Of all of the 5w tubies I've been checking out and listening to this has been the best one for tone, options (especially the real spring reverb), no muddiness unless you want it and it flat-out looks damned cool. Price is very fair.
These little Ibanez amps are great value. I can't speak for this one, but my TSA15 head+cab does sound good when I combine the built-in tubescreamer with my drive pedal. I use an Earthquaker Talons, which is one of the first pedals in my chain, but despite being in front of the TS it works really well to my ears. Gives it a real creamy lead sound, a lot warmer and quite different from the Talons by itself.
A tube amp needs it's connection with a speaker. Or the output transformer starts to cook. So you cannot unplug the speaker while using the direct out.
Often amps with headphone jacks and line-outs have dummy load to replace the speaker load, but this one clearly states under the speaker output "connect speaker before use"...
Thank you for your videos! I really enjoy listening to the tunes you play and you're a great narrator. I've started with this one about fuzz face history cause i'm building this by my own and several evenings i'm just sitting and enjoying your videos. Thanks man, you're doing a great job!
I own one. My replacement speaker of choice when upgrading an 8" is the Jensen C8R. Neat that this amp actually comes with one! As an FYI, although the amp has a spring reverb there isn't much change when turning mine up.
I agree that the J C8R is a good upgrade speaker. I've put one in a G-Dec Executive and a Peavey Royal 8 with good results; however, according to this PG review, the Warehouse American Vintage G8C beats out the C8R. So I'll be trying out one of those on my next swap. www.premierguitar.com/articles/25370-for-swapping-8-speaker-review-roundup?page=5
I want to buy this amp on looks alone! Sounded awesome in the guitar shop today. My studio amp, a Superchamp X2 also has a 12AX7 plus one more 6V6 tube and tons more effects. Decisions!!!
I think the amp looks and sounds amazing for a what it wants to be. The strumming at the beginning sound great. Is that a song or just some improv? Like the videos. Keep them coming!
Best video demo I've seen on this amp! I'm getting one since MF say's "Clearance". I've been looking at this amp for a few years and don't want to miss out. I don't "need it", but what's that got to do with it? LOL
Overall, I can't say I am super impressed with this amp - nothing really *pops* to me about it beyond the looks. The line out sounds like it could have some usage in layering in the studio.
I recently got this. I switched out the stock Ruby tubes for JJs and it improved the sound considerably. This amp really wants to play dirty. It's the opposite of a jazz amp and you will want to use your volume and tone knobs on your guitar to clean up or drive this amp. I also got the footswitch too but do not use it as much as the switch. If you keep the Rubys along with better tubes you can get different voicings on this amp. The feet on this amp are on there pretty good but I am sure they can be knocked off if you do not take good care of this amp. Also the stock speaker is Italian made so its the real deal.
i have one already upgraded to sovtek valves but i have lights and no sound at all just a hum would that be speaker problem? i love it thanks for review sounds mad
I almost bought this amp, but instead I got a better deal on the Fender Vaporizer ( a comparable amp). Still a nice amp though, I do miss the EQ settings on the Vaporizer. However I still like Vaporizer better. JJ Tanis have you used the Fender Vaporizer?
Thank you so much for reviewing this amp!!! I've been drooling over it since before it's release, and reviews on it are scarce. Well done, sir! One question though, do you think the reverb on this amp would be enough for surf rock/ spy music (Dick Dale, Ventures, Shadows)? Thanks again, man!
Beste JJ, I am considering a small tube amp for home, sweet overdrive sound. What's your opinion about a Peavey MiniHead Classic ? any chance of testing one? gr.Walt.
nylonsteel They're on there pretty good. The answer is if you treat this like crap, then yes, but if you treat it nice its fine. Really this is more for home and recording.
Just got this one fom Thomann , sound is nice ... the only problem is that on the hi and loud tones one of the tubes seems to give a glass noise (like i´ts lose ) and the red light of the on power switch is not lightning on... .Should I sent it back or open to check? Thanks in advance for any tips!
Hi, JJ! I have a question. My main amp is the Vox Pathfinder 15R (solid state with real spring reverb) and I play 95% of the time in a apartment room. I wanna enter in the tube world and this Ibanez seems good, but... Is adecuate for a apartment? Could I rock it at low volumes? Thanks!
AMG DUCATI I'd go for the Vox AC4TV then... that's a GREAT amp and you can turn it down from 4 to 1 or even 1/4 W. Demo's on my channel. Happy hunting!
Hi, JJ! Finally I have purchased the Ibanez (for 285 euros). Great tone for home! Great price! The reverb tank is smooth and organic. Cabin gets hot easily! Thanks
AMG DUCATI Good choice! The Vox is good too. You may want to try new tubes to get more out of the amp. To answer your question the amp does get hot but that's because its a very simple design and you are pushing those tubes. Just make sure that there is some room behind the amp for it to breathe. You can also angle a fan towards the back of the cab if you want to cool it down some.
Vince D I have an Artwood AC30NT and its a great capo guitar! Mine has a bit of wear and I put in a Seymour Duncan Woody pickup and added a plug for a cable. I use Martin coated strings on mine and it is pretty stock. Right now because I live in a desert it is going through some humidity issues but even with that it sounds great. Because it is smaller it has a delicate tone compared to a dreadnaught. I will say its not the same as my main acoustic which is a Epiphone AJ 200 with a bone nut and saddle and an LR Baggs Ibeam in it. The AJ is louder but the Artwood is right around the size of a full sized hollowbody guitar. It sounds a bit more complex than the AJ and it sounds great through an amp. I'm not going to say its on par with a Martin or Gibson but its a great guitar for the money. I also play Artcores and those are great guitars to mod. I would put the Artwood guitars on par with top of the line Epiphones or Yamahas with premium strings.
myke232 apples and oranges man, the TSA is more american sounding whereas the BB007 has more of a british sound. I think the TSA looks better and offers more versatility, the BB007 definitely sounds better and has better build quality
Interesting... yeah i know totally different amps! I like the reverb in the TSA, then adding pedals for overdrive. But the 007 like you said probably sounds better overall but no reverb. Do you ever use a reverb pedal with your 007?
