I Bought A CHEAP Tube Amp - And It's BRILLIANT
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- Опубліковано 20 жов 2024
- Today I'm checking out a really budget friendly tube (or valve) amp. It's 15 watts and costs just 250€. Amps like this usually cost a lot more.
It's the Saturn-15VR by SubZero, which is Gear4Music's own brand (I think).
Enjoy!
My Patreon page for music and exclusives: / elmojk
Check out my review of the Harley Benton Tube15: ua-cam.com/video/Ua3opHgAJfI/v-deo.htmlsi=wA2oQOd2BlZD8Vj_
👋
I have a 15w & two 5w amps from monoprice (which seem to be the generic HB). The 15w is packed away - too loud for my house, but the 5w also drops to 1w and I think they sound great. So, now I have a house full of small amps...no spark yet.
Great demonstration - as always. Rock on Elmo! 🎸🎸🎸
Rob
Great Monty Python tee Elmo. Nice tube head too.
It has a marvelous and strange reverb, like a ducked reverb!
I love these simple cheap tube amps. I just do not have room for more gear.
Thanks Elmo. Sounded good but the hum and hiss was prominent and exacerbated by single coils [of course, as expected]. A noise-gate may help for higher gain. One watt [which seems closer to 7] by your db meter would suffice for at home self-practice, however maybe not "bedroom/late night" level for some. Bottom line: The noise floor could be an issue but if not, the versatility of sounds and price make it a great choice for beginners and/or those who desire an entry level real tube amp. I was not very impressed by the reverb that seemed to engage more after the fact but not a deal breaker imho.
Hi Mr. Karjalainen.
Sometidos, cheap products, specially with simple electronics, are just amazing, based on it's simplicity.
I have a *Wangs* 5w combo.....and it sounds absolutely amazing mic'ed for any recordings. 😂🎉
Love your videos. You're doing a FANTASTIC job here. Thank you so much!!!
Live the t-shirt. "King eh, very nice."
😊👍
I’ve got the HB15 combo. It’s great.
Great review, SubZero Saturn-50VR Tube Amp 4 x 12" Seventy 80 Stack is 615 euros, great value
Thanks Elmo! It’s always good to see what you can get for a little less money. I wonder if the combo is just as good. I looked at the head it’s on sale!
Not sure. You can always try.
@@MrPolevaulter Thanks Elmo!
That Jet guitar is sooo good.
Some things are rebadged versions of the same product. Take the Harley Benton low-cost tube amp with the Monoprice version. HOWEVAH! I think it bears comparison if for no other reason than to show those who may not be aware that my initial statement is true. Great video, professor!
Inspiring. This Winter I've got to fix up my old Sears Silvertone tube amp. However, the cost of new tubes (valves) these days may be almost the cost of a new tube amp.
Yup.
There are a few branded versions of that amp coming from the same source.
Not that there is anything particlarly wrong with that so long as the QC level is maintained.
Been waiting ages for someone to review this amp head, Thank you. I used to have the older, blue colored, 5 watt version which I bought new. I used it at rehearsals with a Metal band for over 2 years until one day I switched it on and smoke poured from the back of it. BUT I always had it cranked and got Hundreds of hours of use out of it before that happened.
I’d pay extra to have my amp start to smoke while I was playing (on stage)!
@@Santaheckler
Chinese knock off capacitors will do it for ya!
@@Santaheckler 🤣
Very Cool Elmo! Thanks for sharing 🙏✌️❤️😎🎸🎼🎵🎶😊
Glad you enjoyed it 😊
I have a Subzero solid state amp. Best home low volume amp ever IMHO. And I have quite a few. I don't use it anymore, since discovering discovering Two Notes Captor X attenuation. Now I'm experimenting with different tube heads going through that. Thanks Elmo! I may well have to treat myself to one of these now for Christmas. Great channel! Won't be long until my bank balance is no longer in the BLACK!
I’ve also heard great things about Stage Right (Monoprice) tube amps. I believe they are the exact same amp as the Harley Bentons. They have a small 5-watt 1x8 for $159.00 and a 15-watt 1x12 for $259.00. Also, FREE shipping.
As far as I know they are the same as the Harley Benton valve amps, only a different label.
And Sub Zero sales will go up in no time!
