Small valve head considerations

Vinylfan

As mentioned on another thread, I have a H&K TM110 speaker that I've never used.  Was bought with the intention of getting a small lunchbox type valve head to go with it but never got round to it.  Not saying that I'll get round to it now, but what would be worth considering to go with it?

I've been looking at things like the Hayden Lil MoFO, H&K Tubemeister, Orange Micro Terror...
They are all in a similar price band used (give or take).  I'm sure there were some others I looked at too but can't remember off-hand.

Any thoughts??  Any to avoid? 

Cheers

Bridgehouse

I quite liked my Night Train.. not a popular choice but it did it’s job well...

ICBM

Vinylfan said:

Any to avoid?

Mofo, Micro Terror. One of the worst, and the absolute worst, sounding amps I've ever played respectively. I almost can't describe how awful the Micro Terror sounds.

The Vox Night Train is pretty nice though.

Vinylfan

Thanks chaps.  Now I think about it, the Night Train was on the list too. As was the Blackstar 1watt head.

Don't want anything that is too expensive or needs to get too loud.  Is the speaker I have likely to limit any choices? Think it has a Celestion speaker in it and is rated at 30 watts and 8 ohms.

Bridgehouse

Vinylfan said:

Thanks chaps.  Now I think about it, the Night Train was on the list too. As was the Blackstar 1watt head.

Don't want anything that is too expensive or needs to get too loud.  Is the speaker I have likely to limit any choices? Think it has a Celestion speaker in it and is rated at 30 watts and 8 ohms.

Should be fine with any you are considering 

Do you have an enclosure/cab for the speaker or are you building your own?

Vinylfan

Bridgehouse said:

Vinylfan said:

Thanks chaps.  Now I think about it, the Night Train was on the list too. As was the Blackstar 1watt head.

Don't want anything that is too expensive or needs to get too loud.  Is the speaker I have likely to limit any choices? Think it has a Celestion speaker in it and is rated at 30 watts and 8 ohms.

Should be fine with any you are considering 

Do you have an enclosure/cab for the speaker or are you building your own?

Oh  no - I wouldn't trust myself to build it at the moment (I know there's not much to it) - its actually a speaker cabinet already made. Actually, thinking about, a speaker cabinet I probably could knock up to a reasonable standard.

tone1

I’ve got a month old Laney L5t head with dust cover, footswitch, original packaging etc that I might be selling... PM me if it’s of any interest 

nick79

Blackstar HT1 is pretty good. I don't like any of the others but that one sounds quite good to me. 

victorludorum

Matamp Minimat?

DrJazzTap

The lil night train is a good sounding amp. 

markslade07

Egnator Tweaker? Sounds great, versatile, small...

ICBM

markslade07 said:

Egnator Tweaker? Sounds great, versatile, small...

I tried one of those recently and I was disappointed by how dramatic the tone change when the master volume got above halfway is - it sounds OK with it below, but once you've heard it above the 'step' where it suddenly gets a lot fuller and deeper sounding, it spoils the quiet sound for you somewhat.

Vinylfan

tone1 said:

I’ve got a month old Laney L5t head with dust cover, footswitch, original packaging etc that I might be selling... PM me if it’s of any interest 

Thanks but I think that'll be out of my budget.

DrJazzTap said:

The lil night train is a good sounding amp. 

Seems like there's some love for the Lil Night Train here.  They're discontinued aren't they?

Whatever it is can't be expensive as its just something I want to try out.  

Bridgehouse

Vinylfan said:

tone1 said:

I’ve got a month old Laney L5t head with dust cover, footswitch, original packaging etc that I might be selling... PM me if it’s of any interest 

Thanks but I think that'll be out of my budget.

DrJazzTap said:

The lil night train is a good sounding amp. 

Seems like there's some love for the Lil Night Train here.  They're discontinued aren't they?

Whatever it is can't be expensive as its just something I want to try out.  

The original night train is discontinued and well worth seeking out on eBay - they are good, and usually sell for not much money

BGG

Brunetti Pleximan

Vinylfan

@Bridgehouse - is that the Night Train or the Lil version or both?!

BGG said:

Brunetti Pleximan

Haven't come across that so will have a little look.

Bridgehouse

Vinylfan said:

@Bridgehouse - is that the Night Train or the Lil version or both?!

BGG said:

Brunetti Pleximan

Haven't come across that so will have a little look.

I had the Night Train, but I’ve played through a Lil Night Train. Both good for the money. Sort of modern Vox with good, usable sounds. It was pretty well built as well. 

So either or

Badnotes

ICBM said:

Vinylfan said:

Any to avoid?

Mofo, Micro Terror. One of the worst, and the absolute worst, sounding amps I've ever played respectively. I almost can't describe how awful the Micro Terror sounds.

The Vox Night Train is pretty nice though.

As a former micro terror owner I cannot give @ICBM enough wisdom, absolutely dreadful amps. 

olafgarten

Avoid the Micro Terror, it sounds really bad, the Dark Terror is slightly better, but I still couldn't get a better sound than a Roland Micro Cube.

I quite like the Tubemeisters and they work well at lower volumes for practice and bedroom use. Although a lot of people find the sound a bit too polite for their liking.

Vinylfan

@olafgarten - thanks for that.  Good to know.  My initial thinking was Tubemeister but wanted to explore what else was out there.  There's no rush so I'll keep exploring.  Good to get real world views and opinions and not just professional reviews from retailers (though they have their place).

timbuk02

Laney Cub is worth putting on the list?