Check out Revv Amps D20āa clean, 20-watt (reducible to 4) 6V6 output section and powerful Two Notes cab-sim capabilities make this 9-pound head (demo'd by Joey Landreth) both a great pedal platform and a conveniently portable gigging amp.
D20
The Revv D20 is the world's first Two notes Torpedo-Embedded amplifier. This means not only is it a great-sounding Canadian-made 20 watt tube amplifier - you can play it anywhere without a cabinet while getting authentic tube tones straight into headphones, recording interface, powered speakers, or mixing desk. The Revv D20 is the perfect clean/crunch amp to pair with your favorite pedals, and brings modern convenience to an organic, compact, affordable tube package.
Hughes & Kettner's TubeMeister Deluxe models release first ever tube amps that contain FRFR technology.
St. Wendel, Germany (January 21, 2016) -- Hughes & Kettnerās bestselling TubeMeister lunchbox amp family has been strengthened by the addition of two wild new bigger brothers: the TubeMeister Deluxe 20 and the TubeMeister Deluxe 40.
Where TubeMeister is stunning, the new TubeMeister Deluxe models are simply jaw dropping, having benefited from a comprehensive overhaul tonally and physically, as well as being kitted out with a range of killer new features the 50,000-strong Meister Family has been demanding.
The Deluxe modelsā boutique tones are inspired by the most-loved channels of Hughes & Kettnerās award-winning TriAmp Mark 3 flagship, and they also include the all-new Red Box AE DI output, which offers guitarists the ultimate FRFR amp sound experience for stage and studio.
The first ever tube amps to contain such FRFR technology, the Deluxe models are also crammed full of Hughes & Kettnerās standard ā yet revolutionary ā features like Tube Safety Control (which constantly monitors and biases the ampsā tubes) and a real power soak, which allows players to enjoy the goodness of fully cranked all-tube tones at living room levels.
RĆ¼diger Forse, Hughes & Kettnerās Senior Product Manager, said: āThe boss of lunchbox amps just got a chunky gourmet brother! TubeMeisterās ruled the lunchbox market for the last five years, and the Deluxe models raise the bar yet again. With boutique tones ā but without the boutique price tag ā and everything any player needs to Rock on Stage, Play at Home and Record at Night in the best possible way, we know these amps are going to deliver the next level of inspiration to guitarists all over the world!ā
The TubeMeister Deluxe models are receiving their exclusive worldwide premiere at the 2016 NAMM show in Anaheim, California.
For more information:
Hughes & Kettner
Voxās compact amp line evolves, growing more versatile.
When Vox released the original Night Train amplifier back in 2009, it won praise from pros and weekend warriors alike. The lunchbox amp revolution was in full swing, yet the Night Trainās chimey cleans, killer overdrive, and accessible price set it apart. And man, did it look coolālike the retro sci-fi toolbox Flash Gordon would pack before heading off to battle Ming the Merciless. It was so successful it spawned a line of amps and cabinets thatās still growing.
Vox has revamped the Night Train series with a more subdued, streamlined aesthetic and more versatile channel switching. The new EL84-driven, 15-watt G2 NT15C1 1x12 combo delivers signature Vox clean tones and the original Night Trainās great overdrive, along with a serial effect loop and digital reverb in a compact combo format.
Suitcase Rock
For the most part, the 15-watt Night Train G2 combo is as straightforward as its predecessors. An all-tube, two-channel preamp driven by three 12AX7s feeds a dual-EL84, class A/B power section and a 25-watt 12" Celestion Greenback speaker, which sits cozy in a compact, 19 1/2" x 10 1/4" x 16" semi-open cabinet. Save for two top-mounted vents, thereās not much ventilation for tube heat, so a small chassis-mounted fan keeps the guts cool.
Channel switching is performed via a selector switch on the amp, or with Voxās optional VFS2A footswitch. The ampās clean channelādubbed ābrightā on the channel select switchāsounds very AC15-inspired, and its hard to coax a bad tone out of it, given that it has just one control for channel volume. A switch next to this knob engages a āthickā mode that provides a considerable volume boost. The āgirthā channel provides overdrive tones. Here you can shape the output with 3-band EQ and dedicated gain and channel volume controls. Both channels share a master volume and the digital reverb, along with a ādeepā switch for additional low-end punch. You can patch additional processors into the ampās effect loop.
All Aboard!
The Night Trainās clean channel effortlessly delivers Voxās famous sweet, clean tones and deep harmonic presence. The tones have fuller low end and stronger presence than those of the original Night Train. The Night Trainās impressive headroom keeps the output tight and detailed with an overdrive or distortion pedal out front. It also makes for a very dynamic amp. Treble and midrange tones remain crisp, woody, and defined, even under heavy pick attack.
Ratings
Pros:
Thick, detailed overdrive. Pristine cleans. Lots of headroom. Plenty of volume.
Cons:
Footswitch not included. No adjustment for āThickā mode boost level. Reverb sounds flat compared to spring units.
Tones:
Playability/Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$699
Vox Night Train G2 NT15C1
voxamps.com
The amp is very responsive to guitar tone and volume changes. Lowering the volume on my Lollar JM-loaded BiLT Revelator gave the amp a more focused, bluesy character. Engaging the thick mode added midrange focus and punchy volume boost without too much extra distortion. The beefier midrange is great for ā60s-style rock rhythms.
But generally, the ampās overdriven tones have a modern edge compared to what youād hear from an AC15 or other vintage-style Vox amp. I copped Brian May-style bark by turning up the channelās mids, dropping the treble, and leaving the āDarkā mode off, but the channel retained a modern color I couldnāt completely shake. That limitation aside (and itās really only a limitation if youāre a vintage-obsessed Vox fan), the channel gives low-output humbuckers a pleasingly full-bodied low-gain overdrive voice. Factor in the midrangy quality of the Celestion Greenback, and the Night Train and low-output humbuckers become a match made in heaven, especially for classic British blues and hard rock. Meanwhile, thereās enough extra gain on tap to cover Van Halen- and Slash-like lead tones and Alice in Chains-style chunk.
The ampās hall-like digital reverb is adequate at low levels, but lacks the character and dynamics of a spring unit. That said, if you prefer clean reverbs that lie underneath your tone rather than melding with it, you might enjoy the effect.
The Verdict
The Night Train G2 delivers lush cleans, punchy drive, and enough range for just about any rock style other than saturated metal. While some Vox fans will pine for an AlNiCo Blue speaker, the Greenback is a well-rounded speaker that suits the amplifierās voices. Thereās room for improvement, especially in regards to the flat-sounding digital reverb. But much of the sonic magic and style that made the original Night Train such a potent little amp remains intactāand improved.