Ideas for my first tube amp.

Diego

Diego

New member
Well, I've permanently put the Cube off from sale for different reasons, but things are looking better and I might do it during this winter - summer for you Americans.

Why am I selling the Cube? Because the distorted models all fall short in one way or another.
The Marshall is too boxy, nasal and weird in the highs, the 5150 is too scooped and doesn't clean up well, and the Recto mode is pure fizz with not much dynamics and zero clarity.
So I'm looking for something that can do heavier sounds without turning into fizz and screech.
Something that sounds very transparent and honest about the guitar that it's going in. It must clean up well.
But I have no idea what that could be.

I've got these requirements, and no amp seems to fit the bill.

-Tubes. :)
-Head and cab. Easier to move around.
-Low-ish wattage, hopefully not more than 30 watts. If switchable to less, even better.
-It must have, however, a generous amount of gain on tap. Enough for STP and Metallica, to give you a reference.
-Two channels is good enough.
-Nice, glassy bold cleans.
-FX Loop.

Don't really need onboard reverb or 3 channels, but it would be welcome.

Does such an amplifier even exist?

I've checked many possibilites and quickly discarded all of them:

-Bogner Alchemist/Laney Lionheart/Crate Blackhearts: Vintage voiced, good stuff but not what I'm after.
-Marshall DSL50: Cleans apparently not very good, too loud for tube saturation at lower levels.
-Laney GH50L: Too loud, but still the one I'd consider from this list.
-Peavey XXX/6505+/6534/5150: Poor cleans (not sure on the XXX and the 6534, the rest I do) and way too loud.

Any ideas?? I think there's no amp that fits the bill and I'll just have to compromise on the Laney GH50L, which ticks most of the boxes.
The budget is around $700-800, BTW.

BTW, the following brands don't make it to Chile so skip them: Jet City, Egnater, Mesa Boogie, Blackstar.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

You guys are gonna hate me for this:

Fender BandMaster VM

None of the demos on YouTube represent the potential of the drive channel --- so until you have played one yo-self, STFU!!!
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Orange Dual Terror fits most of that bill. Though, it does not have an FX loop. DT head + 2x12 PPC cab would be a killer setup but it's out of your price range.

Blackstar HT-20 would be almost perfect but as you said you can't get 'em in Chile.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Yeah Animal, I've read the specs on many of the Blackstars and I'm dying to try one.
But it ain't happening anytime soon.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

The problem clearly stems from your living in such a backwater little coffee bean of a country.

Just move, dude.

;) :D
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Does anybody know if Carvin will ship to Chile?

That new V3 mini looks like it would fit that bill very nicely. Carvin amps, at least in the U.S, aren't very pricey either.

edit: Carvin does do international shipping to Chile.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

I played a gig a while back and the guitarist in the other band was using a Laney GL50 head and a 4 x 12. He had it set pretty clean but with a little grind and used a pedal for o/d. It was a small venue, everything was miked so we kept our stage volume pretty low. I must say the GL50 sounded REALLY good even though it was barely ticking over. As far as I remember it's a single channel amp with a foot switchable gain boost so you may have to compromise a little but this is a high quality amp. I've owned three Laneys and still have my VC30 2x10 combo which is a great amp but probably too vintage for you. I've had a couple of minor problems over the years but overall they are the most trouble free amps I've owned.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Diego said:
Well, I've permanently put the Cube off from sale for different reasons, but things are looking better and I might do it during this winter - summer for you Americans.

Why am I selling the Cube? Because the distorted models all fall short in one way or another.
The Marshall is too boxy, nasal and weird in the highs, the 5150 is too scooped and doesn't clean up well, and the Recto mode is pure fizz with not much dynamics and zero clarity.
So I'm looking for something that can do heavier sounds without turning into fizz and screech.
Something that sounds very transparent and honest about the guitar that it's going in. It must clean up well.
But I have no idea what that could be.

I've got these requirements, and no amp seems to fit the bill.

-Tubes. :)
-Head and cab. Easier to move around.
-Low-ish wattage, hopefully not more than 30 watts. If switchable to less, even better.
-It must have, however, a generous amount of gain on tap. Enough for STP and Metallica, to give you a reference.
-Two channels is good enough.
-Nice, glassy bold cleans.
-FX Loop.

Don't really need onboard reverb or 3 channels, but it would be welcome.

Does such an amplifier even exist?

I've checked many possibilites and quickly discarded all of them:

-Bogner Alchemist/Laney Lionheart/Crate Blackhearts: Vintage voiced, good stuff but not what I'm after.
-Marshall DSL50: Cleans apparently not very good, too loud for tube saturation at lower levels.
-Laney GH50L: Too loud, but still the one I'd consider from this list.
-Peavey XXX/6505+/6534/5150: Poor cleans (not sure on the XXX and the 6534, the rest I do) and way too loud.

Any ideas?? I think there's no amp that fits the bill and I'll just have to compromise on the Laney GH50L, which ticks most of the boxes.
The budget is around $700-800, BTW.

BTW, the following brands don't make it to Chile so skip them: Jet City, Egnater, Mesa Boogie, Blackstar.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Egnater was going to be my suggestion. Perhaps you could get some clips from youtube and people on here and get one on Ebay? Not sure how much shipping would run you though....
 
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Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

sosomething said:
The problem clearly stems from your living in such a backwater little coffee bean of a country.

