PRS MT15 VS Egnater Tweaker 15 - Cultured Tube Amp Battle

[@puppetmaster532]

i played a tweaker with a tube screamer in front of it years ago and i remember it sounding great that way for metal.

[@bennyvrads]

This is the best comparison I have ever seen! Thank you so much!

[@Ans12237]

This is the ONLY Channel that makes it possible to REALLY compare sound. Awesome!

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Having owned both of these, I’m having a hard time believing you got them to sound this close to each other, lol.

[@enthused7591]

Which one did you like more overall? I can't find a single video where any of these 15 watt heads sound as good as the Egnater 15.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@enthused7591 - I kept my Tweaker and still have it. Haven't really missed the MT. I have a JCA22 and Engl Fireball for my high gain needs.

[@ThunderousThrasher]

I bought the Egnater used few months ago, really loving the sound of it.

[@ericlarsenhbeleatherworks4992]

Agreed. The cleans on the egnator are killer on the mt ok at best. Distortion is the exact opposite. The MT is the king of melting faces!

[@MaxYourTracks]

There are a few mods I would highly recommend, either done at home or by an amp tech (I'd say the latter as they are very fiddly small pcb amps): Egnater - swap the V1 tube with a JJ5751 or similar, clip off the preamp filter caps. There is an fxloop line level mod to get it to handle pedals better, I have a diagram from Egnater for this. The difference is night and day. MT15 - changing V3 tubes for a lower power makes the gain sweep a lot more useable - I did this as stock was too much gain too soon and it took some of the fizz out. FX loop was very noisy as it came with an impedance mismatch - solved with a 68K resistor in series with the return socket and a Ecc82/12au7 in V6. I have them both and they couldn't be more different. MT15 is a one trick pony- it screams metal tones and does this perfectly. It sounds huge, much louder than a drummer, so for metal bands its the one! Egnater Tweaker does everything else except the metal, it can't keep up with the drummer either, so i use it as an excellent pedal platform - it handles everything extremely well, fuzz, delay etc.

[@alexledford4747]

@ 1:35 I heard 3 notes and immediately said "KILLSWITCH in the demo!? YES!" Great sounds out of both of these.

[@rosskrause3926]

Years ago I had a Tweaker 15 head and I liked it..I popped the top grill of and stuffed some JJ's 6L6 GC power tubes in it and held up until I sold it..I know that that was a lot on the stock transformer(s) but it was a lot of fun..handled pedals well and helped the gain some..its been years so I don't remember all the settings I used.

[@zerosoma33]

Just got this tonight. Been at it for 6 hours. The secret to the Tweaker is removing the EQ from the equation. The "models" and "morphs" are actually decent enough on their own. The EQ sucks though. Turn them all down and start to work them up. Generally I leave the bass off or very very low as it brings muddiness to the sound. Treble and mids are all under halfway, sometimes barely on at all. Sounds crazy but I've managed a MkIIC+ sound, a ratty grunge JCM900 (think Gish or Frogstomp), and two settings that mimic my JMP-1 on both OD1 AND OD2 (I ran the JMP into the effects return and compared). With a lace sensor strat on position 2 I've got Billy Corgan's early clean sound. I cannot believe how much this amp keeps giving. This will not do Dual Recto. It will do early Mesa. A boost will still not get you a Recto sound, but just a higher gain Mark. This is all at bedroom levels through a Crate Blue Marvel 4x12. This probably won't translate at all when cranked. I think there are better amps out there for band situations - buck up and get a full head for that.

[@GTX1123]

I have a Tweaker 15. Great amp as long as you don't use the effects loop. They completely screwed up the electonics / values in the loop but there is a mod that will get it working perfectly. The tone of this amp is very similar to the monoprice stage right 18 watt combo. Run a really good dist pedal in front and you'll get great Marshall tones out of it.

[@1ListerofSmeg]

5 years in & still digging my tweaker❤❤. I can admit the PRS has some nice tones though. Thanks for the video.👍

[@eyeceeyooh]

Is the tweaker 15 good at bedroom level?

