Micro Valve Amps

[hippietim]

To take the "best practice amp" thread a bit further, can anyone provide any feedback on the following 'micro' valve amps? I'm considering getting one in the next several months for use at home and in smaller clubs for a side project that I am working on. I don't need anything too over the top in terms of gain. I need a good clean and some good break up. If it can also do more gain, then that's an added bonus for me.

Epiphone Valve Jr
Blackheart Little Giant
Blackheart Handsome Devil
Blackstar HT5H
Orange Tiny Terror
Krank Rev Jr Std
Krank Rev Jr Pro
Egnator Rebel 20
Vox Night Train

I had one of the Blackhearts. It was awful. Buzzy, harsh, crap.

The Epiphone Valve Jrs are fun - I have a couple that I hook up in stereo. They're not great sounding but they are adequate. You'd need a pedal to get high gain.

I have an Orange Tiny Terror. They should call it the Tiny Terrible. I can't wait to get rid of it. Errr, I mean... I hate to do it but my children need to eat so as gutwrenching as it is I am going to part with my beloved amp.

Egnater Rebel - very cool amp with the right cab. It needs a little help in the low end if you don't use the Egnater cab - they use a tweaked Lead 80 which has some nice oomph. The Rebel is very cool amp.

Krank. Heh. Krank. Heh.

Vox Night Train - looks like their take on a Tiny Terror. I'd like to try one but not enough to spend any money on it.

[Partial @ Marshall]

What was the final cost for the build?

I'm asking because I need a new hobby.

About $300 for the kit, but I had the multi-meter and soldering iron already. You'd still need a speaker/cabinet.

[Final Sacrifice]

The Epiphone Valve Jrs are fun - I have a couple that I hook up in stereo. They're not great sounding but they are adequate. You'd need a pedal to get high gain.

Suggested pedals/settings? I havn't played with mine in a while, but don't remember getting much out of it.

I have an Orange Tiny Terror. They should call it the Tiny Terrible. I can't wait to get rid of it. Errr, I mean... I hate to do it but my children need to eat so as gutwrenching as it is I am going to part with my beloved amp.

Haha, please excuse my denseness here, but I can't tell if you actually like it or not. And didn't I read about them here a while ago and you loved yours?

[Hellbat]

Have you considered the new Marshall Haze series? The only weakness with the ministack is the lack of a loop. Why Marshall didn't include a loop in the stack but does on the combo is beyond me...

http://www.marshallamps.com/product_range.asp?productRangeId=28

[pro-fusion]

I played the Egnater Rebel 20 in the store yesterday and was pretty impressed with it, even though I couldn't turn it up nearly loud enough to hear the distorted tones properly. The sound has kind of a vintage Marshall vibe to my ears. I'm sure you'd need a pedal in front to do metal, but that's going to be true of most tube amps, I'd think.

[surfreak]

I tried most of the amps you mention, and in the end I settled for a Fender Blues Jr. Tweed, the one with the upgraded Celestion V30.

Yes it's not a metal amp, but the clean tones and break-up tones are fantastic, it really works well with pedals and for studio work it is the quietest of the bunch.
And, like most of these "micro amps", it is very loud. I've played quite a few medium pub gigs and these 15W were more than enough.

[blackendvampire]

Just thought I'd add a USA made discontinued idea. Crate V Series with chrome hardware are made in the USA, feature EL84 tubes, and as I remember there was a 5 watt, a 15 watt and I have the 30 watt. I use my 30 watt at large venues without a mic, no problem, I'm usually too loud, I'll probably never bother with a halfstack, not only that, the tone is amazing, PURE CLASS A. I have played the smaller watt ones, their amazing but might need a nicer 12 incher. The Blackhearts are nice but I think their MIK or worse MIC, their tone seems a bit thin to me. The Orange is overpriced, all oranges are overpriced. The Epi is rad, and alot warmer than the blackheart. The mesa is obviously amazing, but expensive. BTW Just rock an overdrive on the overdrive of a small amp, or any amp, that should be enough for metal. I dont see the point of metal pedals, I had the boss metal zone, and it sounds like garbage. For a real metal tone, go with a warm overdrive pedal into an overdriven amp, and dont worry about it not sounding scoopy, scoopy sucks live. Fuck I'm putting too much into these posts now.

