Jet City - Pico Valve - 5W / 2 W Class A - Tube Amp Head
New Pricekr2,600.86
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Listed:7 years ago
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Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria
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Jet City - Pico Valve
Tube amp 5W / 2 W Class A
Circuit design by Andy Marshall (Soldano, THD), licensed by THD
In contrast to some other - alleged - small full tube amps the circuit here is actually a pure tube circuit, without the support of various IC's and transistors.
Visually and concerning some features, the Pico Valve could be considered a slightly slimmed-down version of the THD Univalve, but while the Univalve is designed for clean to classic overdriven sounds the Pico Valve is mor designed for high gain sounds at low volume levels.
Nevertheless, there are some parallels, especially concerning the output stage, which works as a single-ended power amplifier and thanks to the THD-developed auto bias circuit can easily be equipped with various power amp pentodes or beam power tetrodes by simply exchanging them. By default, the Pico Valve runs with a 6L6, which can be replaced by 6550, KT66, EL34 tubes but also for slightly less output by a 6V6. (With a corresponding Noval to Oktal adapter you could probably alo use an EL84.)
Why Jet City called the Pico Valve as a 5W / 2W amp is not very comprehensible to me, since a 6L6 or an EL34 in Class A operation as Pentode actually already about 11 - 12 watts, as a triode about 5 - 6 watts supplies. On the one hand this amp can get pretty loud, On the other hand, however, even at room or bedroom volume level without additional attenuator good sounds can be set. Also gain and volume controls work very well even in lower ranges, which does not always seem to be the case with low-watt amps.
The Pico Valve is with about 10.5 kg is no light weight for a small tube amp, due to 3 quite large and heavy transformers and the robust, massive metal housing.
The control panel offers with Input, Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Volume and a Bright Switch well-known controls, in addition there are switches for 5W / 2W, so Pentode / Triode mode, Standby and the main switch. The 3 switches are unfortunately clearly audible when you press, otherwise, while playing, the amp works really quiet for a tube amp.
On the rear there is the transformer switch for 120V / 230V operation, the power plug connection and 3 speaker outputs either for 4/8/16 ohms.
The pre-amp works with 2 x 12AX7 / ECC83 tubes, but for some sonic finetuning you could also use other double triodes (12AU7 / ECC82, 12AT7 / ECC81 or even 12AY7).
With the 12AX7, the Pico Valve delivers good sounding clean sounds at very low gain settings, which quickly changes to more or less intense overdrive sounds when raising the level. Gain in middle position already results in more than enough overdrive and saturation with humbuckers, increasing gain results in a more compressed, more dense sound, but not necessarily more intense overdrive. The gain intensity may be comparable to a Vox NT or a Tube Town Lummerland Express.
Sonically, the preamp gain tends to sound more British, but not as hefty and direct as a Marshall, a little bit more harmonic, balanced, a little more unbritish is, however, that the Pico Valve - unexpected for such a small amp - also produces a lot of basses, which in conjunction with smaller speakers and cabinets (8 "or 10") can be just the right thing. At the same time, the bass can also be well controlled, as well as the entire tone control (the typical passive FMV 3-band tone stack) works remarkably well, so that the bass, midrange and treble can be set well.
On the Internet, the Pico Valve is often described as too dark sounding, which is probably a matter of taste and probably also related to which amps you compare him. If you are looking for an amp for clean to slightly overdriven sounds in the Fender Champ style, the Pico Valve will definitely be the wrong choice. It is better designed to produce high-gain overdrive to distortion sounds at room or garage practicing volume levels, what it does well, I think.
The general character I would call a British all-round sound, the Pico Valve does not respond as dynamically as a Marshall, but you get good sounds with some nice compression and sustain, with which you can play effortless and and uncomplicated. The tones are not really bad and heavy sounding, but also not too nice and polite, apart from perhaps a little more British hardness and sharpness in the treble range at higher gain settings. I would call this modern all-round-high-gain.
If the distortion is a bit too much, you can also use preamp tubes with less gain instead of the 12AX7. On the internet, the combination of 12AU7 and 12AT7 is recommended, the 12AU7 I did not like in this amp, because the Pico Valve anyway delivers more than enough bass and the overdriven sounds may sound a bit too fuzzy with a 12AU7. On the other hand, two 12AT7s deliver some less bass, more highs, provide some more clean headroom and, thanks to less gain, a wider and smoother control of overdrive.
The 5W / 2W switching also changes the sound, the pentode operation sounds louder, more direct, with slightly more concise heights, the triode operation a little quieter, warmer, rounder.
The amp is in good, used, quasi mint condition, comes with power cable and manual.
Comes with original tube assembly (Chinese 12AX7 and 6L6), I add an almost new 6V6 (Fender / EHX) with it. It sounds quite similar to the 6L6, only a bit quieter with a little less bass.
Private sale as is, so no warranty or refunding will be granted.
Shipping within the EU only (Continent without isles and external areas, but including UK and Ireland)
This is a private sale, so the buyer bears all shipping risks. Insured shipping only.