[@__Andy]

Great video as always. Nice to get a fair comparison. Keep up the good work 👍

[@perrar1na]

Great KSE song there on 2:00 And Alsoo The Dardkness on 2:37 :o Great selection of riffs men. Look how Gain reserve the MT-15 has.... It's a great amp even with pedals.

[@tobyclose2823]

I was looking for demos of the Egnater and kept finding videos of music styles that are not like mine. I started listening to this vid and thought that I could see myself playing the exact riffs you are playing here. Just to cast my vote, I liked the PRS on most every example, but I have had this tweaker 15 before and really loved it. I just purchased a used egnater MArk II 20w and look forward to hearing it in person. I found it quite interesting that Of all the vids I watched, your music matched my style, and we are both named Toby.

[@kevins3453]

Great video! Over the years, I've owned amps of all kinds... Fender, Marshall, Mesa, Peavey 5150, Soldano, ADA MP-1, rack gear, etc. One day I landed on the Egnater Tweaker 40 head, and it was just right. It had enough of everything I wanted. Cleans, crunchy, dirty and it handles pedals VERY well... better than most. The tone-shaping options via the switches are quite useful. I set the Egnater for edge-of-breakup on channel 1 and use the volume knob (if necessary) for cleans, and then a boost pedal in front of the amp for a crunch tone. If I need/want more, I have a Klon-clone to stack with the boost pedal and it's harmonious sustain for lead work. The best thing I ever did with this amp is to stop using my eyes to EQ it. The tone controls are not quite the same as other amps. I use them SPARINGLY (generally close to noon), back off the gain knob and instead, boost the front end. I also changed out the tubes. Particularly to NOS preamp tubes.... they were just manufactured differently than current production tubes and it was akin to taking a blanket off the sound. More depth, air and clarity. You can bias the power tubes, also. It's surprising what a set of properly biased power tubes can do for your overall sound and feel. The Tweaker 40 I own uses 6L6 power tubes. I've never tried a PRS MT-15, but it sounds pretty good. 👍

[@markp4818]

You talk an awful lot I bet..

[@kevins3453]

@@markp4818 You should hear when my wife gets going! 🤪 She's a library's worst nightmare!

[@DinoJr.686]

Great video! I've been using a tweaker 40 for a while. It's an excellent amp, as someone else said a boost really tightens up high gain. I bought a rocker 15 head recently based on one of your videos and I'm loving it!

[@Boatdude31]

Such a great demo. Thanks.

[@trahnettilhcs]

You’re the only person on KZbin who can make the Tweaker sound competitive with these other amps. For my money I still prefer the PRS but a close call on this video. Great work as always.

[@lukeduke6693]

I don't know why most tweaker demos are so terrible but im guessing the number of options overwhelms the reviewer and they dial some of the terrible tones ive heard. Its personally the best amp I've owned, replaced a marshall stack.

[@drmojo5439]

​@@lukeduke6693 I just learned about these 20 minutes ago and ordered one 5 minutes ago because the first video I saw was recorded with quality equipment and the producer knew what he was doing. Every click and every turn of the knob made a big difference, and it sounded like a Marshall, just not as much gain.

[@lukeduke6693]

@@drmojo5439 Enjoy. My favorite way to run mine is with the gain cranked in the clean channel, and just like an old marshall, tubescreamer/dod kicked on and off for leads. The gain channel is more dry modern sounding but not extreme. Reminds me a bit of Fryette/VHT. Buy an EQ pedal and you can mimick pretty much anything. All the tweak switches+an EQ is like having tube powered modelling software.

[@drmojo5439]

@@lukeduke6693 nice, thanks for the tips and I have a good feeling I'll be enjoying it for a long time

[@joejitsumusic]

I used to have the tweaker 15. Kinda wish I kept it now to play with it more. That prs sounded real nice too

[@jimyoung9262]

I've had my tweaker 15 for 7-8 years now and it still suits me fine.

[@72Z15SS]

The PRS seems to have a bit more EQ range than the Tweaker. I bought a Tweaker 40 about 5 years ago and I just didn't think it sounded right, no matter how I set it, so I sent it back. I even had someone else play through it and had the same results.

