Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

Rick1114

Rick1114

New member
I've been using amp sims since I sold my Line6 spyder (which wasn't much better anyway). I want to do what I should have done like 10 years ago and get a tube amp. I'm looking to play at low "apartment" levels so low noise is key. I'd be fine with any "mini" or 1x12 setup for my needs. Also looking for high versatility. I like Jangly cleans as well as modern overdriven tones so that will probably be a tall order for anything affordable. I've got a Strat and a VM Les Paul to play with. Hoping to stay in the 500-800 range. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Rick
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

definitely the traynor ycv40wr. i bought one last week and it's so damned sweet and creamy. it's got a real nice overdriven tone and the cleans are immaculate. i traded it for a kustom 36, which is also a great option, because i wanted something more metal. but everyday i think about that traynor. i'll probably buy one just to have that tone whenever i want. check it out, it's worth the money for that serious kind of tone.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

Maybe a used B-52 1-12 60w for around $300-400, it got plenty of gain if you like they way it sounds.

My dream amp right now is an Mesa F-30 1x12. Discontinued but can be had on ebay etc for $500. Regarded as one of Mesa's best clean with a nice mid-high gain.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

IF you can find one, Marshall Studio 15. I used to have one. I was an IDIOT for selling it!

4001-pic.jpg


Traynor YCV20WR 1X12

374315.jpg


Rivera Clubster 25 1X12

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Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

agent007 said:
definitely the traynor ycv40wr. i bought one last week and it's so damned sweet and creamy. it's got a real nice overdriven tone and the cleans are immaculate. i traded it for a kustom 36, which is also a great option, because i wanted something more metal. but everyday i think about that traynor. i'll probably buy one just to have that tone whenever i want. check it out, it's worth the money for that serious kind of tone.
Click to expand...

While I love my YCV40WR too, I can't recommend it for quiet practice. I think that it would be too loud in an apartment. The smaller 20 watt Traynor might be a little more manageable, but if you want decent distortion at very low levels you should look for something in the 1 - 5 watt range.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

Man, you guys must have some hella big bedrooms! I have a Crate V8 5 watt amp and that goes way beyond a "low apartment" volume for sure! You could go with any of the amps mentioned but you sure better get a Weber Mini-Mass or HotPlate to tone them down to non-eviction levels...

How about a Zvex Nano and a nice 1x12 cab? Or a Tiny Terror and an Avatar 2x12? Either of those could work, maybe needing a pedal for "modern distortion". Just my $ .05... :smokin:

Dano
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

oh yeah, vox makes a killer amp. it's not all tube, but it sounds really good
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

zvex nano amp, 1/2 watt. supreme! see avatar. around $400.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

anything over 5 watts will likely be too loud.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

Fender Champion 600...5 watt tube amp

Great tube overdrive

Sounded great to me and you can run it into a cab (if the opportunity arises)

Dave
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

I'm hoping my new 5F2 circuit (tweed princeton) into the 1x12 retro cab will fall in that 800 range. I won't know until I get through getting the last few parts.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

I also had a Studio 15 with a G12H30 in it. Man that was a killer little amp with that speaker. I LOVED that amp. I sold it to pay bills though. Had to do it.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

I just went to GC for 2 hours and they didn't have any of the amps mentioned here, but I did really like the Fender Deluxe Reverb for cleans. Just super warm and and jangly.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

Tube amps and bedroom volume don't usually play well together unless you look at the low-level wattage models, as many people have already mentioned. I'd stay in the 5-10w ballpark if you're wanting tube overdrive, otherwise I'd find something with cleans you like and a nice OD pedal.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

FretFire said:
Tube amps and bedroom volume don't usually play well together unless you look at the low-level wattage models, as many people have already mentioned. I'd stay in the 5-10w ballpark if you're wanting tube overdrive, otherwise I'd find something with cleans you like and a nice OD pedal.
Click to expand...

That's why I'm thinking Fender Deluxe Reverb + OD pedal of my choice. I do want to try one of those 5 watt thingys first though to see what they are all about!

Thanks,

Rick
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

Again, I'll say 1/2W to 5W is what you should be looking at. Or the Deluxe with a good OD, but even at that point you are playing the OD, not the tube amp. I use my Mesa on the 50W setting in my bedroom, but every neighbor in the apartment would hear it in your situation. ;)

Another option is to find a tube amp you like and send the preamp out to a low wattage poweramp of your choice. That way you are getting the preamp tone and can crank it when you have the opportunity, but can dial it back down at home.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

PFDarkside said:
Again, I'll say 1/2W to 5W is what you should be looking at. Or the Deluxe with a good OD, but even at that point you are playing the OD, not the tube amp. I use my Mesa on the 50W setting in my bedroom, but every neighbor in the apartment would hear it in your situation. ;)

Another option is to find a tube amp you like and send the preamp out to a low wattage poweramp of your choice. That way you are getting the preamp tone and can crank it when you have the opportunity, but can dial it back down at home.
Click to expand...

dont you have to have speakers hooked up to the amp at all times? or you risk frying the output tranny.....


i say buy the loud amp you want + an attenuator.
 
Re: Help me find a bedroom Tube Amp!

ksmith63 said:
dont you have to have speakers hooked up to the amp at all times? or you risk frying the output tranny.....


i say buy the loud amp you want + an attenuator.
Click to expand...

I didn't say disconnect the speakers. ;) Go from the preamp send or effects loop send to a low wattage amp.
 
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