Amp desicion... need your help

JohnnyGuitar

JohnnyGuitar

New member
I went through the internet and musci shops here (that was pretty useless) while searching for a smaller all tube amp. I just realized I don't want to break my back and then raise my amp's volume not higher then 4 at gigs I play.

Well, I narrowed down the options to four... (If you have more ideas I am ready to hear about it).

I would like your imput and experience on those amps because I have no way I can try them out here.

Pignose 40V: the problem is, that I have no experience with the company and some of the reviews I found about it online were really negative.

Epiphone Valve Jr. head: $100 (!) and to order a speaker... The biggest problem with it is reviews that say: great tone for a $100 amp... it sounds like something that takes your tone 10 steps backwards...

Fender Pro Jr and Laney LC15... I like both companies... I like the fact that you can control the gain on the Laney but I also like the simplicity of the Fender...

So from your experince, what's the best amp of those 4? any other good small amp that I should check? any amp among those 4 I should stay away from?

And as for other needs (besides amazing tone), I need something that cleans up well when you roll of the guitar volume knob, works well with effects (worst thing about my current amp).
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

JumpMarine said:
What kind of music? How big of venues?
Click to expand...

I play mainly smaller pubs... bigger clubs usually have extnsion cabinets and microphones so I can use them to get louder. I played in bigger clubs only 4 or 5 times in the last two years so if I'll start getting more big gigs I can always use an etension cabinet with any of the amps listed.

As for style... I'm in a small "crisis" right now... I just left the jazz band that I was playing in (guess I'm not a jazzer anymore) and I'm working with new guys now on something that is still shaping... I don't play death/thrash/whatever metal... I don't like too much speaker saturation and breakup I can always replace a speaker though so this is not something I worry about.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

I'd go w/ the laney or the fender, I've heard bad things about the pignose amps (bad tubes, wiring issues), NO on the epiphone. If you want a loud clean-smooth breakup amp, the pro jr would be the way to go. in the future you would def. need to buy a extension cab (1x12 or a 1x 15)
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

I recently got a Valve Jr. Head, and I like it a lot. But as TubeMan said, it may not be right for your applications. When I play it through my 4x10 cab, it gets really loud, but that amp still has a tendency to break up early, so it's not the best for sparlky clean tones.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

tubeman87 said:
I'd go w/ the laney or the fender, I've heard bad things about the pignose amps (bad tubes, wiring issues), NO on the epiphone. If you want a loud clean-smooth breakup amp, the pro jr would be the way to go. in the future you would def. need to buy a extension cab (1x12 or a 1x 15)
Click to expand...

+1
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

Boss GT-8 with a Mesa 20:20 and a pair of 1x12 cabs. Use 20 watts and one "12 for small gigs and both cabs in a stereo spread for bigger venues; along with pretty much any tone under the sun.

OK, it's not a small combo, but it does sound killer. As far as small amps go, I really dig the Palomino 16 and 32 from Crate.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

Yep Benjy... it is not a small rig...

About the Valve Jr. I know it breaks up into distortion pretty easy but, are we talking about smooth gain or more edgy, sharp gain? I guess that without a tone control it would be pretty bright...

Between those 3 options, which one would give me smoother and warmer gain?
How well does the Fender Pro Jr's tone control work (as in it gives you tone variation, or there are a few sweet spots and the rest is too dark/bright?)

I'm starting to lean towards the Laney because of the EQ variations and bright switch... I hate the 3 tone control configuration, I can neve decide on the best balance between the high/mid/low but I'm starting to think it's better then buying something and find out it would never bring you closer to the right tone for you....
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

Try Out if you get the chance one of Traynor's new all Tube 2x12" combo's, they sound really nice got a "fenderish" clean but can add some good ol' 70's Dirt for the classic rocker stuff, and on the ++ great company with great customer service, and around 60lbs so it's nice on your back

Mitch
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

SpHj said:
Try Out if you get the chance one of Traynor's new all Tube 2x12" combo's, they sound really nice got a "fenderish" clean but can add some good ol' 70's Dirt for the classic rocker stuff, and on the ++ great company with great customer service, and around 60lbs so it's nice on your back

Mitch
Click to expand...

