Tube Amp + Pedal combo?

[hiwatt357]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

To answer some of the questions, my main priorities are these:
1) quality tube sound
2) variety of sound - ideally most things from sweet clean fender style to heavy thick distortion (which i thought pedals could give me, but maybe not)
3) not too big (since it will be used in a bedroom/studio generally i'd like to be able to get the natural tube sound without breaking my windows)

I thought that the blues jr with some sort of combo pedal might give me these things but i'm starting to wonder. If something like the fender hot rod can give me all this then i'd consider paying the extra (double) although it looks like it might be too big (loud).

Is it really not possible to find a small clean tube amp and then pedal a variety of quality different sounds into it, or are on board knobs the go?

You know...honestly, for the money, I'd recommend a Peavey Classic 30. (I would have linked Peavey's site, but it's down, apparently due to the hurricane.)

I have a Peavey Classic 50 410, and it sounds great. The clean sounds great, the distortion channel is not too bad either, and it's very pedal-friendly.

30 watts seems to fit the not-too-big/not-too-small criteria you're seeking.

I know Peavey gets poo-pooed a lot, but I think the Classic series is some of of the best things they've ever done.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Although I hate just recommending what I have, if you're looking for thick distortion, you want a mesa. I have a Subway rocket, its 20 watts, a 10 inch speaker. 2 channels, a great distortion, an alright clean (for my needs, not for everyone) which doubles as a second distortion channel because of the gain knob on both. Sounds good even at low volumes. Has a boost function. Some have presence, some have reverb. I got mine for 450 canadian (used because theyre not made anymore), less than the price of a new blues jr.

Pros: Awesome distortion at any volume
Versatile, lots of range in the eq, lots of range in distortion on both channels and boost is great

Cons: Clean sounds dull if amp isnt cranked
1 set of EQ knobs for both channels

 

[Outlaws]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

To answer some of the questions, my main priorities are these:
1) quality tube sound
2) variety of sound - ideally most things from sweet clean fender style to heavy thick distortion (which i thought pedals could give me, but maybe not)
3) not too big (since it will be used in a bedroom/studio generally i'd like to be able to get the natural tube sound without breaking my windows)

I thought that the blues jr with some sort of combo pedal might give me these things but i'm starting to wonder. If something like the fender hot rod can give me all this then i'd consider paying the extra (double) although it looks like it might be too big (loud).

Is it really not possible to find a small clean tube amp and then pedal a variety of quality different sounds into it, or are on board knobs the go?

This is why you should go play the amp first.

A HotRod Deluxe isn't going to be any better for the clean that Fender is known for. If you can afford it, the '65 DeluxeReverb re-issue is the amp for clean. They take well to almost any pedal and sound good quiet or loud...plus you get the 'real' Fender reverb.....no other fender series is the same.