[@johnderry7943]

Both Amps sound great. The details are probably dependent on your guitar and how your pickups are voiced. The PRS does have a little bit (sweeter warm) clean sound however with a slight adjustment, the Egnator Tweaker 15 could sound pretty close. I love the compression on the Egnator and feedback. And it's 150$ less retail than the PRS.

[@henrybelfiore8488]

They both sound great, but I don’t know about you guys. I know one thing for sure my MT 15 pushes my 412 cabinet as well as my Marshall DSL 40 it is a loud amp. I am actually looking into doing the 50 W transformer conversion to make it an absolute beast. From what I’ve seen it’s a straight drop in no other mods needed.

[@AndreiaSantos-fs7zb]

I have a tweaker. And its great! Not much clean headroom bit very clear and soulfull in my opinion. Lacks hi gain but its an excellent pedal friendly platform and you have so much to tweak depending the guitar and overdrives thats impossible not to achieve a good sound . Nice video. ✌️

[@klausmitwoch]

Super test! Thank You.

[@Soloist1983]

Had the MT15, one of the best sounding amps I ever owned, but there are noise issues. Not deal breakers, but I think they should do a Mark 2 (pun intended cuz Mark Tremonti). IMO, it needs a noise gate and a power soak (or, slightly better taper on the volume pot, as it gets loud FAST)...though most importantly, it needs a noise gate. I mean, as good as that amp is, adding those two things would really make it perfect, and it they raised the amp to $899 for it, I'd still buy it.

[@stevenorton9438]

I agree that prs mt15 is great when you get it but later on all the cheap components just go had 3 of same thing evertime somethings goes on it

[@ThunderousThrasher]

The clip 2 cleans, reminds me of a song by the Band of horses.

[@asmol82]

The PRS is more expensive than the Egnater I have now. I connect my "Nova System" to it on a clean channel, as I affectionately call my pedalboard, and I'm quite pleased with myself. =) So it goes!

[@tjborekvideo]

Bravo for a great comparison demo! I'm curious what were the decibel levels in that room? I A/B'ed the Tweaker 40 and MT15 in the same music store through my Tweaker 112X cabinet, and they were surprisingly loud--so loud that I couldn't get nice, semi-compressed modern crunch tone close to what's captured in this video. Even with the MT15 on half-power, I'd need an attenuator to play it at home, which was a deal-breaker for me. They both sound great here. (I ended up getting a Blackstar HT 40 Mk II 1x12 combo. It's 10% low-power mode and master volume setup gives me full-sounding tones at both living room AND stage levels.)

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

Cool thanks. Fairly loud in the room. The PRS has a really poor volume knob taper. It seems to jump from nothing to insanely loud within a fraction of a turn. The Egnater 15 has a much better taper on the volume control. I've recently got a Two Notes Captor X which has a really good attenuator built in. The Two Notes makes playing tube amps so much more enjoyable as you can get it cooking at bedroom volumes 👍

[@Blehkid]

Can you do the EVH LBX-Stealth

[@ericlarsenhbeleatherworks4992]

I’ve had both of these in the last year. Both are good but your soooo pushing the tweaked to keep up with the mt15. The mt15 is an absolute monster.

[@SergeiVlassov]

I preferred tweaker in all examples here

[@robertkelly3357]

Great video! I assume you used the same cab? They sound so close! I have the egnater tweaker 15 combo, and love it. Great value.

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

Yeah same cab, V30 loaded Harley Benton. Speakers are often the biggest tone change in an amp 👍

[@robertkelly3357]

exactly. but still, its surprising just how close they are. thanks!@@TobysGuitarGearDemos

[@RyanLongP]

One second into the demo and you're playing "Solid Gold" by The Darkness. That's an automatic thumb's up.

[@Farshad-Parvin]

For an all around amp I'd go with tweaker. Great video, thanks man

[@theevenfallprog]

Excellent demo!! congrats!

[@CharlieWielowski]

What is the song for the clean demo at 5:35?

