A great new Class A small amp in head and combo format - like a Univalve in a way

[myles_rose]

If you like the THD Univalve, here is something to consider

 

Yesterday 3/6, I made a trip to Groove Tubes to look at their new USA newly made 6L6GE tube. My first phase of tests are posted elsewhere on this forum, but during the visit, I saw a new item that I thought Id mention here also.

 

Groove Tubes is a name that comes to a lot of peoples minds when they think of tubes. What a lot of folks dont know, is that for many years they have made studio and professional grade equipment. These things included guitar and bass preamplifier and amplifiers, tube microphones, speaker emulators, and other items.

 

Yesterday I played their new Class A "Solo Single". This is an amp many will compare to the THD Univalve, but is a super companion to the Univalve in some ways, and quite different in many ways too. I own a Univalve, and it is one of my favorite amplifiers. It is probably my most used recording tool. The GT Solo Single is from the same basic thinking as the Univalve, but with a change in some areas of implementation. The Univalve has a wonderful transformer isolated line out with level selection, so its great in the studio. The GT Solo Single would sound great micd as in the old Fender Champ / SM-57 configuration, so between the two of them it would be user choice. I like the features and sounds of both, so it looks like a possible future discussion with my wife J

 

The "Solo" comes as both a head and a combo. I played both, and listened to Mikey Wright from Westwood Music for a number of hours while he played and I fiddled with the knobs and swapped tubes. The combo has a 10" Jensen speaker, and is so portable and cute its just insane.

 

The "Solo" has a parallel effects loop. There is room in even the head version to velcro something like a microverb, and voila you are in business for a small live gig. This amp seems well suited to a live application. It was surprisingly loud for its size. The power output did not change all that much as tubes were swapped. The circuit is probably a bit different than the Univalve, as the THD will vary more in output depending on the tube installed.

 

The "Solo" has a single input unlike the two inputs of the Univalve, but it does sport a gain and master, so you can dial in whatever degree of drive you prefer. This amp has a lot of gain, and the gain control has a pull function for even more gain if desired. The pull gain feature is also controllable with a supplied foot switch. There are Bass, Mid, Treble controls. The amp had all the touch sensitivity and dynamics youd expect from a single tube Class A amplifier.

 

This amp has a different slant and flavor than the THD, and it is enough of a difference to make me consider yet another amplifier purchase, which is the last thing I need at this time. The voltages on the "Solo" are different than the THDs low or high settings, so this amp brings yet another flavor to this arena.

 

Mikey Wright is thinking about using two of these with a stereo 2x12 cabinet, and Id love to hear that! I also got to use one of the GT Solo 45 combos while we were testing the new GT 6L6GE tube in the "Solo", and not to digress too much, but if you are a pedal user, the Solo 45 had its front end specifically developed for users of pedal effects and the wide range of changes of loading that an amp sees when using effects. Some amps can use stuff pre front end of an amp, some cant very well. The Solo 45 is pretty amazing in this respect, so if you get a chance, play one of these too.

 

Back to the Class A Solo Single I think this amp is going to be a winner. It is a very articulate amp. With an EL-34LS installed, its overdriven lead tones were impressive enough to spark more than a few comments from others walking around the facility. With the new 6L6GE it was just about as live and articulate as one can imagine.

 

This amp was shown at the NAMM show earlier this year, but this was my first chance to see one, play one, and take one apart. By the way, on the taking apart aspect, the amp is very nicely laid out inside and the work is excellent.

 

These amps are shipping now, so try to find a dealer in your area and give them a listen.

 

Regards,

 

Myles