Tubes & Low Wattage at NAMM 2010: Ibanez TSA-15H, Egnater Tweaker & Mesa TransAtlantic TA15
In the amplifiers field, the low wattage small sized tubes amplifiers made a lot of noise for the last 2 years. At NAMM 2010, some of the most renowned brands stepped in and got into this growing market… Focus on Ibanez, Mesa Engineering and Egnater that unveiled one amp head each. But the only common feature of the three amps is the 15 Watts power…
Ibanez TSA-15H
The Ibanez TSA-15H is a 5W/15W switchable amp head equipped with 2×12AX7 tubes (pre-amp) and 2×6L6 (power). Its striking feature is the onboard Ibanez Tube Screamer circuit built in the front head of the amp. The users won’t have to complete this amp with a separate overdrive pedal anymore, but they will need to have the footswitch to be able to play with or without the overdrive tone. Unfortunately the footswitch will be sold separately.
Check Ibanez.com for more information.
Egnater Tweaker
The Egnater Tweaker amp head is equipped with 2×6L6 tubes (power) and 3×12AX7 (pre-amp), and it is clearly made to be versatile… The 5 front head switches (Tight, Bright, Gain, EQ,Vintage/Modern) allows to shape the tones and the voicing of the amplifier, so that the guitarist will be able to go from soft and smooth sound to punchy and agressive tones. I am quite curious to hear this one!!
Check Egnater.com for more information.
Mesa Engineering TransAtlantic TA-15
The TransAtlantic head is designed according to a rather different philosophy as it has two independent channels: Brit Clean on channel 1 and Brit Gain/Fat Gain on channel 2. Each channel can be operated in 5W, 15W or 25W power mode. The amplifier is equipped with 2xEL-84 tubes and 4×12AX7. They claim that they are redefining the small amp heads genre… I feel like I wanna believe ‘em cause on the paper that sounds like this is it.
Video demo of the Mesa TransAtlantic TA-15 amp head
Check Mesaboogie.com for more information.
3 amps and 3 philosophies for 3 different use… Amps manufacturers seem to be quite innovative and willing to avoid copying each other!! That sounds good. As soon as videos emerge, I will update the post.
Une idée des prix de ces têtes?
J’ai croisé un prix de 990 $ pour la tête TransAtlantic (sur guitarnoize je crois) mais rien pour les 2 autres pour le moment.
Pour 900$ le Mesa Boogie me paraît déjà dans une gamme de prix supérieure à vue de nez, par contre je suis assez bluffé par la qualité du son clair obtenu spécialement avec des humbuckers !!!!!!!
Ah ca me donne une légère crise de GAS j’ai bien peur ;o)