Sovtek Mig 30 Head

This review adds a little information on top of the previous poster's description of what this very rare little amp is. But first, the actual features. Very no-frills. Two inputs, a volume for each input, Low, Mid, High, Presence knobs. No master volume. It's very difficult to get this amp to break up even if it's turned all the way up--and when it's turned all the way up, it's freakin' loud. So, I give it a 7 (would have been an 8 if it had an FX loop). Now, back to this amp's story. According to Mike Matthews, who designed this amp with Tony Bruno, the first and only batch of roughly 300 Mig 30s were supposed to be Mig 50s. The factory in Russia where they were being built used a power transformer that couldn't handle the whole 50 watt load, so they sagged to 30 watts. Without telling Mike Matthews, the factory re-badged them to read "Mig 30" and shipped them. Once Mike received them, he said that "those ****ing things sounded GREAT," and that out of the whole Mig line, they were "the best ones." Yes, those are Mike Matthews' own words, spoken to Gearwire at Summer NAMM 2008, and you can watch the whole interview right here: http://www.gearwire.com/snamm08-electroharmonix-mikematthews-interview004.html

I'm using this with an American Tele, and a 1997 SG Standard. Not noisy, but it's very clean and at the club levels at which I play, it does not come close to breaking up. I use a Boss GT-8 for effects. Sounds great. Some people have compared them to Fender Bassmans, but I've never owned one, so I wouldn't know. It can get pretty thick and loud and you can cover a lot of ground with it, regardless of musical style. If you're a pedal user, this is a great amp for that--I almost consider it a blank canvas for your guitar and effects. Needless to say, I love the way it sounds.

It's not exactly under warranty, and I have heard of inputs breaking and some solder contacts coming loose, but I've never had a problem with mine. At its peak, it probably sees one or two club gigs a week, and I've owned it for about 5 years. I gig without a backup--but that's more for monetary reasons, not because I have unwavering faith in the reliability of this amp. One thing that scares me is that the Standby and Power switches are plastic. So based purely on my personal experience, I give it an 8 (I knocked off a couple of points because of the plastic switches)

Can't really give an opinion here.

If this were stolen, I would try to find another one. I doubt I would find another one at the same price, though. I love everything about it, especially it's rareness and cool factor. One thing I wish it had is an effects loop. So in coming up with a total score, averaging my other scores gives me an 8; and I will add 1 bonus point for the fact that it's a rare, cool amp.

I was told this was made -92.
This is not a versatile amp, but I don't need versatility for Rock/blackmetal.
My only gripe, perhaps, is that it's only 30Watts, and It might be that it's too light for stage use....
All tube, simple treble/middle/bass/presense controls. (with misspelled "presense") Curiously, there are 2 inputs low/high with dedicated volumes, which are INTERACTIVE no matter which input is used (I use both simultaniously). This is the most active tone shaping it's got, since the EQ:s aren't very effective, I mostly have everything dimed except presence.

I play a LP studio baritone via a Koch Pedaltone for distortion through it. It has a pretty nice clean sound, but barely a crunch when dimed.... But the Pedaltone distorted, and this thing running full tilt... Thick, roaring, all-tube overdrive. All the steam-engine-like push and harmonics I could wish for, not too muddy for a single-guitar band... VERY stonerish on bridge-pickup.
Not much variety, infact, none, but I'm happy with it. I've listened to samples of amps, preamps and pedals, and owned a few, but this thing is a keeper.

These things ere known for their bad-quality pots and jacks, and it indeed feels flimsy, tracked down spare tubes for it immediately, also keeping fuses at hand. If not too much of a hassle, would take a backup for it, Keeping it well tucked in a "live-in" flightcase, it is a rare amp, anyway. But, for the six months I've played it, no troubles at all. Oh!!.. except, it had a faulty powertube when it arrived, changed both, didn't bias, just checked they aren't redplating by eye..works great.

No company exists anymore, no warranty. Dirt simple though, couldn't be hard to repair if broken.

