Low (<15) watt valve guitar amps  - Page 5 of 5

a-c | d-j | k-p | r-s | t-z updated 17/12/2011 

Teixeira Texosound Bernie 15

Bernie amp approx. 15 Watts
Two EL84 Output, EZ81 Rectifier, (2) ECC83 Preamp Tubes
Hand made Power and Output Transformers.
Custom made N/C Aluminum Chassis & plexi panel
All hand-wired PTP circuit board like the originals
Each component selected for its authenticity, tone and construction
All Caps used are Paper in oil mil. Spec. & Allen Bradley Carbon comp resistors.
Speaker 1x10” Celestion V10 / Cab size 18”x 16”x9"

THD Univalve

With an EL84 this runs at 4 Watts.  Many other configurations are available with different tube types.  I ended up buying one of these and it came with 10 spare valves to play with as per the photo on the right.  The THD Univalve really is a Swiss Army Knife amplifier.

Reviews

THD Univalve Reference site

Output Power 0.1W-40W

Adjustable Reverb 3 Spring Long Pan
Tubes 6V6GT (x4), 12AX7 (x4), 12AT7, 5AR4 Weight 32 Pounds
Footswitch Channel Switch and Reverb Colors Brown and Cream or Black and Cream

Top Hat Amps Portly Cadet

The Portly Cadet is the first release in the TopHat Studio Series line of single-ended 5 watt amps. This model provides lots of capability in a very portable package. The tube arrangement consists of a 12AX7 for the pre-amp, 6V6 for the output and a 5Y3 rectifier tube.

A "boost" and "bright" switch enhance the amp's flexibility + a custom 8" speaker of TopHat's own special design.

TC-PC 5-watt combo w/ 8" speaker w/ 6V6
TC-PR 4-watt combo w/ 8" speaker w/ EL84

Reviews

Torres Tiny Tone

1 Watt practice amp with the real valve, clean Fender-like tone. The Tiny Tone is a single-ended class a amp using a special low voltage output pentode to achieve the real valve tone but at low power. The amp is physically small as well as low power and is ideal for both practice and recording. Standard features include normal and higher gain inputs, volume and tone control. Special features include Tweed head cabinet.

Reviews

3 Watt amp kit.

15w, class-a, 2x-12AX7, 2x-EL84, ss rectifier, and Celestion Vintage 10 speaker.

Reviews

Traynor DarkHorse 15H

Delivers Full 15 Watts in Higher Power (6V6) Mode
Selectable Low Power 2-watt (12AU7) Mode
Simple Gain, Bass, Treble & Master Volume Control Set
Brit / USA / Pure Switch for the Tone Stack (delivering a Mid Boost and Overall Gain Boost when in Pure mode)
Uses Hand Selected 12AX7 (x2), 6V6 (x2), and 12AU7 (x1) tubes
Versatile Speaker Outputs allow Dark Horse Head to drive 1 x 16-ohm,
1 x 8-ohm or 2 x 16-ohm Cabinet Configurations

see also

YCS50H Custom Special - 50w/15w

The Tungsten Cortez is based on the classic 5E3 design, putting out 12 watts with a pair of 6V6 tubes and 18 watts with 6L6 power tubes. It has a single Tone knob, with Bright and Normal Volume controls, four inputs and comes standard with a custom designed 12" Weber T12Q Alnico speaker and Mercury Magnetics transformers. It also includes a pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes and 5Y3 rectifier, and because this amp is cathode biased, swapping power tubes is just a matter of plugging them in. No re-biasing is ever necessary. Likewise, the preamp section accepts 12AX7, 12AU7, 12AY7, 12AT7 and 5751 tubes, giving you a great deal of control over your tone.

Twister Amps Dust Devil

Class: Class A
Power: 12 Watts
Bias: Cathode (self-biased)
Power Tubes: 1x EL34
Tube Options: None
Preamp Tubes: 1x 12ax7
Rectifier: 5AR4 / GZ34
Vari-Watt: YES

Configuration: 1x12 combo
Speaker Model(s): Twister Custom Design T12-30

Channels: Single
Inputs: 2 (Hot & Cool)
Controls: Volume & Tone
Pull-Boost on Volume

Dimensions: 16.5" H x 20" W x9.5" D
Weight: 34 lbs

Ulbrick Firebottle

5 watt single ended class A amplifier

Volume, treble, bass, master

Handwound in house transformers

Genuine blaxendale tone network

EL84 output tube

12AX7 preamp tube

Tag strip point to point handwired

8 ohm and 16 ohm sockets

Ultimate Tube Amp

by the makers of the ultimate attenuator.

