Mini Heads

[cnote]

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.

Triple, like its tone better than the Savage 120 and SE that I had, and it rips with the right cab. The Ironball is Push-Pull /fixed bias - a big amp feel, unlike most other mini amp heads, which are usually Class A. Never heard EL84s sound like they do in this Ironball. Been a keeper now for a couple of years, would never sell it. Sylvania Black Plate NOS EL84s are the best power tube for that amp - makes it sound just huge, deeper, and the presence and treble controls get a whole lot more range. Its sweet spot is far louder though than my 60W IIC+, which is the best "small bedroom" amp I've ever had.

 

[nevusofota]

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!

False. Fender made it a marketing point from the beginning to never call the 50w “min”. In fact Howard Kaplan, the designer, would correct people who called it “mini”.

Besides, the LBX version is much smaller.

 

[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!

False. Fender made it a marketing point from the beginning to never call the 50w “min”. In fact Howard Kaplan, the designer, would correct people who called it “mini”.

Besides, the LBX version is much smaller.

Do your homework man when it was first released all the ads by Fender called it mini, as a result all the retailers called it mini under their sku and unfortunately many still do. Despite Fender washing that word from their initial promotions.
No I don't agree that it's a mini but that's what they did, and they have since abandoned it especially since they released the LBX and caught a certain level of crap over the ill-fitting moniker.

 

[nevusofota]

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!

False. Fender made it a marketing point from the beginning to never call the 50w “min”. In fact Howard Kaplan, the designer, would correct people who called it “mini”.

Besides, the LBX version is much smaller.

Do your homework man when it was first released all the ads by Fender called it mini, as a result all the retailers called it mini under their sku and unfortunately many still do. Despite Fender washing that word from their initial promotions.
No I don't agree that it's a mini but that's what they did, and they have since abandoned it especially since they released the LBX and caught a certain level of crap over the ill-fitting moniker.

I wouldn’t usually push such a trivial issue but there has NEVER been an ad or literature by Fender using the term “mini” in regards to the 50w. Some vendors did use the term in ads and catalogs (I think Sweetwater) to the dismay of Fender (Kaplan) as well as the online forums (including RT) were using “mini”. It caught on for a while leading many to believe that it was an official name.

Here’s the official 2012 Fender EVH catalog

http://support.evhgear.com/catalogs/201 ... atalog.pdf

 

[the rossness]

OP- I've never heard of any of the bands you mentioned.

Best lunchbox heads (would need to me mic'd up for stage use
Orange Tiny Terror It started the trend. Krank 1980 Jr- think a JCM800 with more gain and a frequency sweep. The Laney Ironheart sounds great! If you play clean, a Jet City 20 can be a nice choice.

 

[D-Rock]

OP- I've never heard of any of the bands you mentioned.

Best lunchbox heads (would need to me mic'd up for stage use
Orange Tiny Terror It started the trend. Krank 1980 Jr- think a JCM800 with more gain and a frequency sweep. The Laney Ironheart sounds great! If you play clean, a Jet City 20 can be a nice choice.

What?
I Live In A Duplex is fucking awesome!

 

[Manxmusicman]

What about the Hughes and kettner tubemeister series? Very versatile, can run down to 1w or even silent for recording. Built in effects, fully midi programmable, within your budget. I wonder how it compares to others mentioned in this thread.

 

[Speeddemon]

What about the Hughes and kettner tubemeister series? Very versatile, can run down to 1w or even silent for recording. Built in effects, fully midi programmable, within your budget. I wonder how it compares to others mentioned in this thread.

having owned a JCA22H, H&K Tubemeister 18 (gigged with this on a 4x12!), Carvin V3m, and still owning the Engl Ironball and Mesa Mark V:25, the H&K doesn't sound as big as the latter two. And while its cleans are better than that of the Ironball, the drive sound is quite an acquired taste; it has a tad of that H&K bright, hifi, almost sterile quality and here the Ironball and the Mesa are a lot better and more versatile. Cleans, the Mesa wins as well by a large margin.
Also, FYI the Tubemeister 18 is NOT MIDI programmable and has no reverb on board (which the Ironball and Mark V:25 do). Only the TM36 and Grandmeister are MIDI programmable (and they have a verb too).

Tubemeister 18 Backside:

 

[Detroit1973]

What do you guys think about getting a Gorilla Practice amp & a Metal Zone

 

[japetus]

What do you guys think about getting a Gorilla Practice amp & a Metal Zone

I am thinking a Rockman Ace headphone amp mic'd up with a bullhorn would be pretty sweet.

 

[Detroit1973]

What do you guys think about getting a Gorilla Practice amp & a Metal Zone

I am thinking a Rockman Ace headphone amp mic'd up with a bullhorn would be pretty sweet.

That sounds perfect! Maybe i'll scoop the Mids & Maybe i'll try using a boost on it....Gotta find my Boss SD-1.

 

[maddnotez]

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

If I had to get a mini amp it would be the PRS just because the tone I hear in the videos is very impressive and what I like. Also something like the Two Notes Captor or any attenuation could come in handy for you at bedroom levels.

But the Quilter is what I did.

If you want a mini amp get a mini amp but these Quilters are amazing.

I have gone through some awesome high end tube amps and nothing can really top that but....I am no longer doing bands and when I do play it is at home.

I wanted something portable in case I ever did need to bring it somewhere and all of this fits on my pedalboard.

Keep in mind I got everything used but I am under $600 and my sound is unbelievable for what it is. My last amp was a Rev 2 Uberschall and while I can't say my pedalboard rig beats it, it absolutely holds it own. Sounds massive and is probably at least 90% of what my tube amps were.

The best part. No more freaking tubes. I can't count the amount of times over the years where I turned on my amp and had some kind of tech issue. Weather it be user error, bad tubes, funky FX loop or something else. It is nice to know when I turn on my Quilter I do not need to have a troubleshooting checklist by my side.

So yeah WAY off topic lol. BUT these quilters are amazing and worth checking out.

I have the 101 mini, tight metal pro and a keeley D&M for a boost. Crushing.

 

[shred-o-holic]

I have a Toneblock 201 and while it is a good amp and only 4 lbs I still prefer my Ironball for the tube feel. The Quilter is a warm sounding analog amp but it's not tubes sorry. There is still that mojo

 

[maddnotez]

I have a Toneblock 201 and while it is a good amp and only 4 lbs I still prefer my Ironball for the tube feel. The Quilter is a warm sounding analog amp but it's not tubes sorry. There is still that mojo

To each their own.

I prefer no tubes over a 5% variance. You call it mojo, I call it inconvenience.

If I was still gigging I would have a tube amp but for home use? Not a big enough difference for me.