Small portable combo $800/£600/€700

[mathias]

Build a combo out of a Vox Night Train or Orange Tiny Terror? They're not at all clean but they're tube and tiny.

[AngryGoldfish]

As cool as it sounds, the Orange Tiny Terror is defo not what I need. The Night Train is not bad, but by then I'd rather build an entire amp from scratch, like a Ceriatone Princeton or Tweed 5E3.

[mathias]

Yeah, then I'd just say do the Princeton thing. Or save for a Princeton Reverb? (or find one used?)

[lapsteel]

Epi valve jr or vht special 6..... you could always carry around a ghost echo for reverb.... anything class A really. I mean they donèt have huge headroom but they do break up nice, kinda perfect for more intimate performances.

[mathias]

Epi valve jr or vht special 6..... you could always carry around a ghost echo for reverb.... anything class A really. I mean they donèt have huge headroom but they do break up nice, kinda perfect for more intimate performances.

I was avoiding those specifically because they probably don't have the clean headroom.

[AngryGoldfish]

Yeah, they're both really good amps, but I need that extra headroom. I also prefer the way higher output amps sound. They seem a little fuller.

[snipelfritz]

Yeah, they're both really good amps, but I need that extra headroom. I also prefer the way higher output amps sound. They seem a little fuller.

You really might want to consider 30w, (You did say you were limited to 15, right?) You don't need to crank it but you can maintain that headroom at decent volumes.

Check out those Kustom 36' Coup, might be something you'd like. Pretty small amps that with a decent sounds. You can pick them up pretty cheap used.

[rfurtkamp]

I'm not sure something with all your parameters and price range is going to happen to be honest.

Headroom and small tube amp aren't really synonymous. The absolute lowest I'd go is something like a Ffender Deluxe Reverb, and they break up pretty early (and aren't really small) at 22 watts.

Even something like a Hot Rod Deluxe at 40 watts nets you decent headroom but it's big, at the upper end of your weight range, and doesn't have the trem option.

I'd be looking at one of the Lunchboxes, a Roland Cube, or a Fender Mustang - weight and portability and a certain amount of power all work. They're not fancy, nobody will turn their head when they see you coming, but they all can sound decent or better.

I'm partial to the Mustangs (using one as channel 2 of my recording rig now) - with a little tweaking, they sound stupid good for cheap and are lighter than sin.

Other thing to consider is that type of lugging stuff around is pretty hard on gear, I wouldn't be bringing expensive stuff around like that. Back in the day for me it was 'use the house cab' with my beater Bassman head (because well, they were $100 all day long) and I'd show up with my Space Echo in one hand, guitar over my shoulder, and pedals in the bag pocket.

[TheQuietWilds]

I know you said you wanted to go Tube, but really consider a smaller Roland Jazz Chorus. A JC-50 is pretty small and portable, sounds great and cranks out more than enough volume. I love my JC-90 like life itself.

[univalve]

http://www.andertons.co.uk/combo-amps/p ... mailvision
Nice looking, good sounding, great pedal platform, reverb, lightweight and tube. No tremolo tough.

Excelsior is ok but you will definatly need a toneshaping pedal because of the lack of a tone knob...

[rfurtkamp]

I love my JC-50, don't get me wrong, but "light" is not one off its attributes. It's built to survive nuclear holocausts, gets retarded loud and stays decent sounding to the very end of the knob, and well, the original chorus/vibe circuit is worth the price of admission alone. But it weighs more than my Hot Rod Deluxe.

Don't get me wrong, it'll take the rigors of being schlepped around well.. but it is not light. And I have no idea what Euro pricing on hem is; they're usually cheap here if you can find them.

[guitmatt]

IDK if any of these are available in your part of the world,

The smaller sized old MusicMan combos are excellent for what you are describing. I have a 112 RD fifty - it is small, light, & LOUD. Good reverb, no trem.

I also have a Tech 21 Trademark 10 that I put a really efficient speaker in, with the speaker replacement it is a little beast. I carry this amp as my backup & have had to use it a time or two deffo kept up with the band volume wise at smaller gigs. I also use it every week at rehearsal, pleny loud for that. If it is ever not loud enough, it also has the luxury of a built-in SansAmp DI. No toobz, no trem, though the reverb is quite sweet. It takes pedals really well. Totally dig the lil' amp ! It is also cheap enough wher you'll have some cash left for other stuff.

I haven't played one, but they sound interesting.... Quilter Amps might be worth a google search. Another no toobz dealio, but it has reverb & trem.

[AngryGoldfish]

http://www.andertons.co.uk/combo-amps/pid25733/cid691/fender-blues-junior-iii-in-gold-rush-124-greenback-g12m-speaker.asp?utm_campaign=120917flashbackx4&utm_content=1062375658767&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailvision
Nice looking, good sounding, great pedal platform, reverb, lightweight and tube. No tremolo tough.

Excelsior is ok but you will definatly need a toneshaping pedal because of the lack of a tone knob...

The Blues Junior III is up there as a definite maybe. It sounds quite good and fits the bill nicely.

I'm not sure something with all your parameters and price range is going to happen to be honest.

