Microscopic valve amps

[JonnyScaramanga]

As I'm sure you're all bored of hearing me say, I am ampless and I have GAS!

I'm gonna get some kind of 15-20 watt valve head for gigging, but this is still gonna be too loud to regularly use at home.

I have a MicroCube, and I don't especially like it. It's OK, but I don't think it responds like a valve amp. The thing about a real, non-master valve amp is that they're difficult to play through. If I try a hammer-on lick, or a pinched harmonic, and don't nail it, it sounds crap. The MicroCube is more forgiving.

I want a practice amp that will be unforgiving, so when I gig with my real amp, I won't be standing there thinking "F**k, this is hard!"

Thus I am contemplating such things as the ZVex Nano and Rock Block. I'm curious about your experiences of these.

[MattANJH]

Just curious as to why you think a 15-20 watt amp is too loud for home use? You met my Trilogy at GASFest, so should have an idea what I mean when I say that can go loud enough to liquidate your skeleton (it was on about volume 1 and a half at swindon) but I can still have that quiet enough to use at home withouth upsetting anybody, and that's a 100 watter. As long as you have good enough volume control there's no reason you shouldn't be able to run a 15 or 20 watt amp at home

[Guitar_Slinger]

Originally Posted by JonnyScaramanga

I'm gonna get some kind of 15-20 watt valve head for gigging, but this is still gonna be too loud to regularly use at home.

Like what?

I might be spending a day in Ba'ath in 2 weeks (25th).

[jalapeno]

Botfield Senior has a ZVex Nano IIRC

[smokingbeagle]

Blackheart Killer Ant? I've got SERIOUS GAS pangs for one of those, particularly as you can get them for not much more than a ton...

[JonnyScaramanga]

Originally Posted by MattANJH

As long as you have good enough volume control there's no reason you shouldn't be able to run a 15 or 20 watt amp at home

Indeed, I am confident that whatever amp I buy, it will have a volume knob. But we're talking about different tones here. I want distortion, and I'm going to buy an amp with no preamp gain. The only way to get crunch will be to run it full blast. And while I will do this from time to time, I'm not going to subject myself to that every day.

Originally Posted by Guitar_Slinger

Like what?

I might be spending a day in Ba'ath in 2 weeks (25th).

Yeah! Bring the Red Terror, or whatever it's called. EDIT: And the Joe Perry.

Originally Posted by smokingbeagle

Blackheart Killer Ant? I've got SERIOUS GAS pangs for one of those, particularly as you can get them for not much more than a ton...

Good to hear from ya Beag. I just watched the YouTube video of a guy playing one through a full stack, and I'm not convinced. The price is right, and they do sound good, but.....
I felt the same way when I reviewed the Little Giant for Total Guitar. I liked it (I gave it four stars. I think the review is on this site now), but it didn't sound as good as I expected from the spec. I found it woolly.

[smokingbeagle]

Originally Posted by JonnyScaramanga

Good to hear from ya Beag. I just watched the YouTube video of a guy playing one through a full stack, and I'm not convinced. The price is right, and they do sound good, but.....
I felt the same way when I reviewed the Little Giant for Total Guitar. I liked it (I gave it four stars. I think the review is on this site now), but it didn't sound as good as I expected from the spec. I found it woolly.

Yeah, the guy doing a Billy Gibbons impression? That did sound a bit disappointing, but I was hoping it was down to my computer speakers. Hey ho, I['ll probably get one anyway, wouldn't lose very much selling it on if it wasn't perfect (or, apparently, they mod very well, might be a nice intro to valve electronics which I'm CLUELESS about).

Oh, and I'll do that Facebook thing you sent me when I can be arsed

[mattbanshee]

Torres 1W amp? Range of models (Fender/Marshall clones etc).

[Nick.Botfield]

Check your PMs you slag.

[JonnyScaramanga]

Originally Posted by mattbanshee

Torres 1W amp? Range of models (Fender/Marshall clones etc).

I didn't know about these. Thanks for the heads up... I think they might be up my alley.

Botfield, PMed.