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Who makes an under 30W head that REALLY sounds like a Plexi!?

Ed A

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Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
4,679
And I mean REALLY sounds like a plexi. Not kind of lol… I have had many vintage plexis through the years, 50 and 100 watters. And I still have my early ‘69 100W superlead… In the last year or so I have tried to find a smaller and lighter amp that can get that sound. I bought Cerisatone 4Xel84, hand wired 20W, JTM30, Origin, Friedman Runt and Friedman Pink taco… The Pink taco gets close but there’s no getting around that EL84s just don’t do it… Has anybody yet invented something that will get me what I want but is small enough to sit on a 1x12? And when I say sounds like a vintage plexi I don’t want any of that fizzy buzzy stuff that you inherently get from EL84s… sweet and harmonic is the ticket… I don’t care if it’s $200 or $2000 I’m open to anything… What say you!
 

Don

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Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
You could have a 30 watt EL34 plexi built into a short chassis and put in a short enough head to fit on a 1x12" cab. My Avatar 45 (JTM 45 based KT66 powered head) is only 21.5" wide. I use it with a 22" wide 1x12" cab. You might not be able to have 4 input jacks.

51763156874_28bebfcb9e_b.jpg


On a 2x12" cab stood up on its end-
25996610027_21174985c5_b.jpg
 

CK6

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Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
And I mean REALLY sounds like a plexi. Not kind of lol… I have had many vintage plexis through the years, 50 and 100 watters. And I still have my early ‘69 100W superlead… In the last year or so I have tried to find a smaller and lighter amp that can get that sound. I bought Cerisatone 4Xel84, hand wired 20W, JTM30, Origin, Friedman Runt and Friedman Pink taco… The Pink taco gets close but there’s no getting around that EL84s just don’t do it… Has anybody yet invented something that will get me what I want but is small enough to sit on a 1x12? And when I say sounds like a vintage plexi I don’t want any of that fizzy buzzy stuff that you inherently get from EL84s… sweet and harmonic is the ticket… I don’t care if it’s $200 or $2000 I’m open to anything… What say you!
I think that the new Marshall SV20 sounds awesome and very close. Otherwise just play your plexi (real one) with a Fryette Power Station..
 

dwagar

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Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
4,451
I think you'd be happy with the SV20. I have the combo, it's a 1x10, so you'd want the head to use with a 1x12. It uses EL34s.

I run it in 20W attenuated.
 

Ed A

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Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
4,679
Yeah I’ve been hearing good things about the SV20. I’m just not up on what’s out there these days and happy to have discovered it and just ordered one… Fingers crossed we’ll see how it goes… Thanks!
 

J.D.

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May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
Will be interested in hearing your evaluation. I've demo'd a few different models of this newer low watt EL-34 Marshall Studio line and they all sounded really great, especially wide open.

edit: link to website with specs and sound clips

Marshall website link
 
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Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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1,703
Like others have mentioned, I've also heard good things about the SV20. Too bad I'm really not in the market for another amp, otherwise... 😉
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
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20,854
I've heard the old Studio 15 (model 4001) sound pretty nice. 6V6 power tubes. It's been a while, not sure how "plexi" it gets, but worth a look
 

somebodyelseuk

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Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
454
And I mean REALLY sounds like a plexi. Not kind of lol… I have had many vintage plexis through the years, 50 and 100 watters. And I still have my early ‘69 100W superlead… In the last year or so I have tried to find a smaller and lighter amp that can get that sound. I bought Cerisatone 4Xel84, hand wired 20W, JTM30, Origin, Friedman Runt and Friedman Pink taco… The Pink taco gets close but there’s no getting around that EL84s just don’t do it… Has anybody yet invented something that will get me what I want but is small enough to sit on a 1x12? And when I say sounds like a vintage plexi I don’t want any of that fizzy buzzy stuff that you inherently get from EL84s… sweet and harmonic is the ticket… I don’t care if it’s $200 or $2000 I’m open to anything… What say you!
I'd have thought nobody does.
If you want something to sound exactly like something else, you either have to make it exactly like the original or your next best option, these days, is to use a modeller.
 

J.D.

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Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
Like what Mike said, the 1x12 closed cab with 25W Celestion sounds good with the SV20. It's really then a scaled down 50W with 4x12 set. I could hear both the tubes and speaker breaking up, and it sounded good to me.
 

Stephens

Active member
Joined
Dec 30, 2001
Messages
438
Will be interested in hearing your evaluation. I've demo'd a few different models of this newer low watt EL-34 Marshall Studio line and they all sounded really great, especially wide open.

edit: link to website with specs and sound clips

Marshall website link
+1- would really like to get your thoughts on the SV20 Ed. I know you’ve owned several Marshall’s and other variants over the years. Curious to hear how you think they measure up.
 

akstrat61

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Joined
Feb 16, 2004
Messages
1,845
How about just getting a JTM45 and use one of the AmpRx Brown Box's? I personally have not tried one, but they are getting some pretty good reviews? Just a thought. For that matter, you could use the Brown Box with any Plexi type amp?
 

renderit

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Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
As I don't know a Plexi from a hole in my pocket I will throw in to look at the MGL Lead Master 20.

Classic Marshall sounds to my ear. In a smaller wattage.

It slays.

And I don't say that lightly.

I got the small format box.

Paired with just about any speaker system it really sounds fantastic.


