YAGT: combo tube amp suggestiosn

[slightlyhuman]

Hey guys, looking for a decent combo amp I can gig with(small venues). I have an old ibanez toneblaster series half-stack. It's a solid-state so I'm looking to jump on a tube but can't really decide. Here's a few details:

type of music: old rock(skynyrd, CCR, AC/DC, Doobies bros)
budget: $400-$700


Was looking at the bugera BC30, liked the reviews so far:
http://www.amazon.com/Bugera-Bc30-21.../dp/B003LWEKH8

Also looked at the egnater tweaker(due to a recent thread). The peavey valve king 112 crossed my mind too.

Anyways, just curious on some opinions from you guys. Am I pissing in the wind trying to find a decent combo tube amp under $700 bucks to gig with?

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

Look at the Blackstar HT-20 or HT-40. I have a 40, and it sounds awesome, but is really much louder than what I need (we run our guitar amps frontline and everything out the PA) and would be plenty for small to medium sized clubs. Excellent clean channel, and superb distortion, and will go much heavier than you'll probably ever need. Two voicings on each channel, and you can dial in the sound you want.

 

[slightlyhuman]

Look at the Blackstar HT-20 or HT-40. I have a 40, and it sounds awesome, but is really much louder than what I need (we run our guitar amps frontline and everything out the PA) and would be plenty for small to medium sized clubs. Excellent clean channel, and superb distortion, and will go much heavier than you'll probably ever need. Two voicings on each channel, and you can dial in the sound you want.

my only concern is is being a single 12.. my other buddy has a decent peavy half-stack. just curious if i should be ok playing against his setup..?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Don't tell my gf, but my Carvin XV-212 is my true valentine. :wub:

If you can find one yourself, either buy it immediately, or PM me so I can buy it.

 

[Scotteq]

I haven't played out for years, but if you can find one: A guitarist I used to work with had an old Mesa/Boogie 22 Caliber with an extension cab. That setup would be perfect for your usage, and sounded *awesome*.

 

[slightlyhuman]

i'd love to find a carvin belair used..

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

Any (new) combo in that price range, you'll end up having to get an extension cab if you're going against a dimed 100 watt tube halfstack. My HT-40 is louder than the Toneblaster Xtreme 2x12 that I bought in an emergency. By a long shot. I changed the Celestion 70/80 out for an Eminence Swamp Thang, which is a far more efficient and bottom heavy speaker, and I like it even better, but it still sounded good with the Celestion.

The other amp I looked really hard at was the Peavey 6505. 60 watt 1x12 combo, updated 5150. The sound just wasn't there, though, mainly in the clean channel.

 

[KGB]

If you really want that sweet tube sound, ... the kind that makes the hairs on your ballsack stand on end, take it from an old tube-head: Get a Fender.

Spend a little more $$$ and get a whole lot more

 

[slightlyhuman]

If you really want that sweet tube sound, ... the kind that makes the hairs on your ballsack stand on end, take it from an old tube-head: Get a Fender.

Spend a little more $$$ and get a whole lot more

as much as i'd like to i'm trying to set a budget as i'm wanting a new axe as well

 

[Tencntraze]

I just picked up a Line 6 Spider Valve MKII and it's definitely pretty sweet, and rather loud. Definitely worth taking a look at and it has awesome reviews. A whole boatload of sounds too, which can be controlled directly from a computer as well. I picked this up because I wanted a better amp to record with but could also keep the sounds I find on the amp itself.

 

[slightlyhuman]

fritzo, gibson, all you other guitar snobs out there chime in! :beer;

 

[jemcam]

Fender Blues Juniors are awesome. You can pick them up used on ebay, or at Guitar Center's used site for less than $400.00. Get the mexican made ones, the reverb is better and they are quieter overall. Then, when you're ready to really push this baby up into the boutique category, do the Bill M mods. I can't overstate what a great amp this is after the mods are done. I did all of the mods myself and it cost me about $100.00.

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=65

Edit: If you need more volume, go for a Blues DeVille, those are really great too! Check out Guitar Center's used site. Their prices are less than or equal to ebay and you're dealing with a dealer, not some unknown yahoo.

 

[slightlyhuman]

Fender Blues Juniors are awesome. You can pick them up used on ebay, or at Guitar Center's used site for less than $400.00. Get the mexican made ones, the reverb is better and they are quieter overall. Then, when you're ready to really push this baby up into the boutique category, do the Bill M mods. I can't overstate what a great amp this is after the mods are done. I did all of the mods myself and it cost me about $100.00.

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=65

Edit: If you need more volume, go for a Blues DeVille, those are really great too! Check out Guitar Center's used site. Their prices are less than or equal to ebay and you're dealing with a dealer, not some unknown yahoo.

will definitely look into it.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I'm also fond of the older Fender amps, one of my personal favs is a 90's Blues deluxe tweed 40watt 1x12, I bought it when first released in 93' and it has served me well for almost 20yrs. You can sometimes find one for around $400 in pawn shops or ebay or you can buy the modern reissue for $750 at GC or musicians friend, etc...
Or I see they have 1 here with no original packing for $650 http://www.americanmusical.com/Item...G0HAMS0000&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=feed&
Great classic clean and overdrive two channel amp, and at 40watts it will peel paint of the wall, as a matter of fact my only gripe with this amp is it is somewhat hard to get that killer tone at lower volumes, this baby was born to howl!



