Good inexpensive tube amps

[alex1fly]

What are some good inexpensive tube amps? I'm talking under 300 bucks. I'm about to sell my Fender Hot Rod since I use my Roadster for gigging, but it would be a good though to have a backup amp. Peavey and Fender both have their Blues Junior type amps; are there any other little tube amps you guys like?

Upon looking at some online stores I've changed my criteria to "Good inexpensive amps." I could go for a modelling amp - I just want a quality backup amp that I can mic if/when my Roadster goes kaput again.

 

[millsart]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Whats wrong with the Hot Rod ? Its an excellent amp as a main amp and it would make a great backup as well. You didn't mention anything about needing lower volume for practice etc so I can't see the point of selling a good amp for a loss and then rebuying something different for nearly the same price or saving a small amount of money when its going to get you basically right back where you started.

That said Bj's are great amps but a HR is a bit more versatile.

Theres plenty of cheap tube combo's on the market right now, but the problem is at only 5 watts, they really wouldn't make a very good backup as they just don't deliver the volume for stage volumes.

great amps for the home no doubt though

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Vox Valvetronix AD30VTXL:

 

[Jazz Rock]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

I play mostly classic rock on my little LC15R and quite enjoy it. I wouldn't get one if you want to play modern rock, metal or higher gain stuff.

I never had a chance to play a Blues jr so I can't compare, but for the price I think you get a good handful of nice sound.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Look for a used Crate Vintage Club.

You can find them pretty inexpensive, and their pretty good bang for the buck. It's got a real nice Classic rock tone, and get into some higher gain territory with some help from a pedal.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Used classic 30.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Whats wrong with the Hot Rod ? Its an excellent amp as a main amp and it would make a great backup as well. You didn't mention anything about needing lower volume for practice etc so I can't see the point of selling a good amp for a loss and then rebuying something different for nearly the same price or saving a small amount of money when its going to get you basically right back where you started.

That said Bj's are great amps but a HR is a bit more versatile.

Theres plenty of cheap tube combo's on the market right now, but the problem is at only 5 watts, they really wouldn't make a very good backup as they just don't deliver the volume for stage volumes.

great amps for the home no doubt though

Well it would be nice to have lower volumes for home, because I'm probably moving to a bigger city soon and I'll be in an apartment. If my other amp died and I had to use it for a show, I'd probably mic it. The Line 6 Spider III sells for 200 bucks on musiciansfriend and seems like a cool amp. I've heard some bands using bigger Spider combos and they sound surprisingly good, especially the dirtier channels. Since they are modelling amps won't the smaller ones sound good too? I'm not sure on the specs of the small one, but maybe I could run it into my 2x12 cab.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

The Valvetronix is a hybrid, so you're getting tube tone as well.

- Keith

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

It doesn't look like the Spider III has a speaker out. I had a 30 watt Valvetronix a while ago and wasn't really a fan. I'd like to get an amp that is smaller and quieter but without sacrificing too much quality on the dirty tones.

The newer Valvetronix AD30VT-XL looks pretty cool, like the older Valvetronixs but more geared towards modern tones. They have a 15 watt one for 250 - but again it doesn't have an external speaker out! I wonder if there are any other small modellers that have speaker outs.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

My fave s/h Peavey is the classic 20. Great little amp. Not a great choice for clean headroom in a live situation, but a great rock amp.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

A fender pro Junior, stock but with el84s rated to 7 power tubes, and 2 GTECC83 preamp tubes. It breaks up earlier and has a more modern/smooth gain. Very tight distortion, lots of highs, and very punkish.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

A fender pro Junior, stock but with el84s rated to 7 power tubes, and 2 GTECC83 preamp tubes. It breaks up earlier and has a more modern/smooth gain. Very tight distortion, lots of highs, and very punkish.

This sounds cool; how much would all of that cost?

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Hmm, musiciansfriend prices the Blues Junior at 450, that's a little much; 300 is about as high as I can go.

:lame:

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Check here...it's a "blem" so that means someone in the warehouse or something noticed a little cosmetic flaw, and you can get it for $273.50. That's a good deal on a Pro Junior.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-PRO-JUNI...ryZ38074QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It's just like smilemon said...get some 7 or 8 power tubes, and spend a bit of cash for some really good preamp tubes, and you'll have a great practice/stage(w/mic) amp for $300-350.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Classic 50, Blues Junior (with Jensen or G12H30), or Hot Rod Deluxe (with V30).

another one to put on your list is the Fender EVIL Twins that go as low as $350 - $400.

I would also add that I have seen many Fender Twin 65 RI's as low as $400.

 

[ponch]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

A good 300 dollar tube amp would have to be a used fender deville. You get two advantages of buying a used amp, 1) The speaker has been broken in, giving you a better soubd thats closer to stuff you hear in recordings or shows rather than a new amp outa the box. The second advantage is you don't feel bad about stuff you feel like doing to it. If the tolex tears, then no big woop, need some different tubes, it was used anyway. I would get a deville.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Good inexpensive tube amps

Cool, thanks everyone for your suggestions!