

 

[Detroit1973]

The 6505mh is awesome. It's not the new sexy booteek hotness, though. Just an inexpensive amp that sounds absolutely killer and is crazy versatile. You'll probably get something else because, internet forums.

Modelers == low volume greatness, too, but that is not how rig talk rolls, as they say.

Right now i'm really looking at the 6505MH, The PRS MT15 & the EVH 50 Watt.

I was Originally Considering getting a Mesa 2:90 & an Older Rackmount Line 6 Pod Pro from a friend of mine but he gave it to his son as his "College" Rig.

 

[Marshall Freak]

Honestly, if you're just using it at home practice, a boss katana is pretty awesome. Sounds just as good at extreme low volumes as it does at louder so if you want to play at 2:00am in your apartment it wont be a
Problem. I play mine with people sleeping in the next room all the time. If you're wanting something for playing out too, I understand but for home playing only the katana is pretty tough to beat.

 

[Kevin11]

Honestly, if you're just using it at home practice, a boss katana is pretty awesome. Sounds just as good at extreme low volumes as it does at louder so if you want to play at 2:00am in your apartment it wont be a
Problem. I play mine with people sleeping in the next room all the time. If you're wanting something for playing out too, I understand but for home playing only the katana is pretty tough to beat.

This was gonna be my suggestion as well. Agreed, it's equally inspiring at whisper and live band volumes. I've swapped my 100 w Katana head with my Bogner XTC at rehearsal and gigs and am equally happy with both, as is our sound tech. Like any amp, you either connect with it or you don't, but it's far from a "toy" or "practice only" amp.

 

[Beyond Black]

The 6505mh is awesome. It's not the new sexy booteek hotness, though. Just an inexpensive amp that sounds absolutely killer and is crazy versatile. You'll probably get something else because, internet forums.

Modelers == low volume greatness, too, but that is not how rig talk rolls, as they say.

Right now i'm really looking at the 6505MH, The PRS MT15 & the EVH 50 Watt.

I was Originally Considering getting a Mesa 2:90 & an Older Rackmount Line 6 Pod Pro from a friend of mine but he gave it to his son as his "College" Rig.

If you're considering a new MT15 for $600, I'd recommend a used EVH 50 for the same cash. I had a MT15, and it is a killer, but the EVH has an amazing master volume, and sounds just as good at whisper volumes. Also, at higher volumes the EVH just sounds bigger and badder, and will eat it alive when approaching band levels. This is obviously due to the wattage difference, but still worth mentioning.

 

[Hamer95USA]

I'm enjoying using my Krank Nineteen 80 Jr. 20 watt and Stiff Amp 90-AD 50 watt mini amp heads for rehearsals or shows. Neither amps are boutique, but are under the radar with great tones. Both amps have a great Marshall style overdrive tone along with a good clean channel with 2 band EQ. I only had to change the preamp tube to a 12AT7 preamp tube in position V1 to get the Kleen channel to clean up since I use both amp heads in different cover bands.

Guitar George

 

[hammered]

The 6505mh is awesome. It's not the new sexy booteek hotness, though. Just an inexpensive amp that sounds absolutely killer and is crazy versatile. You'll probably get something else because, internet forums.

Modelers == low volume greatness, too, but that is not how rig talk rolls, as they say.

Right now i'm really looking at the 6505MH, The PRS MT15 & the EVH 50 Watt.

I was Originally Considering getting a Mesa 2:90 & an Older Rackmount Line 6 Pod Pro from a friend of mine but he gave it to his son as his "College" Rig.

If you're considering a new MT15 for $600, I'd recommend a used EVH 50 for the same cash. I had a MT15, and it is a killer, but the EVH has an amazing master volume, and sounds just as good at whisper volumes. Also, at higher volumes the EVH just sounds bigger and badder, and will eat it alive when approaching band levels. This is obviously due to the wattage difference, but still worth mentioning.

I got rid of my EVH 50 watt heads cause I prefer the Splawn tones but the EVH did indeed sound great at low volumes and sounded absolutely massive when cranked up. I had the MIM versions and the two I had were rock solid as far as reliability

 

[riffermadness]

I should also say that I highly recommend the 50w 5150III. I probably play it more than my MT15.

I got that same rig going now too and its nice to switch back and forth,the MT-15 sounds great through the matching EVH 2-12".

 

[MrDowntown]

Hey OP...did you make a choice? Would love to hear...

 

[Spaceboy]

I play the same kind of shit, and honestly even the mini heads are damn loud. I play through my computer most of the time but also have a Boss Katana. I leave the tubes for band practice, they don't always scratch the itch at low volumes.