I've been playing from puberty, now 35.. gigged as a bassist, not yet as a guitarist. I've owned lots of guitars, and a few amps, Mesa and Engl preamps. I'd grieve if this was to be lost. Trying to find another if I can for backup. Only wish it had 50watts or more...

This is one of the most rare amps ever produced.
WTF is this amp? Its a MIG 60 first run and the Soviets put in the incorrect power transformers resulting in ~HUNDREDS~ of miss matched Mig 60's outputting 30 watts! Ok, this is a good thing..

The Sovtek guys at new sensor got the first batch and Went WTF MIG 30? and quickly corrected the output transformers.

This resulted in one of the best low output amps ever built.

I have the Mig 60 and love it for blasting paint off the walls, but a 30 watter you guys should be proud to have. ~UBER RARE~ $$$$$

early 90s. Serial number 000038. two channels, has high mid and low eq controls as well as a presence control.
mine was very new looking when i got it in 2007, still had the original russian fuses in a little bag attached to the handle.
but the amp has some very unfortunate design flaws:
1. the power transformer primary is 110Volts. in the US we have 120volts ac from the wall, so all the voltages on the secondary of the transformer are too high.
2. my amp had no grid stoppers on the first gain stage of either channel. hf oscillations anyone?

I bought a new power transformer from Mercury magnetics, and although the HT secondary was still pretty high, the filaments were right, and my amp was quieter, and I was not as concerned with blowing through tubes.
as soon as I added the grid stoppers, the other noise problems stopped too. the amp is so much quieter now.

as I mentioned before, it was very noisy at first. but once I replaced the PT, and put Grid stoppers on the first gain stages, it sounded a million times better. its a shame that they didn't do things right from the factory. Stock I rate the amp a 5. with the mods, it is a 9

I'd heard a lot of people complain about the reliability of these amps. when I bought mine, it was broken. so that should say something.
with a little work though... these things have real potential.

never bothered talking to the company

These are pretty rare amps, and seemingly hard to come by. If I came across another one for dirt cheap, I'd certainly buy it and mod it to make it sound better and be more reliable.
but I certainly wouldn't pay too much for one considering how much work it takes to make them right.

I got this around '93 new from Dan Torres. It's the first Sovtek to come to the States, this is the orange 30W one. Pretty rare today, I think. 2 channels, the bright "Fender" and the darker "Marshall". The volume knobs are curiously interactive with each other like an original Bassman. They supposedly based the design concept on the old Bassman amp. It's a classic 3 12AX7, 2 6L6GT A/B design. No gain, just volume.

This is dead clean. It's tough to get ANY overdrive, except when it's dimed, and then it's just starting to get a little clipped. The "Marshall" input has a touch more grind than the Fender, which is almost ridiculously clean, like an old Ampeg Gemini-15.

The tone controls are effective and useful.

I've used everything on this, from Fralins to hum-b's. It has a huge, warm, bottom-end. Makes a heck of a nice little bass amp, actually. The giant transformer is the tip off. That'll get you punch and bottom.

Gets a good bright clean treble, but not at all Twin-ish with any sparkle. Think original Bassman. Warmer, but not "brown" at all either. Actually, think Ampeg Gemini-15.

Not super loud, it's a pretty honest 30 tube watts, especially since it won't break up and gives you its all right up to the limit. Has a lot of balls with that big honking transformer. Never underestimate the importance of that big hunka metal in there.

A nice amp--needs external overdrive for distortion, but a nice, rock solid, clean club amp--that I've used even as a PA--it was excellent!

Are you kidding? It's a Russian tank. Built like a Battleship. Never given me any grief.

No idea. This amp may never die.

I'm an old pro, this I keep this thing as a collector's item and as a super-useful backup or practice utility amp. Like I say, it's a guitar amp, a bass amp, a PA, whatever.

Actually, it's the perfect amp to drive with a pedal or a modeling box or what-have-you as it won't color or mess up the sound with some crazy eq or goofy character element. It's an incredibly honest, straighforward clean little workhorse. That counts for a lot these days!