Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: wwwales on May 27, 2006, 08:24:09 PM
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Hi All,
I'm looking for a low powered vavle amp - one that I can run flat out, get good screaming harmonic solo tones from but at a volume where my neighbours don't start banging on the door - any suggestions?
Thanks
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Hi All,
I'm looking for a low powered vavle amp - one that I can run flat out, get good screaming harmonic solo tones from but at a volume where my neighbours don't start banging on the door - any suggestions?
Thanks
Valve, flat out, neighbours......these things should not be used in the same sentence together. Even the little Zvex 1/2watt amp is loud enough to p*ss people off if you run it flat out.
P.S. - Here's the link - http://zvexamps.com/amp_view.html
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Theres always the Matamp Minimat.. but I hear its still pretty loud so you might have troubles still. That Zvex one does seem cool though.
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out of interest, what kind of house are you in? if you're in a flat, or semi, then yeah, probably any valve amp, even a 5 watter is too loud to crank, without an attenuator. (and if you get an attenuator, you could spring for a louder amp that'd do gigs too, and probably have more features, if you're into features...)
on the other hand, if you live in a (nomatter how small, just as long as you don't share any walls) detatched house, and can persuade everyone else who lives with you to leave to go for a walk pretty frequently, you can pretty much crank any wattage of amp (well, 100 anyway). Assuming the other house aren't TOO close together.
Of course, the second one is by no means personal experience. And I haven't got any complaints yet... :lol:
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Yep, the Nano is very loud- don't be fooled by it being 1/2 watt! With a high sensitivity speaker (V30) its way too loud in the house (kids wife etc) and I live in a detached house :D
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^ haha, yeah. I only get to crank mine (EDIT: not the nano amp) when i get everyone out, lol.
:drink:
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^ haha, yeah. I only get to crank mine (EDIT: not the nano amp) when i get everyone out, lol.
:drink:
haha same, I just love it when I have the house to myself and get to play loud for as long as I want (or until someone comes home). I've only had one complaint from someone down the street before (about 5-6 houses away!?), even my neighbours havent complained, and they live closer :lol: weird.
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The MiniMat is the one for you, it has a built in attenuator so you can set the volume, even with the power tube cooking.
I love the tone but it is a classic rock/blues amp. They have an EL84 version too, but I actually didn't listen to that one - I have a couple of low power EL84 amps already.
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Phil's right - the Minimat is absolutely the canine's spheroids. However, for the levels of drive you're after, the built-in booster might not be enough. You can fix this by putting a good pedal in front. I'd suggest a clean booster with masses of headroom rather than an overdrive or distortion pedal - you don't want to mess too much with the Minimat's glorious tone.
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Just out of interest Phil, I played the minimat a while back and the attenuator didn't seem to do much attenuating volume wise! Is this normal, or is there something else you have to do (I know Mats are pretty quirky sometimes!)......or was I just....y'know....not turning it enough! :lol:
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I've been at Haarguitars on Friday and witnessed a guy testing the Carr Mercury. It's got different settings, amongst which is 1/10 Watt. On that setting you could have a real screaming sound just as loud as the electric guitar acoustically. This was very impressive!
But then again, it's a quite pricey amp.
http://www.carramps.com
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Underground_player: I'm not sure what was going on there - my Minimat attenuates down to nothing (i.e. complete silence).
Hunter: the Mercury looks very classy (though, as you say, very expensive). There's a great review of it, including video clips, here:
http://www.steelbender.com/spotlightmercury.html
In fact, that Steelbender site does fantastic reviews full stop. He's only done a few products, but when he reviews something, he really goes for it.
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There is a portion of the attenuator where it doesn't seem to do much, but it works well over the rest of the range.
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haha same, I just love it when I have the house to myself and get to play loud for as long as I want (or until someone comes home). I've only had one complaint from someone down the street before (about 5-6 houses away!?), even my neighbours havent complained, and they live closer :lol: weird.
haha, i remember a woman across the road from my house looking out sneakily through her curtains with a look of pure horror when I had it cranked one day. I think she thought the apocalypse was approaching! But no-one's complained...
quick question to phil about the minimat: i think i read that the attenuator only works when you're using the 8 ohm speaker jack? any reason why this is? or is it even true?
and can it drive a 4x12 (vintage 30's)? I might half think about getting one if i didn't need new speakers, but if i needed a new 1x12, it's probably not worth it...
:drink:
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Minimat has no problem driving a 4X12 with V30's in. Probably sound louder than a 1X12.
