Tube amps >$350

  • Thread starter Thread starter nate_dennis
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Peavey Classic 30 will get you in the classic rock tone range in your price range. I have had one for several years, still play it, but if you are looking for a high-gain application, look else where. You might find a used Marshall in that price range as well.

That is why I started building my own tube amps, I wanted something that will cover Classic rock to 80's hair metal. If you have the ability, can yield a killer amp with a wide tonal range for under $350.

How many watts do you want (remember watts do not equal volume levels)?

I decided my Classic 30 was more power than I'd ever use. I have build tube amps ranging from .5 watt output (12AU7 power section) to 3 watts (6AU6 power section in Push-Pull) to 15 watts (6V6GTs in Push Pull), each amp was well under $350, and the first 2 where sub-$150 costs.
 
Milnoque said:
+1 on the Peavey Classic 30. It does alot of things well. $350 would get a clean used one. Also consider the Peavey Delta Blues. It's the same amp with a 15" speaker.

The Classic 50 is way more amp than you need.

Anybody who says something like "anything under $350 is trash" doesn't listen with his/her ears. I took no offense but that's an ignorant thing to say.
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Not only the 15" spkr but a nice footswitchable tremolo. My Delta Blues is a great alternative to the Classic 30 and the tremolo is nice for the slow dance tunes...:)
 
i just want to say, without necessarily contradicting other recommendations, the Fender Super Champ XD (SCXD) is a fantastic little amp for the price.

Yes, it has a digital modeling preamp, but it has an all-tube 15-watt power section (Class A/B, 6V6 tubes), which creates excellent tones. I've read plenty of people who owned vintage fender amps and they have fully embraced the SCXD - although you should not compare its stock speaker tone (10", open back cab) to better/bigger speakers and closed-back cabs.

The speaker is easily upgraded - with many inexpensive choices, Ragin' Cajun, Jensen (i picked Jensen p10r alnico), Weber, etc.

2 channels AND effects (useable, very nice reverb), footswitchable - not common on small/cheap tube amps.

Also, they tend to come stock with bias set rather cold (and some come with cheap chinese tubes) - so they all tend to benefit from re-biasing and some also improve with better tubes. plenty's been written about the amp, the mods, etc.

For me, yes I've heard better amps, but can't afford them and my back can't carry them - it's a practical solution - 3D sound, lightweight.

Oh, and it drives bigger cabs graciously - I played a gig through a closed-back 2x12, this amp "hung" with Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (and sounded better, probably because it was cranked higher).

It also has nice-sounding Line-Out (which does NOT mute the speaker, it's more of a parallel "monitoring" solution - to take it to PA instead of miking, i've done that too - very convenient live). I now use the line-out to drive a 12" bass amp that I have for a pseudo-stack.
 
Gear_Junky said:
i just want to say, without necessarily contradicting other recommendations, the Fender Super Champ XD (SCXD) is a fantastic little amp for the price...
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I just did a shootout of an SCXD vs the older Cyber-Champ over at FG(see sig) and while I did rather enjoy the cleaner sounds of the SCXD, I couldn't really bond with any of the higher gain (even cranked Fender) tones. At low volumes and for recording classic Fender-esque clean tones it excelled. However, the low end seems a bit attenuated on many of the settings and where it was fuller there was tube and chassis rattle with the volume cranked. Granted, I'm speaking of the amp dead stock.

Honestly, I liked the Cyber-Champ better as it had more usable tonal versatility, much better low end response, and is more than loud enough to hang with a band...
 
THere is a saying: "you can have it fast, good, or cheap, pick any two" It think that applies here:

Fast and cheap but not as good as possible for the $: you can probably find something (the peavey classic 30 or Fender blues JR for instance), but it won't be (as) good as:

Good and cheap but not fast: Watch craiglist, classified, etc in your area for a bunch of months and look for that great deal that needs to be jumped on it win it. I have seen hot rod deluxe's and fender blue deluxe's go to about that range (maybe $50 more) occasionally, but you have to wait for it to come around. I picked up my used blues jr for $200 that way for instance. I didn't happen to need another amp at the time, but couldn't pass up the deal, and can sell it for $300 easy someday if i want.

The rest of the options really don't fit your criteria, with the expense. Youc an find a great ampfor a bit more money without the wait, but you don't want to spend that much.

last point, i have always been happy with the results when i get the best i can for the $ i had at the time, and usually have based that on the recocomendations of people on these boards and others who had real experience and were helpful that is why there are satndard answers for that range you hear over an over. That said, i have been even more pleased when once i have a handle on the basics, and determine what i REALLY want as a keeper item, and taken my time, saved up more, and watched for the best price over time and get that really stellar piece of equipment that is less of a compromise. In your case, i would say that if you hold off and save just another $100 you can probably get an amp that is in a bit of a higher class than those mentioned above, that gives you great tone with more headroom for instance - like the fender blules deluxe a great (used) value if you can find one for $400-$450 or maybe a Vox AC15.


Daav
 
Thanks for all of the input. I really appreciate it. I'll always take more if you all have it. I'll keep my eyes peeled and I'll keep you updated on what I chose. I found an old Gibson Skylark that got my attention, but I don't know. I'll let you all know. Thanks again.
 
