5 ms·

Modern thinking also gives us valves at low volumes, like a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister, which I ended up getting the 18W model of. Possible to run at 1W and s

Modern thinking also gives us valves at low volumes, like a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister, which I ended up getting the 18W model of. Possible to run at 1W and still sound great. (or direct to DI, I.e quiet).

TylerE 12y ago
Oh, sure ;) I've got one of the little Orange Tiny Terrors sitting next to me. That's 7w on the setting I normally use.
ptaipale 12y ago
Many of the giants of rock, like Led Zeppelin, did their classics (like Stairway to Heaven, the loud part) with low-wattage (like 1W or 5W) tube amps. You don't need a big amp to sound loud when recording; what you need is that the power amp is turned up to get that sweet distortion. You don't get it with pre-amps or stomp boxes alone. Personally, I have an old 25-watt Mesa/Boogie and it is infinitely nicer than the 100-watt transistor monster or 60-watt Fender tube amp that I had earlier. It is still a bit loud for training room, but just okay for live gigs with PA where it's miked.
arprocter 12y ago
There seems to be a bit of a low power tube renaissance happening lately. When I started playing no non-boutique manufacturers made anything analogue with less than 50w. The Marshall DSL5C can toggle between 5 or 1w - you can use headphones in low power mode, although I ended up getting an inline volume control because the cans were getting hit too hard. I've heard good things about the VHT 6w stuff too...is it payday yet?
- beat 12y ago
  Wanna buy a VHT 12/20 head? I'm selling one! The power scaling works really well in those VHTs. They're quite good.
  - arprocter 12y ago
    Don't tempt me! Can't imagine the look on my SO's face if I set up a half-stack in our little apartment... Got my eye on the special 6 ultra combo. Too bad there's no headphone socket though
serge2k 12y ago
I have one of those. I like it a lot, and the power soak is killer. It's great being able to crank it up (moderately) and not have my neighbors want to kill me, or put it up at wall shaking volumes when I'm at a house. I have considered trading it for something with a bit different sound though.

TylerE 12y ago

Oh, sure ;) I've got one of the little Orange Tiny Terrors sitting next to me. That's 7w on the setting I normally use.

ptaipale 12y ago

Many of the giants of rock, like Led Zeppelin, did their classics (like Stairway to Heaven, the loud part) with low-wattage (like 1W or 5W) tube amps. You don't need a big amp to sound loud when recording; what you need is that the power amp is turned up to get that sweet distortion. You don't get it with pre-amps or stomp boxes alone. Personally, I have an old 25-watt Mesa/Boogie and it is infinitely nicer than the 100-watt transistor monster or 60-watt Fender tube amp that I had earlier. It is still a bit loud for training room, but just okay for live gigs with PA where it's miked.

arprocter 12y ago

There seems to be a bit of a low power tube renaissance happening lately. When I started playing no non-boutique manufacturers made anything analogue with less than 50w. The Marshall DSL5C can toggle between 5 or 1w - you can use headphones in low power mode, although I ended up getting an inline volume control because the cans were getting hit too hard. I've heard good things about the VHT 6w stuff too...is it payday yet?

beat 12y ago
Wanna buy a VHT 12/20 head? I'm selling one! The power scaling works really well in those VHTs. They're quite good.
- arprocter 12y ago
  Don't tempt me! Can't imagine the look on my SO's face if I set up a half-stack in our little apartment... Got my eye on the special 6 ultra combo. Too bad there's no headphone socket though

serge2k 12y ago

I have one of those. I like it a lot, and the power soak is killer. It's great being able to crank it up (moderately) and not have my neighbors want to kill me, or put it up at wall shaking volumes when I'm at a house. I have considered trading it for something with a bit different sound though.