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quick question to phil about the minimat: i think i read that the attenuator only works when you're using the 8 ohm speaker jack? any reason why this is? or is it even true?
Yes - the attenuator is only on one output jack. I don't think it really cares if it is 8 or 16 ohm to tel you the truth! If the shop had the speaker in the other jack then the attenuator wouldn't work.
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:D I`ve got a Sheldon TT3 it`s a 1/3 watt A /AB combo 1 x 12` Vintage 30 & believe me when i tell `ya it`s way way way to F***ing loud !!!!
Great sound to it mind lovely cleans but it`s really a blues amp. If you want punishing overdrive then you`ll need to put a pedal infront of it.
http://forum2.sheldonamps.com:81/
:D 8)
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Minimat has no problem driving a 4X12 with V30's in. Probably sound louder than a 1X12.
awesome, thanks dean! :drink:
Yes - the attenuator is only on one output jack. I don't think it really cares if it is 8 or 16 ohm to tel you the truth!
Thanks phil. In the bold bit, do you mean that if my cab is 16 ohm, i could plug it into the 8 ohm socket and it'd be grand?
:drink:
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Minimat has no problem driving a 4X12 with V30's in. Probably sound louder than a 1X12.
Dude, my first name is Dean and last initial is S too. I had to read this twice to be sure that I did not have a second nick on these forums that I forgot about!
Anyway, what you want is the Roccaforte 18 watt combo or a Bad Cat.
PROS: Sound really awesome....
CONS: You pay for what you get.
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All,
Thanks for your replies. I've just had a listen to the Steve Stevens clip on the Roccaforte Amps site (18 watt combo as recommended) and it's AMAZING! Not sure if I can spend that much but I'm tempted! I could afford a Minimat but I'm not sure it will be heavy enough for me - does anyone have any sound clips they could post?
Thanks again!
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I'm sure a few Matamp forum members posted clips soon after it came out; they're under links in the forum as opposed to on the actual Mat website.
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I agree the Roccaforte sounds brilliant (especially in Steve Stevens' hands with a Rebel Yell equipped guitar) but I don't think you're going to be able to run it "flat out" and avoid upsetting the neighbours. Watts are not linear, so that 18 watt combo will be nearly as loud as a 50 or 100 watt amp:
http://amptone.com/g112.htm
I really, strongly recommend the Minimat for your purposes. Ring up the factory, book a visit and take your guitar along. If the Minimat doesn't have enough gain, you have two options: (a) put a booster in front to push the valves further into distortion, (b) get the Matamp guys to build you a custom version with more gain. There's a guy on the Matamp forum who had this done. Tell Jeff and Dave what you want and they'll fall over backwards to do it for you. Matamp are to amps what BKP is to pickups: total customer service.
God, they ought to be paying me to say this stuff! But seriously, they are a hell of a company. Give 'em a call.
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Here's an MP3 of me playing my Minimat ... badly. Be gentle with me, guys, this is the first thing I've ever recorded and my back was killing me. Enough excuses, here it is:
http://salsbury.f2s.com/first_attempt.mp3
This is an Alnico IV Mule neck pickup in a Patrick Eggle Berlin (about the same tonality as an SG, I'd guess).
The signal chain is:
Guitar -> Xotic RC Booster -> Minimat -> Palmer PDI-09 Speaker Sim
I wasn't using the Minimat's internal boost. It gives roughly the same amount of push as the RC used here, but I've also added some treble. Additionally, I've swapped the power valve out for a NOS Brimar 6v6 (£5 off eBay!).
If I hit the front end with my Barber Direct Drive as well as the RC (not in this clip, I'm afraid) I have more gain and harmonic saturation than I know what to do with.
So, of course, I do. Frequently. :twisted:
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^ that sounded pretty nice, actually. nice playing too!
so, is that about as heavy as it gets at full volume, and with the in-built booster up full?
:drink:
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^ that sounded pretty nice, actually. nice playing too!
so, is that about as heavy as it gets at full volume, and with the in-built booster up full?
:drink:
Cheers, matey!
Yes, that's about as heavy as it gets - possibly a touch more with the built-in booster.
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^ hmmm. I'd like one just for a laugh, but if that's as heavy as it gets...
sounds pretty awesome for what it is, though. was that clip at full volume?
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^ hmmm. I'd like one just for a laugh, but if that's as heavy as it gets...
sounds pretty awesome for what it is, though. was that clip at full volume?
The volume control was at full, if that's what you mean, but the clip was recorded silently using the Palmer. Obviously it sounds better through a real speaker (especially my Celestion Blue - woo-hoo!) but the Palmer does a pretty decent job.
