lightweight combo's (lunchbox or similar)

[wrinkleygit]

Now I am back in guitar mode once again, the search is on to find something I can lift with one hand (easily), having sold off my old valve combo's some years ago all I am left with is an old, 80's I think roland cube 100 (beige tolex version) sounds good for a tranny but feels like it has been nailed to the floor when it comes to picking it up. 15 - 30 watts is probably all I need (headphone jack would be useful), spotted the lunchbox on a website that no longer has stock but youtube reviews look interesting, any owners out there care to comment or any recommendations for something similar welcome, mike b.

[mattf77]

Does it have to be a combo? 1x12 and small head is often easier to carry and would give you more options

[pintspiller]

peavey royal 8 can be picked up for £150 or so brand new. pretty loud for one el84 output valve. 8" speaker though (i modified mine to power my extension cab) as i thought it lacking bottom end, but if you are using headphones it may not matter as much.

[bertie]

a 30 watt combo (with decent transformers) will probably weigh as much as a 100w Cube, even a 2x12 one (if they ever made such a thing)

[cacofonix]

Cornford Hurricane - cab is made of pine, so it's light and easy to carry.

20w. No headphones, but you might be able to tap the fx loop?

[ICBM]

Forget headphones unless the amp has a proper speaker-emulated circuit to drive them. The old-fashioned method of cutting the signal path to the speaker and using a couple of resistors to drop the level to headphone volume sounds awful - since headphones are full-range. Very few valve amps actually do this properly, although some exceptions are some of the Mesa Subway and Dual Caliber models, and the Blackstar HT series. (There may be others.)

If you want something really light weight and headphone-capable, you may want a modeller - but they don't seem to work as well at gig volume.

[paultheoneyoulove]

I agree with head and cab. They are much easier to carry, though you'll pay for the privilege. A 10 to 15 watt head (maybe smaller even, do you want to gig? If not, a 5 watt head will surprise you) with a 1x12 cab and a quality speaker can be portable, loud and very good sounding.

If not, the vox valvetronix 30 ticks the boxes. Get the old one, with black chicken head knobs and metal grille. The newer ones don't sound so good in my opinion.