good cheap amp

tonefreak1527

New member
:ok:, i'm looking to eventually replace a old roland amp, and i need some sugestions for a replacement and it needs to fit the following requirements
1. under 500 dollars, except fenders which need to LIST under 1000
2 be rather simple, no more than one row of knobs
3 have good cleans
and
4 be loud enough to play with a band

p.s tube/hybrid is prefered
p.p.s heads are perfectly fine

:thanks:
 
Re: good cheap amp

I am partial to the Fender Hot Rod Series --- I don't like the Blues Junior, the EL84 sound doesn't "do" Fender, to my ear.

I recommend the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or Hot Rod DeVille. They are both 6L6 amps, only the Deluxe is 40 watts and the DeVille is 60 watts.

I am, however partial. I just embarked on a lengthy and in-depth amp search, and ended up with a Hot Rod DeVille 212.
 
Re: good cheap amp

An older Valvetronix AD60VTX combo with a good 2X12 cab or one of the AD120VTX heads through the same or a 4X12, or the 2X12 combo. Should be able to get a complete setup using any of these combinations for five bills or under. If playing live, the pedal is of great use.
 
Re: good cheap amp

I am partial to the Fender Hot Rod Series --- I don't like the Blues Junior, the EL84 sound doesn't "do" Fender, to my ear.

I recommend the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or Hot Rod DeVille. They are both 6L6 amps, only the Deluxe is 40 watts and the DeVille is 60 watts.

I am, however partial. I just embarked on a lengthy and in-depth amp search, and ended up with a Hot Rod DeVille 212.

What he said. The Fender HR stuff is cheap (used) and sounds great clean and will likely out last that Bugera crap!
 
Re: good cheap amp

I am partial to the Fender Hot Rod Series --- I don't like the Blues Junior, the EL84 sound doesn't "do" Fender, to my ear.

I recommend the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or Hot Rod DeVille. They are both 6L6 amps, only the Deluxe is 40 watts and the DeVille is 60 watts.

I am, however partial. I just embarked on a lengthy and in-depth amp search, and ended up with a Hot Rod DeVille 212.

hot rod deluxe +1
 
Re: good cheap amp

If I wanted the fender sound I would go with the above or the older blues deluxe (haven't compared them directly) but I think I like the look and sound better. Otherwise you can go with alot of the cheaper heads for other non fender sounds. Nighttrain, Rebel 30/20, Tiny Terror. The there is stuff that can be built on order (Frenzel which is what I have and love ... most of the time anyway, Ceriatone).
 
Re: good cheap amp

i've narrowed it down to either hot rod deluxe, or blues deluxe

or possibly a frontman 212r+a digitech rp500 for every effect

If you have the choice, go tube over solid state.

I'm not telling you that because everyone on the internet says that's the way it is.

I'm telling you that because I have a tube Fender 2x12 amp and a solid state Fender 2x12 amp sitting right next to each other in my basement.

The Hot Rod DeVille sounds better.

The Hot Rod Deluxe and the Blues Deluxe are identical, except the Blues doesn't have the "more drive" channel, which doesn't matter because it sucks, and the Blues has a better stock speaker than the Hot Rod.

-Hunter
 
Re: good cheap amp




. . . it is only me who likes both dirt tones from the Hot Rod then ?
 
Re: good cheap amp

. . . it is only me who likes both dirt tones from the Hot Rod then ?

I found em to be alright! not the best but the HRDx definitely has some utility on the master volume channel. A little goes a long way with that drive section. Good for blues, classic rock, and it's thick/hairy enough for indy rock.

Ch.1 and a pedal will get you a bit further, or just ch.1 cranked to just under the point where they cite you for disturbing the peace!
 
Re: good cheap amp

Ch.1 and a pedal will get you a bit further, or just ch.1 cranked to just under the point where they cite you for disturbing the peace!

This.

Exhibit A: me showing my Hot Rod DeVille 212 on the CLEAN channel, alternating between all the popular models of guitars with both a clean sound, then a crunch sound, with all gain coming from a Monte Allums Rectifier Mod BOSS DS-1 (kind of jack of all trades overdive / distortion; don't think DS-1)


 
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