Are there any great budget amps left?

[Securb]

I was just shopping for another Fender M80 Pro. When I bought mine, you couldn't give them away. I got mine for ~$125, and they were easy to find. Now I see the heads going for ~$250, and the heads are hard to find. From what someone told me the red-knob Fenders are building a cult following. The same with my Carvin X100B. Before Carvin went out of business, they were around ~$350 and easy to find. Now they are going for ~$600 -$700 and are hard to find in good shape.

What amps should we keep our eye on that are great sounding amps that will not break the budget?

 

[GuitarStv]

Honestly, I think that the Boss Katana is a pretty good deal for a budget amp.

 

[ErikH]

I was thinking about this just recently. My main guitar amp is a Vox AV30 combo. Sadly, Vox discontinued the series. They weren't budget busters and sound great. I wouldn't mind snagging another 30 on the used market just to have one as a backup. It's lightweight and quite loud.

I remember those red knob Fenders being boat anchors. Especially the Twin.

 

[Top-L]

The red knob Fender tube swap and biasing procedure was very involved and may involve having to swap components.

Had one 30 years ago and my understanding was they are not coveted today because they were a budget design with compromises in quality. Its a vintage Fender that you can actually afford, and I think Nickleback used them for clean sound on some big albums. Probably just an accident of what they could afford early on and what fit in their touring rigs.

That said, if I was looking for a budget vintage tube amp, I'd be looking a little later at some 90/00s Peaveys. In the $300 and less no reason to not use a Katana.

 

[Ascension]

I was just shopping for another Fender M80 Pro. When I bought mine, you couldn't give them away. I got mine for ~$125, and they were easy to find. Now I see the heads going for ~$250, and the heads are hard to find. From what someone told me the red-knob Fenders are building a cult following. The same with my Carvin X100B. Before Carvin went out of business, they were around ~$350 and easy to find. Now they are going for ~$600 -$700 and are hard to find in good shape.

What amps should we keep our eye on that are great sounding amps that will not break the budget?

I have a super nice 91 Carvin X50 Hot Rod Mod head FS with the matching Anvil flight case for $450 if you want it. Killer amp but is big and heavy, with my back issues I just cant carry it around any more so it sits here in the Flight case.
Best bang for the $ in a pro level new amp that can hang with a full band IMO is the PRS MT 15. Small easy to carry sounds amazing and hammers HARD! Not just passable but great high headroom clean that takes pedals well and a VERY responsive and touch sensitive gain side.

 

[Securb]

I remember those red knob Fenders being boat anchors. Especially the Twin.

The solid-state red knobs are super light, great-sounding amps. I remember around the time I bought mine, I read a Greg Howe interview, and he was raving about red knobs. That is what initially motivated me to try one out.

 

[Securb]

I have a super nice 91 Carvin X50 Hot Rod Mod head FS with the matching Anvil flight case for $450 if you want it. Killer amp but is big and heavy, with my back issues I just cant carry it around any more so it sits here in the Flight case.

That is a great deal but I took care of my Carvin itch when I bought my X100B.

I have been looking at Crate Power Blocks, which also seem to be creeping up in price.

 

[Wattage]

XXX, JSX both are pretty easy to find at very reasonable prices

 

[NegativeEase]

Vox AC10 is an incredible sounding amp -compact, loud, and beautiful -and 300 + bucks NEW

 

[NegativeEase]

This amp is beautiful sounding and CHEAP

 

[Mincer]

My first thought was a Katana 50, which I've seen for as low as $150 used in ex condition. It is one hell of an amp even if you never hook it up to a computer. But if you do, you'll realize exactly how much you get for so little money.

 

[Securb]

Has anyone played the solid state Orange amps? How do they compare to their tube big brothers?

 

[GuitarStv]

Has anyone played the solid state Orange amps? How do they compare to their tube big brothers?

Not the same.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Tube amps, no not really.
Never really have been.

 

[Securb]

Not the same.

Obviously, that doesn't mean they are bad, does it?

 

[Securb]

Tube amps, no not really.
Never really have been.

There are plenty of Peavey, Kustom, Randall and Fender tube heads that can be found in the $300- $400 range

 

[JMP/HBE]

There are plenty of Peavey, Kustom, Randall and Fender tube heads that can be found in the $300- $400 range

Subjective. Most of that is junk IMO. Again, subjective.
Also depends on one's definition of "budget amp".
Budget as in just cheap ?
Budget as in as good as a JCM 800 ?
Ect >

 

[Securb]

Budget as in as good as a JCM 800 ?
Ect >

Once again subjective I know a lot of guys that don't like Marshalls so "as good as an JCM 800" really isn't a qualifier for a lot of people

 

[Masta' C]

Boss Katana is tough to beat in terms of bang-for-the-buck.

Haven't tried any of the solid state Orange amps, but I'd like to

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

- The poorman's Marshall: Laney IRT Studio, IRT 60 212, LV300.
- Blackstar HT60, ID Core.
- Yamaha TRX.