Good call on demoing the SubZero stuff as there's barely anyone on UA-cam checking them out :)
- Gabe
regardless of the name plate, these things are often made in the same factory...same applies to guitars. I notice there was a lot of hum on that sub zero-as with a number of tube amps
@@vincentl.9469 Oh definitely, loads of brands come out of the same factories!
@@vincentl.9469 Most tube amps are noisy, at least under gain they will. They will make different levels of hum at idle depending upon the condition of the electrical supply it’s getting. I think that’s part of why people used say that Marshalls sound different from night to night. I don’t mind the hum but my wife has walked in and said how do you stand that hiss and hum, it’s another or a part of that old technologies charm. I love and accept the noise it’s just part of it but there’s things you can do to quiet them down, make sure your outlets are grounded and use a power conditioner to ease the spikes and dips in current and of course noise gates. If you play mostly clean the noise probably won’t be an issue but all tube amps are going to be a little noisy when cranked.
@@brandonjackson5865 also I believe it's the the tubes themselves that are microphonic, if that's the right word. Single coils & P90s are quite noisy , more so with tube amps
I would like to have a review of the harley benton tube 15 head with the cab g112 celestion v30. Nice and pleasant video.
Great amp, and the 50w is only £299 uk...Yes please elmo, a comparison with the HB would be great! 🍻💥
Definitely thinking about it.
Gotta love the single coil hsssssss
I recently got myself a Laney Cub 12 which I think had similar specs to this and the tube 15. Maybe a shoot out between the three would be good? I previously owned the Tube 15 combo and liked it but found the cabinet a bit flimsy and rattly, which I guess is resolved by justc buying the head if you have a decent cab already. The laney combo seems a bit better put together so far
Just get the spark 2 it has that rich Distortion gain tone you can hear this when you play one but you can't on the videos the others just don't have that spark
It’s a BLackstar, it’s a Behinger/ Bugera it’s a Mk2 Pulse, Harleybenton? I can Go On and On? I Love it. HT 1R Metal was My go too .
And where is the infinium version. That will explode!
Give the cheap a chance Elmo makes good points Tube amps $2500 + used $1700 and up Good luck
I believe, it's the same as Harley Benton Tube 15....😊
I think so too.
Which is, in turn, a Laney Cub with the addition of a true spring reverb. I have checked the numbering a few components of the HB Tube15 head and they are the same in the Cub schematic.
But the Harley Benton One dosen't have the real spring Reverb..wrong?
Yeeep. We want comparison with HB 15. I need to choose my first tube amp!!. Thanks in advance!!. I started with the guitar three months ago. I already had things but I have been buying several of your highly recommended ones. Success after success. Gear gurú!!
You should just play with what you have for a year or two, save up for some decent stuff, and upgrade with better gear when you start to develope your own sound because you'll have a better idea where you want your tone to be. You'll save a lot of GAS money and frustration that way. Just my stupid opinion 😅
@@AmericanNationalist852 I already have everything for the practice period.
I only need a valve amplifier. And both this one and the HB15 are cheap, so I'll treat myself to trying one. From there, of course, purchases will be more focused.
Thanks for the advice!
Correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't HB Tube 15 just in-house branded version of the Monoprice amps they sell on U.S. Amazon? Much like some of the Joyo stuff got rebranded in to HB.
This might be a similar deal.
Yes, I think that's it.
I which case, I beleive it is also very, very closely related to the Laney Cub 15 / 15R
@@SD_UK "closely related" is an understatement.
They are the same 😂😂😂
I wonder what's next? Scorpion amp? Or maybe Kung Lao one?😆
Buzzzzzzzzz, noisegate would be a must or guitar with noiseless pick ups. The mere noise is 80 dB at one point while the sound itself is over 100 dB which is not a healthy amount if wanting to hear playing in the future as well, be it Spinal Tap length of bent sustain or not.
An amp with no digital trickery that forces you to learn how to play ? It will never catch on lol.
The only thing I worry about with cheap tube amps is how long will it last? I bought a tube amp from a reputable brand (Marshall) that at least had a warranty covered by a Marshall service center when it stopped working after 2 months.
van halen kiff!good sound!
Cheers!
Hey elmo i have request / idea, could you demo or comparrison some pedals i cant wrap my head around pricing of some pedals. There are some 400€ pedals that are rivaled by 50€ pedals, is there something to these more expensive pedals or are they just for the cork sniffers. Thank you
I would love to see a comparisn between this one and the HB. Anyways, which cabinet would you recommend for this?
