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Post by thumpalumpacus on Jan 3, 2016 19:16:14 GMT
I'll be buying an amplifier soon. I'm looking at low-mid wattage heads. I do not want a combo. After poking around online, I think I've narrowed it down to three: Peavey VKII MH20, Egnater Tweaker 40, and Egnater Tweaker 15, in that order of preference. I like the Peavey for its features (multiple output options which accommodate silent recording, Variclass knob to adjust amplifier response), but I love the Eggy tones, and the T40 using 6L6s is great because they're my favorite glass and I would have spares handy. I've played T15s extensively (when GC carried them, they were my favorite test-driving amp), but haven't heard the other two in person and don't think I'll be able to.
Opinions? Preferences? Is there a candidate I'm missing? Before anyone mentions it, I'm not big on DRRIs due to a gain channel that just leaves me cold -- which is true of most Fender combos I've played. I'm not interested in simamps, either; I'll be getting a multiFX for that job soon as well.
Anyway, looking forward to replies.
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Post by Mindfrigg on Jan 5, 2016 4:34:11 GMT
I'm not really up on current amp selections since my most recent purchase was a Blues Deluxe about 5 years ago. I like versatility so the Peavey sounds like a winner. For an all purpose amp (home/studio/gigging).
The 40 sounds like it would handle all gigging needs but may be overkill at home. Dunno. Depends on your main purposes.
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Post by thumpalumpacus on Jan 5, 2016 5:00:42 GMT
Recording is definitely on the agenda. I'm planning on getting a multifx unit, so my amp choice isn't limited by connectivity -- plenty of FX units have sims and USB outs, so the purchase needn't have one.
I'm also interested in multifx recommendations if anyone has any.
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Post by Colchar on Jan 5, 2016 21:58:39 GMT
I'm not familiar enough with those options to offer anything of substance (story of my life  ) but what about a Traynor? Most of their new stuff are combos but they do have the Dark Horse (maybe too few watts), the Iron Horse (40 watts), the YCS50 (obviously 50 watts), and you should still be able to find a YBA1 reissue from a year or two ago (about 30 or 40 loud watts but scalable down to less than one watt). Or a vintage one if there are any in your area (too bad people around here have figured out that they are desirable and prices have gone up). |
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Post by melvindale on Jan 6, 2016 16:07:18 GMT
I'm a huge fan of Bruce Egnater's amps.
I got to demo the Rebel 20 before it's release at a local amp show (Bruce is from Michigan and was in China at the time ensuring it would be built to spec).
Great little amp - I've not tried the 40, but to me 20W is more than enough for bedroom/recording or live - 20w is what I use with my band.
His Tweaker is very cool, but too many knobs for me. When given that many options I just get frustrated - I have a Fender Mustang II and set it up, saved the setting and I'm done!
Before you pull the trigger on the Peavey which I am also a fan of theirs - played a Delta Blues (30W) for a couple of years - look at Blackstar HT Studio 20.
I know its EL34 not 6L6, but their ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) is worth the price of admission.
Didn't mean to muddy the waters, but it may be worth your while - IMO
I played a Battle of the Bands last year where they provided the backline and I got stuck with a Blackstar 40W - had three guitarists come up after asking how I got such a great sound.
They all had the amp set for British and using way too much pre-amp distortion - It cleaned up beautifully and I used my pedals as my crayons. I was impressed, but I was more impressed that others were taking notice of my tone.
Wish I could give you my .02 on multi-effects - I like my Line 6 M9 a lot, but it's not everyone's cup tea - and even I still used a different overdrive. For Delay/Chorus/Phase/Harmony/reverb/EQ it's stellar.
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Post by thumpalumpacus on Jan 6, 2016 19:36:40 GMT
Thanks, guys. Food for thought. I'm not familiar enough with those options to offer anything of substance (story of my life ) but what about a Traynor? Most of their new stuff are combos but they do have the Dark Horse (maybe too few watts), the Iron Horse (40 watts), the YCS50 (obviously 50 watts), and you should still be able to find a YBA1 reissue from a year or two ago (about 30 or 40 loud watts but scalable down to less than one watt). Or a vintage one if there are any in your area (too bad people around here have figured out that they are desirable and prices have gone up). I like Traynors, but they're hard to find down here. I'll look around tonight after work ... |
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Post by Grand Toad on Jan 6, 2016 19:41:24 GMT
I like my Bugera V22. Keeps up with drummers. I've never personally had reliability issues. Some of the tube sniffers think they're junk. But, these are the same people who think Phaez amps are the best amps money can buy.
