In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
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Powdered Toast Man
New member
This is like asking, "which food will give me the best flavor?" Your question is far too general. What style of music do you play? What guitarst's tones do you enjoy? Do you gig? Play with a band? Play in your bedroom? What is your budget?
Describe what you want to do and then maybe you'll get some useful suggestions. Otherwise, you're going to get everything from the Fender VibroChamp XD to a Mesa Tripple Rec.
Describe what you want to do and then maybe you'll get some useful suggestions. Otherwise, you're going to get everything from the Fender VibroChamp XD to a Mesa Tripple Rec.
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
You know, sometimes you just want to get random answers from people to open up your mind a little bit. I also put in the word tone in my question so no very high gain amp I suppose because the distortion pretty much cover the tone? Right now I still dont have any answer because of the vast number of choices and I've just transitioned from acoustic to electric for less than a year now. But I think I like the fender Hot Rod series because of the nice cleans and crisp not thick sounding saturation that works for me and I play blues to distorted rock and roll mostly.
You know, sometimes you just want to get random answers from people to open up your mind a little bit. I also put in the word tone in my question so no very high gain amp I suppose because the distortion pretty much cover the tone? Right now I still dont have any answer because of the vast number of choices and I've just transitioned from acoustic to electric for less than a year now. But I think I like the fender Hot Rod series because of the nice cleans and crisp not thick sounding saturation that works for me and I play blues to distorted rock and roll mostly.
metalmachine
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
Soldano slo100
Soldano slo100
IM4Tone
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
1) Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue
2) Fender Super Sonic 22
3) Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue w/ a Tubescreamer
These are in the "NEW, approx. $1000 or less" category.
IMO Fender wrote the book on clean (And I don't care much for the "drive" chnl. of the Hot Rod):
1) Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue
2) Fender Super Sonic 22
3) Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue w/ a Tubescreamer
These are in the "NEW, approx. $1000 or less" category.
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
Blackface Fender Bassman.
Blackface Fender Bassman.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
For current production amps, the most common answer is the Deluxe Reverb reissue. It's the definition of "Fender cleans", has ample reverb and tremolo, and it of a size and power that makes it incredibly versatile - practice, gigs, studio - it'll do most anything. Quality wise, I've heard very few complaints. And some pros will tell you that with a speaker and tube upgrade, they sound almost spot on with the original blackface models (this from someone I know of who owns an original BF, SF, and a DRRI).
For current production amps, the most common answer is the Deluxe Reverb reissue. It's the definition of "Fender cleans", has ample reverb and tremolo, and it of a size and power that makes it incredibly versatile - practice, gigs, studio - it'll do most anything. Quality wise, I've heard very few complaints. And some pros will tell you that with a speaker and tube upgrade, they sound almost spot on with the original blackface models (this from someone I know of who owns an original BF, SF, and a DRRI).
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
My favorite amps....
Twin Reverb
Tweed Champ
Tweed Princeton
no order..
Runners up:
BF Princeton Reverb
Vox AC15
My favorite amps....
Twin Reverb
Tweed Champ
Tweed Princeton
no order..
Runners up:
BF Princeton Reverb
Vox AC15
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
The "bass" bassman?
The "bass" bassman?
MIRAGE
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
I have to say that I've played many amps in my life. I'd honestly go with REEVES. Or HIWATT. The REEVES is a HIWATT offshoot, I guess Mr. Reeves worked at HIWATT for a long time. Look and listen. They have a very cool selection and are 1/2 the $ of HIWATT. Now, what do I use? LANEY! Toroidal transformer delivers precise voltage, I use Mullard tubes and the heads can use either EL-34s which I Like, So does Gilmour, or 6L6's. All you do is flick a switch. Low cost= $999.? I use 2. 1 GH100L which has 2 gain stages that can be mixed like its baby bro the GH50L, I use the 100L for clean and the GH50L for its beautiful breakup! Hope this helps. T1- of MIRAGE http://www.alternativeaid.com/
I have to say that I've played many amps in my life. I'd honestly go with REEVES. Or HIWATT. The REEVES is a HIWATT offshoot, I guess Mr. Reeves worked at HIWATT for a long time. Look and listen. They have a very cool selection and are 1/2 the $ of HIWATT. Now, what do I use? LANEY! Toroidal transformer delivers precise voltage, I use Mullard tubes and the heads can use either EL-34s which I Like, So does Gilmour, or 6L6's. All you do is flick a switch. Low cost= $999.? I use 2. 1 GH100L which has 2 gain stages that can be mixed like its baby bro the GH50L, I use the 100L for clean and the GH50L for its beautiful breakup! Hope this helps. T1- of MIRAGE http://www.alternativeaid.com/
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
I guess it all depends. My band says my '73 Champ with a Weber 8A125 speaker is the best sounding amp they've heard.
