jonny bonetone from Chandler Arizona USA
Quality:
exceptable fer sure
Sound:
sounds like $800(+) for >$200 quid
Reliability:
my kid can't even mess it up
Overall:
sweet for the dinero
Playability and Feel:
clean to crunch, all good
Tone:
need more goof just add a pedal you wanker
Finish:
tolex finish is better than a vintage Marshall head
Action:
came right outta the box easily
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Do you own this product?:
yup
Date submitted:
18Jan2011
DanB from Hazel Green, Alabama
danlynnb97@yahoo.com
Subject:
Excellent amp for the money
Quality:
For the price I don't see how they can put this much quality in to building this amp as they do and still make a profit. (I can't build anything close to this from scratch for this price)
Sound:
Make no mistake about 5 watts, this thing can get loud. It's plenty loud to play/practice with a band and small venues although the clean headroom may not be enough with the stock tubes that come with it. You'd be fine playing rock, blues songs with sweet power tube distortions. Remember 5 watts is about half as loud as a 50 watt amp so if you like that power tube distortion/tone you get by cranking that 50 watter up to painfully loud volumes, this can do that at half the ear splitting volume! I would suggest experimenting with different tubes for your tastes as the stock Chinese tubes aren't really that good.
Reliability:
Time will tell. Like I said I bought it to experiment with building my own amp. It is however built to be modded/upgraded. It's not a cheap, junk circuit board that can't be repaired.
Overall:
This is the best deal in single end class A tube amps. The cabinet and chassis are built very durable and rugged. It sounds great out of the box and is probably the absolute best sounding tube amp I've seen for the modest price of $150-$200. It is built to be very "mod" friendly and several mods are out there for it and the Epiphone Valve Junior. I'm interested in building my own tube amp. I bought this to gut and use the chassis, cabinet and assorted parts to build an upgraded amp. After playing it for a while, and listening to it's great tone, I think it'd be a crime to do that so I'm gonna start from scratch on my other build.
Playability and Feel:
Didn't feel like I was "violated" after I got the amp in and checked it out.. like I have felt on some other products I have bought before (if you know what I mean) so I guess it "feels" good
Tone:
Nice warm tone. handles pedals great. Tone knobs are very responsive. Experiment with different tubes to dial in the tones that fit your tastes.
Finish:
Cabinet work is great! Built very solid with excellent tolex and piping. The chassis is sturdy as well. Not too crazy about the huge blackheart emblem on the front but it can be taken off by removing two phillips screws.
Do you own this product?:
I own it
Date submitted:
11/01/2009
Brandon C. from Indiana
Subject:
Great Low Watt Tube Amp
Quality:
It is built like a tank. Very sturdy cabinet and appears to be built of good components.
Sound:
Sounded good out of the box. Sounds GREAT after a tube swap to get rid of the junk Chinese tubes.
Reliability:
I've had it only a few weeks but I've not had any issues and don't expect to. It is built like a tank. Very sturdy cabinet and appears to be built of good components.
Overall:
After testing out several low watt tube amps this was the best of the bunch. The Little Giant has all the features and the sound I was looking for in an amp for my style.
Playability and Feel:
The 3-band EQ actually makes a difference. I can dial back on the highs and lows and dime the mids for some nice tones.
Tone:
Tone is subjective, but to me it is excellent. After the tube upgrade to a Tung-Sol 12AX7 and JJ EL84 it is exactly what I was looking for.
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Do you own this product?:
Yes
Date submitted:
8/15/2010
clawmute from Akron, OH, USA
Subject:
best value in a "no drive control" amp.
Quality:
Very nicely made.
Sound:
By itself, it has shimmery overtones that swell into a bright but not shrill distortion as you increase volume. The pleasant surprise was how well this amp works with effect pedals, I use an amp modeling multi effect pedal that sings with this amp. The only thing missing is the drive knob, and that's on the next model up.
Overall:
Well built, or even overbuilt. The EL84 puts it more in the Vox/ Marshall sound. This amp works well with big speaker cabs, and multiple cabs, and it's set up for just that.
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Do you own this product?:
yes
B. Paris from NJ
Subject:
Can't do better in 5 watts
Quality:
This is where I have been most impressed. It feels like a "Real" amp. Not the cheapie that it is. I have total faith in this that it will last a long time. It has been used A LOT and I feel like it hasn't even been brokem in yet. I would replace it in a heartbeat if it was gone for some reason and probably try out one of it's bigger brothers.
Sound:
Awesome sound, handles pedals well. When pushed all the way it does flatten out a bit due to the low wattage but from 5 to 7 on the volume it REALLY sings. I use it alone with a Weber Alnico spaeker cabinet and it plays above my drummer at practice no problem. Not enough for a club though unless you pair it with something else with a AB box.
Reliability:
Built like a tank. Heavy, thick plywood, durable tolex.
Overall:
Wow this things is a workhorse. Had it almost a year now and it has been through the ringer and it hasn't skipped a beat. Can handle professional situations from gigging to recording to 24 hour a day playing.
Playability and Feel:
Tone controls are not all that responsive but they do work. Think of it as low, middle, high, instead of 1 through 10. Doesn't bother me because it sounds awesome.
Tone:
Clean has some headroom but not a lot. Clean sounds nice but I rarely play clean. Has a darker tone - think Sabbath or Zepplin. You can dial just about anything using the controls and appropraite guitar. But it really sings for straight forward Rock. This is a low wattage class A amp so there is not a lot of control here - it is what it is - a rock n roll amp. Pair it with a good cabinet too, it is a little picky with what speakers it likes, seems to really like 10" speakers.
Finish:
Looks good. No rips, or problems over the year at all - don't forsee any either. I am surprised by the quality for such an inexpensive amp.
Action:
Got some this morning.
Skill Level:
Pro-Rock Star
Do you own this product?:
Yes
Date submitted:
9-12-2009
Daniel C. from Saint George, Utah
Subject:
Best 5W amp for the price
Quality:
This amp is made well. Cosmetically clean, solid construction, decent electronics. My tubes were not even microphonic when I got it, so...yeah.
Reliability:
Hasn't quit yet.
Overall:
I love this amp. Great EL84 crunch with a tone stack and a pentode/triod switch and multiple speaker-outs. It's got what I want and it sounds great.
Playability and Feel:
Easiest amp to use. Plug in, turn on, and play.
Tone:
The tone is on the british side, I think. Plenty of bass response. Decent saturation at full volume.
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Do you own this product?:
Yes
Date submitted:
3/10/2009
Marshall Mike from Kearney, Missouri, USA
Subject:
Great amp for low dough
Quality:
Seems very rugged. Solid and well put together. Seems dependable.
Reliability:
Just got it but I think it will last.
Overall:
I love this thing. 5 watts is more than enough power and it's a simple design, great for working with pedals or just simple plug in and play. I debated this one or the Epi Valve Jr. but this one looks better, is more solid and has tone controls and a 5/3 watt switch for a few bucks more.
Playability and Feel:
The controls and switches appear to be quality. It has that great tube push you can't get with SS amps.
Tone:
Not a gain monster but you can get into AC/DC territory with good humbuckers. What you get most is round, full tube tone that NO digital modeling amp can achieve. This amp with a good guitar is the corner stone of great tone.
Finish:
It looks great, especially considering the price. I've paid more for amps that don't seem to have this leval of fit and finish.
Action:
Plug in, crank up and hit a chord. It's that simple.
Do you own this product?:
yes