NAD: A giant sounding little amp!

[Shane110111]

After a few years of using only a Line 6 HX for amp modelling I started to really miss having a proper amp to play and record with. Since the days of playing live shows are mostly behind me it became hard to justify having big loud tube amps around (mid 70s Twin Reverb, Ampeg VT40 and a few old Traynors) especially when living in an apartment. I was surfing Marketplace the other day and seen this Blackheart Little Giant amp listed for $150CDN. I did a little bit of research and found that these were generally well regarded amps, I messaged the seller and picked it up a short while later. Upon getting it home I removed the dumb looking logo plate, plugged it in and got lost with it for a few hours. So far I'm loving how big this amp sounds, 5 surprisingly loud watts! Takes pedals really nicely to! When using my main guitar (2016 MIM Tele with PV64 pups) the amp stays very clean and chimey up until about 4-5 on the volume then a really smooth and dynamic overdrive starts to kick in, at that point its almost too loud for bedroom playing, even on the 3 watt setting. I haven't checked the tubes yet but as far as I know the amp is totally stock other than the original speaker being replaced with an Eminence Governor. Perhaps one day down the road I'll check out some of the many mods out there for it but for now I'm very happy with this one especially for how little I payed for it! Anyone else out there used one of these?

[JackFawkes]

I played with one or two of Blackheart's amp models once or twice. I remember really liking them!
I feel like Crate did a good job with those small form-factor low-wattage tube amps, was kinda sad that they apparently didn't seem to catch on and all disappeared.

Jack

P.S.: Similarly, I also liked the some of the small form-factor low-wattage tube amps that were being made under the name VHT, though I don't quite feel comfortable with the manufacturer (AXL) using the former name of Steven Fryette's amps (and any weird hijinks that may or may not have led to them purchasing the name VHT from Steven Fryette)... but none the less, the one tube amp that I still own is one of AXL's "VHT"s

[Steadyriot.]

Happy NAD!
I had nor have any clue what they sounded like, but edgy 15 year old me sure as hell wanted one of those Blackheart halfstacks! Hell, I still kinda do!

[Shane110111]

P.S.: Similarly, I also liked the some of the small form-factor low-wattage tube amps that were being made under the name VHT, though I don't quite feel comfortable with the manufacturer (AXL) using the former name of Steven Fryette's amps (and any weird hijinks that may or may not have led to them purchasing the name VHT from Steven Fryette)... but none the less, the one tube amp that I still own is one of AXL's "VHT"s

Funny you mention VHT, there was also a VHT Classic 6 combo for sale locally but I opted for the Little Giant instead. The VHT Special 6 on the other hand looks very interesting. Affordable fully handwired!

[JSett]

I remember these amps when they first came out. They sound great but the aesthetics were very "Hot Topic Emo" and kinda cheesy at the time.

I too would probably buy one now if I saw it for the right price.

[sessylU]

Funny how the aesthetics can put you off. I recently(ish) got a Jet City. It sounds brilliant and I'm glad I got it, but it took a lot to convince me to even try it because of how silly the badge is. Badge is now removed and it's now just a hellaloud mystery amp.

OP: That looks pretty sizeable. Is that a 12" cabinet it's in?

[ThePearDream]

P.S.: Similarly, I also liked the some of the small form-factor low-wattage tube amps that were being made under the name VHT, though I don't quite feel comfortable with the manufacturer (AXL) using the former name of Steven Fryette's amps (and any weird hijinks that may or may not have led to them purchasing the name VHT from Steven Fryette)... but none the less, the one tube amp that I still own is one of AXL's "VHT"s

Funny you mention VHT, there was also a VHT Classic 6 combo for sale locally but I opted for the Little Giant instead. The VHT Special 6 on the other hand looks very interesting. Affordable fully handwired!

I grabbed one of those VHT Special 6 combos earlier this year. It was pretty nice stock. I couldn't resist modding it to Tweed Princeton specs though (using a mod kit from eBay). Now it's an awesome little amp.

[Shane110111]

Funny how the aesthetics can put you off. I recently(ish) got a Jet City. It sounds brilliant and I'm glad I got it, but it took a lot to convince me to even try it because of how silly the badge is. Badge is now removed and it's now just a hellaloud mystery amp.

OP: That looks pretty sizeable. Is that a 12" cabinet it's in?

Yep, it's a 12" cab, similar to a Blues Jr. in size. It's very sturdy.

[sessylU]

I had one of the little Champs back when they came out (2006ish?), and I also had a Valve Junior head that I played through a 412.

I'd imagine that 112 makes the whole thing a little more massive sounding.

[Shane110111]

It definitely does. The overall loudness and clean headroom it has is very surprising for just being a 5 watt amp.

[JackFawkes]

Funny you mention VHT, there was also a VHT Classic 6 combo for sale locally but I opted for the Little Giant instead. The VHT Special 6 on the other hand looks very interesting. Affordable fully handwired!

Nice! I think you made the right choice, I'm sure most of the AXL VHTs are pretty good, but I think their "Special" models are the ones that were worth paying attention to. The Special 6 and Special 6 Ultra are two I've played and really liked.
The one that I have is probably their most obscure model, the Special Double-8. It's mostly the same basic Champ-like circuit of the Special 6, but with a bigger transformer, the Depth knob from their Ultra model, and two power tube sections that run in parallel (and a switch in back that allows for installing either big bottle or small bottle power tubes), I think they said only a few dozen of that model were ever made.

[JackFawkes]

I grabbed one of those VHT Special 6 combos earlier this year. It was pretty nice stock. I couldn't resist modding it to Tweed Princeton specs though (using a mod kit from eBay). Now it's an awesome little amp.

Yeah! The VHT Specials are pretty great right out of the box and very mod-friendly.