Please watch my other offers as well!
Tube amp 5W / 2 W Class A
Circuit design by Andy Marshall (Soldano, THD), licensed by THD
In contrast to some other - alleged - small full tube amps the circuit here is actually a pure tube circuit, without the support of various IC's and transistors.
Visually and concerning some features, the Pico Valve could be considered a slightly slimmed-down version of the THD Univalve, but while the Univalve is designed for clean to classic overdriven sounds the Pico Valve is mor designed for high gain sounds at low volume levels.
Nevertheless, there are some parallels, especially concerning the output stage, which works as a single-ended power amplifier and thanks to the THD-developed auto bias circuit can easily be equipped with various power amp pentodes or beam power tetrodes by simply exchanging them. By default, the Pico Valve runs with a 6L6, which can be replaced by 6550, KT66, EL34 tubes but also for slightly less output by a 6V6. (With a corresponding Noval to Oktal adapter you could probably alo use an EL84.)
Why Jet City called the Pico Valve as a 5W / 2W amp is not very comprehensible to me, since a 6L6 or an EL34 in Class A operation as Pentode actually already about 11 - 12 watts, as a triode about 5 - 6 watts supplies. On the one hand this amp can get pretty loud, On the other hand, however, even at room or bedroom volume level without additional attenuator good sounds can be set. Also gain and volume controls work very well even in lower ranges, which does not always seem to be the case with low-watt amps.
The Pico Valve is with about 10.5 kg is no light weight for a small tube amp, due to 3 quite large and heavy transformers and the robust, massive metal housing.
The control panel offers with Input, Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Volume and a Bright Switch well-known controls, in addition there are switches for 5W / 2W, so Pentode / Triode mode, Standby and the main switch. The 3 switches are unfortunately clearly audible when you press, otherwise, while playing, the amp works really quiet for a tube amp.
On the rear there is the transformer switch for 120V / 230V operation, the power plug connection and 3 speaker outputs either for 4/8/16 ohms.
The pre-amp works with 2 x 12AX7 / ECC83 tubes, but for some sonic finetuning you could also use other double triodes (12AU7 / ECC82, 12AT7 / ECC81 or even 12AY7).
With the 12AX7, the Pico Valve delivers good sounding clean sounds at very low gain settings, which quickly changes to more or less intense overdrive sounds when raising the level. Gain in middle position already results in more than enough overdrive and saturation with humbuckers, increasing gain results in a more compressed, more dense sound, but not necessarily more intense overdrive. The gain intensity may be comparable to a Vox NT or a Tube Town Lummerland Express.
Sonically, the preamp gain tends to sound more British, but not as hefty and direct as a Marshall, a little bit more harmonic, balanced, a little more unbritish is, however, that the Pico Valve - unexpected for such a small amp - also produces a lot of basses, which in conjunction with smaller speakers and cabinets (8 "or 10") can be just the right thing. At the same time, the bass can also be well controlled, as well as the entire tone control (the typical passive FMV 3-band tone stack) works remarkably well, so that the bass, midrange and treble can be set well.
On the Internet, the Pico Valve is often described as too dark sounding, which is probably a matter of taste and probably also related to which amps you compare him. If you are looking for an amp for clean to slightly overdriven sounds in the Fender Champ style, the Pico Valve will definitely be the wrong choice. It is better designed to produce high-gain overdrive to distortion sounds at room or garage practicing volume levels, what it does well, I think.
The general character I would call a British all-round sound, the Pico Valve does not respond as dynamically as a Marshall, but you get good sounds with some nice compression and sustain, with which you can play effortless and and uncomplicated. The tones are not really bad and heavy sounding, but also not too nice and polite, apart from perhaps a little more British hardness and sharpness in the treble range at higher gain settings. I would call this modern all-round-high-gain.
If the distortion is a bit too much, you can also use preamp tubes with less gain instead of the 12AX7. On the internet, the combination of 12AU7 and 12AT7 is recommended, the 12AU7 I did not like in this amp, because the Pico Valve anyway delivers more than enough bass and the overdriven sounds may sound a bit too fuzzy with a 12AU7. On the other hand, two 12AT7s deliver some less bass, more highs, provide some more clean headroom and, thanks to less gain, a wider and smoother control of overdrive.
The 5W / 2W switching also changes the sound, the pentode operation sounds louder, more direct, with slightly more concise heights, the triode operation a little quieter, warmer, rounder.
The amp is in good, used, quasi mint condition, comes with power cable and manual.
Comes with original tube assembly (Chinese 12AX7 and 6L6), I add an almost new 6V6 (Fender / EHX) with it. It sounds quite similar to the 6L6, only a bit quieter with a little less bass.
Private sale as is, so no warranty or refunding will be granted.
Shipping within the EU only (Continent without isles and external areas, but including UK and Ireland)
This is a private sale, so the buyer bears all shipping risks. Insured shipping only.
Please watch my other offers as well!
This item is sold As-Described
This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.Learn More.
| Listed | 7 years ago |
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| Condition | Excellent (Used) Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more |
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