Ibanez TSA 15 Valve/Tube Amps

Lipz

Hi,

I am keen to buy an Ibanez TSA15 Valve Amp. The options are Combo, or Cab/Head variant. (TSA15 or TSA15H+TSA112C)

I have only heard the Cab and Head option, and it sounds really nice and fat. Full bottom tone.

I would prefer the combo option because it transports easier, but I am hesitant about the tone as I have not heard it.

Has anyone out there played them side by side and made a comparison? I would appreciate some feedback.

Thanks,
Lipz...

DonovanB

I played all three the other day.
I can easily say the tone is consistent across the range.

However....

the 5W is very soft. Great for bedrooms, and that's it. I had it to the max and it didn't even touch what I was looking for.

The 30W is nice and Loud, good tone, easy to carry. has a more in-depth eq (it has a mid knob... gasp) and can have an external cab too.

The 15W for me had the most character. Loud enough to jam, small enough to fit in a small car (cos real muso's cant afford big ones ha ha ha) and can be rigged to a bigger cab for awesome sound. Plus it's stupid cheap and can be stepped down to 7W IINM

Lipz

Hey Donovan,

Thanks for your reply.

Just to clarify, I was concerned about the "bass fullness" comparison between the Combo and the Cab.

You say they are consistant. ie: the same or very similar?

TKS, LIPZ...

DonovanB

Ja they are fairly constant across the range.

AFAIK the combo is the same speaker etc as the cab.

IceCreamMan

yebo, its all the same kit in differnt packages...i had the head an cab unit and it was awesome lil 15 watter....i would buy the head and cab separately as its a lil more versatile and its easier to carry one in each hand (for me) but nothing wriong with the combo ....

great amps, great price

psyx

Buying the head and cab may be a better idea since the tubes in a head and cab configuration are subjected to less vibration and will last longer

timmie23

How much do they go for these days?

DonovanB

around R4500

Jayhell

No reverb? ???

DonovanB

no reverb. but tone for days

Jayhell

Donovan Banks wrote: no reverb. but tone for days

I see, no effects loop either. How would reverb from a pedal affect the sound?

IceCreamMan

Jayhell wrote:
Donovan Banks wrote: no reverb. but tone for days
I see, no effects loop either. How would reverb from a pedal affect the sound?

ke, mine def had an effects loop

ezietsman

If you don't use the onboard tubescreamer a reverb would work just fine as this amp's power section basically runs totally clean. I tried a tele in the shop on one of these the other day and even with the volume on 10 there was no drive, I had to invoke the drive thingy to make it drive at all.

Jayhell

IceCreamMan wrote:
Jayhell wrote:
Donovan Banks wrote: no reverb. but tone for days
I see, no effects loop either. How would reverb from a pedal affect the sound?
ke, mine def had an effects loop

Cool, I could find no picture of it from the rear and I made a stupid assumption. I think it would be rather cool to put an EHX Holy grail nano in the FX loop. They will probably have all of us buy these and then bring out a TSA15R.