Absolutely love the sound of smaller amps in the studio. After years of recording big stacks with power soaks just so you can drive them, I'm in search of as many small heads and combos as I can find.

I think the next purchase may be the Blackstar HT-5 Head. I've auditioned a load and that one was really pleasing for quite a wide range of sounds. Quite liked the cabs too.

Also the Ampeg Micro VR bass head has caught my eye.

Getting the most out of these little amps while being able to keep the volume at a reasonable studio level is so much nicer than working with bigger stacks and ear guards!

Obviously there are times when you want to move some air but for now, small is the future for me!

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

I've scaled down on quite a few things as well but I find it hard to get serious high gain tones from small amps as something seems to be missing, so for now I am still recording these with a JCM900 on half power cranked full through a 4x12 (unfortunately have to reamp as I can't crank it at certain times), which is indicated as 25 watts but feels quite a bit more.

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www.descentintomadness.com

I bought a 1W JCM800 from the Marshall 25th Anniversary range and it records really well. Better than my 100W JCM2000

The neighbours are happier

Bollocks. Get the biggest amp you can find.

J

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www.jackruston.com

Six...I'm sort of intrigued by those 1w JCM800's. I'm fully prepared to believe that it is better than the JCM2000 but that's mainly because the JCM800 is an amazing amp and the JCM2000 is...not. But I'd love to hear how you find it in the longer run.

J

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www.jackruston.com

Heard someone gig with a larger amp from these guys the other day, sounded sweet.

http://www.haydenamps.com/products/classic-series/petite-5


updated, did not realise the 5watt amp has switchable valves in built, so should be quite flexible

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Madman_Greg

Edited by Madman_Greg (08/09/12 08:09 PM)

Audiokitchen have the Little Chopper, and now The Big Trees pedal, which is also a little valve amp. Sounds really good. Not cheap, but posh.

J

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www.jackruston.com

Quote Jack Ruston:

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Audiokitchen have the Little Chopper, and now The Big Trees pedal, which is also a little valve amp. Sounds really good. Not cheap, but posh.

J

---

Dude! They look awesome! Love the look of the big trees and they both sound amazing! What kind of money's in those beasts?

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Edited by Persuazion (08/09/12 08:23 PM)

I think the Little Chopper is about 1200 or so and the Big Trees about 600...Off the top of my head. Not exactly sure.

J

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www.jackruston.com

The Big Trees will be mine. Oh yes....

To be honest, I'd sell my JCM800 tomorrow for it. I'm soo bored of it. As trusty and reliable as it is.

The little chopper is beautiful too. Hmmm... Got me thinking now!

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Now you see, the thing is, the Big Chopper is AMAZING.

J

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www.jackruston.com

It really does sound great. I'm really lusting after vintage distortions. 70s, mid range saturated sounds. Ripped speakers and natural breakup. My little wem clubman is great for that kind of thing. Tapped into it so I can use a power soak between it and the speaker. I just love that sound. And my bro recently got a vintage Park that just hits all those spts perfectly. And how much did he get the (basically vintage Marshall) amp for? .... £70!!!!!!! The swine! at least I get to borrow it!

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

That's awesome. Love the WEM stuff. I'm on the lookout for a WEM Audiomaster mixer actually.

J

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www.jackruston.com

Wow, rare as hen's teeth I'd expect? Lovely looking things! How do they sound? I've got copycat (iPad spell check!!) hidden away for me till I have the pennies.

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Quote Persuazion:

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I'd sell my JCM800 tomorrow for it.

---

Haha, I meant my jcm2000! I'd probably hang onto an 800 if I did have one.

Another head I'm trying to find is a Laney Klipp. Soo nice and does that vintage 70s vibe really well.

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Peavey Classic and the Crate Palomino do those 70s sounds really well.
In bigger amps for 70s stuff, the Laney AOR is superb.
JCM2000 - TSL or DSL? The DSL is a lot better sounding from what I remember, as somehow they managed to squeeze 3 channels out of the same amount of power tubes on the TSL and cut some corners in the process.

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www.descentintomadness.com

Cool, I'll check those out.

Mine is a DSL, 50w, so it's not too bad. Nothing particularly inspiring but always delivers the goods. Kind of the sm57 of the amp world for me

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Also, during my search through all the amps in the shop, I I discovered the fender excelsior. What a lovely amp for clean! And a steal at around £230 iirc. Love the idea of having a few nice amps specifically for clean tones.

Also the blackheart little giant sounds really nice but issues with noise seem to be all over the net, which is a shame.

To be honest, I'd have a room full of WEM Clubmans. Every one I've heard sounds different but mostly all in a good way. I've only ever heard the dominator used for Jazz gigs but I'd be interested to see how they sound driven.

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

...i like our guitarists orange
and he used a Meta (Mete?) amp speaker
we call it a matalan amp....

really nice for recording - loverly and lush sirup(?) sounding heads

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http://soundcloud.com/seaapes

Quote Wease:

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...i like our guitarists orange
and he used a Meta (Mete?) amp speaker
we call it a matalan amp....

really nice for recording - loverly and lush sirup(?) sounding heads

---

What Orange does he use mate? I've always found orange amps a bit 'fizzy' and cold. Only used their combos though. I've got a nice orange (coloured) MatAmp 15" cab that I like a lot.

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Edited by Persuazion (09/09/12 04:49 PM)

I've just tried to ring him (to sort rehersals) but he's not answering yet...but i will find out

I know he changed the valves on it as well.....will ask him that as well

the guitar sound is on the link of our songs....I didn't bother eq'ing them cause the sound is very nice (to my ears)

It's only a small head tho....great amp (with the changed valves)

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/33756_453569449037_609407_n .jpg

above is a picture (if it works) of the whole caboodal - right on the left - he's looking at it

Matamp is the cab! - and it's 2 speaker...so presume much the same as yours......a nice genteel beige!

