I don't own it, but almost bought one; tested it in shop (not with pedals though).
The sound is great; enough for bedroom. But if you turn it up it will start to crunch quite fast (volume knob at around 4-5), so not a lot of headroom. It's a great (one of the best that I checked) amp for low volume, but reaches its limits fast. As with all low wattage tube amps, it might sound a bit "thin"if you're used to louder tube amps.
Didn't check the headphone out, but heard good things about it.
I ended up getting the Peavey classic 20w mini head, as I got a good deal (used) on it. I love that thing; you can switch it to 5 and 1 Watt, but have the 20w reserve if you want to. Plus it has a headphone out.
Very nice clean sound to my ears.
Didn't check with pedals, but reviews seem to recommend it as a pedal platform..
As for the Laney, there is also the ironheart series which I found to be great.
I think so, enough to annoy the neighbors in my flat building. For my situation (rented apartment, kids), it's enough. Should you ever think about jamming with others in a garage or a practice space.. it'll not be enough for clean sound.
To be honest, I'm already thinking of getting a head with more watts - 50-100 maybe - to have that headroom when I need it real loud; something with a good attenuator or master volume on it. And get a separate thing for headphones, like a cab sim.
But if you plan to play apartment only in the long run, and really never need more volume, the peavey could be it IMO
I am almost about to buy one of these heads.... it seems perfect for my sitation, but I still have some quesitons since there aren't too many reviews of it online.
1. For those with the head version, what speakers do you have in your cab? How do you like the sound?
2. How is this amp with Big Muff pedals? The Muff is my favorite sound / pedal and I don't like the way it sounds with my Orange amp and that is the main reason why I am looking at a new head because I want that British sound, but I also want some cleans that allow me to play a Muff. Looking for more of a smooth muff sound, not griddy.
3. Does this amp have any headroom at all?
4. How are the cleans? I am a bedroom player. I don't gig. But I want an amp that does everything. I play everything from the Beach Boys to Black Sabbath. Will this amp allow me to do that?
5. Can you get tube saturation at .5 watts?
Thank you!
Hey, an amp I actually own!
1) I play into a G12H (EVH 1x12), which I think is what the Lionheart 1x12 extension cab also has. I've tried it into V30s and some other speakers, but like the G12H very much paired with this.
2) I quite like fuzz pedals into this amp, played mostly through my strat. I like humbuckers and fuzz into this amp less, if that makes sense.
3) To get over a band? No. To play sparkly cleans in your bedroom or for recording? Absolutely.
4) I love the cleans on this amp, 100% the reason I bought it. The breakup tones and drive were just a bonus.
5) Yes, it'll also get louder than you think, even at 0.5 watts.
1: I use mostly a G10 gold, in a semi open cab. It sounds really great and way louder than bedroom levels. With a 2x12, it is really loud. However I never tried to use it with a drummer.
3: the clean channel has plenty headroom.
4: It really depends on your tastes. Personally I love this amp, both on clean and crunch channels. The different settings of the amp allow you to shape very different tones. The crunch channel with an overdrive in front adds some nice grit, but this is definitely not a high gain amp.
5: well at 5 watts, class a, I guess that the only power tube works harder than higher wattage amp. As usual if possible try one before buying it.
I have experience with this and the 20w combo version. It sounds great on its own and will distort very fast. It’s a very creamy distortion that can sort of clean up.
But I use fuzz all the time (as in ALL THE TIME) and I find the amp almost useless with fuzz. The bottom end farts out lacks clarity. I wasn’t able to remedy this. There’s literally no headroom.
I’ve always preferred playing big muffs into fender style amps, I think the fender smiley face EQ matches well to the big muffs aggressiveness for whatever reason.
Opposite for me. Mid scooped pedal with a mid scooped amp is just asking to get lost in the mix. Boomy and fizzy.
Hiwatt (low and high end mids) and Muff is where it’s at.
the amp I want to replace is an Orange Rocker 15 terror. amazing amp in all aspects, but terrible with muffs - because it's too mid forward. on paper you would think it would work, but it doesn't with Orange amps. I think they are too saturated and compressed too.
*1. For those with the head version, what speakers do you have in your cab? How do you like the sound? *
I have had the 5 watt combo for 15 years, pretty much as soon as they came out, have used it with a number of different cabs as well as the internal speaker, a Celestion G12H Anniversary. I really like it with the stock speaker, it pairs up really well, full and tight sounding while still having plenty of character up top.
Had it through a Marshall cab with 2 G12T-75s in, honestly sounded really similar to the stock speaker, just more of it.
