I was looking at a Marshall dsl40c. It has all the tones I'm looking for but I'm not too well informed in the world of amps. I found one going for $500 with shipping. Is there any other amps I should be considering. I have a half stack at home but it has ****ty speakers in it so I'd rather get a combo amp.
Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
- Thread starter Mendozer
- Start date
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
What's your half stack? You could probably get a decent speaker cab for that price.
What's your half stack? You could probably get a decent speaker cab for that price.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
Take your head to a shop and start trying it out on better cabs. Never underestimate the speaker cabinet and its influence on how an amp sounds. A Bogner XTC through a no-name shoddy 3
4x12 with cheap speakers will sound still sound like crap while an OK, not great but not bad, amp through a Mesa 4x12 or something higher-end will sound A LOT better. The VK is an alright amp, and a good platform for mods that can really turn the amp into something cool for a good while until you can upgrade to something that sounds really good out of the box. A great cab will last you a life time, and then all you'll ever need to buy for an amp is the head.
Take your head to a shop and start trying it out on better cabs. Never underestimate the speaker cabinet and its influence on how an amp sounds. A Bogner XTC through a no-name shoddy 3
4x12 with cheap speakers will sound still sound like crap while an OK, not great but not bad, amp through a Mesa 4x12 or something higher-end will sound A LOT better. The VK is an alright amp, and a good platform for mods that can really turn the amp into something cool for a good while until you can upgrade to something that sounds really good out of the box. A great cab will last you a life time, and then all you'll ever need to buy for an amp is the head.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
Yeah the Valvekings are great starter tube amps. I'd definitely look at investing the money into a new cab instead. Even the lower end Blackstar stuff is pretty good sounding. I just bought a Blackstar 2x12 for like $300. You can get the new Valveking cab for $450 on Sweetwater.
Yeah the Valvekings are great starter tube amps. I'd definitely look at investing the money into a new cab instead. Even the lower end Blackstar stuff is pretty good sounding. I just bought a Blackstar 2x12 for like $300. You can get the new Valveking cab for $450 on Sweetwater.
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
Taking a different approach, what cab is it? Maybe a speaker swap is all you need? I've got a big 4x12 cab made of MDF that was half tore apart when I bought it for 25 bucks. I replaced the baffle and grill cloth and built a back panel for it (it was missing when I bought it). But the shell was built solid, square, braced, rabbet joinery. No rattles or buzz and one wouldn't know it was an MDF cabinet by listening to it. I've got an Avatar 4x12 as well and have had the same speakers in both cabinets, powered by the same amps. The differences are subtle, not better or worse but that cheap cabinet just sounds huge (it is a larger cabinet). The speakers made a much bigger difference than the cabinets. It's just not a good choice for gigging.
Long way to get to a simple point, which is ... if the cabinet is solid, maybe all you need is a speaker upgrade? Which it sounds like you need anyway. So, maybe just another way to go. Unless, you want to ditch the entire thing and are set on going with a decent combo. Definitely a viable option if you just want to downsize.
Taking a different approach, what cab is it? Maybe a speaker swap is all you need? I've got a big 4x12 cab made of MDF that was half tore apart when I bought it for 25 bucks. I replaced the baffle and grill cloth and built a back panel for it (it was missing when I bought it). But the shell was built solid, square, braced, rabbet joinery. No rattles or buzz and one wouldn't know it was an MDF cabinet by listening to it. I've got an Avatar 4x12 as well and have had the same speakers in both cabinets, powered by the same amps. The differences are subtle, not better or worse but that cheap cabinet just sounds huge (it is a larger cabinet). The speakers made a much bigger difference than the cabinets. It's just not a good choice for gigging.
Long way to get to a simple point, which is ... if the cabinet is solid, maybe all you need is a speaker upgrade? Which it sounds like you need anyway. So, maybe just another way to go. Unless, you want to ditch the entire thing and are set on going with a decent combo. Definitely a viable option if you just want to downsize.
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leevc5
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
If your willing to do a little work, learn some, have fun and pride in your amp you can build a great one for ~$500. A Hoffman Fender Bassman kit ( there are others you might want to take a look at) is a truly great amp, not hard to build at all. Here is a sample price list, you can shop around for the tubes, transformers and chassis and get better prices to bring it in under your budget.
http://hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=Amp_5F6AParts.htm&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!
If your willing to do a little work, learn some, have fun and pride in your amp you can build a great one for ~$500. A Hoffman Fender Bassman kit ( there are others you might want to take a look at) is a truly great amp, not hard to build at all. Here is a sample price list, you can shop around for the tubes, transformers and chassis and get better prices to bring it in under your budget.
http://hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=Amp_5F6AParts.htm&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
500 should get you a good used marshall 1960 model 4x12. Your going down the correct road by considering the crucial role of speakers for tube amps. Speakers are a major factor in tone.
The DSL40C doesn't have a great speaker though-except for a few that had a Creamback speaker and the cab material of the asian production is probably mdf. If you want to move on to DSL then try it out. As with any amp you got to play it and see if sounds good for you.