Just move, dude.

;) :D
Click to expand...

Actually, if things go right I might move to Australia in a couple of years.
Too hot and it's full of spiders, but it will do. :D

Now back on topic,

I appreciate all the suggestions... but Krank, ENGL and Orange don't have any dealers here either.

It's just the big brands here for higher-end amps: Marshall, Fender, Laney, Peavey, Vox. I don't know why there's no Mesa Boogie dealers.
There's Bugera, too. Cheap is good here.

So I guess there's two ways about this,

1) Stop whining, save a bit and get the Laney GH50L + a 2x12 cab, which might still be nice at low volumes (will it?) and will kick ass at high levels, plus the benefits of a local warranty.

2) Buying something else overseas, pay some taxes and cross my fingers.

You be the judges. I've never bought anything online or overseas and I admit I'm not confident about it.

I'll still have to try that Fender Bandmaster VM...
 
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Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

SamusChief said:
Does anybody know if Carvin will ship to Chile?

That new V3 mini looks like it would fit that bill very nicely. Carvin amps, at least in the U.S, aren't very pricey either.

edit: Carvin does do international shipping to Chile.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of the V3 mini/micro also.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

i dont understand why the Bugera heavies havent chimed in, ...
i play mine (v22combo) w JJ preamp tube in a dist. pedal - lots of companies to choose fr make pedals w tubes- then turn up the pedals volume to drive the power tubes on the clean setting. if u do test drive a Bugera, research it cuz the input jacks may differ and they have wattage switches and triode/ pentode... oh, what am i saying, You DEF need a od or dist pedal w a real tube... cuz yve got a bd2 to drive that as well! judgin by yr tastes and gear, we are after similar tones w a similar budget... if u dont find a head to just plug and play, than i highly suggest the bd2 mod driving a dist pdl w real tube (i use the ibnz tubeking BUT. w Jj 12ax7 tube swap, but lots of co.s make these) and then this is used to drive yr power tubes to get that crunch, so make sure the amp master vol knob is set very high... very tweakable setup..
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Diego said:
1) Stop whining, save a bit and get the Laney GH50L + a 2x12 cab, which might still be nice at low volumes (will it?) and will kick ass at high levels, plus the benefits of a local warranty.
Click to expand...

Amen :)
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Diego said:
Actually, if things go right I might move to Australia in a couple of years.
Too hot and it's full of spiders, but it will do. :D

Now back on topic,

I appreciate all the suggestions... but Krank, ENGL and Orange don't have any dealers here either.

It's just the big brands here for higher-end amps: Marshall, Fender, Laney, Peavey, Vox. I don't know why there's no Mesa Boogie dealers.
There's Bugera, too. Cheap is good here.

So I guess there's two ways about this,

1) Stop whining, save a bit and get the Laney GH50L + a 2x12 cab, which might still be nice at low volumes (will it?) and will kick ass at high levels, plus the benefits of a local warranty.

2) Buying something else overseas, pay some taxes and cross my fingers.

You be the judges. I've never bought anything online or overseas and I admit I'm not confident about it.

I'll still have to try that Fender Bandmaster VM...
Click to expand...

I'd say see if you can make choice 1 work. If by chance the amp isn't what you want upon trying it out you can always still resort to buying something online. The local warranty of the Laney would be a great thing to have if the Laney turns out to be a great amp for you.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Diego said:
And if the Laney doesn't workt for the bedroom, that's what Microcubes are for.

I guess this is it? :D
Click to expand...

Indeed! :)

I think, you will love the response of the GH50L quite much. Soon, re-constructing the bedroom or having a separate amp booth will be options, too :)
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Khriss Bliss said:
i dont understand why the Bugera heavies havent chimed in, ...
i play mine (v22combo) w JJ preamp tube in a dist. pedal - lots of companies to choose fr make pedals w tubes- then turn up the pedals volume to drive the power tubes on the clean setting. if u do test drive a Bugera, research it cuz the input jacks may differ and they have wattage switches and triode/ pentode... oh, what am i saying, You DEF need a od or dist pedal w a real tube... cuz yve got a bd2 to drive that as well! judgin by yr tastes and gear, we are after similar tones w a similar budget... if u dont find a head to just plug and play, than i highly suggest the bd2 mod driving a dist pdl w real tube (i use the ibnz tubeking BUT. w Jj 12ax7 tube swap, but lots of co.s make these) and then this is used to drive yr power tubes to get that crunch, so make sure the amp master vol knob is set very high... very tweakable setup..
Click to expand...

I tried to read this, I really did... but I couldn't. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, use at least average grammer/spelling/punctuation - if only so we can understand whatever it is you're trying to say.

Think of the children.
 
Re: Ideas for my first tube amp.

Diego....if there is an amp you want but can't buy directly in Chile, can a forum member act as a middle man for you? Buy it for you with money you provide and then ship you the amp? Do you have import taxes or fees that make this a problem?

Otherwise I think either the Laney or the DSL. The DSL, with a tube change and a 12AT7 or other lower gain amp in the PI spot or even V1 can make a huge difference in the clean channel. I've heard several DSL's that really, really impressed me with their cleans. Not Fender cleans, but really really usable. Decent grind at lower volume levels too. Using some greenbacks in your cab instead of G12T-75's will help the sound of your breakup at lower volumes too.

Just some thoughts.
 
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