See Premier guitar article

Vintage 10 inch combo

1 6V6 and 1 12AX7 Tube

The Valve 105 Bimbo Combo

Totally Made in Italy
- Class A with attenuator
- 5W down to 1/20 W
- 1 x JJ Tesla E34L, 1 x ECC83, 1 x 12AX7B
- Gain, Tone, Volume, Attenuation
- Output impedance: 4/8/16 ohms
- Speaker: 1 x G12-75 Celestion speaker
- External speaker out (internal speaker can be disconnected)
- Available in black or brown/cream
- Sizes: width 43,5 cm, height 43 cm, depth 30 cm.
- Weight: Kg 16.

Review

Valvetech Hayseed

It is powered by four el 84s (cathode biased). The preamp has 3 12AX7s and is rectified by a GZ 34. Unbeatable vintage crunch. One of the best guitar amps you'll ever come across.

> Has switch for bypassing master and and also a 1/2 power switch to run the amp at 15 watts.
> All point to point wired, and of course it is made in the USA. These amps sound just like the original Vox AC30.
> The amp has the EF86 preamp option that can be turned on or off
> Speakers in cabinet are 2x12 weber alnico blues
> 8 and 16 ohm speaker outputs

Valvetone Tio & Impact

Tio Australian made low watt valve amps.  The range in 2010:

1. Impact Mk II 2 watts Diecast box chassis, no headshell Gain, Bright, Volume, Tone, Master, Line Out Socket.
2. Zeal 5 5 watts Diecast box chassis, no headshell. Gain, Bright, Volume, Tone, Master, Gain Boost Socket.
3. ValveTone 10 10 watts Pan chassis and basic timber headshell. Gain, Bright, Volume, Tone, Master.

There were two models which were only sold to Auusie Guitar Gear forum members:

1. Cadmium 8-10 watts Pan chassis and basic timber headshell. Drive, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master, Voicing Switch.
2. Tio 8 watts Pan chassis and basic timber headshell. Gain, Bright, Volume, Tone, Master.

Valvetrain Concord

The Concord boasts all point to point hand wiring and delivers a blistering 6 watts RMS through a custom designed 10" speaker.

Designed in the tradition of the masters, the Concord features a 12AX7 dual-triode preamp tube driving the signal through a 6V6 power tube. Inspired by the simplicity of the amp designs of the 1960's, the amp controls are Volume, Treble and Bass.

Australian made

This is a standard 5C1 champ (not a variation but the original) using a 5Y3 rectifier, 6V6 output and 6SJ7 (6AC7)  preamp valve. Built on a PCB as shown in the photo’s using Australian manufactured, and tested vintage valves. It is in the standard form of input and output using Sato 6.5mm jacks and a single volume control. Output is 5 watts RMS into 15 ohms.

Verellen Spaldo

15-Watt EL84 driven class A guitar amp combo amplifier.

Tonal range from clean chime to classic overdrive via simple "volume" and "tone" controls.

All handwired point to point discrete analog circuitry.

Tube rectified power supply.

12" American made Warehouse speaker.

Dove tailed birch open back enclosure.

VHT Special 6

1 12AX7, 2 EL-84, 1 6CA4/EZ-81 tubes.
A half power-full power switch, which toggles between single tube/single ended and dual tube push-pull operation.
Self splitting output tube inverter ( A Victoria 1st for guitar amps)
Boost switch with tuning control.
Custom paper/tube US made power and output transformers
4 and 8 ohm speaker outs.
Custom backlit see-thru space age Lexan chassis plate
IEC cord and speaker cable included.
MSRP $1495.00
MADE IN THE USA through and through
Victoria Amp Co. VIC105

Victoria 5112

Price: $1,195

5 Watts of Power

5F1-type circuit

Single ended operation

Cathode bias design

Tubes: 1-5Y3WGTA, 1-6V6GT, 1-12AX7

Speaker: 1-Eminence Legend 12" speaker

Cabinet size (HxWxD): 16.5 x 20 x 9.5

Reviews

The Two Stroke is a single-ended, true class A tube combo with single 6L6 output tubes in its 'standard format' (swappable for a single 6V6, EL34, KT66, 6K6, etc) and a 1x12 inch speaker configuration.

Power output is between 4 watts (6V6 or 6K6) and 8 to 10 watts (6L6 and larger tubes), depending upon tube used.

VA-172 Oahu Style Tweed Pinstriped Suitcase. 1948 Supro Style 5 watt class A SE octal amp,

Heyboer USA Transformers,

New Vint47- 8" 'Chicago Tone Classic' Speaker (hemp cone by Tone Tubby).

