Not convinced? Well last Saturday I played a wedding party gig in a theatre to 200 people with an un-mic\u2019ed 18 watt Burris Royal Bluesman tube head and 1×12 cab. As most people were dancing it was much louder than I would typically play at church and I still had loads of clean headroom available.<\/p>\n
So where can I find such a creation? Well in the 1950\u2019s when amps started to develop from old radio circuits most of the amp companies made practice amps around that power. It was only when bands got louder before sophisticated PA were introduced that they started to need 30, 50 and 100 watt amps.<\/p>\n Those practice amps sounded great and eventually found their niche as studio amps where they could be cranked for \u2018that\u2019 sound without ear blistering volume. The models I particularly like are the \u2018tweed\u2019 model fender Champs and Princetons and the Vox AC4s.<\/p>\n So what\u2019s the point of this? Well I think every worship guitarist need to at least try a great quality low wattage tube amp and see what it does for their tone. The beauty of an amp like this is that you can set the over all volume with the amp and then use your guitar volume pot to control to control the amount of overdrive your sound produces. eg I went into a shop and tried a 12watt Fender handwired deluxe with a Les Paul. I set the amp volume at about 6 and then played with the guitars volume. I found that between 0-4 on the guitar it sounded clean and purely adjusted the overall volume BUT after 5 the sound didn\u2019t necessarily louder, it just got dirtier and more compressed. Total overdrive control with your little finger and no need for pedals!<\/p>\n But the best bit is you don\u2019t need to go out and buy a 50\u2019s vintage (read expensive and potentially unreliable) amp. There is now a whole community of very small companies who are recreating those amps for bedroom players who want the tone without the volume. These are generally hand wired from good components and built in the US by one person and if you dig around a bit they aren\u2019t necessarily expensive. If you are a British reader then its even better news because although you will pay import charges, the current pound\/dollar exchange rate means that you\u2019ll pay half of what you would from a British dealer or manufacturer.<\/p>\n So where\u2019s this leading? Well I\u2019m going to start compiling a small database of amp companies that make good quality stuff at reasonable prices and I\u2019d love everyone\u2019s input. I\u2019ll include the mass produced and high end stuff but I\u2019m really looking for those one-man amp builders that take pride in their work, produce a great product and keep their overhead low thus keeping prices low. Here\u2019s a list to start with. Does anyone have other suggestions?<\/p>\n Production amps<\/strong><\/p>\n www.orangeamps.com<\/a> www.epiphone.com<\/a> blackhearteng.com<\/cite> Harley Benton GA5 www.fender.com<\/a> Great Value boutique<\/strong><\/p>\n www.littledawgamps.com<\/a> www.frenzeltubeamps.com<\/a> www.electrosonicamplifiers.com<\/a> www.matamp.co.uk<\/a> www.burrissamps.com<\/a> www.sligoamps.com<\/a> Well respected High End<\/strong><\/p>\n www.drzamps.com www.badcatamps.com www.victoriaamp.com<\/a> Amp Kits<\/p>\n <\/strong>If you are handy with the soldering iron and want to put together one yourself.<\/p>\n www.tedweber.com<\/a> www.mojomusicalsupply.com<\/a>![\"burriss-royal-bluesman\"](\"https:\/\/www.musicademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/burriss-royal-bluesman.jpg\")
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\nCheck out the tiny terror \u2013 still pretty loud though at 15 watts but with a \u00bd power switch<\/p>\n
\nEpiphone valve junior. 5 watt tube amp at $199!!<\/p>\n
\ncheck out the little Giant \u2013 similar to above <\/cite><\/p>\n
\nsame as the epi valve junior in a different box<\/p>\n
\n5watts plus a 6inch speaker for $199<\/p>\n
\nCheck out the 4 or 8 watt Champster. If you have a cab the chassis is amazing value at $279!<\/p>\n
\nthe champ pro looks good at $495<\/p>\n
\nthe standard solaris is basically like a Vox AC4 for $575. also check out the Thermosonic 10watt combo for $650 if you haven\u2019t got a cab<\/p>\n
\nclassic British brand that started off as Orange amps. The Minimat and First Lady are good value if you live in the UK and want to buy British.<\/p>\n
\nCheck out the Royal Bluesman. I\u2019ve got one of these and it\u2019s incredible! 18watts (so a bit louder), weighs 14lbs and the size of a lunchbox with built reverb, trem, worldwide power AND with the footswitch that operates the trem you can power over a dozen pedals!! A true, one-plug solution.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThey build classic replicas from amp kits. The smallest seems to be the 14watt 5e3 fender deluxe \u2013 great value at $775 but im sure a champ would cost even less if you enquire.<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>The mini Z is a cool 5 watt head <\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Check out the mini II 5watt combo <\/span><\/p>\n
\nGreat fender tweed replicas from this well respected builder. Check out the sound links on the 5112 combo.<\/p>\n
\nThe 5f1 is the Champ and the 5F2 is the Princeton<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThey do amps + lots of other guitar parts too<\/p>\n