Low-wattage alternative to the Sunn Model T

[pelican9]

Hey everyone, so I'm looking for a low-wattage (<15-20W, ideally 5W) alternative to the Sunn Model T that isn't freakishly hard to source. I know of the Hex Micro T, which I would love to get, but as far as I know the company is no longer making any and they pop up maybe once a year secondhand. I've heard not-so-great things about Jessup and Hovercraft clones.

Rather than an exact clone that attempts to sound identical but falls short in some way, I'm just hoping to get suggestions for excellent tube amps that happen to sound close to the Model T or encapsulate its spirit somehow, that are either readily available or show up on the used market more often than the Hex.

I do enjoy the stoner/doom metal sound, but I also love the purity of the clean tones of the Model T (heard through youtube demos and recordings granted, but a lot of them). It sounds unlike most other amps I've heard.

I prefer combos to heads but am open to both, would prefer 5W but am open to 20W max, and my budget is $1k.

Thank you!

[D.o.S.]

You want a tiny little tube amp that is a good pedal platform?

[pelican9]

Yes!

[MechaGodzilla]

i don't know whether it bears much sonic resemblance to a model T but a traynor ygm3 with a heftier speaker will bring some rumble in the 15-20w class. they're closed-back as stock but i found that too thumpy so took the back off mine.

[frodog]

I have never tried a Model T, but a friend has a 60w Solarus head, which I use (through my Marshall 2x15) at rehearsals. I believe he got it for like $7-800, in line with the cheapest one I see on Reverb at the moment. I don't know if you would want that amp, but I'm guessing it's usually cheaper than a Model T, not as loud and in the same ballpark sound-wise.

Haven't really had time to get very familiar with it, but it definitely has good cleans and is loud. It doesn't have a very specific "sound" like a Marshall or Vox, it's more a full-bodied, all-purpose, hi-fi kinda deal. Seems to take most pedals well, but whenever I turn on my Ghost Echo the reverb is incredibly prominent compared to other amps I've tried. It does have a gorgeous reverb (and tremolo) of its own though, so no real need to use a pedal for that.

[jirodreamsofdank]

The Triwatt, I think it was called? Hiwatt-y but lower watt. (There's also the Hi-Tone Lowatt but I've not seen one for sale used and new they're $2k)

[qersty]

How about like a silverface fender princeton or champ or something? afaik the model T (black knobs) is very close to UL fenders. The "custom" reissues are more bassman voiced too which should be closer to the T.

I kinda get confused when people want less loud model Ts. wasnt the point with them that tey were the loudest thing you could get that was clean?

[goroth]

I kinda get confused when people want less loud model Ts. wasnt the point with them that tey were the loudest thing you could get that was clean?

Came here to post exactly this.

But if it has that special sauce you need, get an Electronic Audio Experiements Model Fet and run it into any small amp or power amp.

[cantremember]

Ned Clayton is the guy who built the actual amp part of the micro T for those HEX guys and he is still making them or a version of it AFAIK. I know he has a IG, maybe you could reach out there.

[Dowi]

I kinda get confused when people want less loud model Ts. wasnt the point with them that tey were the loudest thing you could get that was clean?

Came here to post exactly this.

But if it has that special sauce you need, get an Electronic Audio Experiements Model Fet and run it into any small amp or power amp.

Yes, and yes.
If you want something similar and clean and don't want to go the model Fet way you could look at one of these:..

But I think you'll lose the particular parallel channel voicing you could get with a bigger unit, while the Model Fet apparently worse the same way as the real Model T, with normal and Brite channels.

[voerking]

what about this:
https://reverb.com/item/621658-matamp-m ... e-shipping

maybe not clean enough? sounds cool, though.

[tremolo3]

Low wattage, but you want the clean tones of the Model T?

I'm confused.

But maybe those modern solid state amps with amps and cabs simulators? Sweetwater must have a few options available.

[pelican9]

Thanks everyone. I found a way to get a Micro T

[cosmicevan]

Get a Magic Pedals DA-120. Keep an eye on the site, I think he's gonna do a run some point in the next bunch of months. That will sound insane through anything.