Musician Gear & Tech Discussion

I need a tube amp to play over my new drummer. I need it relatively cheap and in gigging shape.
Can anybody give me suggestions on where and what kind of amp I should look at?

What do you consider relatively cheap??

Tube amps are generally more expensive than solid state amps.

You can find good used combos on ebay (or craig's list I suppose, I hate that site).

Let's see what I can find on ebay, I'll get back to you. But it would help if you gave me a price range.

500 or less. What brands should I look at?

Brand new, I don't think you can get a Marshall for that (freakin greedy bastards). And don't let them talk you into a MG or VS either.

I think in that price range you're looking at Crate or Peavey, and I would give an edge to peavey personally. The Valve King is the one I would check out. The Classic 50 is a good choice too.

You can get a better deal on ebay if you want to buy used. It's usually pretty safe, I've never gotten ripped off by anyone selling amps on there.

Do a search for "tube combo" and see what you can find.

PS. in a band setting I wouldn't go any less than 50 watts and 2-12".

If your going to use pedals a JCM 800 combo with 2x12s would be great. 50 watts, these are fairly reasonable on ebay and its a Marshall.

You can get Carvin X100B 100watt tube heads on ebay regularly for around $275-$350 plus shipping. I have used these - they are a great amp and was a Marshall killer in it's day, in fact, Carvin has resurected the model and sells them new for around $700.
Great amp!

I love my Marshall JCM800 2203's but I still have a fond spot for the Carvin X100B.

Just an idea.

I am new to the whole tube way of life but I freekin love my Carvin Nomad combo. unplug the cabinet speaker and plug in two 15" two ways into the two speaker out jacks or the voiced out into my PA. Yes baby.
Come to papa.
Did you find you an amp yet Hunter?

Our new guitar player usees a Fender 410 hotrod.

Shredd was right, "It's Glass!" (sounds great)

Might be to clean, and a bit to pricey, for the Hunter at this point.

Definitely check out pawn shops. A Traynor 1x12 tube combo showed up around here not long ago, just under $400, they might take $350 if you have it in you rhand...I passed up another Traynor 2x12 80 watt combo when I got my Cort Cl 1500, should have grabbed it and tripled my money, it was that cheap, along with the Cort.

Peavey's Classic 30 and 50 are good, I get not enough bass from the 30 though, and have to open it up to swap out a cap or two to get a good sounding amp.

Some of the other Peavey tube amps do quite well, the 5150 won't be that cheap even used, but it also doesn't have a reputation for great cleans.

Fender will probably be fairly unlikely, I've seen a fairly beat up Twin Reverb go for 8 bills...70's pre-master volume will be over $1000. Ditto for Super Reverb, Vibrolux, Blues Deluxe, you name it. The older ones are not getting cheaper. Newer ones might be found used in that range, they seem to be hit and miss. Some sound good, some just another amp.

I didn't htink to look at what part of the country you're in, but some locations have lots of good equipment in pawn shops. Unfortunately it's pretty limited around here, but some nice goodies turn up from time to time. I checked out a late 60's or early 70's Ampeg a couple of years ago, sales guy said it didn't work and I almost made an offer since I'd already seen the speaker wires dangling...


but I already have 5 amps...yeah but it's a vintage Ampeg...yeah but I have 5 amps...one's a vintage Super Reverb...yeah but it's a vintage Ampeg....geez...decisions decisions...

500 or less. What brands should I look at?

used blues deville or hot rod deville

-will hold it's value better than any other amp you can buy
-(assuming you like blues) great sound + classic reverb

if you are a more of a metal guy: $500 just ain't enough... I'd try and get up another 2-300 and get a 5150

If your going to use pedals a JCM 800 combo with 2x12s would be great. 50 watts, these are fairly reasonable on ebay and its a Marshall.

I'm not sure you can get one of those for 500 bucks... but a damn fine amp for metal.

Paleopete, I remember using an Ampeg VT-10 that a friend had one time, that was a sweet club amp. I tryed to buy it and the guy just wouldnt let it go. Its more classic sounding, I think Hunter is into heavier music. Its going to be hard to find a good amp under 500 for heavier music.

Paleopete have you ever played one of those small Ampeg, I think they are the Rocket series or something like that? I was just curious how they sounded.

As far as small combos I have a Mesa Subway Rocket, 20 watts tube, 10 inch speaker. That little rascal will suprise you, and plugged into a 4x12 its pretty awesome. It wont get that over the top sound that a Rectifier will get but it can get pretty ballsy sounding with a hot humbucker pushing it. These pop up on ebay for 3-400 dollars.

Who needs tubes when you have smoke???? Smokey Amp



JK

No, I haven't had a chance to play any Ampegs much, except a quick check one out at low volume years ago. I've heard plenty, especially on recordings but don't run across many.

That reminded me, probably the worst of those I let get away was an old Orange head and 4x12 for $200 at a Houston pawn shop early 90's. I think it was a 60 watter, probably should be kicked for not grabbing it.

I have a used Blues Deville 1992 2x12 60W that I may let loose. The overdrive channel is pretty much toast but the clean channel sounds sweet. At my age I’m tired of lugging that weight at 2am. But if you want loud, this baby is ‘off’ or ‘loud’, not much in between. Since I’ve gone the ‘direct’ to the board approach these days I may be able to make you a deal if interested.

Slate1