15watt power for M4

[bj4rd]

I'm currently running into a VHT2502 which sounds great but sometimes I want something a bit lighter and easier to saturate at lower volumes. I was looking into 5W amps but I think 15W with EL84s or 6V6s would probably sound better and be easier to find. Either a small power amp or running into the return of the effects loop of a small head would probably work. Any suggestions?

 

[jimr]

I'm running my M4 through the loop of a rebel 20. The variable watts and tube mix of the rebel make this a very versatile rig. One thing to note is that the master volume of the rebel is before the loop, so if you're using an external pre-amp and going into the return on the loop it will behave as if the master volume is maxed out. To control your overall volume, you can use the output of any effects that you have in between the M4 and the loop return on the rebel. I'm using a g-system connected using the 4 cable method and the output volume on the g-system works really well for this. I'm loving this rig. Very portable and sounds amazing from bedroom levels on up to smaller gigs.

 

[bj4rd]

rebel 20 could be cool...i could probably use it without the m4 for certain things as well. anyone else have luck running an m4 through the rebel 20. i used to run into the effects return of a randall rm20 and it added a bit of noise.

any other 15W suggestions? anyone ever use the mesa 20/20 power amp?

 

[c2ply]

My small rig is a single channel into a 20/20. Its not a bad combo - sounds good thru the 2x12, it does color it nicely at gig/drummer volume. It does have the deep mod - never tried one with out it, so YMMV, but I do notice I need to bring the high end on the modules up a bit to make the mods sound like they do on the bigger power amps - my main rig is basically the same setup thru a Mesa 2:90 soon to be replaced with a VHT 2/90/2 (which is my favorite power amp - and I should have never sold the last one I had). Again it has a different sound than the bigger amps, but if your looking for the EL84 tone its pretty good. I also have a RM20 and a RM22 - and like the 20/20 a little better. The small rack and a midi board make for a really compact rig for me, that has no problems keeping up when it needs to.

 

[gtr31]

not cheap but 3rd power does a 15/30 watt stereo power amp I think it was like 1300

 

[Dave L]

Michael Whelan at MJW/Martamp makes a variety of low- and medium power amps that can be ordered as stand-alone poweramps. Might be worth shooting him a line.