Thanks, but 2X12 are exactly what I'm trying to downsize from.

1X12 or 1X10 or a head+cab are options. 1X12 with effects loop, reverb, 2 channels, might also be a little too much...


I'm lazy.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

The Fender would be my choice out of the 3 listed, but keep in mind that it's not very "Fendery" due to the el84 based power stage.

If you can swing a bit more cash, see if you can get into a used Deluxe Reverb RI. With 22 watts, a '12 speaker, and a warm OD when cranked, it sounds like a good amp for you. BTW, it takes boost and OD pedals well, too.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

jazzerlbn said:
Thanks, but 2X12 are exactly what I'm trying to downsize from.

1X12 or 1X10 or a head+cab are options. 1X12 with effects loop, reverb, 2 channels, might also be a little too much...


I'm lazy.
Click to expand...

I'd wholeheartedly recommend the Traynor YCV-40 WR or the Traynor YCV-50. They're both very loud 1 X 12 amps. The YCV-50 comes with el-34s and is a little darker and more marshally sounding, the ycv-40 is more of a bright clean sounding amp and comes with 6L6s. Both sound very nice and should get you decent volume for bar gigs.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

If you can swing up a little then the Blues Juniors are great little amps. I have no reservations about gigging the one I have.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

I would suggest the Blues Jr as well. Put a 12AY7 in V1 and I think you will find it workable. I use a greanboard version (old) the newer ones are quieter and brighter.
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

I went through a very similar small valve amp quest. I wanted an unfussy, versatile, portable tone-machine. The closest i've come is my VC15 Laney. Which is a sweet little thing. 10 inch Jensen, very useful clean and dirty

The clean is slightly fender, with some sparkle and a nice reverb. The dirty is a gain & volume affair. Very nice, and doesn't get crazy too early.

another cool feature is the Treb Mid Bass for getting your vibe right, then right at the end is a single "tone" control. I guess they put it right at the end of the signal chain. Very useful. Switchable via foot, reverb too.

Effects loop yes. Nice looking too... http://www.laney.co.uk/show_prod.php?title=VC15-110


But having said all that, i would still have taken a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Re-Issue. If i'd only known! Yow! That is one ace amp. If you can scrape together the Shekels, it's an amp you will never let go.... next year, it will be mine. (and then i'll have to hide the Laney somewhere in the house)
 
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Re: Amp desicion... need your help

I can't scrape together the Shekels for a 65 Deluxe.
Money is also a factor here... until I'll get my degree (around August) I'm pretty tight on budget.

And, a 20 kg amp, is heavier then I want... for the money I make from gigs (none) and the size of the places I'm playing in, A cheaper lighter amp will do...

When I'll have a world tour I'll get a Twin, a Bassman and a Plexi... (two of each, for backup).
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

<self promotion mode=on>

The absolute sweetest 2xEL84 amp I've ever played is my Franklin. It's got a touch of Fender in it when clean and a large dose of Vox/Marshall when you grind it out.

<self-promotion mode=off>
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

Scott_F said:
<self promotion mode=on>

The absolute sweetest 2xEL84 amp I've ever played is my Franklin. It's got a touch of Fender in it when clean and a large dose of Vox/Marshall when you grind it out.

<self-promotion mode=off>
Click to expand...

<Gently saying no to Scott mode=on>
I'm sure... the sweetest sounding amps, using any type of tubes are usualy made by small manufacturers. Like yourself.

I still can't afford you. But when I'll go on my world tour, I'll use your amp and would be very happy to get my own signature model...

:no:
<Gently saying no to Scott mode=off>

:)
 
Re: Amp desicion... need your help

As much as I love the pro jr. I gotta say Blues Jr. unil you figure out what you want to do. way more flexible...but way less cool!
 
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