The fear and GAS and panic rising when...

[jellodog]

You balls-out rawk guys with your 100 watt heads and your 4x12 cabs are gonna hate me.

I'm seriously considering 5w tube amps again

I want something fun for home and then I can FM9 it for everything else.

I'm dreaming about an amp that I can cuddle up to on those long snowy winter nights.

 

[FuzzyAce]

You balls-out rawk guys with your 100 watt heads and your 4x12 cabs are gonna hate me.

I'm seriously considering 5w tube amps again

I want something fun for home and then I can FM9 it for everything else.

I'm dreaming about an amp that I can cuddle up to, on those long snowy winter nights.

There's no shame in the 5w game!

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

You balls-out rawk guys with your 100 watt heads and your 4x12 cabs are gonna hate me.

I'm seriously considering 5w tube amps again

I want something fun for home and then I can FM9 it for everything else.

I'm dreaming about an amp that I can cuddle up to on those long snowy winter nights.

Tweed Princeton with ‘verb and bias tremolo would be …

 

[jellodog]

Tweed Princeton with ‘verb and bias tremolo would be …

I've been really enjoying demos of the Victoria Vicky Verb and it has been under consideration, but I don't know if I'm truly a tweed player at heart. I may ultimately regret the purchase after a initial honeymoon of tweedy joy. That's the one I'm liking the most in the low watt Tweed camp, though.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I've been really enjoying demos of the Victoria Vicky Verb and it has been under consideration, but I don't know if I'm truly a tweed player at heart. I may ultimately regret the purchase after an initial honeymoon of tweedy joy. That's the one I'm liking the most in the low watt Tweed camp, though.

Have you looked at any of Allen Amps stuff? Change of ownership is concerning, but a lot to like about a lot of his lower watt designs.

 

[jellodog]

Have you looked at any of Allen Amps stuff? Change of ownership is concerning, but a lot to like about a lot of his lower watt designs.

Yeah. Always wanted a Sweet Spot and wanted to order one just before he retired, but he stopped shipping to Canada and then it was too late anyway.

Of course the Chihuahua is the low wattage one to go for if we’re talking 5w.

 

[la szum]

Grab a Mesa with switchable power options and then you can go up or down as needed. Geet a 5watter
and you are locked into that never enough headroom reality.

 

[jellodog]

Grab a Mesa with switchable power options and then you can go up or down as needed. Geet a 5watter
and you are locked into that never enough headroom reality.

Heh. I want that reality though!

I'm just not attracted to the sound of the Mesa Boogies I've tried all that much; and I've owned one too. I've really tried to like them, but it's not happening. I don't need much gain either.

On paper the Cali Tweed with Multi-Watt options should be perfect, but ultimately it's not the voicing I'm looking for. I kinda like some aspects of the Fillmore, but it ain't all that either. Kinda Meh. I did like the 1w single-ended sound on the Cali Tweed the most though haha. So maybe I should just give into it and have it grow on me somehow.

Some of the 5 watters I'm looking at have oversized transformers i.e. trannies sized for 20 watts. That is to say, whilst I actually don't need much headroom, I'm looking at 5 watters that have higher headroom than you would expect for that class of amp.

Also, a couple of the amps I'm considering are Single-Ended Class A 5 watters which are 6V6 by default, but can also take big bottles e.g. EL34, 6L6 and KT66 without a re-bias. So, given the oversized transformers, I could throw in a KT66 and see a modest increase in headroom and power.

I do appreciate your kind intentions and advice!

 

[Gearzilla]

How about a Tone King Gremlin?

 

[jellodog]

How about a Tone King Gremlin?

It's okay, but I prefer the sound of other amps in demos. I've been looking at it on and off for sure.

The Gremlin hasn't quite got the roundness I'm looking for.

I think I'd prefer an über-Champ like the 3P Wooly Coats Spanky Jr, which (ironically ...?) I chickend out of buying before I bought the Bella... but now I've circled back around.

Competition for the Spanky Jr is the Headstrong Santa Cruz.

 

[jellodog]

I've decided against the Carr Sportsman for now. More watts obviously, but a useful PPIMV. I don't think I want the feel of SS rectification in my cleans at this point.

 

[Whizzinby]

I just looked up the Spanky Jr simply because of the awesome name.

 

[jellodog]

I just looked up the Spanky Jr simply because of the awesome name.

The dimensions are wrong on the 3P website. The combo is actually 17" wide like the 1x10 Cali Tweed. Copy and paste error from the Spanky MKII+ page, I think.

I really like the look and sound of it, but almost nobody has ever heard of it and I suspect that resale value is gonna be a huge loss for me if I decide to move on from tube amps or don't like it in reality. Mind you, that was true of the Bella too (which is now moved on again with the usual 50% loss for boutique amp prices in Canada)

 

[la szum]

Can't help someone who is not willing to help themselves first!

 

[jellodog]

Can't help someone who is not willing to help themselves first!

I thought that I was helping myself though? I've narrowed it down to what I want, and my life is quite different to yours - you're still gigging and need that headroom and power, right?

 

[jellodog]

I might just leave it. I was going to make a purchase today after having thought about this for weeks... but I suppose there's no rush.

Apart from the 15% price hike for Carr amps on August 1st next week!

It was going to be either 10 - 20 watts with great master or attenuation vs a 5w with nice big transformers.

But anyway, still loving the Tucana clean channel with a touch of hair in the FM9. Perhaps I'm just better off sticking with that and forgetting about more tube adventures. I genuinely do like "decent quality" Champs and similar amps though!

 

[la szum]

Oh man, just joking around, jd. Not meant to be taken seriously..... let alone literally.

I genuinely do think tiny (5w and less) amps tend to have a short shelf life.... both for me and others who
I have known who have purchased them.

In theory, great. Fill a niche. But if someone already has a 15w option that seems to get more use even
in home settings than a 5w amp with an 8" speaker.

 

[jellodog]

Oh man, just joking around, jd. Not meant to be taken seriously..... let alone literally.

Thanks! No worries

In theory, great. Fill a niche. But if someone already has a 15w option that seems to get more use even
in home settings than a 5w amp with an 8" speaker.

It would be a 10" speaker minimum, with the option to use my 12" cab, but I take your point.

What 5 watters have you owned?

 

[la szum]

I've also yet to spend another man's money for him.

Fuck people---including me---and do what makes you feel alive.

 

[jellodog]

@la szum It's a gear forum, after all - I do expect to hear differing gear opinions from others here and I might learn something too! You are allowed to have a (hopefully informed) opinion and attempt to change my mind... it might just not work haha