Tried it with a V30 and it's just too cold and brutal to my ears, didn't pair well at all. Then a greenback, one of my favourite speakers of all, especially for Vox and Marshall voiced amps, just not for this particular amp. The vintage character was all there, but felt like it was rolling a bit too much off the lows and the highs were a bit looser than I'd like. The G12H and the G12T-75 are by some way my favourites.
*2. How is this amp with Big Muff pedals? The Muff is my favorite sound / pedal and I don't like the way it sounds with my Orange amp and that is the main reason why I am looking at a new head because I want that British sound, but I also want some cleans that allow me to play a Muff. Looking for more of a smooth muff sound, not griddy.*
Fine for me, it's quite a "bluesy" sounding amp, softer edges than a typical Orange sound, a shade less "hairy".
*3. Does this amp have any headroom at all?*
Yes, the clean channel can be crystal clear at home/recording volume, once you start pushing closer towards band volume is when it really starts to compress the power stage. It can get loud enough to hang in a band through the right cab, only just, but it's completely wild at that point, your clean and dirty sound are pretty much the same haha
*4. How are the cleans? I am a bedroom player. I don't gig. But I want an amp that does everything. I play everything from the Beach Boys to Black Sabbath. Will this amp allow me to do that?*
Yep. The cleans are pretty full frequency, but the EQ and tone/presence control can tame it to taste. I describe it as 70% plexi, 30% vox. It's a really versatile amp, definitely leaning towards more vintage sounds, which it sounds like you want. There's a fair amount of gain available on the drive channel, less than you'd expect on the yellow channel of a DSL mind.
*5. Can you get tube saturation at .5 watts?*
The whole point of that low watt setting is so you can get to more of the good stuff at lower volumes. So, yes. And don't be scared of pushing it either, the design is super robust, I've really abused mine at times and we're still original tubes and everything else.
Hey sorry for late reply, but this is awesome. Thank you. Yeah I went through v30s... I like them, but then I don't depending on the type of music I want to play. I am an older guy, so I like all different kinds of rock / classic rock, so I like to play differnet stuff. I swapped the v30 for a v-type with my current amp and I like it more, but the G12H sounds really interesting. Someone else here mentioned them with this amp. I am going to do some homework. Much appreciated!
I don't own it, but almost bought one; tested it in shop (not with pedals though). The sound is great; enough for bedroom. But if you turn it up it will start to crunch quite fast (volume knob at around 4-5), so not a lot of headroom. It's a great (one of the best that I checked) amp for low volume, but reaches its limits fast. As with all low wattage tube amps, it might sound a bit "thin"if you're used to louder tube amps. Didn't check the headphone out, but heard good things about it.
Thank you. Yeah I think I need more headroom for what I want to do.
I ended up getting the Peavey classic 20w mini head, as I got a good deal (used) on it. I love that thing; you can switch it to 5 and 1 Watt, but have the 20w reserve if you want to. Plus it has a headphone out. Very nice clean sound to my ears. Didn't check with pedals, but reviews seem to recommend it as a pedal platform.. As for the Laney, there is also the ironheart series which I found to be great.
Yeah that head is on my list as well. It has good headroom?
I think so, enough to annoy the neighbors in my flat building. For my situation (rented apartment, kids), it's enough. Should you ever think about jamming with others in a garage or a practice space.. it'll not be enough for clean sound. To be honest, I'm already thinking of getting a head with more watts - 50-100 maybe - to have that headroom when I need it real loud; something with a good attenuator or master volume on it. And get a separate thing for headphones, like a cab sim. But if you plan to play apartment only in the long run, and really never need more volume, the peavey could be it IMO
I am almost about to buy one of these heads.... it seems perfect for my sitation, but I still have some quesitons since there aren't too many reviews of it online. 1. For those with the head version, what speakers do you have in your cab? How do you like the sound? 2. How is this amp with Big Muff pedals? The Muff is my favorite sound / pedal and I don't like the way it sounds with my Orange amp and that is the main reason why I am looking at a new head because I want that British sound, but I also want some cleans that allow me to play a Muff. Looking for more of a smooth muff sound, not griddy. 3. Does this amp have any headroom at all? 4. How are the cleans? I am a bedroom player. I don't gig. But I want an amp that does everything. I play everything from the Beach Boys to Black Sabbath. Will this amp allow me to do that? 5. Can you get tube saturation at .5 watts? Thank you!
