Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 24—Randall Diavlo RD5H

After 24 weeks of researching what will be the first tube amplifier head I am destined to purchase, I thought it was time to revisit my needs. What am I after exactly? A tube head obviously. But what are the specifics? Basically, they are this:

Low wattage for home use
Ability to produce brutal metal tones

As you can see, my needs are simple. But what I’m really after is something that provides more metal tones than anything else. I want a built-in metal tone that I can expand upon with my pedal farm. I want an amplifier head that looks metal because it is metal. Hello Randall Diavlo RD5H. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 24—Randall Diavlo RD5H

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 23—Laney Cub Head

Plenty of guitar gear seems to come out of the United Kingdom (UK). A lot of it seems to be seriously good too. Must be all the hours they have to spend inside on account of the terrible weather. Whatever the reason, I’m glad. It makes my ongoing search for a tube amplifier head easier. I just search for something like guitar amplifier manufacturer UK and discover companies like Laney. Then I peruse their website and before you know it, Bam! Laney Cub head. Perfect. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 23—Laney Cub Head

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 22—Dr.Z M12

I’ve mentioned in a few articles this year that I currently derive a lot of my tone through my pedals. It’s the method I’m used to. I also love experimenting with pedals to experience different sounds and styles. Therefore as I continue to research the amplifier that will become my first all-tube amplifier, it’s encouraging to find an amplifier that claims to be for players who love their pedals as much as their guitars. That’s me! Bring it on Dr.Z. I think I’m a fan of the philosophy behind the M12. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 22—Dr.Z M12

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 21—Blackheart BH5H Little Giant

I was once asked how dark I wanted to make a design that I was working on. My response was “As black as your heart”. That didn’t go down very well. The design I ended up creating was awesome though. I class that as a win. So when I come across an amplifier called the Little Giant by Blackheart I naturally assume it will also be a winner. How could it not be?! … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 21—Blackheart BH5H Little Giant

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 20—Divided by 13 CCC 9/15

Yesterday was the 13th of May. 13 is an unlucky number for some people. Me? Not so much. I’m not superstitious (although I am pretty sure the world will end if the 8-ball keyring I’ve had since my wife gave it to me back in 1992 ever breaks). What if your amplifier was divided by 13? Well I’m pretty sure you’d be one lucky individual—especially if that amplifier was the CCC 9/15. That’s one sexy black and white all-tube amplifier. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 20—Divided by 13 CCC 9/15

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 19—Dr.J Pedal Lover

I’ve written recently in a few articles how I like to get a lot of my tone from the pedals on my pedalboard. It’s not the perfect way to get the perfect tone, but I’ve never claimed to be perfect. I do like to experiment a lot with gear though. So I remind myself of that fact this week as I investigate another potential tube amplifier to begin my tube amplifier journey with.

I need an amplifier that has been created for someone like me—a guitar pedal lover. I don’t want to have to think too hard about it either. If only someone could create an amplifier with a name that let me know it was the right amplifier for me. Oh wait, Dr. J may have done that with their Pedal Lover amplifier head.

Awesome. Job done. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 19—Dr.J Pedal Lover

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 18—Mooer Little Monster BM

Lately I’ve found myself looking at amplifiers that are getting bigger and bigger. That’s understandable. It’s easy to look at an amplifier, see a bigger and louder one nearby and think “Ooh! But look at that one!” Before you know it you’re ready to buy your own arena sized amplifier stack. But this week it’s time to remind myself of a few things. Things such as my guitar skill level. It’s not high. So I don’t need a huge amplifier. Why expand the area that is likely to hear my guitar playing beyond the room I’m in? I also need to remind myself that size isn’t everything. It’s what you do with it (so I’m told). More importantly, I’m after an awesome sounding amplifier. Something with monster tone in a practice volume level package. Conveniently, Mooer makes the Little Monster BM head.

I’m back on track. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 18—Mooer Little Monster BM

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 17—Line 6 DT25

So far in the 52 Amplifiers series I’ve written about amplifier heads ranging from 1 watt to 20 watts. I’m still looking for something that I could use comfortably at home, but what if I also benefited from something that was capable of a lot more? Then an amplifier that went from 10 watts to 25 watts might be better. But I’ve so far discovered plenty of amplifiers that provide quite the tonal range for me to consider as well. Thanks to the Line 6 DT25 that might not be a problem either. I love a good problem solver. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 17—Line 6 DT25

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 16—Mesa Boogie Transatlantic TA-15

If I lived in the United Kingdom and I wanted to purchase a Mesa Boogie amplifier direct from the manufacturer, then that would have to be delivered using trans-Atlantic means. I live in Australia though. So I’d have to rely on trans-Pacific means. Unfortunately Mesa Boogie don’t make a Transpacific amplifier head that I’m aware of. They do however make a Transatlantic TA-15 and it looks awesome.

I promise the rest of this article is about an awesome sounding amplifier head and less about geography. I apologise for any learning I may have caused. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 16—Mesa Boogie Transatlantic TA-15

Amplifiers

52 Amplifier Heads, week 15—Fender Super Champ X2

This week I thought I’d write about one of the amplifier heads that I know very little of, from one of the companies I know the most about. Confused? Welcome to my world. The Fender Super Champ X2 head is 15 watt tube amplifier head that offers something most other amplifier heads in this article series don’t (or can’t)—voicing. What is voicing? One thing is for sure, it’s got less to do with vocals than you may think.

If you’ve never read anything from my website before, please don’t take too much of what I say seriously. You’ll quickly become uninformed. … 52 Amplifier Heads, week 15—Fender Super Champ X2