I'll find out and post!

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http://soundcloud.com/seaapes

Edited by Wease (09/09/12 05:05 PM)

orange amp is called rocker 30
valves vl34
matamp c7 with a kt88

apparently all of the above are discontinued - and the matamp was custom made


and your not allowed to nick his guitar sound!!



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http://soundcloud.com/seaapes

Looks like an AD30? They're all pretty similar looking! I'm on the Lappy but I'll have a listen when I can, cheers!

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Quote Wease:

---

orange amp is called rocker 30
valves vl34
matamp c7 with a kt88

apparently all of the above are discontinued - and the matamp was custom made


and your not allowed to nick his guitar sound!!

---

Haha, great cheers!

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

The orange th30 is cool sounding. It can be fizzy at the wrong settings but it's like a jcm800 when it's right. J

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www.jackruston.com

Can't say I've heard a bad Orange amp yet.

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www.descentintomadness.com

Anyone ever used the tiny terror or crush amps in the studio? I've always thought they'd be a little nasty but I may have orange all wrong! I think bad guitars and players have played their part in the few experiences I've had with orange.

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

I haven't yet recorded it, but I use the tiny terror live. Goes into a 2x12 orange cab with celestion vintage 30s in.

With my set-up I've found you have to run the master at full and control volume with the gain to get the best tone. If you have a band where you can crank the gain up to the point where it just starts to crunch, then pull the guitar volume knob back for clean, it sounds sweet.

Use a way huge fat sandwich for the heavy dirty tones.

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www.exaviormusic.com
www.manninmusic.com Music Teacher, Isle of Man

Cool, I'll need to give some orange amps a try. None in the shop near me just now.

Ah, the fat sandwich! On my never ending 'things I need' list!

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

The TT does a sort of filthy blues rock thing quite well but it's not refined like their larger heads. Different animal. J

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www.jackruston.com

selmer little giant is cool, as are the epiphone valve junior thingies - and all the copies that sprung up immediately after.

I built a 11 watt Fender tweed deluxe copy which I love.

And of course there are also all the ££££$£$£$Q$$$$ boutique ones like Dr Z, etc.

Quite liked the Blackstar 5 watt but never tried the 1 watt.

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Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!

Quote IvanSC:

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selmer little giant is cool, as are the epiphone valve junior thingies - and all the copies that sprung up immediately after.

I built a 11 watt Fender tweed deluxe copy which I love.

And of course there are also all the ££££$£$£$Q$$$$ boutique ones like Dr Z, etc.

Quite liked the Blackstar 5 watt but never tried the 1 watt.

---

Yeah I fancy hearing the 1w Blackstar. The 5w was very nice though. I've been looking at selmers on fleabay. The little boxy tremble and bass amp heads look really cool (yes, I mean LOOK cool )

Just checked out some demos of the Selmer Little Giant. My gosh! Absolutely amazing sound! Right up my street so I'll be keeping an eye out for them

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http://www.loverslanestudios.co.uk

Edited by Persuazion (10/09/12 02:49 PM)

Egnater Tweaker.

lots of different voices, most sound good, excellent value.

Love mine, does (nearly) everything

I bought a Fender Blues Junior III (15w) for my studio and couldn't be happier. Excelent clean sound and accepts pedals greatly. I highly recommend it.

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www.estudiodrummond.com.br

I'd also have a look around for a s/h Harley Benton GA5

OK its Thomann's own brand, but the PCB says Epiphone as its a junior copy/clone, go figure - made in the same factory !

You can get some nice sounds with the right pedals in front of these

And the best thing is new they were around £80 so I guess s/h you'd pay £50

Worth a punt for that amount of money and a cheap option to have as well as the more expensive stuff, there are loads of mods on the web if you are that way inclined.

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Madman_Greg

Kinda cheesy video but rhythm guitars (channel R) were recorded with Orange TT and Boss overdrive up front.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Drzl512MEU&feature=youtu.be

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www.descentintomadness.com

Quote Jack Ruston:

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because the JCM800 is an amazing amp and the JCM2000 is...not.

---

I'm constantly amused how everyone slags off the JCM2000. Okay the lead channel isn't great on the TSL models and reliability can be an issue on some models.....

But on the whole I think mine sounds pretty good for what I paid for it 12 years ago.

Maybe I just got a good one... I dunno

It's possible that you did. The DSL isn't a bad sounding amp but it's lacking the character and vibe that the JCM800 has. The TSL is generally bad sounding. It's not a one-off sort of problem...They started suffering in the 900's and got worse the more channels and buttons got added (30th Anniversary etc). If you find a good 70's JMP or an early JCM800 they're completely different sounding. Much more 'alive' and organic.

J

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www.jackruston.com

Really pleased with my Tiny Terror. I'm currently gassing for a Fuchs Blackjack 21, they do a range of low wattage amps (4/7/21 watt), and are not crazy money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbf0RtP5fLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hEMFJWMyLM&NR=1&feature=endscreen< /a>

Pretty cool that Andy Fuchs can demonstrate his own gear

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I like people, it's my friends I can't stand - Larry David.
http://www.myspace.com/lodious

Loving my VHT Special 6 Ultra head and 1x12 cab. Sparkling Fender-y cleans, breaks up nicely and takes pedals well too. Not a metal amp by any stretch but Neil Young roar without the police kicking the door in, love it.