best tube amp under 200 usd?

[gnoj_LL]

if you have 200-150 usd to spare, what would you buy?

for those who own any of these amps or have tried any, which is best clean?

and also which is best cranked?

in your opinion depending on your music style, which of these amps has the sweetest tone?


1)Peavey Valve King Royal 8 Guitar Combo Amplifier (5 Watts, 1x8 in.)

True Class A tube amp. EL84/6BQ5 output tube. 12AX7/ECCC83 preamp tube. Tone control.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEVVKINGROYAL8
$199.95 List: $249.99





Features:

This true Class A amp uses EL84/6BQ5 output tube and one 12AX7/ECCC83 preamp tube with no negative feedback in the power amp

5 watts into 8 ohms

Gain and master volume

Tone control

8 in. speaker

High and low gain inputs




2)Fender Champion 600 Guitar Combo Amplifier (5 Watts, 1x6 in.)

Tube preamp and tube power amp. Vintage-correct cosmetics.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN2330100000
$199.95 List: $266.00





Features:

Tube Preamp and Tube Power Amp (1 x 12AX7 tube; 1 x 6V6 tube)

5 watts into a 6 in. Special Design speaker

High-gain and low-gain inputs; hotter preamp circuit than the 1950 original for warm natural overdrive when turned up

Single volume control

External speaker output

Brown and blonde vinyl covering; vintage-correct 1950 "two-tone" cosmetics

Leather strap handle

Red jewel pilot light




3)Epiphone Valve Junior Combo Amp

Single-ended Class A electronics in a funky retro cabinet! 5W push the 8" speaker to surprisingly loud volumes. Crank up your guitar's volume pot to achieve seriously musical distortion.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Valve-Junior-Combo-Amp?sku=480260

$149.99 List Price: $249.99




An awesome no-frills amp!
Single-ended Class A electronics in a funky retro cabinet! 5W push the 8" speaker to surprisingly loud volumes. Crank up your guitar's volume pot to achieve seriously musical distortion.

Epiphone Valve Junior Combo Amp Features:

5W
Single-ended Class A electronics
8" speaker



4)Palomino V8 5W Class A Tube Combo Amp

Class and sass make it the perfect little all-tube combo.
Delivering vintage vibe and screaming tube tone, The Palomino V8 Combo Amp is upscale but ready to get dirty. The Palamino V8 features 5W power from a pure Class A tube circuit, a 10" speaker, and a line out. The simple, powerful single channel has Gain, Tone, and Volume knobs. Crank your Palomino V8 up and dive into luscious tube tone.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Palomino-V8-Class-A-Tube-Combo-Amp?sku=487825
$199.00 List Price: $399.99





Palomino V8 5W Class A Tube Combo Amp Features:

5W power
Class A tube design
10" Celestion speaker
Single channel
Gain, Tone, Volume knobs
Line out
13"W x 12"H x 7-1/2"D
18 lbs.

 

[Mephis]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

The fender sounds amazing, very very room filling tone for such a small speaker.

I wouldn't use it for anything other than playing clean or slightly dirty though. It has a very sweet tone.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

fender has always been there when it comes to amps =)

anyway i'm leaning to peavey and also for the palomino (or crate i guess) due to thier features.

the fender cost as much as these two but the fender is much simpler when it comes to features.

am i just fixated to peavey's and palomino's features? do you think the fender champion, even though simpler, has the best tone? (well tone depends on one's style) anyway i am greatful for any insights

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

The Champion, if you were to replace the tube with an AT7 and put a 6L6 in it, would it get louder and stay clean cranked?

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

Palomino for sure.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

thanks guys! =) how about the peavey royal 8, havent heard much about that..

anyway,about the palomino V8.. ive researched that the older batch were made in the US. sadly, the newer ones are now imports, and a some said that the quality kinda degraded. were the older batch sold as 199 also or were they more expensive than the imports.

o yea, what's the diff between the Palomino V8 and the discontinued Crate V5?

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

anyway.. any experiences on any of these amps?

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

bump...

 

[lakomaisipeh_sori]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

by looking at the specs alone, ill rather choose the peavey or the palomino/crate than the fender or the epi. mybe because of the features...

never tried any of them though... i have no idea which has the best tone, cranked or clean? but if i were to spend my 200bucks, yah ill go with the palomino then the peavey. just based my choices on the list price. hehe talking about impulsive buying, lol

 

[lakomaisipeh_sori]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

oh yeah i heard that the peavey royal 8 is decent pravtice amp as well as the JSX jr. (but that one is a lil expensive than the royal 8)

the royal 8, according to harmony-central.com is a nice amp and the newes out of the four amps mentioned. i think this was launched and unvield last year, 2006.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

thank you, hope to hear more insights

anyway, what's the diff between these two? Palomino V8 and the Crate V5

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/Crate-V5-VSeries-Tube-Amplifier-5-Watts-V5.html#tabs

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Palomino-V8-Class-A-Tube-Combo-Amp?sku=487825

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

The Champion, if you were to replace the tube with an AT7 and put a 6L6 in it, would it get louder and stay clean cranked?