I own a V32 american made version , before they sent them to vietnam or god knows where...it is a kick ass little amp. If you look on ebay, they have some V32 heads for around $400, or you could go with the V33 foreign version from between $299 and $360. They come in head and combos with 1 or 2 12's and from what i understand they are the same circuit design as the V32 palomino. Come to think of it...the V30 is the same as well. I see em out there! Good luck!
 
nate_dennis said:
Thanks for all of the input. I really appreciate it. I'll always take more if you all have it. I'll keep my eyes peeled and I'll keep you updated on what I chose. I found an old Gibson Skylark that got my attention, but I don't know. I'll let you all know. Thanks again.
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Based on your previous comments, a Fender Blues Jr or, if you get really lucky, a Hot Rod Deluxe would be right up your alley. Though, I was kind of surprised by the Palomino series when I played them - it may be worth your while to keep your eyes open, on the cheap. They weren't bad, at all, though I can't speak for QC.
 
The only thing that scares me about the Blues Jr. is the lack of loop. I want to run an MFX (cause it best suits my purposes now . . . .I'll probably get individual pedals later) and I'd like to use a nice preamp before the pedal. I don't know how important this is because I'm pretty new at all of this. What do you all think of the Peavey Windsor Studio amps? They seem very versatile from what i've seen/heard.
 
nate_dennis said:
The only thing that scares me about the Blues Jr. is the lack of loop. I want to run an MFX (cause it best suits my purposes now . . . .I'll probably get individual pedals later) and I'd like to use a nice preamp before the pedal. I don't know how important this is because I'm pretty new at all of this. What do you all think of the Peavey Windsor Studio amps? They seem very versatile from what i've seen/heard.
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This?

http://www.roland.co.uk/guitar_room_catdet.asp?ID=ME20

It took a couple google searches to figure out what you were talking about...

Ok, the next question, is why do you want to run a multi-effects unit? If you're after a good blues-rock sound, then I wouldn't think you'd need a lot of those effects and amp models. And, if you're looking to use it for amp modeling and distortion, why not just buy a transparent clean amp and use the modeler for your primary tone?

Something about buying a small tube-driven amp you can crank up for good blues sounds, and then running it with a multi-effects processer and modeling preamp just doesn't jive to me...
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
...Something about buying a small tube-driven amp you can crank up for good blues sounds, and then running it with a multi-effects processer and modeling preamp just doesn't jive to me...
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You could use the wah, a stomp, delay, and rotary/mod stuff from a MFX without all the amp models...
 
wbcsound said:
You could use the wah, a stomp, delay, and rotary/mod stuff from a MFX without all the amp models...
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Exactly. The one I'm getting has the ability to use models (which I'll use while i'm in my current location for direct recording demos) but you can turn them off and all of your presets get stripped of the models and use just the effects. So it makes more sense for my current needs as well as a useable set up for my future needs.
 
nate_dennis said:
Thanks for all of the input. I really appreciate it. I'll always take more if you all have it. I'll keep my eyes peeled and I'll keep you updated on what I chose. I found an old Gibson Skylark that got my attention, but I don't know. I'll let you all know. Thanks again.
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I love old Gibson amps. Some of them are overlooked gems depending on the tone you're after. If you liked the skylark you would love the Explorer or Minuteman. Cathode biased EL84s with great reverb and tremolo. They get sweet and creamy at reasonable volume. I've been using a Minuteman as my go to amp for several years. It was well within your price range. I got it off e-bay. If you want a ton of crunch it's probably not a good choice, but it crunches enough for me.

Another great choice would be a '60s vintage Ampeg ReverbRocket or Gemini II. SWEET and reasonably priced. You might have to go $425 or so for one of those.
 
nate_dennis said:
Exactly. The one I'm getting has the ability to use models (which I'll use while i'm in my current location for direct recording demos) but you can turn them off and all of your presets get stripped of the models and use just the effects. So it makes more sense for my current needs as well as a useable set up for my future needs.
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So why dont you try the Vox AD50VT then for $350?

I am not sure why anyone would say the Super Champ XD is a hybrid, I'm not sure I agree at all. It is all tube, preamp and power amp, but with some digital fx added in. I dont think that makes it a hybrid. It's a nice amp, not built like a tank, but it sure does sound good. Not nearly as versatile as the Vox ADxxVT amps, but better sound especially if you hook it up to a nice 2x12 cab.

The 15 inch guitar speaker is absolutely HIGHLY highly under appreciated.
 
soundchaser59 said:
I am not sure why anyone would say the Super Champ XD is a hybrid, I'm not sure I agree at all. It is all tube, preamp and power amp, but with some digital fx added in. I dont think that makes it a hybrid. It's a nice amp, not built like a tank, but it sure does sound good.
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SCXD does have an all-digital, all-solidstate preamp section, on both channels, which is fed through a 12AX7 into the dual 6V6 power section (yes, i'm just repeating what I read, but it's definitely so).

so it truly is a hybrid, but I like to call it "reverse hybrid" (much better) vs. the hybrids with a preamp tube and a solid-state power section.

as such it sounds pretty good. it really does shine after some minimal upgrades, especially the speaker. a combo amp is 2 things in one - amplifier and speaker cab, so the cheap ones are often a decent amp (with bad tubes in need of a replacement) with a cheap speaker. judge them separately.
 
Carvin's vintage series might have a model in your budget.
 
Supercreep said:
Carvin's vintage series might have a model in your budget.
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That Vintage 16 sure looks and reads like a dream..... but......

What about all the people I have heard complaining about reliability? At least half the ones I heard from had recurring break downs with Carvin amps.....

Is it really that bad? If the thing was totally relliable, I'd probably have one by now..... they do show up on ebay once in a while.....
 
I have a Peavey VX head I can sell for $150. Got a 4 x 12 cab, too, but shipping would pull your eyes out...
 
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