Best sounding low watt high gain heads

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Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by griff »

Hey guys. For high gain recording into a load box, what suggestions do you have for good sounding tube heads in the 2 to 10 watt department? I not fussed on TYPE of gain really at this stage (i.e American vs british sound etc)

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by willow13 »

Honestly you don't need to go as low as 10watts. Pretty much all modern amps with a MV sound great at all volume levels......so

EVH lunchbox.. 15watts but you won't get a better high gain sound than that thing.

If $$ are an issue there is a second hand jet city 22h on facebook ($390 I think) ... 20 watts ... great little amps
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by Olderama »

This will do the trick
https://trademe.co.nz/1274149802
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by codedog »

Laney IRT-Studio may be worth looking at. A bit cheaper if I remember correctly.

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by The Scarecrow »

griff7628 wrote:Hey guys. For high gain recording into a load box, what suggestions do you have for good sounding valve heads in the 2 to 10 watt department? I not fussed on TYPE of gain really at this stage (i.e American vs british sound etc)
I'm selling a Blackstar HT5-watt head if you're interested. Does a pretty bloody good high gain tone at lower volumes, plus the ISF-function allows to basically sweep the EQ to sound more Brit or American depending on taste. Let me know if would suit.
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by AiRdAd »

If you're going into a loadbox, do you need a low wattage amp?
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by griff »

Thanks guys. The 22h is actually the amp that I use and it's great but the OD channel does get a bit fizzy and quite loose in the bass, but cuts through like a motherfucker in a live situation. Maybe I'll just need to experiment with it a bit once I get that load box.
Thanks for the blackstar offer there Scarecrow. Will let you know.

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by hamo »

AiRdAd wrote:If you're going into a loadbox, do you need a low wattage amp?
That was my question too.

Regardless, I guess in the low wattage/high gain area, I think of Orange (Tiny/Dark/Dual Terror), but I don't think of that as a particularly tight gain sound. For modern metal I would think maybe more about the Blackstar, possibly even the HT-5 Metal, although I haven't got experience with it. Otherwise, something like the Carvin V3, which I believe is switchable down to 7 watts, or the Mesa mini rec.
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by Mattallica »

I think telling us a budget would help? As there are a lot of options

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by godgrinder »

If it's just for recording might as well consider a tube preamp like the Engl E530. That way you won't even have to bother with a loadbox. (I assume you haven't bought one yet?) Just load an IR in your DAW.

Most EL84/6V6 high gain amps sound a bit anemic to me when compared to something loaded with bigger power tubes.
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by willow13 »

griff7628 wrote:Thanks guys. The 22h is actually the amp that I use and it's great but the OD channel does get a bit fizzy and quite loose in the bass, but cuts through like a motherfucker in a live situation. .
agree...so maybe when you said gain type doesn't matter it actually does :?: :idea: :rofl: ... don't be afraid to scoop the mids and up the presence with it. At low volumes I had no problems keeping the bottom tight
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by griff »

AiRdAd wrote:If you're going into a loadbox, do you need a low wattage amp?
Mainly for the lower cost.
godgrinder wrote:If it's just for recording might as well consider a valve preamp like the Engl E530. That way you won't even have to bother with a loadbox. (I assume you haven't bought one yet?) Just load an IR in your DAW.

Most EL84/6V6 high gain amps sound a bit anemic to me when compared to something loaded with bigger power valves.
Interesting. I'll look into this.
Mattallica wrote:I think telling us a budget would help? As there are a lot of options
Not much haha $300 and under.

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by griff »

willow13 wrote:
griff7628 wrote:Thanks guys. The 22h is actually the amp that I use and it's great but the OD channel does get a bit fizzy and quite loose in the bass, but cuts through like a motherfucker in a live situation. .
agree...so maybe when you said gain type doesn't matter it actually does :?: :idea: :rofl: ... don't be afraid to scoop the mids and up the presence with it. At low volumes I had no problems keeping the bottom tight
Indeed. I am currently looking at someone who can mod the SLO channel on mine to tighten that bass up. Than we might have a winner. Or maybe get a tubescreamer to do it. But it's always a gamble of how well it'll work. i think a mod will be better.

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by griff »

That Engl tone is awesome. Something like that would be great. But the e530 is pretty expensive.

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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads

Post by godgrinder »

griff7628 wrote:That Engl tone is awesome. Something like that would be great. But the e530 is pretty expensive.
Just remember that it'll save you from buying a US$400 loadbox (which is a bit of a cart-before-the-horse if you're using cheap practice amps).

For under NZ$300 there isn't many options, might as well just stick to plugins. The free LePou ones are actually pretty sweet.
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