And I also like the look of the Tweaker from Fritzo's thread, would sure like to try one of those

 

[whattaguy]

I love my Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb amp. I've seen them sell used for under $700. The only downside is that this amp doesn't do cleans that well. If you push the volume know past 2 or 3, it's all warm, tube overdrive. You might be able to back off on your guitar volume for clean, though.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Custom-Vibrolux-ReverbAmp-Combo?sku=480513

 

[KGB]

More Fender luvin'!!!

Back to the OP, ... there are Fenders out there within your budget.

 

[slightlyhuman]

got my eye on the fenders.. the ones within my budget all seem to be single 12s around 40w.. just worried/curious that'll be enough to gig and keep up with a cabinet with 4 12s..?

 

[Scotteq]

got my eye on the fenders.. the ones within my budget all seem to be single 12s around 40w.. just worried/curious that'll be enough to gig and keep up with a cabinet with 4 12s..?

If you Mic or use a Direct box into the 'Board, then you should be fine since you can adjust the relative volume in the mix.

If you don't... No way.

 

[slightlyhuman]

If you Mic or use a Direct box into the 'Board, then you should be fine since you can adjust the relative volume in the mix.

If you don't... No way.

the few places we will play won't be mic'd. all amp..

 

[Scotteq]

the few places we will play won't be mic'd. all amp..

Then no.

In this case, you should look for a roughly equivalent setup to his on the used market.


*******

A pity, if you ask me: When I used to play out (Bass), I quickly discovered that an SWR Redhead (now 400w 2x10 + horn) and a Balanced Line out Are Better Than Your Best Friends. Granted, it's not a regular 6 string guitar, so you don't need the horsepower that puts your Bass player in the chiropractor's office with such regularity.

But if you're going to play out, there is a LOT to be said for scaling down your personal rig and taking advantage of the PA.

The gentleman who had the .22 cal I mentioned above started out with a Marshall half stack. Realized that not only could he *not* turn his amp up without taking everyone's head off, but he was also working a lot harder than he needed to be. So one weekend he borrowed a 22 Cal (they were new~ish at the time), with a matching extension cab, and LO!!! He could crank it up to get the sound he wanted, didn't blow people's eyeballs out their ears, *and* setup/takedown was 1 quick and eeeeeeeasy trip on a dolly.**

The following week, he had his own and never brought out the Marshall again. Not because the Marshall didn't deliver the sound. But because the little Boogie also delivered, and did it with 1/4th the size and weight.

I know Mesa don't make those any more, but there are definitely similar setups...







**Not to mention how badly the sight of the bass and guitarist setting up in a single trip really, really... *really* pissed off our Drummer...

 

[Fausto]

Fender Blues Juniors are awesome. You can pick them up used on ebay, or at Guitar Center's used site for less than $400.00. Get the mexican made ones, the reverb is better and they are quieter overall. Then, when you're ready to really push this baby up into the boutique category, do the Bill M mods. I can't overstate what a great amp this is after the mods are done. I did all of the mods myself and it cost me about $100.00.

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=65

Edit: If you need more volume, go for a Blues DeVille, those are really great too! Check out Guitar Center's used site. Their prices are less than or equal to ebay and you're dealing with a dealer, not some unknown yahoo.

Just chiming in as a Blues Jr owner. It is a damn good little amp for the money. I have been able to get all kinds of tones out of it just by monkeying with the tone and volume controls. The other upshot of these particular amps is that they have a very well-established modding community. Google "billm mods" and you'll see what I mean.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

got my eye on the fenders.. the ones within my budget all seem to be single 12s around 40w.. just worried/curious that'll be enough to gig and keep up with a cabinet with 4 12s..?

I would say unless your playing heavy metal in a VERY big hall un mic'd it will most definately keep up. In 18yrs of playing with my 40w 1x12 I have yet to find a situation where it wasn't loud enough. One of the guys I play with uses a 100w Marshall head and 4x12 half stack and he is always bitching at me to turn mine down

I would go as far as to say if someone is drowning me out they are probably playing at unsafe ear damaging levels, like jet engine at 20yds loud. And I generally don't like to play with people like that anyway

I used to play through 100 waters with 4-8 speakers, but I found out watts and number of speakers don't mean much if you can't get the correct tone at reasonable listening levels. And even if your playing huge open air arena type gigs, it's better to have a smaller amp mic'd into the PA than a big "for show" rig anyway. I don't hardly see anybody hauling around the big full stack rigs like they used to.

 

[slightlyhuman]

narrowed it down to these:

Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue 40W 1x12" Combo Amp

Bugera BC30-212 30W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp

Egnater Rebel-30 212 2x12” 30W Tube Combo Guitar Amp

Vox Custom AC30C2 30W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp

Egnater tweaker 15w tube

Blackstar Venue Series HT Stage HT-60 60W Tube
Guitar(also the 40w version)

Line 6 Spider Valve 212 MKII 40W 2x12 Guitar Combo

hopefully i can get off to drop by a GC 3 hous away.

 

[KGB]

Fender.

With the Vox coming in second.