All Valve amp recommendations?

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Hi all,

Instead of a binge on worthless guitars, I want an amp instead, cause a Frontman15g starts to annoy you with its limitations after a while....

Now, I use Marshall Valvestate Models at college all the time and I don't know if to get a Marhsall Valvestate or something like a HUGE Peavey or Kustom (as they are cheaper)

I don't know what wattage (what watt?!? ) to go for... because I would have thought a 100W would do the job for practising at home and doing small gigs. I am also after something which is robust, reliable, doesn't look like something from a spaceship, doesn't look like its been in the garage for 40 years or anything like that.

I don't mind onboard effects however, I tolerate Marshall style effects, I have used Line6 Built in effects before and to me they were just utter c*** IMO, I couldnt get on with the damn things.

So basically, nothing over 500GBP (i think that's a fair limit?), But im just after value for money, not too many effects, A Tube amp and also Just a great amp, In all honesty

Any help/experiances will be greatfully received

many thanks.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

What style of music?

Also, 100 watts is too much for bedroom and small gigs, for pretty much everything except metal 20-40 watts or so would be more appropriate. Tube watts do not equal SS watts

 

[thespricket]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

I'm actually looking into a new amp myself. I'm very interested and almost sold on a Fender Super/Vibro Champ XD. The super is 15w in a 10 inch speaker while the vibro is 5w in a 8 inch speaker. They're all tube hybrids, with tube power and preamp sections and some useful, not overkill, modeling technology. I really like the idea of the smaller one because I can rock it out to it's potential in my bedroom or my new apartment in New York and use it's line/speaker out to slave an old SS 65w princeton I have when I need more volume.

aside from the Champs, any tube amp less than 30 watts will be enough for pretty much anyone.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Since you're in the UK, check out Laney

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Look at something like the Blues Junior or Peavey Classic 30.

Both solid amps and decent prices.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Oh yeah forgot about Laney.....

Yeah, Ok i'll remember that.... note to self 100 tube watts, = deafness and broken windows....

I had looked at the Marshall Class 5 but to me i thought, god what an overpriced amp...

Basically the amp needs two channels at least, I'm quite a versatile guy who plays stuff from country (Cash, etc), Rock, Classic rock, some blues stuff, heavy metal, punk, so basically everything apart from Jazz and Soul at the minute lol

thanks for the suggestions! keep 'em coming

also what's the Fender frontman 212 like, any you guys come across it before?

 

[richard parker]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

+ 1 for Laney. I'd suggest the VC30 or LC30. Great amps and within your budget. I had a clear out recently and kept a Cornford and a Laney. I parted with another Laney and was very sorry to see it go. These are not really home amps but you'd have enough cash left for a Microcube which completely annihalates the Frontman as a practice amp.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

+ 1 for Laney. I'd suggest the VC30 or LC30. Great amps and within your budget. I had a clear out recently and kept a Cornford and a Laney. I parted with another Laney and was very sorry to see it go. These are not really home amps but you'd have enough cash left for a Microcube which completely annihalates the Frontman as a practice amp.

Funnily enough when my GH50L is a bit overkill, I use my cube for home practise.

 

[Kam]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Another happy Laney user here.

By the way, the Frontman 212 isn't going to be any better than the one you have...just louder.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Another happy Laney user here.

By the way, the Frontman 212 isn't going to be any better than the one you have...just louder.

Yup. LOUD transistorized doo doo boxes.

We had a third guitarist in our band for about 3 months, and he had one. It would sound OK right up until the band started, then it would sound thin and junky no matter how loud it was.

For you in an apartment, LHS, either get one of the power scaling Vox Valvetronix amps, or the Cube. The Vox's use modeling, but also use a real tube power amp circuit, so the feel is better than any other SS.

The Vox AC4 TV also has the power scaling feature, so you can make it quiet enough to practice.

 

[tonefreak1527]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

used mesa (dc series, studio 22, mark III)

 

[PVFan]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

at this point, just go exploring, and wait until something jumps out at you -- RAAAR!!!! -- that you really like, then repeat the process for the rest of your life. At least that's what I do. Try to avoid the need to categorize. That is the devil whispering in your ear.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

I'm really loving my Marshall Class 5

you'll need pedals to get much besides clean and 70's cranked rock sounds out of it but it's quality through and through

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

From reading your post i have the impression that you think a marshall valvestate is a valve amp. I hope it does not sound consescending if i tell you that its solid state. Valvestate is just a name used to make these amps sound more enticing (ie. great valave tone with ss reliability!)
Anyways....spending your money on a good tube amp is money well spent. Plug a 1960 les paul into your 15g and you will know what i mean., Wherease plugging a cheapo guitar into a nice amp will sound pretty good.
Also wattage is not a good indicator of spl (sound pressure levels) or percieved volume as you need to take into account speaker efficiency (remember 1w at 1m with a 1oodb speaker means 100 decibels!) as well as the frequency band being amplified.
So a lot of amps that are great when playing with a drummer may be a little lkoud when playing at home due to the fact that most valve amps need to run at a certain volume to sound their best.
id say keep the little fender for quiet practice and have a look at a fender hot rod deluxe or a laney vc30 for gigs. Both are great bang for buck and both are worthy of a pro musician. If you think they may be too loud then look at a blues junior or a laney vc15.
Cheers

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

I had looked at the Marshall Class 5 but to me i thought, god what an overpriced amp.

Something tells me that you did not actually LISTEN to this amplifier. :smack:

What budget are you setting for your next amplifier? If you are stuck on Marshall, the Haze 40 is excellent value for money - especially pre-owned. If you want a lot of sonic possibilities in a small container, check out the new Fender Mustang II range.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Something tells me that you did not actually LISTEN to this amplifier. :smack:

What budget are you setting for your next amplifier? If you are stuck on Marshall, the Haze 40 is excellent value for money - especially pre-owned. If you want a lot of sonic possibilities in a small container, check out the new Fender Mustang II range.

.... i haven't tried it yet, the shop i went to was near college and not my regular one and they only have an epiphone g400 in a left hander so i didn't bother trying it, I will take my own in at some point then try the amp cause i will then distinguish what it's like for my axes.

also I'm going to be mad and say anywhere upto 500, even if i have to work my backside off to get the money...

Funk, I wonder why you mentioned the Haze 40

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

I'm going to be mad and say anywhere upto 500, even if i have to work my backside off to get the money...

Funk, I wonder why you mentioned the Haze 40

LHS, I wonder why YOU mentioned your backside and money in the same sentence? Leicester is nowhere near any naval bases. :crazy:

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

.... i haven't tried it yet, the shop i went to was near college and not my regular one and they only have an epiphone g400 in a left hander so i didn't bother trying it, I will take my own in at some point then try the amp cause i will then distinguish what it's like for my axes.

also I'm going to be mad and say anywhere upto 500, even if i have to work my backside off to get the money...

Funk, I wonder why you mentioned the Haze 40

Epiphone G400's are great guitars -- better than Squier Affinity Strats all day.

You should've tried that amp out.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

my Affinity keeps getting tweaks here and there and slowly but surely I'm making it into a good guitar.

Yeah I'll try the amp out, in fact I'll try all their amps out

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: All Valve amp recommendations?

Yeah I'll try the amp out, in fact I'll try all their amps out

This. Because in the end, you're not actually going to BUY an amp just 'cause we say it's good.. at least, I really really hope not.

Don't listen to another recommendation - go out to a shop and play all the all-tube amps in your price range. Take notes, and come back to us with a list of what you liked, what you didn't, and why. Then we can help you more.