Tube amps on a budget...

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DrewPeterson7 said:
As an aside, I have NO idea why more people don't build hybrids this way. The power section is really where tube amps come into their own...
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I am so with you on that! Clearly they've learned to do non-hand-wired circuits with tubes (to save money). There's no reason to NOT offer nice tube-power-section hybrids with all the useful features of on-board effects, channels, etc.

well, one thing I can think of is the demand for the more high-end amps - many hobbyists will opt for the mainstream affordable tubers. I would not deny the "hand-wired" difference, but it doesn't mean that everyone can hear/feel it.

well, i guess we'll see. it probably takes a company with economies of scale like Fender or other "BIG" ones to mass-produce these cheaply. of course it also takes a big name to even get people to try. if behringer built even an all-tube amp, it'd be hard to get people to trust it - it'd be like McDonald's going gourmet - everyone would be convinced (except real gourmets).
 
Vox AD50VT is a hybrid, but it's ok for variety of sounds, and has a 12 inch speaker so you wont feel caged in. Around $350-375 new. Must handle with kid gloves, not built to take rough road handling. But if you play it side by side with some real tube amps then you'll end up wanting to get rid of it. It's nice, but it aint the same as a real tube amp. For about $550 you can get a brand new Traynor YCV20WR shipped to your door. Traynor is the only real tube amp in that price range that is worth looking at imo, built in Canada. Some of the Fenders are ok, like the Blues Jr Reissue with a CRex speaker in it, or an alnico Weber. Some Peaveys are nice, Classic 30 for example, and built in the USA. But the Traynor comes with a Greenback in it, and for less than $100 bucks you can stick a Vintage 30 in there! It's a nice little piece of amp for blues and classic rock stuff.

And Yes the Orange Tiny Terror is lightyears beyond the Epi VJ. I have to go with the crowd that thinks the Epi VJ kinda sux. I modded mine every which way, even the oversized Hammond output tranny, and it still was a distant third next to all the other amps. The bigger Epi amps didn't rate any better when I tested them. I'd take a Traynor over an Epi any day! There are some surprising vids on youtube demo'ing the Tiny Terror, worth a watch!
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
As an aside, I have NO idea why more people don't build hybrids this way. The power section is really where tube amps come into their own...

Anyway, on a budget I'd see if you could grab a used Mesa F-30 or DC-3.
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There are old Peaveys that are like this. (for cheap!) and old Music Man's, I think (for not so cheap)
 
daddy's seems cool.
Have any of you tried the crate Palomino V's?
I have never been impressed but the sounds on youtube seem like they're alright, if they sound that good inperson i'd be willing to drop cash on that ugly thing. haha
 
MatchBookNotes said:
Have any of you tried the crate Palomino V's?
I have never been impressed but the sounds on youtube seem like they're alright, if they sound that good inperson i'd be willing to drop cash on that ugly thing. haha
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I own two of them. They are incredible, but you have to know how to feed them.... a compressor slamming the clean channel is pure heaven with a Tele or Strat.
 
That sounds like it might be alright, but is there a larger range? I like playing a little dirtier aswell, can it handle good gain-distortion?
 
MatchBookNotes said:
That sounds like it might be alright, but is there a larger range? I like playing a little dirtier aswell, can it handle good gain-distortion?
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You betcha.
For some reason I can't get it to download at the mo, but this should be a file of my Tele, an instrumental. This is with the Pal


Whatcha think?

~Shawn
 
The most important thing with a tube amp is that the circuit be as simple as possible. If you want one that sounds great, you do not want any bells and whistles. Some things are OK (reverb, tremolo, a tone stack), but you do NOT want a master volume. Master volume makes amps suck.

I don't know what all is out there, though. I couldn't afford anything I liked, so I made a kit. It saved me some money, at the expense of a bunch of time and a learning experience.

Of course, with all the other shit I've bought since then in my tinkering with electronics thing, I've probably spent more than I ever would have if I'd just bought an amp.

THIS ONE is what I've got.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Light said:
The most important thing with a tube amp is that the circuit be as simple as possible. If you want one that sounds great, you do not want any bells and whistles. Some things are OK (reverb, tremolo, a tone stack), but you do NOT want a master volume. Master volume makes amps suck.

I don't know what all is out there, though. I couldn't afford anything I liked, so I made a kit. It saved me some money, at the expense of a bunch of time and a learning experience.

Of course, with all the other shit I've bought since then in my tinkering with electronics thing, I've probably spent more than I ever would have if I'd just bought an amp.

THIS ONE is what I've got.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
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I couldn't agree more. However, it seems that amp players don't get that. Most players think "more bells and whistles, more versatility, better amp!"

But like you said, the simpler the better when it comes to amp circuitry, and it always makes for a better sounding amp.

Now, obviously, if you want an amp for metal distortion or something, then you need lots of preamp gain stages like the Boogie model. But people that think Boogies are the way to go for great clean and half dirty tones are missing the boat bigtime, IMHO.

I'm right in the middle of building a Marshall 18 watt clone myself!
 
Roguetitan said:
go to http:www.daddys.comthey have great deals on used tube and SS amps
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They're a great New England/ New York State chain. I live right near one of their shops. There's a sick Buddha combo in there... as well as one of the other boutique name combos. There sure is a heck of a lot of crap lying around the shop, too!
 
