help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

[rumblebox]

i bought this vypyr 100 because it's the most accurate modeling amp and it has a **** load of versatility, but i find myself rarely using any of the effects and only like 2 amp models, the plexi for RAWK and the XXX for metulz.

just for reference, here are some amps i've used and love for vintage tones. i'm not worried so much about metal as i am sweet vintagey toanzz.

peavey classic 30/50
plexi
mesa lonestar special
AC30

i'm looking for something under $500 used though. so i'm REALLY considering a classic 50.

i'm also wondering about blackstar HT-40s. can they get vintage, or is it all high gain?

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: help me choose an amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

Re: help me choose an amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I really like my jet city so far... lots of cool hard rock/metal sounds. Cheap....

The blackstars are pretty sweet.

I like the Classic 30 for more bluesy/classic rock type stuff......

 

[mwalluk]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

COuld score a VOX AC30 for around that used.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

JSX combo might be right up your alley. I dont know what the used market is like on them, or what sizes they come in, but the head's red channel is based of off the XXX and the orange channel is based off of the classic 50.

 

[crguti]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I think you would really like the Blackstar.

Play one.

I did, and came away understanding them somewhat. I can't really tell you if they "do vintage," there are a lot of factors there.

Do know that it is a very tweakable amp - it has a master volume, of course gain, and also their ISF control.

Also, this is extremely important, it runs EL34s. Even the 20 watt amp runs EL34s.

Musician's Outlet in Palm Desert stocks them.

 

[Guston7]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

This is a decision you will not regret! All of the amps you listed are nice in their own way. It will be almost impossible to score a Lonestar for your budget. Soulcrusher's suggestion is a good one. The JSX is a lot of amp that can be bought cheap on the used market. It also gives you the freedom to tailor your sound with EL34s, 6L6s, and their variants. They take a variety of pedals very well...maybe better than anything else I've owned. The Classics are cool & easier to drive the power amp hard, but not as versatile.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

i bought this vypyr 100 because it's the most accurate modeling amp and it has a **** load of versatility, but i find myself rarely using any of the effects and only like 2 amp models, the plexi for RAWK and the XXX for metulz.

just for reference, here are some amps i've used and love for vintage tones. i'm not worried so much about metal as i am sweet vintagey toanzz.

peavey classic 30/50
plexi
mesa lonestar special
AC30

i'm looking for something under $500 used though. so i'm REALLY considering a classic 50.

i'm also wondering about blackstar HT-40s. can they get vintage, or is it all high gain?

The Blackstar HT-40 is VERY versatile! That's the only amp I use, besides the HT-5 for practice and bedroom jamming. I use it for everything from country, contemporary worship music, classic rock, and hard rock, but it can do more than that. Its a great amp! Get the amp, a couple pedals of your choice, and you'll be good to go!

 

[JimDep]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

If you don't take a used Marshall Plexi for $500, let me know and I will!

Nice choice of amps. $500 range? I'm hearing really good things about the Soldano designed Jet City.

The classic 50 is tough to beat

Is this for a band, home practice or all of the above? I've heard great things about the Seymour Duncan Twin Tube SFX 03 pre amp pedal. I've got a used being shipped to me as we speak. Good luck.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

i've pretty much made up my mind on a classic 50 4x10 and just use my bad monkey if i can't get natural power tube OD. i dont have the money to have an amp for each sized venue i play. lol

 

[Matt42]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I really like my Hot Rod Deluxe. I recently switched from a Boogie Lonestar Special and honestly with the portability factor, I'd take the Hot Rod over the Lonestar almost any day. The cleans are good, and the drive channel is vastly underrated.

 

[KBliss]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

YAY for you!!: you will not miss your vypyr once go tube.

Jeez, i can't knock any of those. Ive tried the peavey 30- great cleans- dont know if youll like the dirty channel. +1 on the TwinTube pedal: that plus any Vox15/30, Fender Blues Jr or Deluxe, or Peavey 30/50 Tube amp will conquer the world. I have negative feednack stories on my Hot Rod, lotta problems, but damn great sounding: i might get mine fixed.

I love Blackstars, but lately ive been suspecting they have too much mids: they are not metal only, BUT they distort quick, not much headroom, like say, the Marshall 5w. Not they sparkliest cleans, but you can crank the cleans for a thick, grimey Stones vibe. Blackstars are great but I suspect marketed to midheavy metal, but i bought the 5watt for plug n play.

The Jet City 333 i tried was 200 used, but only channel that screamed 80s hair- very tight and ripping, not loose growly like classic rock. U can try one, but i dont thonk its for u. They are a great price for the quality.

Def check out the TwinTube pedal; thats my next investment.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

No need for a bad monkey:

these are 599 brand new!
the 15 watt combo is 449 new, or roughly the same for a head and 1x12 cabinet.
here's a demo of the 15 watter:

 

[KBliss]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

The thing about tube screamers & t s amps, the low end is not very much there. No offense to excellent definition in the mids & highs.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I love Blackstars, but lately ive been suspecting they have too much mids: they are not metal only, BUT they distort quick, not much headroom, like say, the Marshall 5w. Not they sparkliest cleans, but you can crank the cleans for a thick, grimey Stones vibe. Blackstars are great but I suspect marketed to midheavy metal, but i bought the 5watt for plug n play.

Really the "too much mids" just comes from the stock speaker. They come stock with a Celestion 70/80 and that speaker is ALL mids. I swapped mine out for a WGS Retro 30 and its a night and day difference. And it has sparkle on the clean channel now. Also, I have never not had enough headroom with my HT-40, and I play everything EXCEPT metal with it. Lol

 

[rumblebox]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I like the bad monkey better than the TS pedals. More EQ control.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I already found a black classic 50 im going to buy as soon as my friend pays me for my vypyr. It's a 2006 in primo condition and has mesa EL84s and JJ 13ax7s. For $425. I think it's a good deal considering the tubes he put in it.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

Really the "too much mids" just comes from the stock speaker. They come stock with a Celestion 70/80 and that speaker is ALL mids. I swapped mine out for a WGS Retro 30 and its a night and day difference. And it has sparkle on the clean channel now. Also, I have never not had enough headroom with my HT-40, and I play everything EXCEPT metal with it. Lol

My experience with Blackstar has been phenomenal, and my experience with Seventy 80s has been abysmal. The fact that they are paired is an affront to the tone gods. And I pointed out in another thread that for a low-wattage amp, the HT series has a surprising amount of headroom.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

My experience with Blackstar has been phenomenal, and my experience with Seventy 80s has been abysmal. The fact that they are paired is an affront to the tone gods. And I pointed out in another thread that for a low-wattage amp, the HT series has a surprising amount of headroom.

Yeah, I absolutley love mine! I think I am going to have to retube it soon, because I have played it SO MUCH in the year that I have owned it, I think the power tubes are getting close to wearing out. I've got some Tungsol EL34B's I'm going to try in it.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: help me choose a tube amp. i'm thinking about trading up my vypyr

I already found a black classic 50 im going to buy as soon as my friend pays me for my vypyr. It's a 2006 in primo condition and has mesa EL84s and JJ 13ax7s. For $425. I think it's a good deal considering the tubes he put in it.

bwahahaha.
god thing you can understand gibberish!