[@sdriza]

just picked up a tweaker for $250 loved my MT15 - but got rid of it.... hoping the Egnater will scratxh the same itch

[@sawdustcrypto3987]

I've been using the tweaker 15 for years as my primary practice and recording amp. Always surprised to see the negativity online. Perhaps the biggest negative is it doesn't have a ton of clean headroom if you're trying to keep up with a drummer. But it does the low volume thing ok (I find a compressor helps at low volume). I always assume people who are unhappy with it are experiencing some sort of mismatch with speaker/cab/pickups

[@bentenpeterson]

I have this with a Harley Benton 2x12 cab and it is super loud. No lack in keeping up with a drummer.

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

I've had my Tweaker 15 for 6 years now (Guitar Center floor model and have had no issues). It has a ton of great tones and I use it for almost everything, but I do find it hard to keep up with a loud drummer/band when wanting cleans. Even when running through my 2x12. Lucky for me, I like my cleans a little dirty anyway, so it mostly works out. lol I have considered getting the 40 for more headroom, but I'm not playing in a band right now, so the 15 works just fine for my recordings.

[@bentenpeterson]

@@DadRockAndGuitars oh yeah I get you there. Usually the drummer isn't whaling away when cleans are being played so I haven't ran into that issue yet. I like my cleans a little gritty as well!

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

@@bentenpeterson You haven't met my drummer 😂

[@bentenpeterson]

@@DadRockAndGuitars 🤣🤣😎👍

[@rebelonmyside]

I‘m still tweaking.. It sounds so good. But the PRS has more gain.

[@expertpromo]

I prefer Egnater Tweaker

[@kopan14]

song name at 5:37 ?

[@alfbarroso]

What’s the best cabinet for these amps?

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

Anything with a V30 speaker will work well for both these amps 👍

[@Ariel-xx9ow]

what cabinet did you use?

[@houstontexaslivingth]

The MT has a great range of sounds

[@dzjc01]

Given the price point....Tweaker for the win!

[@owlytimbre9103]

The prs is already well known for its cleans. They are american voiced and THICK. My victory v40 is just slightly more dynamic. Easy to mod too.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I just ordered my 4th Tweaker 15, lol - this one I’ll keep damn it! Do you remember if you had stock tubes in both of these? I know the Tweaker reportedly takes any Octal tube.

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

I've tried 6L6s, there was only a small difference from the 6v6, slightly more bass. Not tried any others yet 👍

[@justinTime077]

I really wanna tweak the fuck out of an Easter but I’m terrified to buy one and be disappointed

[@RedUnited30]

I’ve been eyeing one of these and really just want it to be a pedal platform with a solid clean tone. Which one would you recommend?

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

As a pedal platform I'd go Egnater. You can adjust all the switches to get so much control on the clean channel 👍

[@azzazelo]

The egnater needs a boost to tighten it up for high gain sounds. Mine had lots of quality issues unfortunately. But I fixed it myself. I would not buy another egnater product tho

[@mrcoatsworth429]

Too bad:( Love the way how they look and sound.

[@azzazelo]

@@glenh2752 it's a sign of the times and made in China garbage man. My jcm800 from the 80s never had a problem. Same thing with my mark IIC. Friedman is way over rated imo

[@sawdustcrypto3987]

I'd just like to chime in and say I've been using mine for almost 10 years and I've had zero problems. But I'm certainly not discounting your experience- control quality issues are definitely a thing these days!

[@azzazelo]

@@sawdustcrypto3987 yeah it's hit or miss, I mean the fix wasn't hard the tone stack gave out. But for most people I would not gamble when you can get other amps for a little more money that are actually built properly

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@azzazelo it's not about where it's made, it's about how cheap the parts are and how good or bad the quality control is. It doesn't matter if your amp was assembled on one side of the earth or the other, if the parts are crap the parts are crap.

[@joshballard7101]

Here's something that wasn't taken into consideration and that is running your distortion into the front of the amp of the MT15 with the clean boost pulled.. I have one and I wouldn't trade it for the tweaker 15 or 40 now the 88 for sure

[@illuddivinus3309]

I use my Pod Go in front with the boost pulled. The trick is to lower all the highs and add an overdrive with slight reverb. People freak the fuck out when they hear it.