500 should get you a good used marshall 1960 model 4x12. Your going down the correct road by considering the crucial role of speakers for tube amps. Speakers are a major factor in tone.
The DSL40C doesn't have a great speaker though-except for a few that had a Creamback speaker and the cab material of the asian production is probably mdf. If you want to move on to DSL then try it out. As with any amp you got to play it and see if sounds good for you.
frostopsy
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
I agree on that ^^
It's a good amp, you can get a lot of tones out of it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree on that ^^
It's a good amp, you can get a lot of tones out of it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
It's not you, it's your speaker cabinet. Been there, done that (a long time ago). Went through some really nice amp heads before I realized my cabinet and speakers were crap.
If you want something smaller, a good 2-12 cabinet, or even 1-12 will sound better than a crap 4-12.
It's not you, it's your speaker cabinet. Been there, done that (a long time ago). Went through some really nice amp heads before I realized my cabinet and speakers were crap.
If you want something smaller, a good 2-12 cabinet, or even 1-12 will sound better than a crap 4-12.
RealtyViking
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
I would say get the Marshall DSL40 and sell your Peavey. The Marshall is the best bang for the buck if you are looking for a newer amp that nails Marshall tones.
There are other really good amps in that price range used (Orange Tiny Terror, Tweaker 40 and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for example) , but none will get as close to a Marshall sound.
I would say get the Marshall DSL40 and sell your Peavey. The Marshall is the best bang for the buck if you are looking for a newer amp that nails Marshall tones.
There are other really good amps in that price range used (Orange Tiny Terror, Tweaker 40 and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for example) , but none will get as close to a Marshall sound.
DinoTrousers
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
I had a VK100 half-stack I let go for way too little once. That said, DSL40C is a great amp. The Blackstar Club 40 is also fantastic, and you can probably find one around the same price.
I had a VK100 half-stack I let go for way too little once. That said, DSL40C is a great amp. The Blackstar Club 40 is also fantastic, and you can probably find one around the same price.
H
HiFiRebel
Guest
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
I bought a used Carvin Legacy 2x12 years ago. Vintage 30s and it has sounded good with every head I've used since then. It was fairly cheap too as I recall.
I bought a used Carvin Legacy 2x12 years ago. Vintage 30s and it has sounded good with every head I've used since then. It was fairly cheap too as I recall.
ThisDyingSoul76
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
I'd try the VK with a better cab first and see what you think... Unless you really don't want the head/cab configuration anymore.
I've been connecting a Laney Cub 12 to closed back cabinets for the last few months with satisfactory results. I'm also thinking of going the DSL40C route, but planning to keep my cab and use it with the DSL40. I've got a Marshall JCM900 2x12 cab. The reason for the plan to swap amps us that a 15 watt British combo just doesn't have the clean headroom I need. The DSL40C's pentode/cathode switch helps ensure I get the headroom I want for any playing environment.
The great thing about using combos with cabs is you have scalability options. Playing a really small venue or just feeling lazy, leave the cab and use the internal one. Playing a larger venue and need a bit more volume, connect the cab... There is a bit of sound difference with the cab too, but I find, especially with a cab with good speakers, you get more volume.
I'd try the VK with a better cab first and see what you think... Unless you really don't want the head/cab configuration anymore.
I've been connecting a Laney Cub 12 to closed back cabinets for the last few months with satisfactory results. I'm also thinking of going the DSL40C route, but planning to keep my cab and use it with the DSL40. I've got a Marshall JCM900 2x12 cab. The reason for the plan to swap amps us that a 15 watt British combo just doesn't have the clean headroom I need. The DSL40C's pentode/cathode switch helps ensure I get the headroom I want for any playing environment.
The great thing about using combos with cabs is you have scalability options. Playing a really small venue or just feeling lazy, leave the cab and use the internal one. Playing a larger venue and need a bit more volume, connect the cab... There is a bit of sound difference with the cab too, but I find, especially with a cab with good speakers, you get more volume.
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ColeJustesen
New member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
I will echo the suggestions of trying a different cab. You can snag a Peavey 412MS with Celestion G12-K85s for way less than $500. They are solid cabs that sound pretty darn good! If you are set on getting a new amp, the Peavey Classic 50 should be on your list to try out. It has a beautiful clean channel and British style gain channel.
Cole
I will echo the suggestions of trying a different cab. You can snag a Peavey 412MS with Celestion G12-K85s for way less than $500. They are solid cabs that sound pretty darn good! If you are set on getting a new amp, the Peavey Classic 50 should be on your list to try out. It has a beautiful clean channel and British style gain channel.
Cole
skyydogg01
Active member
Re: Best tube amp for less than or equal to $500?
Look into the new Fender Bassbreaker cabs. They have Celestion V-Type speakers in them and should sound really good. I had that speaker in my Blackstar and it was real nice.
Look into the new Fender Bassbreaker cabs. They have Celestion V-Type speakers in them and should sound really good. I had that speaker in my Blackstar and it was real nice.
