amp question

[sylnau]

At home, I always feel like I'm too loud, even with a 15 watts tube amps.
So I canot get the most from my fuzzs.

What is the best solution... atenuator or a small amp like a Pignose?

[Chankgeez]

I've got a Pignose and love it. It's what I've been playing through lately. All my larger, more powerful vintage amps are in various states of disrepair.

I've always wanted to play through something like a Carr Raleigh or Mercury. Those're expensive, but probably sound great.

What I'd really like is a low watt amp w/ a 15" speaker capable of handling dropped tunings.

[rustywire]

~50w amp with a pair of EL34s

Non-master is my favorite but masters are also quite usable, probably more-so at low volumes.
But I more than manage....even living in an old school converted to condos, with paper thin walls; below a family with 2 small (presumably) developmentally disabled kids who are always running around. I put up with their racket and they deal with mine, we've yet to knock on each other's doors with noise complaints.

But seriously, to deal with your issue I'd look into a speaker swap...something less efficient.

[doommeow]

You've gotta find what's right for you....

I've been in a spot with paper thin walls and a litigious landlord for 10+ years and have been down the attenuator / variable wattage / tube vs ss / low wattage rabbit holes many a time.

The key for me is a GREAT master volume. And if/when you're looking for any combination of punch, heaviness, low end crushing etc, lots/big speakers and big transformers.

Things I could've settled on - trace Elliot gpx head, Gibson ga15rv, red knob twin, vibro champ w/ musicman 15 cab...

The right answer for me - 50w vintage Traynor. Great master volume. Great, versatile eq. Can give authoritative cleans at just the right volume and wide range of dirt to be had from the input gain.

[Chankgeez]

50w in an apt.?

Cray.

Syl's asking for something less than 15w.

[doommeow]

50w in an apt.?

Cray.

Syl's asking for something less than 15w.

Not cray. It's about volume and feel and circuit design. I'll take my 50w Traynor over a 15w pro jr or blues jr any day of the week.

Those smaller amps may be lower wattage but have to be pushed to higher volumes to get a sound that I was happy with.

As with all things ymmv.

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, it's still cray.

I used to play a 100w amp in my living room. I could only run it about halfway up. I'd take that any day too, but I don't think you're really listening to what Sylnau's asking for. That doesn't sound like what he needs. So, I'm not about to recommend a 50w amp to him. IDK. A 50w amp w/ the volume on 1. He may be happy with a set up like that.

[sylnau]

I can understand... I had a 4 X 12 100 w Marshall.
At low volume it was so clean. But that's not really my sound.

To describe sylnau's sound, you have to listen to Real Gone by Tom Waits... Very inspering for me.

[Gone Fission]

Vox Pathfinder with the LED mod is pretty great with fuzz at home volumes. Okay without the mod with the gain way down, but the LED mod is the way to go--really helps pedals shine through.

[Chankgeez]

I can understand... I had a 4 X 12 100 w Marshall.
At low volume it was so clean. But that's not really my sound.

To describe sylnau's sound, you have to listen to Real Gone by Tom Waits... Very inspering for me.

So, Syl, what are you really looking for in an amp besides sounding good at lower volume?

[sylnau]

Fenderish clean tone that handle pedals.

I really love my Bogner... but it's too loud.
If I turn it down, all my fuzz sound the same.

Else it's perfect.

So just the same, but better sounding at low volume.

Maybe an atenuator?

[Holy Schnikes]

If 15W ain't cutting it 50W is gonna be ridiculous.

[Holy Schnikes]

Any tube amp, even a 1 watter, is gonna be loud for apartment action. Sad but true...

[Chankgeez]

^^^ That is true, Schnikes.

A 1w tube amp is a good option though.

[sylnau]

Yes, it's...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2_7YbPwRYg[/youtube]