40935044354_5d17b5d6b3_4k.jpg

40935054804_4f535f27d1_4k.jpg



I usually pair it with my Germino MGL speakers. The Germino MGL is great as well. But I seem to end up on the Lead Master more.

36127221940_59a486ca58_3k.jpg
 
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Ed A

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Jul 16, 2001
Messages
4,679
Well the honeymoon with the SV20H I got a few days ago is already over.... loved it at first.... BUT...

First let me say that I appreciate ALL the suggestions and dont fault anyone for suggesting the SV20... at first I loved it... keep in mind that Im looking for something that probably doesnt exist... something that sounds and responds just like my early '69 100W superlead (volume nearly dimed) but lighter in weight, smaller in size and lower in power.... I could easily get a 50W plexi or a great clone and run an attenuator and I've done that in the past... this is a different quest, gotta be small and lighter weight.... SOOOOOOOO...... the report:

BTW, I am ONLY playing the amp nearly dimed... not interested in playing it on 2... Im playing nearly full out, Hi Treble Vol on 8, Normal Vol on 4... I need power tube drive... Only reason not playing it on 10 is it starts closing up too much.... Oh and I replaced all tubes with vintage MULLARDS including XF2 power tubes. Better tone although slightly less drive than the stock JJs.

POSITIVES
*Definitely sounds plexi-like and impressive at that. The tone compared to my EL84 Friedman PT20 is more direct, in your face, accentuated with cutting mids and nice honk
*Top end while being bright is sweet and singing and not fizzy, buzzy like other newer Marshalls I've tried

NEGATIVES
*It is NOT loud enough.... Yes I guess its pretty loud for a 20w amp but its not gonna cut it stage volume for me with two drummers pounding... My 64 year old ears have been pummeled with high volume since I first saw Zeppelin summer '72 and although I have permanent tinnitus, I need more volume!, gotta have more volume! LOL
*Bottom end is weak and muddy, this is big issue for me, not enough bass.. Its tight compared to other amps in this range but not tight enough... If I push the bass it gets worse, same thing if I add in more of the normal channel... thick, mushy mud on the low E string... the guitar in mid and higher registers sounds great, but not doing it for me with the low stuff. Granted I am playing through a 1x12 open back with JBL D120 but other amps including the Friedman PT20 get a more resonant bottom end
*Wish it had just a hair more gain... It does a pretty good Zep II Heartbreaker but I wish I could get just a bit more drive along the lines of the first Halen album...
*The response is a bit too hard and direct, lacks that touch of bounce back I get from the vintage plexis... probably again, the small transformers and lack of resonant bottom end somewhat to blame.

BOTTOM LINE
*Really good amp and I can see why it gets great reviews, but dont think Im gonna end up playing it much and positive I wont gig with it. So I will look back at some of the other suggestions posted here. Maybe I do need to contact Germino or someone, maybe I need something more along the lines of a 30 to 40 watter with a good master if someone makes one in a head version less than 20 inches wide.

Again, this amp is better than just about all I've tried and will make many folks very happy, just not exactly what Im looking for.... Thanks for the input so far!
 

jb_abides

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Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
[I own these, admittedly now rare; bought when I was having a go at your 'problem-space' in the Aughts].

Maybe not so helpful given these aren't readily available on the market today, but who knows... you might find one and be happy.

Plexi tone being subjective, the closest I've gotten to your parameters:

- aforementioned Marshall HW 2061x

- Soultone 45me3 with power scaling and an explicit Plexi mode

- THD Flexi 50 which has a 20w power option and lots of tonal twiddling to taste (also tweak-able via tube selection)

I don't own -- but have a good opinion of -- Reinhardt! You'll need to figure which model's tone works for you. Now these are rare and hard to get, so exact preference may be a no-win here... it's a long-game now, your timeline may not allow this type of tone quest.

To add to the clone-ish builders:

- I think someone cited Germino Leads

- Ceriatone British Style 36w, perhaps 'Son of Yeti' Hot Rodded Plexi

- Fargen Olde 800 MKIII 25 Watt, or work with Ben on a custom order...? BTW the 800 despite it's name has a Decade switch for more Plexi tone.

Good Luck!
 
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bern1

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Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
Bottom line: in my experience a good JTM45 clone that has a tube rectifier paired with a good single 12 cabinet of your liking will be in the zone you are looking for. A good attenuator like the Weber Mini Mass will tame it enough to make it listenable without earplugs in a “normal” rehearsal space.
 

Ed A

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Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
4,679
I had a JTM45 clone really good tone but not enough gain for my liking. Less than a 50 plexi. Unless it was just that clone…. And I had the Ceriatonre 36, with four EL84s. Didn’t do it for me.

Looking for classic Plexi 50 tone but with enough drive. Not 800 tone, guess you can say slightly hot rodded Plexi tone. The Friedman PT20 was real close. With just the right amount of drive and great response. But still has that EL84 softness thing. I’m being admittedly picky but figured if I looked long enough might eventually get what I’m looking for.
 

Ed A

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Jul 16, 2001
Messages
4,679
Was just checking out the Germino site. Maybe the lead or a bass 35 is the ticket. I’ve had so many different amps but never or Germino. Not sure how accessible he is for a chat but obviously makes a great amp and can probably specifically adjust gain etc. to what I need.
 
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