Has the speaker line out jack so it can be used as a head to drive larger speaker arrays.

Most of the Vizy range are 15 watt or less including this Travel Head.

It's a 15 watts head with 2x12AX7 and 2xEL84. Three pots, gain;tone and master volume.
Torroidal power supply

Weight, under 6 pound.
Wiring is on terminals and PTP with no PCB.

Voodoo Amps Witchdoctor 10 watt combo

Hand crafted, built & assembled in the USA
100% hand wired (no printed circuit boards)
Class-A operation (single ended)
High Gain 1-Channel design
Extention speaker cabinet can be used with internal speaker
You can use the amp as a head! - Power any 2 extention speaker cabinets of your choice! This includes 1x12, 2x12 and 4x12 extention speaker cabinets!

Voodoo make 3 other 10 watt combos as well

Hex 10 Watt
Texas Heat 10 watt
V-Rock 10 Watt

Vox AC4TV

Controls: Tone, Volume, Output level (4W, 1W, ¼ W)
External Speaker Jack (¼')
Output: 4 Watt RMS 16-Ohm
1 x 10" 16-Ohm Celestion VX10 custom speaker;
Tube Complement: 1 x 12AX7 (pre) / 1 x EL84 (power)
Dimensions: 13.78" (W) x 8.46" (D) x 14.76" (H);
Weight: 19.84 lbs.;

Reviews

Authentic VOX all-tube tone in a stylish and ultra-compact 2-watt head
Two 12AX7 preamp vacuum tubes; single 12AU7 power tube
Treble & Bass EQ controls; plus Gain and Volume controls
Two-way mode switch:
Bright boosts the high frequencies and activates the EQ
Thick bypasses the EQ and boosts the gain for a full, beefy sound
Headphone/line out jack is fantastic for recording Lil’ Night Train’s tube sound directly,
or for those late night hours of practicing.

Vox Night Train

 * Rock-solid, all-tube head that is made to travel.
* Uncompromising sound with two 12AX7 preamp tubes and two EL84 power tubes.
* Selectable BRIGHT or THICK mode switch provides EQ and Gain variations for just the right tone.
* Dual-power tube mode offers 15 watt (Pentode Power) or 7.5 Watt (Triode Tone) operation.
* Master Volume control preserves your gain settings at any playing level.
* Solid, industrial-chic mirror finish exudes tube coolness.
* Custom padded carry-case is included.

Reviews

Wienbrock ME3

12W RMS @ 8 ohms
8 & 4 ohm outputs
Custom transformer set
Hand wired glass reinforced eyelet boards
NOS or new production valve sets available
2 X 6V6 --- 1 X GZ34 rectifier valve
1 X ECC83/12AX7 --- 1 X 12AY7

The Winfield comes in three different wattage ratings: 5, 18 and 30 watts.
Head, 1x12" combo or a 2x10" combo.

The 5 watt version comes with a 6V6 single ended output - but it can also accommodate a 6L6.

All three versions have the same preamp, a Normal (dark) channel, internally jumpered to a Bright channel. Use one or mix both to suit taste.

There is a full tone stack: treble, middle, bass. The 5 watt has a master volume, the 18 and 30 have a presence control.

All three amps come with a 5AR4 tube rectifier. A plug-in solid state rectifier is also available.

The amp is a blend of the two British amp makers from the 60s.

The Cyclone model is a 15 watt Vox inspired amp with an EF86 preamp.

Xits X4

The X4 is a single channel 5-Watt Combo with three that has all the classic VOX ingredients. EF86 and EL84 Valves, Tremolo, Ultra Stylish Good Looks. The X4 is incredibly light in weight yet ultra heavy when it comes to tone. X4 TUBE CONFIGURATION
V1 EF86 First Gain StageV2 ECC83/12AX7 Second Gain Stage and Trem-DriverV3 EL84 Power to the People USER CONTROLS
Volume 1 / Tone / Volume 2 (Master Volume) / Intensity (Tremolo on/of) / Speed

The Zachary Guitars SKANK is 8 Watts and runs on one 6L6 power tube and one either 12AU7 or 12AT7 and one 12AX7 pre-amp tubes. It has large and high rubber feet to clear any amp or speaker cab handle. The SKANK is small, light weight and very portable. You can take it anywhere in its heavy-duty shoulder bag.

Zvex Nano

Specifications: Power Supply: 12VDC 1.5 A wall wart, included. Output Power: .5 W dirty, .1 W clean.
Output Impedance: 8-16 ohms. Input Impedance: 1,000,000 ohms. Internal Speaker: .4 Watts.

Reviews