Best 1X12" combo for $800?

Thundermtn

Thundermtn

New member
My old stand bye is getting ready to give up the ghost. Need a single 12" combo that will get pretty close to keeping up with a drummer. Must be able to do it all; high gain, crunch, and decent cleans. Tones from Plexi to Rectifier/Uberschall range will be the most used. Tubes would be nice but not a deal breaker. Line out for an extension cab would be nice too.

Sort of entertaining the idea of a Blackstar HT Stage 60 MK2, but it might be more weight than I want for a practice amp with 2X12"s.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

What are Mesa Express 5:50's going for used these days? Great, versatile amps: two channels, each with two modes, and the amp has three power amp levels, one of which is a brutally wicked sounding 25W class A. Yet the amps are quite easy to operate without excessive fiddling. Unless they have spiked dramatically in the past few years since I was paying attention, they are within your budget on the used market.
 
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Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

New Marshall DSL40CR would be just the ticket. Half power switch for at home practice too.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

5 Bandit 75s

Naw really Bandit will do all that
Get a newer China made one for $350 new
Tons of other features

The old ones were built like tanks and would travel anywhere

Save your money for beer
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

As mentioned, Marshall DSL40 (the new version is supposed to be better than the previous) or Blackstar HT40 (also, the new Mk II is supposed to be really nice).
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

devastone said:
As mentioned, Marshall DSL40 (the new version is supposed to be better than the previous) or Blackstar HT40 (also, the new Mk II is supposed to be really nice).
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Yes, the new DSL40 has MIDI! Didn't everybody always want a MIDI amp?
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

Check out the Egnater Tweaker 40. They've gotten some great tones in this range on the Anderton's "Sound Like" videos.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

justFred said:
Yes, the new DSL40 has MIDI! Didn't everybody always want a MIDI amp?
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I for one am super glad they went this route cuz the old setup of never being able to switch modes on the two channels was the weak link in the amp.
I feel like yes, it's more stuff that could eventually malfunction/break/be a biatch to repair, but hopefully they just have the midi stuff on a separate pcb and if it breaks you have marshall swap it... it's probably one if the best things to happen to the DSL line.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

I got to play an Express 25W yesterday, pretty sweet, eye out of a nice used one but keep them coming everyone.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

Used Mesa Recto-Verb combos can be had in the $800 to $1000 range. They are real do-it-all amps, from country cleans up to death metal. I prefer the relative simplicity of the Recto-Verb vs. the typical Mesa complexity of the Express. I also feel that the Recto-Verb does high gain better than the Express.

Blackstar HT amps are versatile, affordable workhorses.

The new, improved Marshall DSL40 combo may fit the bill.

Finally, the Fender Super Sonic combo, with Fender cleans and a pretty righteous, Mesa-esque drive section, can be found for under $800.
 
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Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

stratguy23 said:
Finally, the Fender Super Sonic combo, with Fender cleans and a pretty righteous, Mesa-esque drive section, can be found for under $800.
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I own one and it's got the best od channel on any fender, it sounds like a boosted deluxe, with the mid knob you can take it from blackface to tweedish, but the bass is not farty.
I dunno though I still think it's best sounds are medium breakup so not sure if the op would dig it
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

I also agree, my fender supersonic twin 100 has the complete range of tones. I got mine in a pawnshop that thought it was the same as a blackface twin and took less than your budget. I’ve had it for over five years use it almost every day for a couple of hours, usually with the powers switch in the 25 watt not the 100 watt setting adjusting the tube bias and output transformer settings for many many tone variations.
I hope I don’t “jinx” it but it’s all original down to all 13 vacuum tubes and always works. I’ve tried about a dozen different tubes in V1 but like the stock one best.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

Fender Blues Jr has good tone,

VOX AC 15 also,

not a lot of power but add an extension speaker or a mic,

I have a Princeton Reverb with a Tweed DeLuxe OPT for some compression, just a 10"
spk but the OPT is tapped for 4 Ohms so we can add a 12 if needed.
 
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Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

I'll be the 4th person to say Mesa. You're gonna be looking used, but theres good stuff out there.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

My buddy had the earlier one and sent it back for not being able to edit the thing, could have just been his though. I've played one and it was pretty good but I don't like the here today and gone tomorrow of all digital stuff. There's not a lot of fixing to be done to that stuff down the road.
 
Re: Best 1X12" combo for $800?

I can but recommend the super sonic 22 combo from fender, with a v30 speaker it kicks!

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