Best 1-5 watt combo amp

[JimmyMoorby]

So I sold my Blackstar HT-5 as I just wasnt satisfied and was short of cash.

There isnt much out there thats better but I dont ask for much... a good clean channel with a top notch overdrive/hi gain sound and an fx loop.

The only amps which have grabbed my attention are the hughes and kettner tubemeister and Marshall's 50th anniversary releases.

I'll say I have no budget as im curious if there really are that many quality small combo amps out there. The Marshall JVM1 seems the best bet atm....very expensive though but meh thats what credit cards are for.

Any thing im missing?

[_tom_]

Isn't there a 5w Slash signature amp coming out soon? I seem to recall hearing some clips of it and it sounded awesome!

[Plenum n Heather]

EAST Amplification Studio 2.

[JimmyMoorby]

Never heard of east amplification until you mentioned them.  Sounds very good although i can only find an 18 watt head/speaker on ebay and no where else........

Yeah forgot to mention the Slash one it does sound awesome!  Looking like a JVM, Slash or tubemeister at mo.  My mate has a tubemiester and it sounded very good cant remember how good tho.  Could do wi playin the marshall 1 watts

[Ian Price]

How about one of these:

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/product/11578-180/Fender-EC-Vibro-Champ-New-Tweed-Inc-Cover.aspx

A bit expensive though!

[Plenum n Heather]

Never heard of east amplification until you mentioned them.  Sounds very good although i can only find an 18 watt head/speaker on ebay and no where else........

I have a Studio 2; I believe the Club 18 is the same price. The Studio 2 is available as a head and a combo.

Tonally, they are absolutely fantastic; they are designed by Jeff Bober, the mastermind behind Budda amps.

http://www.eastamplification.com/

I routinely use my Studio 2 with everything from an open back 1x12 to a full stack and it sounds great through all of them! And, yes, I gig with mine.

It has a line/recording/slave output for recording direct or outputting to larger power amp, and fx loop with a seperate level control, and, well -- just gobs of kickass tone.

Inexpensive? Nope. Worth every penny? Yep.

[dave_mc]

if you want good cleans and good high gain would it not make more sense to just get a higher wattage amp and turn it down? you're massively limiting your options by insisting on low wattage, good cleans and low wattage rarely go together, and a lot of that high gain tone is in the preamp, anyway...

[Alex]

I was very impressed by the demo of the new Tony Iommi practice amp (found at Andertons's). It's on sale for 360 or so and all tube.

[JimmyMoorby]

Well in response to everyone's comments :

I had a look at the Clapton amp before and thought it looked very cool but i dont think its a chuga chuga / hi gain kinda thing.  Great cleans and bluesy stuff but thatd be wasted on me!

Is East Amps are linked to Buddha thats incredible problem is where the hell do I try one out or get one? I definitely want a combo ease of use is crucial.  On an unrelated note the new Alex Skolnick amp with Buddha sounds $%&#ing amazing!

As for wanting a lot out of a small amp its obvious im asking a lot as there isnt that much out there!  I actually use my Orange Rockerverb half stack at home for practising because its gain overload even at low volumes but here here's my 'problem'.  Im definitely going to be joining a band again soon and it MAY be I leave my orange half stack in storage.  If thats the case I just want a small amp for home use FURTHERMORE a small amp thats convenient to take to small rehearsals (Bandmates houses) and auditions.  Its such a ball ache taking my half stack every where orange amps and cabs are big and heavy and dragging them up my stairs each time on my own without bashing my walls to shiteeeee is a very hard task!  I'd be happy to sacrifice the cleans on it and go for the mini jcm800 but it has no fx loop arghhhhhhh!

Also the Laney Iommi amp looks cool but ive only heard the andertons demo as you have definitely another to add to the list though.

[JimmyMoorby]

Any thoughts on the Yamaha THR10X Extreme Guitar Amp?  Sounds very good, very portable, it even takes batteries in built fx and retails at £266!

Ok call me an idiot its solid state and doesnt have an fx loop i didnt realise this was that good though.

[Telerocker]

I would look out for a used Tubemeister 18 too. Has powerscaling and sounds very decent, plus it's small and light.

[Ian Price]

I had a look at the Clapton amp before and thought it looked very cool but i dont think its a chuga chuga / hi gain kinda thing.  Great cleans and bluesy stuff but thatd be wasted on me!

Good point - didn't pick up on the chuga chuga thing in the original post!

[dave_mc]

As for wanting a lot out of a small amp its obvious im asking a lot as there isnt that much out there!  I actually use my Orange Rockerverb half stack at home for practising because its gain overload even at low volumes but here here's my 'problem'.  Im definitely going to be joining a band again soon and it MAY be I leave my orange half stack in storage.  If thats the case I just want a small amp for home use FURTHERMORE a small amp thats convenient to take to small rehearsals (Bandmates houses) and auditions.  Its such a ball ache taking my half stack every where orange amps and cabs are big and heavy and dragging them up my stairs each time on my own without bashing my walls to shiteeeeee is a very hard task!  I'd be happy to sacrifice the cleans on it and go for the mini jcm800 but it has no fx loop arghhhhhhh!

ah no worries

as you said, there aren't tons of options. krank had a few but i think they've stopped trading now, so that's even fewer options.

thomann has good deals on the jet city stuff, if the jca22h qualifies as "small" it might be worth considering (I've only tried the 50 watter, from what i hear the preamps are the same on them, but I dunno). :)

[JimmyMoorby]

Think ive decided im gonna the yamaha out asap.  If it sound good that will without a doubt be perfect for me.
If it aint looks like a marshall or tubemesiter 1 or 5 watter.
I really like the idea of carrying a low weight small amp around with me and as little as possible

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I'd wait to give the SL-5 a try. It sounds like a killer piece of gear.