I guess it all depends. My band says my '73 Champ with a Weber 8A125 speaker is the best sounding amp they've heard.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
For EL-34 channel switching amps, the Bogner Ecstasy is at the top of the list.
For single channel EL-34 amps, Friedman amps are pretty devastating.
For modern production Fender 6L6 amps, the Fender Vibroking is sweet. Victoria and many more.
For EL-84 amps, Bad Cat, Dr. Z, 65 Amps London, and Matchless get my vote.
For 6V6 amps, Tone King, Carr, and Fargen are pretty killer.
For EL-34 channel switching amps, the Bogner Ecstasy is at the top of the list.
For single channel EL-34 amps, Friedman amps are pretty devastating.
For modern production Fender 6L6 amps, the Fender Vibroking is sweet. Victoria and many more.
For EL-84 amps, Bad Cat, Dr. Z, 65 Amps London, and Matchless get my vote.
For 6V6 amps, Tone King, Carr, and Fargen are pretty killer.
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TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
42.
42.
Kosh Naranek
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
The best tube amps I have experience with, for the sounds you're looking for:
The Fender Super Sonic. Lovely clean tones, and you have a choice of two. Turning up the gain, there is wonderful classic blues overdrive.
The distorted channel is not as high gain as amps designed to play metal, and produces great smooth classic rock overdrive, and lets you also dial in a distortion with a little more buzz if you want to get heavy.
Peavey Penta. Premium tube tones. Has a 5 way switch for 5 voicings. A clean setting, with a thicker warmer sound, not a sparkly Fender or Soldano clean. A 70's classic rock crunch tone. An 80's tone that reminds me of the Marshall tones of bands like Iron Maiden or Dio. A 90's distortion that reminds me of Jerry Cantrell's Bogner amp tones with Alice in Chains.
Genz Benz El Diablo. All your blues, classic rock overdrive, and clean tones can be dialed in and you can switch between them instantly with the footswitch. The overdrive channel is very flexible, letting you go from a dynamic classic rock crunch, and with the footswitch switch to a more sustaining, 80's lead sound, and if desired, click on the high gain switch and add more buzz, sizzle and sustain. Note that the compressed switch doesn't just add gain, it changes the voicing of the overdrive channel, adding more sustain. It also has a boost switch which doesn't just boost volume, which tends to do bad things to the mix if you're playing with a band, but instead it boosts certain midrange frequencies making your guitar cut through without just turning up.
Thankyou for clarifying that you are not looking for high gain amps, and that it's blues and rock n roll that you play. A lot of high gain amps do cover these bases, and do them well. You may just not find yourself using the high gain channel. Or you may experiment and dial in a tone you like on that channel as well.
The best tube amps I have experience with, for the sounds you're looking for:
The Fender Super Sonic. Lovely clean tones, and you have a choice of two. Turning up the gain, there is wonderful classic blues overdrive.
The distorted channel is not as high gain as amps designed to play metal, and produces great smooth classic rock overdrive, and lets you also dial in a distortion with a little more buzz if you want to get heavy.
Peavey Penta. Premium tube tones. Has a 5 way switch for 5 voicings. A clean setting, with a thicker warmer sound, not a sparkly Fender or Soldano clean. A 70's classic rock crunch tone. An 80's tone that reminds me of the Marshall tones of bands like Iron Maiden or Dio. A 90's distortion that reminds me of Jerry Cantrell's Bogner amp tones with Alice in Chains.
Genz Benz El Diablo. All your blues, classic rock overdrive, and clean tones can be dialed in and you can switch between them instantly with the footswitch. The overdrive channel is very flexible, letting you go from a dynamic classic rock crunch, and with the footswitch switch to a more sustaining, 80's lead sound, and if desired, click on the high gain switch and add more buzz, sizzle and sustain. Note that the compressed switch doesn't just add gain, it changes the voicing of the overdrive channel, adding more sustain. It also has a boost switch which doesn't just boost volume, which tends to do bad things to the mix if you're playing with a band, but instead it boosts certain midrange frequencies making your guitar cut through without just turning up.
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Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
It really depends on what your playing, where your playing, with whom your playing, and so forth. For me it would be a 50 watt plexi. If we confine it to off the shelf amps and not include all the boutique alternatives, it would be the re-issue 1987 from Marshall. I know its loud and will need a hotplate and everything, but for pure tube tone you can't beat a plexi.
