Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
- somanytoys
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
I have some of the AC4TVs, combos and stacks, and I love them. Almost all of them have upgraded tubes, and the combos have upgraded speakers.
I also have 2 Bugera T5 amps that I love, they look cook, they have a gain knob and a "phat" switch to go all out with distortion if you want, so they can be clean or dirty or really dirty. I swapped out the 12AX7 preamp tubes with 12AT7s for lower gain, and they still get really gainy for me, especially with pedals. They have an attenuator to go choose from 5 watts, 1 watt and 1/4 watt, and a 1/4" headphone out. I think they're about $150 or so, and you'd have to use a speaker cab you already have, or get a new one.
This is all assuming you still want an amp in the 4/5 watt range, if not, nevermind. But the AC4C1 or HW upgrade is probably a good choice, too, but more expensive.
I also have 2 Bugera T5 amps that I love, they look cook, they have a gain knob and a "phat" switch to go all out with distortion if you want, so they can be clean or dirty or really dirty. I swapped out the 12AX7 preamp tubes with 12AT7s for lower gain, and they still get really gainy for me, especially with pedals. They have an attenuator to go choose from 5 watts, 1 watt and 1/4 watt, and a 1/4" headphone out. I think they're about $150 or so, and you'd have to use a speaker cab you already have, or get a new one.
This is all assuming you still want an amp in the 4/5 watt range, if not, nevermind. But the AC4C1 or HW upgrade is probably a good choice, too, but more expensive.
-David
It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.
It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.
- wooderson
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
I had a Greer Mini Chief - 3W, very Voxy. Loud as hell, after the first third of the dial it was mostly just getting dirtier. I wound up trading it for a Power Station for my big amp but now I wish I had it again.
- giantsteps
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
I have an Epi valve Jr combo which is a great little amp for mods. Its a simple enough circuit to be able to tweak and hear results from value changes. Plus, it records great.
- mackerelmint
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
I used to have a valve jr. I tweaked it a little, since it's dead simple to do. Sounded good. I got rid of it for solid state, though.
Not sure if it's the most cost/size/weight effective solution out there, but it's a good solution among many.
Not sure if it's the most cost/size/weight effective solution out there, but it's a good solution among many.
This is an excellent rectangle
- MT
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
What’s a used Mesa TA-15 cost where you are. Amazingly good small amps. Just get the head and pair it with a 1x12 of your choice. Vox or Tweed channels for your clean / cleanish playing and can go 25w / 15w or 5w on each channel.
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- PAT. # 2.972.923
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
I can only talk about my experience. I picked up a home made hand wired clone of a '54 Champ on ebay which I absolutely love. Very sweet and very clean. Housed in a crappy practice amp box. I love it so much I picked up a '57 Champ clone from the same bloke. Needs a bit of TLC and a new speaker (it is a shitty modern practice amp with entirely new hand-wired electronics) - much louder and dirtier but still good. I love little amps! (And big too). And the ones in the middle. And the silly-big.
- Telover
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
I have a Gibson GA-5 Les Paul reissue, nice amp. I owned a Champion 600 that's a crap. Too small.
The Les Paul is small as well but it's way better made. Anyways the sound is what it is, due the dimension of the cab.
The Les Paul is small as well but it's way better made. Anyways the sound is what it is, due the dimension of the cab.
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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Re: Small valve amps / Champ alternatives?
Fender Vaporizer/Excelsior?
Pretty honest (unforgiving) tube amps that both take pedals well and at least the Vaporizer can be had pretty cheap used! I‘m happy with mine and still got everything stock - but some recommend a Tube and or Speaker swap - and if you take it damn serious even the Spring tank or at least its cables.
Pretty honest (unforgiving) tube amps that both take pedals well and at least the Vaporizer can be had pretty cheap used! I‘m happy with mine and still got everything stock - but some recommend a Tube and or Speaker swap - and if you take it damn serious even the Spring tank or at least its cables.