[aceinet]

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life. Looking for any feedback on some equipment. Looking at two different options: Blackstar Ht-5 with a Metal Muff or a Krank Rev Jr Pro 20 watt (maybe with an Overdrive/Tube Screamer type of pedal).

Looking for a high gain type of amp/setup for Metallica/Megadeth/Testament aka old school metal tone but also looking for something that can get me a more "modern" type of tone. Bands such as In Flames and other countless number of bands who's names escape me at the moment all seem to have some killer tone. Not really looking for anything more than 20 watts since my setup will only be for recording. Budget is currently around $600.00 but could inch up after a few weeks. Seems to be some great deals this weekend for Labor Day online at some places.

Guitars will be the Polar White San Dimas Charvel stock, Ibanez RG321 with Super Distortion bridge pickup and Jackson Dinky Mutt currently with Duncan Distortion bridge. I have several other pickups I can change out as well: Tone Zone, Evolution and an Invader.

Anyone have a setup such as these that can provide some feedback?

Thanks!

[ramon_jr]

Im looking at the Marshall Haze amp and the Epiphone Valve Jr halfstacks. Any recommendations?

[RR666]

i own the blackstar ht5 and it sounds great for that old school metal tone i would probubly add a tubescreamer or somthing similar for more modern tones but otherwise it sounds exelent, you can realy crank sice its only 5 watts although it gets pretty loud, but you can get allot of good breakup out of it, definantly happy with my purchase

[sevser]

Have you considered the new Marshall Haze series? The only weakness with the ministack is the lack of a loop. Why Marshall didn't include a loop in the stack but does on the combo is beyond me...

http://www.marshallamps.com/product_...ductRangeId=28

They have the Haze stack at Lee's Music...Go check it out. I took it for a burn when we were down there for that Cobalt show.

I thought it would be cool to have something like that in my office...Looked cool and the price seemed right for a 15 watt tube head, basic effects and two 12" loaded cabs.

First...even with the bright switch on, I could NOT get this thing to spark...like it was covered with a quilt.

I suspect that would brighten up if you cranked it...(I had it very low) However that would rule out having it in my office...It started to get loud quick...had a hard time keeping it down.

The effects were less than decent. Even for a practice amp...

[RR666]

for 50 bucks less than a marshall haze(made in India) you could get a peavey classic 30 made in the USA with real spring reverb. i feel that with the Marshall Haze your paying for the name.

Originally Posted by Hellbat
Have you considered the new Marshall Haze series? The only weakness with the ministack is the lack of a loop. Why Marshall didn't include a loop in the stack but does on the combo is beyond me...

http://www.marshallamps.com/product_...ductRangeId=28

its beyond me as well even my little 5 watt blackstar has a loop

[Robotechnology]

I think the Egnater Rebel 20 is the best sounding amp on the list. Blackstar HT5 is cool and all for heavy metal but, the Rebel 20 betters it for ALL other styles.

[RR666]

ya i was lookin at one of those too, but i just didnt have the cash, i probubly look into getting one one i have the fundage, seems like a sound invesment

[aceinet]

rebel 20

When I tried the Rebel 20 I just couldn't get into it. The tube mix knob didn't seem to make a big difference in the tone. Changing the watts from 1 to 20 also didn't seem to impact the volume that much either. Now for the blackstar ht-5 I did enjoy the differences the ISF knob made to the tone. I went ahead and ordered a Krank Rev Jr Pro and a Metal Muff yesterday. Guess if I don't like the Krank I'll return it and get the HT-5.