Decent, Inexpensive Tube amp?

[charloscarlies]

I've been doing a bit of shopping for a combo amp, and I was wondering if any of you other guitar guys have recommendations for a decent tube amp in the $300-600 range. I was looking at some of the Traynors, but I don't know much about them. What else should I look at?

 

[MikeMike]

car, or home?

power?

and, why tube?

 

[charloscarlies]

Oops maybe I didn't clarify...a guitar amp.

 

[shortspanishguy]

a True car audio tube amp is expensive as hell. I think Macintosh might make one.

 

[jimbob200521]

Wheres yoYOyohowsdajello been?

 

[arcas]

Have you tried a Fender Blues Jr? It could be what you're looking for.

 

[phantom309]

Vox is making some wonderful tube/hybrid amps these days.

 

[Eddieo]

Think Crate makes one semi cheap. Go to musiciansfriend.com.

 

[Tiamat]

If it was stereo, i could help ya, but I dont know anything about Guitar Tube amps.

Generally Instrument amps have to be rugged and Tubes just aint rugged.

www.av123.com has some entry level tube stereo amps for home stereo.

Id say that you are better off with solid state Guitar amps as they are more rugged, and have more power. Unless you guitar speaker has ultra high sensitivity (>100 db/w/m) i would just get Solid State.


If this amp is for only in-home play, i guess you will be fine, but make sure your guitar speakers are up to the task.

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: charloscarlies
I've been doing a bit of shopping for a combo amp, and I was wondering if any of you other guitar guys have recommendations for a decent tube amp in the $300-600 range. I was looking at some of the Traynors, but I don't know much about them. What else should I look at?

you gave us a price range, but you're missing every other useful detail.

what kind of music do you play? blues? rock? metal? jazz?

do you want a 2x12? 1x12? 1x10?

are you willing to get a used amp?

 

[charloscarlies]

Yes I did leave out a few details...that's what I get for trying to post after a few too many beers.

I play mostly harder rock...but I've been recently venturing into some blues a little bit.

Although, the primary reason for me wanting a tube amp is that the clean channel on every solid state I've ever owned has been quite lacking. I just picked up a Tradition SP-1 that puts out some decent strat sounds...and I'm really looking for a clean/only slighty overdriven sound. Some decent sounding distortion is also a requirment...so this thing needs to be pretty versatile.

I'm thinking more along the lines of a 1x10 or 1x12 simply because of space concerns...as well as price. And yes I am definitely willling to go used if I can find something worthwhile.

Anything in particular you would be looking at dave? Thanks for the help.

 

[davestar]

sorry, missed your response

if you want a 1x10 or 1x12, I'd say go for a Fender Blues Junior. In fact, I'd have sold you mine if this thread had come around a few months earlier.

 

[imported_yetti]

you could take a look at the madison divinity 60w combo. madison is a small company here in the US. the divinity is supposed to be a cross between a peavey 5150 and a mesa dual recto which should be right up your alley since you play harder rock.

product page

 

[Platypus]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Amps?sku=480509

Spend the extra cash as this is one of the best values for the money and trade value.

The dirt channel sucks unless you crank the fvck out of it so get yourself a tubescreamer or a distortion pedal of your choice and go to town.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: yetti
you could take a look at the madison divinity 60w combo. madison is a small company here in the US. the divinity is supposed to be a cross between a peavey 5150 and a mesa dual recto which should be right up your alley since you play harder rock.

product page

Except it's 940 dollars... plus EH tubes are brittle and harsh

 

[coaster831]

Some to check out that can do good cleans and decent distortion:

Traynor YCV50 (great crunch, decent cleans)
Traynor YCV40 (great cleans, pretty good overdrive)
Peavey Classic 30
Laney VC15 and VC30
Used Mesa F-30 (you can get 'em for around $650)
Reverend Hellhound

The Madison is good, although I think you'll have trouble finding one in this price range. I like the Blues Jr, but I don't think it does sparkling cleans or hard distortion very well. Not a huge fan of the HRD above either, but that's my personal taste.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: coaster831
Some to check out that can do good cleans and decent distortion:

Traynor YCV50 (great crunch, decent cleans)
Traynor YCV40 (great cleans, pretty good overdrive)
Peavey Classic 30
Lany VC15 and VC30
Used Mesa F-30 (you can get 'em for around $650)
Reverend Hellhound

The Madison is good, although I think you'll have trouble finding one in this price range. I like the Blues Jr, but I don't think it does sparkling cleans or hard distortion very well. Not a huge fan of the HRD above either, but that's my personal taste.

Good choice! If he wants used then this is a great way to do it.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Used fender blues deluxe
Used Marshall JCM30
Crate

 

[imported_yetti]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: yetti
you could take a look at the madison divinity 60w combo. madison is a small company here in the US. the divinity is supposed to be a cross between a peavey 5150 and a mesa dual recto which should be right up your alley since you play harder rock.

product page

Except it's 940 dollars... plus EH tubes are brittle and harsh

that's the list price. street price should be quite a bit cheaper. also he can change out his tubes later on.

here's some sound samples from the 100w head: Text

edit: scroll down to the bottom of the page