Help me find my new amp!

[KeeperOS]

Hi, after much I finally found a buyer for my Spider II and now am looking for a new amp.

It will primarily be for home (bedroom) use so it must be able to give a decent tone at 1.5-2.5 volume but I will also want to use it for rehearsals or even small gigs in the future so it should also be good for mic-ed situations.

My budget right now is about 750-850€ which safely buys me even a 12" 60watt A class tube amp but as long as it gets the job right I don't care even if it was a solid state (as long as it has good response to my touch that is).

The tone I'm looking for is that 80s growl, the one that has good bass, present but NOT overpowering or rude mids and a good overdriven tone.
I don't care about any on-board effects but it has to have it's own reverb and a good one at that. I want a reverb that doesn't muddy things up either.

Till now I've tried and liked Ashton's GA100 (this one's a solid state), Randalls RG50T, B-52's AT-112 while I KNOW I don't like at all Marshall's solidstates/hybrids (haven't tried full tube as I doubt they're in my price range) and Line 6 upper spiders (haven't tried their tubes either) and Flextone while I didn't particularly liked (nor disliked) Voxs and Kustoms 30-watt hybrids.

A fellow forumite told me to have a look at Traynor's YCV80 which I can find used for 750€ which I plan to do when I have the chance.

Any other heads up or advice is very much appreciated!!!

THANKS!

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Check Hughes & Kettner Edition Tube and Statesman amps
http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php?mode=prod&id=116
http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php?mode=prod&id=93

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

It doesn't seem as we have them here... always on the outside I guess...

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Engl Thunder 50-reverb(new) or a used Engl Screamer 50. Both should do what you're looking for and a lot extra. Screamer has an extra channel but costs about 250€ more

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Yeah, I tried the Screamer but at 1060€ it was way out of my league.
I never did notice there was a Thunder too.

That Engl + a Basswood w/Fl Maple top + a JB at the bridge was THE sound.

However the closest I have is a (very similar) Basswood guitar...

Are the Screamer and the Thunder the same minus that one channel?
What would I basically be missing with the Thunder?

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Seems bizarre that you have ENGL, but no H&K. Oh well, it isn't really famous, but it is well-known in Europe especially, there are many famous users, among them is Alex Lifeson (Rush, TriAmp MK II signature amps).
Well, you could get one from Thomann or some other place, but those ENGL's should be good.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Yeah, well Engl are from Germany and there is a certain dealer that imports many brands from there like Framus/Warwick so maybe that's why.

I just saw them at Thomann now, the Statesman Dual EL84 is well within my budget but I couldn't test it first now could I...?

When I said there's no dealer I just checked at their Dealer part of their site.
Could it be that there is one and they don't mention it?

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Hey, the 20th edition is 20watt and costs only 555€ at Music Store de, is that for real?

EDIT: Nevermind, I saw it has Gain instead of Overdrive...

D@MN, everyone AROUND us has them, Italy, Turkey, even those FYROM guys have it. All except us...
Weird...

 

[CrazyD]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

www.rivera.com

Nothing more to say, they're the best amps in the world.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Hi, after much I finally found a buyer for my Spider II and now am looking for a new amp.

It will primarily be for home (bedroom) use so it must be able to give a decent tone at 1.5-2.5 volume but I will also want to use it for rehearsals or even small gigs in the future so it should also be good for mic-ed situations.

My budget right now is about 750-850€ which safely buys me even a 12" 60watt A class tube amp but as long as it gets the job right I don't care even if it was a solid state (as long as it has good response to my touch that is).

The tone I'm looking for is that 80s growl, the one that has good bass, present but NOT overpowering or rude mids and a good overdriven tone.
I don't care about any on-board effects but it has to have it's own reverb and a good one at that. I want a reverb that doesn't muddy things up either.

Till now I've tried and liked Ashton's GA100 (this one's a solid state), Randalls RG50T, B-52's AT-112 while I KNOW I don't like at all Marshall's solidstates/hybrids (haven't tried full tube as I doubt they're in my price range) and Line 6 upper spiders (haven't tried their tubes either) and Flextone while I didn't particularly liked (nor disliked) Voxs and Kustoms 30-watt hybrids.

A fellow forumite told me to have a look at Traynor's YCV80 which I can find used for 750€ which I plan to do when I have the chance.

Any other heads up or advice is very much appreciated!!!

THANKS!

Even though they're new, the SpiderValve wouldn't be too far off for what your'e looking for. The only thing would be the price, I'm not sure how much extra Line 6 costs overseas.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Tried them, they were ok but nothing to write home about. I honestly couldn't tell much of a difference from that and the higher Spider IIIs...

They were good and I could hear the tube's sound but that was that. Then all I could hear was a digital sound...
As for their price, at 700€ they're within my budget but compared to others IMO hardly worth it...

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

Tried them, they were ok but nothing to write home about. I honestly couldn't tell much of a difference from that and the higher Spider IIIs...

They were good and I could hear the tube's sound but that was that. Then all I could hear was a digital sound...
As for their price, at 700€ they're within my budget but compared to others IMO hardly worth it...

The hardest thing you'll find is getting an amp that is quiet enough for bedroom playing and loud enough to cut through a decently loud drummer. This why people either a) get power scaling installed on their amps (which is pricey, definitely out of your budget) or b) get separate amps for home and live playing (probably your best bet).

Solid state amps don't usually sound good at high volumes and tube amps don't sound good at low volumes, so it's going to be a tradeoff either way unfortunately.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Help me find my new amp!

yeah, I'm painfully aware of that.

The spider valve certainly plays good at low volumes and doesn't break up at higher volumes.
It's the color of the sound though that I don't like. Not sure how to properly explain it.
It's a dirty, gained tone when I want an overdriven tone. Does that make sense?
In short it's the wrong type of dirty tone. And I know I can't change that unless of course I get an effect pedal, but on a model amp it's gonna suck big time...

That's why I'm looking for a good trade off. A decent tone at lower volumes but a great one at 6 or 7.

If I can't have that then I'm gonna get a good amp now and once I have the money I'll add it an attenuator... All I know is I'm fed up with that fake tone the spider gives...