Tag: 65 amps

  • Best small (<15W) tube guitar amplifiers

    What can I say.. I love technology. I do my due diligence when researching audio gadgets, guitar pickups, amplifiers, headphones, speakers, portable computers and portable displays.
    This is the list for those lovely Fender tweed type tones or Marshall bluesbreaker-like tones… the small, boutique style handwired tube amps that pack a punch.

    Edit: I did make a top 20 list for both headphones and bluetooth speakers here:
    Top 20 bluetooth speakers
    Top 20 over ear headphones
    best Overdrive pedals

    Best small (<15W class A) handwired tube guitar amplifiers

    Vox AC-4HW

    Vox AC4HW
    Vox AC4HW

    Price: $799
    -4W
    -2x 12AX7, 1x EL84
    -12″ Celestion Greenback speaker
    -Weight: 30lbs
    -top boost
    -hot/cool mode

    Fender Eric Clapton Vibro-champ

    Fender EC Vibro Champ
    Fender EC Vibro Champ

    Price: $999
    -5W
    -2x 12AX7, 1x 6V6GT, 1x 5Y3GT
    -8″ Weber speaker
    -Weight: 16lbs
    -Tremolo
    -Attenuator

    Swart Atomic Jr (this is the amp I own)

    Swart Atomic Jr
    Swart Atomic Jr

    Price: $1200
    -5W
    -1x 12AX7, 1x 12DW7, 1x 6V6GT, 1x GZ34
    -8″ Weber speaker
    -Weight: 14lbs
    -Hot/cool mode
    -Spring Reverb

    Rivera Venus 3

    Rivera Venus3
    Rivera Venus3

    Price: $1600
    -15W
    -2x 12AX7, 2x6V6GT
    -12″ Celestion Heritage speaker
    -Spring reverb, presence

    Bogner New Yorker

    Bogner New Yorker
    Bogner New Yorker

    Price: $1600
    -12W
    -2x 12AX7, 2x 6V6
    -12″ Celestion speaker
    -4 way rotary switch

    Tone King Falcon

    Tone King Falcon
    Tone King Falcon

    Price: $1700
    -12W
    -3x 12AX7, 2x 6V6GT
    -10″ Eminence Speaker
    -Weight: 30lbs
    -Attentuator

    Dr Z Maz 8

    Dr Z Maz 8
    Dr Z Maz 8

    Price: $1749
    -8W
    -4x 12AX7, 1x 12AT7, 1x EL84, 1x GZ34
    -12″ speaker
    -Weight: 37 lbs

    Matchless Baby

    Matchless Baby
    Matchless Baby

    Price: $1799
    -6W
    -1x 12AX7, 1x EL84, 1x 5AR4
    -12″ speaker

    Divided by 13 CJ11

    Divided by 13 CJ11
    Divided by 13 CJ11

    Price: $1950
    -11W
    -2x 12AX7, 2x 6v6GT, 1x 5AR4/GZ34
    -12″ Speaker
    -Weight: 46lbs

    65Amps Lil’ Elvis

    65Amps Lil' Elvis
    65Amps Lil’ Elvis

    Price: $2495
    -12W
    -3x 12AX7, 2x EL84, 1x EZ81
    -12″ Celestion Greenback speaker
    -Weight: 29lbs
    -Tremolo speed/intensity
    -Attentuator

    Marshall 1974X

    Marshall 1974X
    Marshall 1974X

    Price: $2499
    -18W
    -3x ECC83, 2x EL84, 1x EZ81
    -12″ Celestion speaker
    -Tremolo

    So.. the options range from the relatively inexpensive $799 4W Vox Handwired AC4HW to the $2500 18W Marshall Handwired 1974X. I personally own the Swart, so I can say for certain that the Amp possesses phenomenal reverb for its size, breaks up rather easily, but has lots of good clean tones as well. And its probably the lightest out of the bunch, at only 14lbs.