I was buying multieffect pedals😅buy ,sell,buy,sell😅always tweak something .More tweak then play😅 now i own Laney lionheart😊2 chanells amp and i play more then before.Better to have 2 good chanels then 50 shit options😅
Elmo, what is that last Guitar? the Strat with a tele headstock
It’s noisy and I would be apprehensive of its reliability. Might be a fun at home, jam in the garage kind of amp, but I’d recommend a katana, or something similar to someone starting out. It would be discouraging to be a new guitarist and suddenly find yourself owing $200 for an amp repair
Is the compression I hear from the amp or production or youtube?
Why does the reverb sound like a reverse verb lol
What cab was used for the demo?
Cool 😊
Cheers!
You can get that woman-tone so easy with this guitar and amp combination, the amp makes a lot off sizzle sounds, is because the mic. ? 😊
no it's because of the amp
What cabinet are you running it through?
So it looks (and sounds) like the same circuit as the HB tube 15, also sold by Monoprice and also sold under a second Gear4Music brand as the Hartwood Interceptor 30 combi. Any real differences, apart from it being head only?
All the same, just different headshells/tolex/front panels.
@@JohnWiku there are some other small differences. For example the Hartwood has a plug in power lead, not a hard wired one like the HB. And better speakers in the Combi
I know its good because the "boss" just told me to turn the volume on the video down. And she must be obeyed as we know.
Second hand and local repair ... affordable. this is the solution to promote. Too much products in the world otherwise
Like 👍 first and then watch 😎
:)
What can explain a such price ; is there cheap electronic components, or manuf. workers not paid ; including transportation ? A status : around locally, lot of interesting second hand products. Shall we buy and produce infernally ? Have a good day. Enjoy playing
yikes that sound....
Okay. This amp is Not for the U.S. market..
You should've said that in the first place.
Okie Dokie Elmo. I'm outta' here at TM: 2,25.
I thought this amp was rather noisy (especially the reverb), except when played clean.
So perhaps I'm naive, but honestly, what is so "special" about valve amps? 🙄🤷🏻♂️
With the improvements that have been made to solid state amps and especially DAWs, very little is special about tube (valve) amps anymore. The "sound quality" advantage of tube amps is now minimal at best, and is being outweighed by the negative points (cost, weight, reliability, transport, etc.). You can find MANY of the top studio and stage musicians out there who'll say the same thing, and the number is growing by the day.
Mostly touch sensitivity and dynamic range. Where you can go from from silent clean to good loud crunch without touching a knob on the guitar or the amp and do not get lost in a band mix playing live. If you play alone at home this might not be that much of an issue. But for live giging solid state just lacking a bit in the dynamics of playing. So to say its more about the feel how it responds to your playing rather than the sound that is comming out of the speaker. And TBH this particular amp does not represent what a really good and quality valve amp is. It is just good enough as an entrypoint to tube amps with a very high posibility of failing after some time because internaly it is not a best engineering and parts selection.
Its OK but I would rather spend more money on better amp or if I only had the price of this amp I would rather by the Vox VT20X, it still has a valve for the pre amp and loads of modelling and FX and sounds outrageous!
But the metal distortion on it sucks
The problem with these inexpensive (and cheaply made) valve amps is when something goes wrong with them (and it will) they are more expensive to fix than the amp is worth, so it turns into nothing but e-waste at the end of the day. If you think you are saving money you are absolutely not. A well-made valve amp that will last and can be serviced is expensive (no way around it.) You would be much better served to save your money. That thing was very noisy and the artifacts after the reverberation was horrid in every respect.
Let's face it: any valve amp, no matter how expensive it is, it's expensive to get fixed. Ok, you may spend 300 euros on a 300-euro broken amp, but you may spend the same amount of money on a 1500 € amp. The difference is in the proportion, but does it really matter at the end of the day? In one case you'll spend 600 €, in the other case 1800...
@@edyb2097 Yes it matters.
@@shane011471 not to me. To each their own.
Many people don't know it, but you can buy a Wangs amp, which has better components (and better sound) than these Sub zero - Harley Benton amps.
interesting.... please, does the Marshall Silver Jubilee 25 IS a reliable and good components and not expensive service amp please ?
it sounds plasticy
Waiting for new models - Shao Kahn, Cyrax, Liu Kang, Kitana, Goro, Baraka and Obama
Yer momma too 😂😂
@@JohnWiku don't tell your bf about this😂