Headroom and small tube amp aren't really synonymous. The absolute lowest I'd go is something like a Ffender Deluxe Reverb, and they break up pretty early (and aren't really small) at 22 watts.

Even something like a Hot Rod Deluxe at 40 watts nets you decent headroom but it's big, at the upper end of your weight range, and doesn't have the trem option.

I'd be looking at one of the Lunchboxes, a Roland Cube, or a Fender Mustang - weight and portability and a certain amount of power all work. They're not fancy, nobody will turn their head when they see you coming, but they all can sound decent or better.

I'm partial to the Mustangs (using one as channel 2 of my recording rig now) - with a little tweaking, they sound stupid good for cheap and are lighter than sin.

Other thing to consider is that type of lugging stuff around is pretty hard on gear, I wouldn't be bringing expensive stuff around like that. Back in the day for me it was 'use the house cab' with my beater Bassman head (because well, they were $100 all day long) and I'd show up with my Space Echo in one hand, guitar over my shoulder, and pedals in the bag pocket.

The funny thing about these shows I'm playing, they're not really about the audience, they're for me. I needed to get back into gigging and this was a great way to do it, as it allowed me to play for myself and fuck everyone else. From this point of view, taking a Roland Cube out with me just wouldn't make me feel...inspired. I already own a solid modeller that I've used for years in my old bands as a teenager (Vox Valvetronix 30) and it's a great little thing for cleans and a little bit of dirt. But I just don't feel inspired playing that type of thing any more. I WANT to turn heads when I walk in the door because it gives me back the confidence I've lost.

I'm not looking for anything boutique necessarily or really opulent—I'd be happy with a Blues Junior or the Ampeg I listed in the OP—but I certainly do want to feel connected to what I'm playing, and that I'm proud of it. I know this sounds all very dramatic for something that is widely considered as nothing more than tool of the trade, but I genuinely do think, and I know others who would agree with me here, that gear, particularly tube amps, better connect you to yourself. You have to feel proud in that connection. I've never experienced that, even with top-end modellers like the Axe-Fx and classic solid state amps like the Ampeg 140 or the Roland JC.

Yeah, they're both really good amps, but I need that extra headroom. I also prefer the way higher output amps sound. They seem a little fuller.

You really might want to consider 30w, (You did say you were limited to 15, right?) You don't need to crank it but you can maintain that headroom at decent volumes.

Check out those Kustom 36' Coup, might be something you'd like. Pretty small amps that with a decent sounds. You can pick them up pretty cheap used.

30 watts is too big and loud. I already have a fantastic 30 watt combo. I need something smaller. The gigs are literally small pubs and house parties. It'll be me on my own and backing up a singer-songwriter friend. There won't be any loud singers, drummers, bassists, or shouting crowds. It'll be an intimate type of thing where the sound isn't dampened in any way.

IDK if any of these are available in your part of the world,

The smaller sized old MusicMan combos are excellent for what you are describing. I have a 112 RD fifty - it is small, light, & LOUD. Good reverb, no trem.

I also have a Tech 21 Trademark 10 that I put a really efficient speaker in, with the speaker replacement it is a little beast. I carry this amp as my backup & have had to use it a time or two deffo kept up with the band volume wise at smaller gigs. I also use it every week at rehearsal, pleny loud for that. If it is ever not loud enough, it also has the luxury of a built-in SansAmp DI. No toobz, no trem, though the reverb is quite sweet. It takes pedals really well. Totally dig the lil' amp ! It is also cheap enough wher you'll have some cash left for other stuff.

I haven't played one, but they sound interesting.... Quilter Amps might be worth a google search. Another no toobz dealio, but it has reverb & trem.

MusicMan amps aren't too easy to find over here, but I'll keep my eye out.

Tech 21...hmmm...interesting. I'll take a look.

[Holy Schnikes]

I need something around $700-800 in a small 1x12 format that is no heavier than 18kg and not too bulky.

I have the Ampeg GVT15 combo in mind, but it's a bit overpriced over here in Europe for what it is. It fits the bill well, but I'm wondering whether there is anything else out there that might be even better, ideally something that is either made in the EU or overseas, but still easily accessible here. Again, it has to be portable, full sounding (not thin and small) and take pedals well. Thoughts?

So I was looking at the gvt15 combo online, checking specs cuz the head model I own is kinda bulky and a touch on the heavy side. That little bastard weighs in at 42lbs, around 19kg? with dimensions of 19"H x 18"W x 10"D. That's kinda pushing it on your requirements and maybe not the most portable combo ever but I've yet to see or lug one in person. Only experienced with the gvt15H which weighs around 24lbs but figured I'd throw that out there.

I still think, sonically speaking, it's probably just what you're after depending on the speaker that comes loaded stock. Hopefully it's quality and can hold together to give you the clean headroom you're wanting. My cabs do a great job but I'm always using 2x12s....

[D.o.S.]

Get a toaster, brah.

But why not one of the Minimats and a cab?
http://www.matamp.co.uk/minimat-3rd-generation/

The shop guys might be able to hook you up with a 1x12 combo if you ring 'em up and ask nicely.