JOYO Meteor II BanTamp XL Series Mini Amp Head 20 Watt Preamp 2 Channel Hybrid Tube Guitar Amplifier Head for Electric Guitar with Bluetooth

I ordered this amp to downsize from a 100 watt head to something more appropriate for my home. The reviews and videos I watched about this amp were spot-on and I couldn't be happier with how it performs. The main feature I needed was an effects loop so that I could plug other modellers into the effects return and send the audio out through my 1x12 cabinet. I've reached the point where I am stale on emulated guitar speakers and I want an actual speaker with a microphone in my signal chain. Since this amp handles 8 ohm and 16 ohm speakers, I was covered and many others should be as well. You can also use the headphones as a line out since it has an emulated cabinet in that signal, but I don't think it sounds the greatest, and I wouldn't use it in a mix.I was expecting to be disappointed with the lack of traditional tone stack controls, but what's cool is you can come up with some really decent high-gain tones with different combinations of the gain, tone and volume controls. I have found some really nice settings fairly quickly just trying out different knob positions.I've used it with a guitar directly plugged in, and I also have re-amped several sources through it to take advantage of this amp's great tones. I think using it to re-amp has been more fun since I can set up loop points in my mixes, then adjust the 3 knobs until the guitar tone sits nicely within the mix.Don't be fooled by the 20 watt power size....this little lunch box gets LOUD. I have mine running through my speaker at full volume in my isolation box and it does its job well. I don't play out or in a band, so I don't know how it would function in that area, but for home use it is more than ample.In case you're wondering, since it has a solid state power amp, you do not need to have it connected to a speaker at all times. You are free to use just headphones with it if you prefer.I haven't tried the bluetooth line in stuff yet as I have never done that with any amp, but I assume it would work just fine. It also comes with a foot switch to change amp channels if you want to do that.After working with this amp for a few days and enjoying how it sounds, I want to also get the Jackman (JCM 800) version as well to have most heavy sounds covered between this and the Jackman.For the price point, I am not certain you'll find a better deal that has so much to offer. I sweated this purchase for far too long and I'm glad I took advantage of an Amazon sale to get it for around $150 USD.

Sounds OK for what it is. I like tube amps/sound. This sounds better than a 100% solid state IMHO. At least it does not sound like a 10lb bumble bee the way many SS amps do. But I do wish I had gotten a higher gain model. I had read that the higher gain models were kind of tricky to play when you are needing LESS gain. Some reviews I have seen recommended this and if you need higher gain, add a pre amp booster. I.e. it is easier to add than to take away.I play a variety of music. And figure that I will add the preamp as mentioned for when I need it. But trying to do so with more tubes is not as easy as they are simply not as available. I have ordered a kit to build my own tube preamp. But it was not really designed for guitar, so I have no idea what sound will come from it.It would be nice if there was a little more control. But then you just get into a bigger amp...and more $. So I think the key here is to understand what to expect. The tone sounds pretty good for what it is, but this is NOT a Marshall stack.As for the output volume, it is plenty for practice. And depending on your speakers, you could possibly get enough to play in a small band as long as you will be using a mic to mix your guitar in the PA. But that would be pushing this amp a bit. 20 watts output in a SS amp just does not have the volume of the same wattage from a tube. Or that is my take anyway.I would not shy away from this amp for any reason. But I do advise finding as many video reviews as possible and watching/listening. Preferably to ones that do not also have a lot of effects boxes clouding up the sound. You want to hear the amp...not all of their effects. Hopefully, you will be able to decide on which model is right for you.

I've been looking at these amps for a while now. I decided to pull the trigger, and get the Zombie II. I received it today and hooked it up to a 1x12 cab with a vintage 30 speaker. This little guy is insanely loud. It's a little chuging machine, I still can't believe what's coming out of it. If you're into high gain metal tone this can't be beat at this price.I doubt at 20 watts this would hold up against a powerful drummer, but with a PA and a good mic, it most likely would. I was also impressed with the clean channel, it's not colored in any way by the gain. If you turn up the gain on the clean channel it beefs up your tone instead of having a traditional overdrive sound clip the tone, it's perfect for running pedals. There is quite a bit of beefy low end to this amp, something I personally like.I would suggest adding a pedal EQ to shape it to your liking. I'm really blown away by this little lunch box, I wouldn't hesitate in buying another.Edit 3/14/2025This is not a head phone amp. I blew one of my drivers on a set of Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones. Not sure if this an impedance issue or overpowering on the headphone out. If you need a quiet headphone practice amp this ain't it. This was made for speaker cabs.

It took a little fooling around with the knobs but have found a sound that I think is amazing. I love the flexibility of this little amp. Running it through an Eminence British 12" in a Peavey classic 30 cabinet. I just need a little reverb now.