JMH Custom Big Little Five

The Little Big Five is the big brother of Little Five. This is a single channel tube amp. It dévelloppe 5 watts and receives two 12AX7 preamp and an EL84 in power. The amp has a volume control, three band EQ (low, medium, high) and an overall volume. Added to this is a gain setting for the second floor which is activated through a switch. Remaining two switches, one to cut the bass, the other to reduce treble. For the rest, everything depends on what you ask when ordering. For my part, I asked an output hps additional switchable impedance and a Celestion G12H hp instead of the normally delivered Jensen (not bad, no doubt, but with a relatively low efficiency). The combo is very well finished and fairly heavy, I think it is partly G12H not the lightest.

UTILIZATION

Operation is very simple. Fortunately, because there are not fifty settings. There is no manual, but the manufacturer is available for individual questions.

SOUNDS

I use this amp with several guitars: a more 7ender Start, a Gibson LP and SG P90, a Gretsch 6120W 1957. In my opinion, it is with single coil pickups that give the best of JMH itself. Gibson's example, it sounded a little too fatty for my taste. For cons, the Gretsch and 7ender are very good, slamming wish. Indeed, the Big Little Five rings in a spirit quite Vox, although vintage. Like a lot of EL84 amps, the sound is slamming. I prefer a clean sound or a slight crunch (by engaging the second gain stage). In high-gain distortion, it sounds too, but it is not his area of ​​excellence in my opinion. Besides, if you put the gain at the bottom, it blows a lot. It is tasty with a Maxon OD808. The EQ is effective but it could be even more I think. On the positive surprises: the amp though small absolutely no shortage of bass. Besides high-volume, with a lot of gain, it is often necessary to lower the cutter, there often too.

OVERALL OPINION

I have for a month. I use it mostly in rehearsal and at home. The sound is excellent in its range. In rehearsal, no need to get the clear sound, but the interest of this type of amp is the distortion you get easily to the former from the power amp. Basically, it is thoroughly and reduces the volume on the guitar. It sounds louder than my ValveJunior, but it probably comes from the preamp has more gain and can be the transformer. Among the points that could be improved, I would say it blows a little too much when you push the gain. But that does not bother me, I prefer to crunch. The advantage as there is a light, if you pull hard on it, it can be changed without adjusting the polarization.
The value is correct I think. I paid 900 euros. When you consider that it is custom made, wired point to point, it is not excessive.