It really depends on what your playing, where your playing, with whom your playing, and so forth. For me it would be a 50 watt plexi. If we confine it to off the shelf amps and not include all the boutique alternatives, it would be the re-issue 1987 from Marshall. I know its loud and will need a hotplate and everything, but for pure tube tone you can't beat a plexi.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: In your opinion the best tube amp tonally that you can get nowadays
IMO, speaking only of brand new amps, I'd say the Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the Ampeg GVT-52, and the Mesa Express Plus 5:25. Context is everything, of course. I am primarily an r&b-based rhythm/parts player, and not a lead player, though I do play your basic blues and surf leads and melodies if called for. Think something along the lines of Steve Cropper's approach to the guitar. I pretty much play folk, blues, r&b, country, early rock-n-roll, surf/instrumental, '60's pop, garage, hard rock, and classic metal.
The Fender is a basic classic sounding amp without a lot of "modern" features. Great amp clean or crunchy, and it can get nice and "smooth bassy" in that lovely way that low-watt Fender amps do. Although simple, it is extremely versatile if you play to get the most out of it.
The Ampeg gives a variety of tones, and some modern features, but basically it sounds pretty classic V series. It has a very bluesy thump and chewiness, and it's warm, yet aggressive. It's a very dynamic sound. It has a very distinct voice and character, which I love, but which might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially lead players. Again, very bluesy and hard rocky.
The Mesa has a very good basic "old school" tone, plus a variety of useful "modern" features, such as outstanding tone controls, two channels (with two gain settings on each channel), footswitchable graphic E.Q., flat-E.Q. boost, three power/mode settings, and several other fancy Mesa features. It's a stone's throw from being over-engineered, but they keep it from going over that line, like some of the Mesa amps do (e.g. the various Marks and Rectos). It's also built like a brick outhouse, like any Mesa. It's the perfect amp for someone who likes classic tones, but wants some modern style versatility and the utmost in reliability for gigging.
Of these three, the only one I would actually buy new would be the Mesa...and I did get one. With the other two, I am already covered by my Princeton, V-4, Jet, Reverberocket, and Super Rocket. But speaking only of brand new amps, and approaching the situation as if I didn't have any amps already, these would be the three I'd be looking at. If I was primarily a gigger, and played a variety of music with different people, I'd go for the Mesa. While it doesn't really have a "signature sound," it's a great grab-n-go, do-everything-and-do-it-well amp that will likely never leave me high and dry. If I didn't need as much versatility or reliability, and I wanted a more distinct sound, I would go for one of the other two. The Ampeg if I wanted a more syrupy and chunky sound, and the Fender if I wanted a more focused and biting sound.
IMO, speaking only of brand new amps, I'd say the Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the Ampeg GVT-52, and the Mesa Express Plus 5:25. Context is everything, of course. I am primarily an r&b-based rhythm/parts player, and not a lead player, though I do play your basic blues and surf leads and melodies if called for. Think something along the lines of Steve Cropper's approach to the guitar. I pretty much play folk, blues, r&b, country, early rock-n-roll, surf/instrumental, '60's pop, garage, hard rock, and classic metal.
The Fender is a basic classic sounding amp without a lot of "modern" features. Great amp clean or crunchy, and it can get nice and "smooth bassy" in that lovely way that low-watt Fender amps do. Although simple, it is extremely versatile if you play to get the most out of it.
The Ampeg gives a variety of tones, and some modern features, but basically it sounds pretty classic V series. It has a very bluesy thump and chewiness, and it's warm, yet aggressive. It's a very dynamic sound. It has a very distinct voice and character, which I love, but which might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially lead players. Again, very bluesy and hard rocky.
The Mesa has a very good basic "old school" tone, plus a variety of useful "modern" features, such as outstanding tone controls, two channels (with two gain settings on each channel), footswitchable graphic E.Q., flat-E.Q. boost, three power/mode settings, and several other fancy Mesa features. It's a stone's throw from being over-engineered, but they keep it from going over that line, like some of the Mesa amps do (e.g. the various Marks and Rectos). It's also built like a brick outhouse, like any Mesa. It's the perfect amp for someone who likes classic tones, but wants some modern style versatility and the utmost in reliability for gigging.
Of these three, the only one I would actually buy new would be the Mesa...and I did get one. With the other two, I am already covered by my Princeton, V-4, Jet, Reverberocket, and Super Rocket. But speaking only of brand new amps, and approaching the situation as if I didn't have any amps already, these would be the three I'd be looking at. If I was primarily a gigger, and played a variety of music with different people, I'd go for the Mesa. While it doesn't really have a "signature sound," it's a great grab-n-go, do-everything-and-do-it-well amp that will likely never leave me high and dry. If I didn't need as much versatility or reliability, and I wanted a more distinct sound, I would go for one of the other two. The Ampeg if I wanted a more syrupy and chunky sound, and the Fender if I wanted a more focused and biting sound.
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