One of the Marshall mini's or go big (Fortin, Bogner, etc)?

[cardinal]

Pretty sure current production Friedmans all are PCB with flying leads for the pots and jacks. At least some of them I think use PCB's that kinda cosmetically look like a turret board.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Also I know Class A watts sound louder than Class AB most of the time, right?

Both the Marshalls and the Tiny Terror are Class AB, though.

Sure the TT is Class AB? Pretty sure it is Class A (Self-Biasing)? I could obviously be wrong though but most research I've done mentions that you do not need to re-bias the TT when retubing...

You do not need to rebias it. It's cathode-biased. But that doesn't mean it's Class A.

Class A has to do with how each tube in the power section handles the negative and positve parts of the waveform, not how the amp is biased.

 

[OldMetalHead]

Also I know Class A watts sound louder than Class AB most of the time, right?

Both the Marshalls and the Tiny Terror are Class AB, though.

Sure the TT is Class AB? Pretty sure it is Class A (Self-Biasing)? I could obviously be wrong though but most research I've done mentions that you do not need to re-bias the TT when retubing...

You do not need to rebias it. It's cathode-biased. But that doesn't mean it's Class A.

Class A has to do with how each tube in the power section handles the negative and positve parts of the waveform, not how the amp is biased.

Learn something new everyday

 

[Racerxrated]

If you want small and portable the Jubilee is the one to get...way more saturated than any stock 2203/4. The EQ is very responsive-unlike any other Marshall made other than a modded one. It takes one boost pedal to take it into Metal territory..whereas the 2203/4 needs 2 boosts IMO.
If you can swing the Fortin that's a beast for sure...but you could grab the 2555x Jub reissue or a vintage Jubilee for the money the Fortin costs and still have cash left over. The 2555x has a great loop, and you can use any 2 pairs of octal tubes in it, bias points are on the outside of the chassis. 2 6550s with 2 EL34s, or 2 6L6 with 2 KT88s etc. The Jubilee is darker than your typical Marshall; but can get bright enough if you need it.

 

[guitarbilly74]

If you want a Fortin design on the cheap look into the Randall RD45. Really great metal amp.

For the 20w Marshall, I'd go with the mini 800 instead of the mini plexi. That will make it easier to get metal tones with a boost.

Can't go wrong with 5153s either.

 

[braintheory]

If you want small and portable the Jubilee is the one to get...way more saturated than any stock 2203/4. The EQ is very responsive-unlike any other Marshall made other than a modded one. It takes one boost pedal to take it into Metal territory..whereas the 2203/4 needs 2 boosts IMO.
If you can swing the Fortin that's a beast for sure...but you could grab the 2555x Jub reissue or a vintage Jubilee for the money the Fortin costs and still have cash left over. The 2555x has a great loop, and you can use any 2 pairs of octal tubes in it, bias points are on the outside of the chassis. 2 6550s with 2 EL34s, or 2 6L6 with 2 KT88s etc. The Jubilee is darker than your typical Marshall; but can get bright enough if you need it.

Jubilee’s are very cool amps. The mini jubilee is probably my favorite mini amp I’ve tried. I liked it better than the SV20, but both were surprisingly good. I’ve not tried the Fortin Cali, so it may great, but I’ve tried the Fortin Natas and Meshuggah models and wasn’t impressed with either honestly. My friend let me AB his vintage ‘80’s Jubilee with his Fortin Meshuggah and it absolutely smoked his Meshuggah and he agreed

As others said though, I think a 2203/4 or jubilee with a decent boost will do what you’re asking best, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it sounded better than the Cali for almost half the price. I honestly was never crazy about Splawns either. I’ve tried all their models and everything from early 2004/5 ones to to the most recent ones. IMO a good 2203 smokes them (boosted or not)

 

[LCW]

If you want 2203/2204 tone but not the size or volume get the SC20. I got one and I love it. Got the matching vertical 212 cab. For a “boost” I run a Savage Drive. Lots of tone sculpting available with that pedal including “tightness”. Works amazing!

SV20 has no MV, and less gain than the SC20. It’s insanely bright at lower volumes and being Non-MV needs to be cranked. May as well get a MV 100 watter at that point.

Fortin Cali is white tolex which is lame as shit IMO. Meshuggah sig amp is sick but sold out and fetch huge money used.

If you’re bent on spending a ton of cash just go Friedman.

 

[skullfxr]

For the price of the Marshalls, I still say to go with the Splawn Supersport. It's not much more, built in the USA, solid components. Way flexible, loop master in the back, needs no boost. Footswitcable od1/od2, two gears, and a nice clean. Way outclasses Marshall IMHO.

 

[Jack Luminous]

It takes one boost pedal to take it into Metal territory..whereas the 2203/4 needs 2 boosts IMO.

Not true IMHO. A 2203 plus a simple stock SD-1 (and the right guitar of course) will get you up to death-metal territory with ease. No need to overthink it.

 

[nevusofota]

Wait a month after NAMM. Bogner’s coming out with the new 3534 XTC. From what I’ve heard in videos it sounds killer. It’s significantly smaller, EL34’s, and 35w will be plenty to play over a drummer.

 

[fek]

Looking hard at JJ Jr's but the Ecstasy has been a dream amp of mine since, forever. The new 35 watt version is making me think hard.