The Hamer of mini/lunchbox valve heads!

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

So, due to only being a home player nowadays, I sold my 120w Bugera (a 6505 clone) head as it was far too loud for home use! I'm thinking of buying a Peavey 6505 Mini head (which can attenuate between 20w, 5w + 1w) just so I can get my hi-gain sound at lower volume. Now... I've looked at other 5w amps and, barring the Blackstar HT-5RGH and the Orange Mini/Dark Terrors (too loud for what I need), nothing has grabbed my attention!

Now, considering I play drop-tuning's and hi-gain metal, is there anything out there that is better than the 6505 mini? I know there's certainly cheaper ones so money isn't limited as I won't go over £500.00 (for the head) anyway (I've already earmarked the Harley Benton 2x12 Vintage cab for under £175.00)!

I know just shy of £700.00 is a lot for a mini head/cab but I want good sh** and, for once in my life, I can actually afford it!

What says you lot?

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The Laney got my interest but I don't need re-amping but I do need brutal gain so I'm still going for the 6505 MH...

[hanspanzer]

It`s Gainy enough for these chaps.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Yeah ^^^, look at 'em? Ruddy 'ell!

I can even get an Ironheart 25% off retail but it's not what I want! I've decided I want 6505 gain!

[Brooks]

its hard to get a decent tube tone at bedroom levels, as we all know, they sound best LOUD.

if a kemper or axe FX is too pricey (me too),

try a blackstar ID 15 (or 30, or 60), i had the 15 and was blown away at the bedroom tones.

great onboard FX too, i seriously thought about getting a 60w for live gigs but the footswitches get wonky w loud kick drums.

would love to try that mini peavey, a local guy i respect has one and says it sounds great live.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

I'll be getting a 6505 MH. Gutted that none are on the after-xmas sale as yet! If I have to pay full whack, I will but they retail at $750 here...

[Montelovesco]

Mesa Boogie Express Plus 25w? Not exactly 'lunchbox' sized,

but weighs next to nothing. Maybe just a hair over your budget,

but not much. Can be operated at 5 watts...

Carvin V3 mini. Lots of features, within your budget, but lots of

anti-Carvin sentiment out there...

I'm interested in the Peavey Mini too...

V3m is a great amp - he can do stage AND bedroom, and it got a fx loop.... Highly recommended!

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Ignore this

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The V3M Head is $1320 over here in England! http://www.gak.co.uk/en/carvin-v3m-amp-head/52029

The 6505 MH is $675

I'm going with the 6505 MH

[Montelovesco]

Now thats pricey... Did not know that. I got mine for 650 Euro, used on ebay...

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

On 24/11/2015 at 10:01 PM, hanspanzer said:

Tried the Laney Ironhearts?

The IRT Studio head is awesome. Switchable to 1w as well.

So, I never got the 6505 MH due to finances but... I just got a Laney IRT Studio with only a few hours on the clock (with footswitch/carry case etc) for £200. I'm absolutely stoked! It came up on one of the 'gear exchange' sites on Facebook and I just couldn't refuse at that price. I even got the seller to do me free shipping! 

[aknapp]

That's sounds like a no-brainer for £200.

How's it sound?

[ZR]

Here's a vid from Laney's site...wow...sounds great! Let us know how it works for you. See below vid for more comments...

 

The playing was so awesome I had to search for more...

The player is Jack Thammarat from Thailand...incredible!

 

Same song through a Boss GT-100...

 

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

22 hours ago, aknapp said:

That's sounds like a no-brainer for £200.

How's it sound?

I only bought it today and he's shipping it tomorrow so hopefully I get it by the end of the week

I also have a Marshall 1922 cab [2x12] for it which I bought for the 6505 MH. I got the cab for $130 which (again) was something I couldn't pass up at that price! I'm hoping this IRT gives me what I want tone-wise but if needed, I have a Maxon OD-808 I can use as an extra boost! Really looking forward to getting this amp and doing some home-recording/re-amping

[killerteddybear]

What about one of these Hotone amps? Costs less than many pedals.
May / may not sound like shite...

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

So the IRT came yesterday and what a fabulous piece of kit it is! Not quite as gainy as I might have been led to believe but with a little tweaking and a Maxon OD-808 in front it's pretty darn good and it sounds super tubey. I've only tried it with my Epiphone Firebird Studio which has stock (passive) pick-ups so far and am yet to try it with my SD Blackout equipped Edwards so I imagine there's more to come. Plugged into the <1 watt input at low volume, it sounds absolutely gorgeous and it's perfect for my workshop/guitar room (which is right next door to our elderly neighbours bedroom). If you ever get the chance to snag one of these things on the cheap, do it

For those not familiar with this gem of an amp, here's another video demo; 

 

 

[Len]

I have an Orange Tiny Terror and an OR15 head and they are both Smokin' ....

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

It's my 51st next month so I thought I'd look for a deal on a 6505 MH. I just found one in the US and with import tax / shipping etc, I still save £75.00 on the price it would cost over here. I know it's a factory refurb but as the seller is an authorised Peavey dealer, I get the Peavey warranty as well (3 years). I'm cock-a-hoop!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peavey-6505-MH-Mini-Head-Electric-Guitar-20-Watt-Tube-Amplifier-Amp-3-Band-EQ/401125347918

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

I tried a Laney IRT Studio (very good), an Orange Dark Terror (very fizzy) and a Hayden HGT A20 (garbage) and decided to stop faffing about and just go get the 6505

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

On 25/05/2016 at 4:23 PM, Vic Croll (Concrete Sox) said:

It's my 51st next month so I thought I'd look for a deal on a 6505 MH. I just found one in the US and with import tax / shipping etc, I still save £75.00 on the price it would cost over here. I know it's a factory refurb but as the seller is an authorised Peavey dealer, I get the Peavey warranty as well (3 years). I'm cock-a-hoop!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peavey-6505-MH-Mini-Head-Electric-Guitar-20-Watt-Tube-Amplifier-Amp-3-Band-EQ/401125347918

It turns out that the seller in the US didn't read my message properly and told me I only get the shops 90 day warranty. If I'd known that, I wouldn't have bought it. So, he didn't tell me this until after he'd shipped the amp. I have told him that it's his fu** up and I don't want it without a full Peavey warranty and I have said I want a full refund. He is trying to get the amp back before it leaves the US (he says). I am now going to have to pay the full-whack in England which is at least £450.00 [$660.00]. It has to be worth it just to get the 3 year warranty...

[Bennyboy-UK]

I really really like that little EVH head  sounds great to me!

[Hamer95USA]

I bought a Krank Nineteen80 Jr. 20 watt amp head that absolutely rips on the Krank channel and the Kleen channel does a good clean tube tone for $300.00USD plus shipping. I use it on my Top 40 gigs or rehearsal with a Marshall 1912 1x12 closed back cab.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Guitar George

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Very difficult to find something like the Krank Jnr in the UK. There is one on eBay for £700 ($1100)!!! I've changed my mind again about the amp. I've bought (and sold) Orange Dark Terror 15, Laney IRT Studio 15, Hayden A-20 in the last 6 weeks and I liked none of them enough. OK I haven't tried a Peavey Mini yet and I'm sure I would love it but............. I've decided to spend the money I've saved on a tattooing holiday to Hungary  My wife has been waiting 2 years to get her sleeve completed and I need more work on my right sleeve + I want another cover-up! Oh yeah............... I've decided to buy a Kemper