Eh, dunno about that. Weak spot on mine seems to be the speaker. It has a sweet spot with single coils at about 6-8 on the "Low" channel where it's fantastically full and creamy clean, dripping loads of Mojo. Any more than that, and the speaker gets very farty.

Still, for what it is, I love it. There are a couple 6" speaker upgrades available out there from Weber and Jensen, and I may try one of those. The Champ also works great with an extension cab.

I was really disappointed with the newer Palomino V8. I test drove it, and really, really wanted to like it. On paper, it seems great. But it just sounded ratty to me, no matter how I EQ'd it. Much preferred its bigger (and more expensive) brother, the V16.

 

[baritone]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

I have the Epiphone Valve Jr. head, and I usually run it through my 2x12 cab. I really enjoy the tone of it. I bought it with the intention of getting some modifications done, but I like how it is in stock form. The single knob on it is to control volume, but as you turn that knob, the tone and the fuzziness change along with the volume. A lot of people don't like this and would prefer it to stay cleaner at higher volumes, but I don't crank it up very often.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

thanks guys!

I was really disappointed with the newer Palomino V8. I test drove it, and really, really wanted to like it. On paper, it seems great. But it just sounded ratty to me, no matter how I EQ'd it. Much preferred its bigger (and more expensive) brother, the V16.

anyway a heard a lot of reviews that the 1st batch of the V8's were US made were spectacular. they were sold as a limited series at guitar center, but it used to cost 280 usd.

i emailed crate just now. unfortunantely they told me that the USA made v8's are no longer in production.

now the newer v8's that are sold in MF are cheaper but they are now manufactured in vietnam.. a lot complains about the new v8's and are a lot are also not satisfied..


i might go for the Royal 8.. i think the peavey royal 8 is lil bit under-rated but some say that its a fantastic 5 watter amp! i believe its stock tubes are made by electro-harmonix. i hope i can try one day before purchasing

 

[lakomaisipeh_sori]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

I was really disappointed with the newer Palomino V8. I test drove it, and really, really wanted to like it. On paper, it seems great. But it just sounded ratty to me, no matter how I EQ'd it. QUOTE]



i think its because of the 10 inch speaker, it maybe to big for a 5 watter. 6-8 inches would be more practical for 5 watts. you can sound big on a 10 inch but with 5 watts, you might lose some presence there.

for now, im wondering how big is the difference from the US palomino compared with the import ones. hope i can try both soon.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

Just a tip: buy USED...not new.

Your $$$ will go alot further.

Lew

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

The Peavey sucks... little more than a gimmick practice amp in my opinion. I've heard better sounding solid state cheapos. (namely the Danelectro Nifty Fifty)

 

[millsart]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

I've got to agree about the v8 sounding a bit "ratty" perfect term to describe it, though I would imagine there are some people who woulld like a bit of a "ratty" tone. Always sounded like a great amp for the Billy Gibbons style

Definatly wasn't for me.

I haven't played one the JSX sounds pretty promising as its got the hot plate or whatever brand it is built into it so you can really crank it at bedroom levels.

One thing I will say about all the little 5w'ers Ive tried is that they are all pretty darn loud!

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

Just a tip: buy USED...not new.

Your $$$ will go alot further.

Lew

hehe ebay's the way..:laughing: anyway im just scouting the market so that i can have a general idea of a decent mini amp.

anyway, thanks for the advice!

o yea...

The Peavey sucks... little more than a gimmick practice amp in my opinion. I've heard better sounding solid state cheapos. (namely the Danelectro Nifty Fifty)

are you talking about the royal 8 or the mini jsx?

I've got to agree about the v8 sounding a bit "ratty" perfect term to describe it, though I would imagine there are some people who woulld like a bit of a "ratty" tone. Always sounded like a great amp for the Billy Gibbons style

what's a ratty tone? single coilish or maybe low output humbuckers like the tv-tron kinda sound..?

 

[GinoAmes]

Re: best tube amp under 200 usd?

After seeing this thread on Monday, today at my local shop I tried out the Fender and the peavey. I thought the peavey stunk, it stunk even for a all tube amp under $200. You would be better off getting a Peavey Transtube about the same size, they sound much better.
The Fender Champ 600 sounded much better. Just a nice tone and I would bet with a tubescreamer in front of it, it would be really cool.