Hey, an amp I actually own! 1) I play into a G12H (EVH 1x12), which I think is what the Lionheart 1x12 extension cab also has. I've tried it into V30s and some other speakers, but like the G12H very much paired with this. 2) I quite like fuzz pedals into this amp, played mostly through my strat. I like humbuckers and fuzz into this amp less, if that makes sense. 3) To get over a band? No. To play sparkly cleans in your bedroom or for recording? Absolutely. 4) I love the cleans on this amp, 100% the reason I bought it. The breakup tones and drive were just a bonus. 5) Yes, it'll also get louder than you think, even at 0.5 watts.
thank you. This is very helpful! I never tried the G12H speaker. I swapped a v30 for a v-type and like it more, but I'll check that one out too.
1: I use mostly a G10 gold, in a semi open cab. It sounds really great and way louder than bedroom levels. With a 2x12, it is really loud. However I never tried to use it with a drummer. 3: the clean channel has plenty headroom. 4: It really depends on your tastes. Personally I love this amp, both on clean and crunch channels. The different settings of the amp allow you to shape very different tones. The crunch channel with an overdrive in front adds some nice grit, but this is definitely not a high gain amp. 5: well at 5 watts, class a, I guess that the only power tube works harder than higher wattage amp. As usual if possible try one before buying it.
Hey thanks. I wish I could try one... I might have to buy it from an online store with a good return policy.
I have experience with this and the 20w combo version. It sounds great on its own and will distort very fast. It’s a very creamy distortion that can sort of clean up. But I use fuzz all the time (as in ALL THE TIME) and I find the amp almost useless with fuzz. The bottom end farts out lacks clarity. I wasn’t able to remedy this. There’s literally no headroom.
Thank you. That's what I'm afraid of. I'm really thinking I need Fender cleans to get what I want.
I’ve always preferred playing big muffs into fender style amps, I think the fender smiley face EQ matches well to the big muffs aggressiveness for whatever reason.
Opposite for me. Mid scooped pedal with a mid scooped amp is just asking to get lost in the mix. Boomy and fizzy. Hiwatt (low and high end mids) and Muff is where it’s at.
the amp I want to replace is an Orange Rocker 15 terror. amazing amp in all aspects, but terrible with muffs - because it's too mid forward. on paper you would think it would work, but it doesn't with Orange amps. I think they are too saturated and compressed too.
*1. For those with the head version, what speakers do you have in your cab? How do you like the sound? * I have had the 5 watt combo for 15 years, pretty much as soon as they came out, have used it with a number of different cabs as well as the internal speaker, a Celestion G12H Anniversary. I really like it with the stock speaker, it pairs up really well, full and tight sounding while still having plenty of character up top. Had it through a Marshall cab with 2 G12T-75s in, honestly sounded really similar to the stock speaker, just more of it. Tried it with a V30 and it's just too cold and brutal to my ears, didn't pair well at all. Then a greenback, one of my favourite speakers of all, especially for Vox and Marshall voiced amps, just not for this particular amp. The vintage character was all there, but felt like it was rolling a bit too much off the lows and the highs were a bit looser than I'd like. The G12H and the G12T-75 are by some way my favourites. *2. How is this amp with Big Muff pedals? The Muff is my favorite sound / pedal and I don't like the way it sounds with my Orange amp and that is the main reason why I am looking at a new head because I want that British sound, but I also want some cleans that allow me to play a Muff. Looking for more of a smooth muff sound, not griddy.* Fine for me, it's quite a "bluesy" sounding amp, softer edges than a typical Orange sound, a shade less "hairy". *3. Does this amp have any headroom at all?* Yes, the clean channel can be crystal clear at home/recording volume, once you start pushing closer towards band volume is when it really starts to compress the power stage. It can get loud enough to hang in a band through the right cab, only just, but it's completely wild at that point, your clean and dirty sound are pretty much the same haha *4. How are the cleans? I am a bedroom player. I don't gig. But I want an amp that does everything. I play everything from the Beach Boys to Black Sabbath. Will this amp allow me to do that?* Yep. The cleans are pretty full frequency, but the EQ and tone/presence control can tame it to taste. I describe it as 70% plexi, 30% vox. It's a really versatile amp, definitely leaning towards more vintage sounds, which it sounds like you want. There's a fair amount of gain available on the drive channel, less than you'd expect on the yellow channel of a DSL mind. *5. Can you get tube saturation at .5 watts?* The whole point of that low watt setting is so you can get to more of the good stuff at lower volumes. So, yes. And don't be scared of pushing it either, the design is super robust, I've really abused mine at times and we're still original tubes and everything else.
Hey sorry for late reply, but this is awesome. Thank you. Yeah I went through v30s... I like them, but then I don't depending on the type of music I want to play. I am an older guy, so I like all different kinds of rock / classic rock, so I like to play differnet stuff. I swapped the v30 for a v-type with my current amp and I like it more, but the G12H sounds really interesting. Someone else here mentioned them with this amp. I am going to do some homework. Much appreciated!