I have 3 tube amps - 2 are vintage 60's and also have a V3 Valve Junior combo. I've been using the VJ combo lately with my Korg Toneworks multi-effect pedal (just basically to give the VJ a bit of reverb, chorus, rotary, delay, etc). I had a V1 VJ head with mods (bitmo) and JJ tubes - a V2 combo - SOLD EM BOTH - and now have a V3 combo. The new Version 3 is amazing - no mods needed in my book. Much better matched trannie, better tubes, MUCH BETTER Eminence speaker - the 8" Eminence in the V3 will amaze you with it's tone. I also have a 10" cab and a 12" cab too I use at times but the VJ's 8" speaker by itself is a tone monster! I paid $92 on Ebay for the V3 combo (slightly used and no shipping as it was a local dude). BEST $92 I ever spent! I also use an ART TUBE preamp in-line with the Korg and all-in-all it's a wall of great sound and tone too. Try the new Valve Junior V3 combo - you'll be shocked at how good they sound even by itself with no pedals! I tested out the Blackheart 5-watters but I really feel the V3 combo outshines the BH as far as classic rock gain. Add an EQ pedal and you have it all - add some reverb and some chorus, delay, rotary, whatever, and you have a boutique sound and a great recording rig at a working man's price.
 
jndietz said:
Buy used in that price range. Peavey Classic 30/50, Peavey ValveKing, Crate V series, Crate Vintage Club series, and the Epiphone Valve Junior would be your best bets.
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Don't waste your money on any of those amps. They all suck, and you will only end up spending your time forever trying to get a usable tone out of them. They are amps meant for kids in their first garage band that don't know anything about tone. Save your money, and buy something more top end. I would recommend Mesa Boogie. Expensive, but well worth it. You can get a used Rectoverb combo for $1000. If that is too much, pick up a used Mesa Boogie Studio Stereo preamp on Ebay for around $300. You will need a tube power amp, but they sound amazing. Metallica, and Kurt Cobain used them just to name a couple. Do yourself a favor, and avoid years, and thousands of dollars chasing a tone you will never get with a cheaply made hunk of crap like Peavey. And whatever you do NEVER waste your money on anything made by Crate. Beg, borrow, or steal to get the money you need for a better amp. The hassle of trying to pay it back will be a lot less headache than trying to make those cheap hunks of garbage sound anything close to good, and it will help you avoid throwing good money after bad.



Edit: Here ya go. A LOT of bang for the buck.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mesa-Boogie-Mar...ryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
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thank God we have a TONE GOD in the forum as all of us who aren't seeing the worth of Mesa are just living in caves 'eh? That's your opinion dude. I never liked Mesa Boogies. I was always a Marshall guy but hey - what do I know... Try out everything you can get your hands on and let your own ears decide. I have 2 60's tube amps that have tone to die for and NEITHER ONE IS A MESA BOOGIE.
 
Scour your local ads for a Bedrock. They are no longer made, but built like a tank. Some are not known for their clean, but the crunch is some of the best you'll ever find, typically at much cheaper cost than bigger names.
 
Thank God we have an asshole like Strangedogs on the forum to give personal shots and come off as an asswipe cocky bitch.:rolleyes:
Did it take you all 30 of your post to become an asshole, or were you just born that way?

I never said Boogie was the only good amp. I simply said not to waste money on crap only to end up spending more money later.


When you get a clue about who I am, what I've done, and what I do, then your criticism of me might mean something. Until then, you're just a cocky newbie with a bad attitude and nothing good to add.

What a douche bag.:rolleyes:

Since you fired first:
Your suggestion is the worst thing I've ever heard. What a joke. Why not just tell the guy to burn his money? It's clear you wouldn't know good tone if it bit you in the ass.

Toker<~~~laughing hysterically thinking "V3.....8 inch speaker......my God......Can't stop laughing......good recording rig.....OMG....too funny....."
 
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You really don't justify a response from me sonny. You have issues - perhaps a good enima would help ya'
 
I've heard good things about that Mini Colossal. I really like the feature set on it as well, its perfectly geared towards the home studio musician.

Man, some people around here love to buy into their own bullshit don't they? We can sit here and argue all day about brand X sucks and brand Y is golden, feature A sucks but feature B is great...but when it comes down to it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think that after you hear some of the amps mentioned here the decision will basically make itself. There's a reason that there is more than 1 amp being manufactured and marketed today!

Hopefully you have access to some music shops that will let you push the power sections on these amps so you can hear their true nature. Or maybe a local shop will let you take an amp or two home to demo so you can crank it in your own recording space.

I was really disappointed when I got my current amp (an 80-watt all-tube monster). I bought it sight unseen based solely on internet reviews. I hated it right off the bat. But it wasn't until I cranked it up a few days later that I fell in love with it. Push that power section and great things can happen to a valve amp that sounds totally uninspiring at lower levels.
 
strangedogs said:
You really don't justify a response from me sonny. You have issues - perhaps a good enima would help ya'
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Wow, I justified an attack, but not a response.:rolleyes:

You attacked me, bitch. So GFY!*










*Go ask one of your grandkids what that means.
 
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