Excellent 5 watt valve practice amps

[Mark]

I’m getting a bit bored with my Champ clone and thinking of moving it on. What amps would fill the void and sound great without being too loud?

[thetragichero]

you could pop a bunch of preamps in front of a champ-like power stage with good results. i sketched out a jtm-like schematic using a champ transformer i have

[Mac Dillard]

https://ax84.com/archive/ax84.com/stati ... 101004.pdf build this one and use a 6v6 power tube...You will like it.

[sluckey]

Here's one that sounds quite different from a champ. Schematic at bottom of page...

http://sluckeyamps.com/smoky/smoky.htm

[Colossal]

Here's one that sounds quite different from a champ. Schematic at bottom of page...

http://sluckeyamps.com/smoky/smoky.htm

The toaster oven enclosure is hilarious. Nice amp!

[ChopSauce]

The toaster oven enclosure...

Oh yes, I like it very much...

Yet the AX84 SEL may well be more versatile/capable of evolution, I'd be currently tempted by a 3.5 Watts Trainwreck-style amp, à la Tube Town / Lummerland-Express : https://www.tube-town.net/cms/?DIY/LoW- ... %28engl%29

See :




But that's just me...

[10thTx]

Take a look at the SoLow Watt using ECL84's. It's got an LTPI. It was about 3-4 watts

I built one with a 5879 V1 similar to the HoSo56 but then changed it to the 12A_7 in V1 which allows that whole range of gain changes possible 12Ax7, 5751, 12AY7 etc.....

https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17599

I thought it had amazing bass response with the ECL84 tube. I know several other people have built them on this forum and the Hoffman forum and gave a favorable impression of them.

With respect, 10thtx

[Mark]

Thanks for your replies. I do like the SEL as it is very Marshall like. I suspect the twenty watt rating would enhance the bass response which most class A amps lack. Though it would mean preamp distortion only. I had considered the small watt Trainwreck, but the output stage and availability transformers had me thinking twice.

What chassis does the SEL fit into?

[romberg]

I had considered the small watt Trainwreck, but the output stage and availability transformers had me thinking twice.

Note that edcor makes transformers that can be used for a 6SN7 powered wreck. I used them in my build here:

https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21275

This amp was modified after that thread. I used a 12ax7 for the phase inverter. So it is pretty much exactly the kelly circuit except for the power supply and output tubes. The modification was one that tillydog came up with to drive the power valves using split PI plate resistors to drive the little 6SN7 similar to how the full size one drives el34s.

This amp now behaves much like my full sized express. It is just less loud. It puts out about 5w all the way up. Which is too much for playing a wall away from my neighbors. So, I drive it into a Weber mico-mass (the two frequeny ranges of attenuation are very nice) and I can play the thing and not annoy anyone. It is my favorite little bedroom amp.

Mike

[Mac Dillard]

"What chassis does the SEL fit into" I used a Hammond 1444-26, 16 x 8 x 2, built as a head.
We tried most of the power tubes including the KT88. Always came back to the 6V6.

[Travis_HY]

It sounds silly, but I'm thinking I'd really like to make a little table top version of the onboard Fender combo amp reverb (driven by a 12BH7 instead of a 12AT7) circuit. It's like a Champ but smaller, cleaner and still decent sounding through a big cabinet. Really fun, probably not practical, but fun. Might be interesting with a different preamp than a Fender design.