I'm more of a low/medium gain man myself, but if you want heavy drive, just put your favourite insane distortion device in front - the Minimat is designed to take pedals well.
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Ahh, bollocs!
Now am Matamp reading.
So those in the know, Mr.Frog :) What is their Metal amp, i.e. Engl/Marshall JCM800 amp. Think Sabbath, Metallica, Anthrax, Priest et all.
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Ahh, bollocs!
Now am Matamp reading.
So those in the know, Mr.Frog :) What is their Metal amp, i.e. Engl/Marshall JCM800 amp. Think Sabbath, Metallica, Anthrax, Priest et all.
Their heritage is in blues/rock amps, and this is still what they specialise in. Having said that, anything in the Hardcore series (XV, 1224 Mk V, LX) looks pretty potent:
http://matamp.co.uk/amps.htm
I haven't tried any of them, I'm afraid.
The LX scares me. It's rated at 60 watts clean. Given that the "7" watt First Lady actually maxes out at 20 watts, I dread to imagine what the LX would do to your hearing.
Then there's the one-off 1000 watt amp they're trying to build ...
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yeah. after lil reading the 1224 mk II looks bout right area.
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OOH LX
now it's a tossup between Engl Blackmore and Matamp LX from reading MMMMMMMMMMM.
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I agree the Roccaforte sounds brilliant (especially in Steve Stevens' hands with a Rebel Yell equipped guitar) but I don't think you're going to be able to run it "flat out" and avoid upsetting the neighbours. Watts are not linear, so that 18 watt combo will be nearly as loud as a 50 or 100 watt amp:
With the same amount of speakers that is true. With a single 12" and it will sound significantly quieter, and with only 8 ohms impedence (as I would imagine) you could not drive a standard 16 ohm cabinet with the amp as well.
That chart says 18 watts is 74% as loud as a 50 watt and it would be something like 85% as loud as 100.
Only think is, that most of today's amps with their small transformers do not quite put out their rated output. Today's 100 watt Marshalls and Mesas actually put out 70-75 watts, and the 50s put out half of that. Back in the 60s when they used larger higher quality transformers, a 100 watt amp may put out up to 120. Anyway, my point is those numbers won't be exact either, and I'd put money on a boutique 18 watt combo such as a Roccaforte being over 74% as loud as today's run of the line 50 watt amp.
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OK, this thread started with 2 or 5 Watt amps, now we're talking Engl Blackmores??
Anyway: A georgous alternative would also be an Epi Valve Junior with the Mercury Mod. The clips on the site sound quite stunning for such an amp I'd say. However it lifts the total cost in the 350€ range.
http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/specials/ValveJrPjt/EVJ-01.htm
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[The volume control was at full, if that's what you mean, but the clip was recorded silently using the Palmer. Obviously it sounds better through a real speaker (especially my Celestion Blue - woo-hoo!) but the Palmer does a pretty decent job.
I'm more of a low/medium gain man myself, but if you want heavy drive, just put your favourite insane distortion device in front - the Minimat is designed to take pedals well.
cheers, I appreciate it, frog. that's what I meant.
:drink:
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Re: the ZVex Nano Amp-
-I just got one from a dealer in the states-
This is one fun amp!-
It screams loud enough to hurt your ears,
and will get you kicked out of your apartment-
<recommended ! -I'm going to write it up on another thread with pix, and track some sound clips tonight-
There are many lowatt amps out there, but you might consider the role you want it to play in your life-what yer gonna be doing with it, and reverse engineer your amp purchase-combo, or head, busking vs. studio, gigs, or bedroom studio and the likes...shopping amps is a blast-ENJOY!
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Maybe you should look at the Cornel Romany.
Try Dave Cornell at dcdevelopments.
It wont get you an ASBO. You can knock the power back 50%. Sounds great with both my 58LP and Delux Strat.
Oh, and it's around £500 for a hand wired boutique amp, not bad value!
Matt.
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Try Dave Cornell at dcdevelopments.
Isn't it Denis Cornell? :)
Yeah, the Cornells look pretty nice - if they're good enough for Clapton ...
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this is perfect for less than 100GBP
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I have a little solid state amp, a 1/2 watt Lovepedal that sounds really good. A pick key is the speaker. I gutted an old solid state Fender Bronco 1x8" combo and put a Weber AlNiCo speaker and it sounds great at low volume. When I get the chance I use a 7-watt Matamp C7 that sounds great with it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/louderthangod/Vinatgeampwhite2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/louderthangod/broncofront.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/louderthangod/broncoback.jpg)