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Post by Maxwell on Jan 6, 2016 20:17:50 GMT
I have a Blackstar HT20 and like it. Some of them develop a slight touch of noise on the clean channel. (mine has it, they have no clue why. Nobody has solved it to my knowledge) Not bad enough for me to dump the amp at all. I love the way it sounds. I've had a bit of a jones for a Peavey Delta Blues w/ the 15" for a while... I love a 15" for guitar... I'd pull the Peavey 15" and drop a JBL in it though... Have a severe jones for the '65 RI Fender Twin Custom 15" or whatever they call it now. Twin Rev but with a JBL 15"... I heard one of the originals waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back and thought it the best amp I've ever heard... As far as multi effects, you already know I have the Digitech rp500 and love it... my main patch has no effects activated (modeling is off as I have a Blackstar, Legend, Vypyr Tube 60)... Only thing active is a slight main level boost. I can kick Comp, Drive, Chorus, DDL, REV as I want them as there are seperate kick buttons for each.... I have the expression pedal set for volume. I love that 500... A bud of mine now leaves his Egnater at the house and plays through an Eleven rack direct. (They all use in-ears for monitors) He said he ain't going back to an amp... He does have a monitor hooked to an old Marshall dual channel rack power amp...forgot the model but y'all have seen em I know...just to have something pushing a guitar sound on stage for folks dancing between the mains so they hear guitar... Same as it never was...  |
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Post by melvindale on Jan 6, 2016 21:10:20 GMT
I have a Blackstar HT20 and like it. Some of them develop a slight touch of noise on the clean channel. (mine has it, they have no clue why. Nobody has solved it to my knowledge) Not bad enough for me to dump the amp at all. I love the way it sounds. I've had a bit of a jones for a Peavey Delta Blues w/ the 15" for a while... I love a 15" for guitar... I'd pull the Peavey 15" and drop a JBL in it though... Same as it never was... I hadn't heard about the noise in the HT20 - that's disappointing, especially if it is something that 'develops' as opposed to being there when you demo - that's non-starter. The 40w I played through - WOOF 
I'd like to try their new small Artist series, but A. that's for another thread and B. It's some pretty big money.
I went the other way with the Delta - I really wanted the laser beam 2X10's and it was a ton of fun, but too much wattage for me - I really like cooking power tubes.
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Post by melvindale on Jan 6, 2016 21:21:18 GMT
I like my Bugera V22. Keeps up with drummers. I've never personally had reliability issues. Some of the tube sniffers think they're junk. But, these are the same people who think Phaez amps are the best amps money can buy. But everybody knows Phaaez amps are the best and Bugera are . . . oh wait - sorry. 
I've heard good things (of course it was a guy who was reppin' them) about Bugera's - But I trust this guy - he used to be a TopHat rep. I've just never seen them to try and in all honesty I'm not sure a another amp is something that I can sneak in the house right now - someone thinks that refrigerators and stoves are more important. 
What's up with that?
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Post by Maxwell on Jan 6, 2016 22:02:38 GMT
I have a Blackstar HT20 and like it. Some of them develop a slight touch of noise on the clean channel. (mine has it, they have no clue why. Nobody has solved it to my knowledge) Not bad enough for me to dump the amp at all. I love the way it sounds. I've had a bit of a jones for a Peavey Delta Blues w/ the 15" for a while... I love a 15" for guitar... I'd pull the Peavey 15" and drop a JBL in it though... Same as it never was... I hadn't heard about the noise in the HT20 - that's disappointing, especially if it is something that 'develops' as opposed to being there when you demo - that's non-starter. The 40w I played through - WOOF
I'd like to try their new small Artist series, but A. that's for another thread and B. It's some pretty big money.
I went the other way with the Delta - I really wanted the laser beam 2X10's and it was a ton of fun, but too much wattage for me - I really like cooking power tubes.
I think a few of all HT models have it... Not every one by a long shot... I've read all kinds of stuff everywhere out of curiosity but nobody has seemed to give a finite answer yet on what/why... It's not loud enough for me to be bothered about. I'm used to hearing a slight pink noise out of tube amps... No big deal. When playing nobody will ever hear it... One of those odd things that only a few seem to have. Mine developed after about a year. I haven't changed power glass but changed pre glass to JJs with no change. It doesn't sound like a tube issue to me or even a serious filter cap issue really... I may go full wild ass and recap the thing one day with high C in the power supply and bypass caps and change power tubes out for the hell of it as a weekend project but I just plain don't really care. We've all played venues with dimmers from hell, neon signs all over with ballpark 13.5KV neon supplies, and of course the bountiful fluorescent lights here and there so we've dealt with racket... No big deal... A bud has one just like mine and his is quiet. Mine is quiet on the drive channel. Go figure.... My bud gives me hell because he paid 599 for his HT and I got mine from a music shop a couple hours north of me for 350 (I don't carry them in my small shop)... Mine was taken out of the box there, put out on the floor for display and somebody knocked over a heavy base mic stand and it dented the back edge a little so he sold it to me probably at his cost. You can't even see the little dent (dime maybe), you have to feel around to find it... Best 350 I ever paid for an amp...  Love that amp... |
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JeffBlue
Burnt Rock Star
Posts: 32 
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Post by JeffBlue on Mar 5, 2016 20:43:45 GMT
Hi ya Thump. For a real low power amp (2 watts) I have a Vox Lil' Night Train which sounds great after you do a simple cap C17 clip mod. I use a different speaker cab. I am using a cab with four 6 inch speakers. I have also swapped the 12AU7 output tube with a 12BH7 which improves the performance. Don't laugh, but I also am using a Fender Super Champ X2 head through a 15 inch JBL K130 speaker. I only use channel 1 for the excellent blackface clean tone and use pedals in front for my distortion. The onboard effects are very cool after you tweak them using the free FUSE software. of course you can always do what I did and purchase a vintage Fender Vibro Champ. These amps serve me well and work well with pedals and outboard effects. Glad you are here Thump.
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) but what about a Traynor? Most of their new stuff are combos but they do have the Dark Horse (maybe too few watts), the Iron Horse (40 watts), the YCS50 (obviously 50 watts), and you should still be able to find a YBA1 reissue from a year or two ago (about 30 or 40 loud watts but scalable down to less than one watt). Or a vintage one if there are any in your area (too bad people around here have figured out that they are desirable and prices have gone up).