[@andystagger2906]

I have an Egnator … it’s just awesome… my Marshall and Fender amps have gotten zero use since I bought the Egnator ❤️😜

[@chrisdunn2176]

How can you test amps all set at flat. All EQ structures are different so you need to adjust to get the best sound out of each amp. Then you can compare!

[@hoggboyy]

The Egnater has so much more of an interesting sound to me.

[@rante1318]

Excelente!

[@pieve5516]

You showed the PRS in BritIsh and American mode. I have one and didn't know you could do that. You sure?

[@Ariel-xx9ow]

do you must have a cabinet for valve amps?

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

Using a Harley Benton 212 with V30 speakers. All amp heads need a speaker cabinet attached, otherwise you won't hear anything and will damage the amp. You can get combos with the speaker built in 👍

[@tomvice]

Or a reactive load, then you record direct

[@thomasshredster4627]

both excellent but the mt sounds sligthly better

[@ngronlund]

I had an Egnater Tweaker head, and it didn't sound anything like this.

[@WRytmieBluesa]

Hey You mean it's sounds better? Im looking for new amp for blues/classic rock :)

[@scooterss2112]

@@WRytmieBluesa Look into Hughes and Kettner 18. Has redbox built right in, plus is can do 3 different wattages.

[@WRytmieBluesa]

@@scooterss2112 Thanks Im going to look it up :)

[@joshmuz9018]

Same. Mine sounded like a grandma farting into a beer can

[@trentburket]

do a bass amp shootout in the 40-50 watt range

[@javiereyhan]

PRS MT15 🏆🥇🤘👍👌

[@drmojo5439]

Not trying to be a dick to the creator, but I saw a review of this amp which must have been recorded with better equipment, and the Egnator sounded much better, with every nob and switch modulating more dynamic and intense responses than this video leads on

[@Boosty_Boost]

You got a thumb up in 10 sec's for starting with a The Darkness riff \m/

[@ollievernon]

Both nice amps. Both bloody expensive too!

[@peik5569]

Did you mean inexpensive lol

[@ollievernon]

I’m 13 so I would call them expensive because I can’t afford them. But it’s ok because I’ll chill in the corner with my orange tiny terror hand wired that I recently bought from my local guitar store

[@peik5569]

@@ollievernon yee that’s fair!! I mean they aren’t the $5000 impossibly expensive amps, but they still are a bunch of money, especially for someone without a job. And hell, the tiny terror is a fantastic amp in it’s own right!

[@ollievernon]

@@peik5569 thx I found it on offer in mansons for 300£. It sells on reverb for like 600 plus but it’s worth the money

[@TobysGuitarGearDemos]

That's a fantastic deal. One of my favourite amps 👍

[@MurrayZamborsky-l4x]

Leone Forges

[@JacobHeinrich-x3x]

Rowe Place

[@khoiplaysguitar]

THIS. IS. MY. CURSE.

[@mikeyo3230]

NO.SHIT. 😂

[@GalsworthyAmos-r9g]

Walker Canyon

[@superamp2724]

PRS is clearly better...but I'm staying home with my monoprice

[@nickm.9474]

I wouldn't say that. Actually kind of liked the egnater more. And I have the MT15.

[@MrBarnejstinson]

I prefer cleans on Egnater, dirty tones are slighty better on prs for me but I am curious how they would sound in the mix(I think that midrangey thing that I don't like in Egnater might actually help in a mix context).

[@Cpmnk]

its pretty subjective tbh, im a metalhead, but i want the egnater, if i want really heavy tones i just use plugins, but the egnater does cleans and crunch better imo, also, having the marshall/vox/fender tones in 1 box is so good

[@mikkywhalan]

Egmater for me

[@kyledriscollmusic]

as a tweaker 88 owner, do not buy their amps, Egnater used to be good but now their customer service is shit, they're letting cheap parts ruin their company and their amps are unreliable, do not buy from them until they publicly commit to using quality parts again

[@kirtywalker-k1p]

Hyatt Path

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