Looking for a used tube amp around $500

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Used Peavey 5150 or 6505 combo. It might not have what you think of as the perfect clean, but it will do everything you need, at the price point you want.

That's why i too got a 5150.
The price.
And i really like the 5150-kleen tone.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

whatever you do don't get a Marshall DSL... those amps are probably the worst amps I have ever played through at gigging levels. TERRIBLE!

 

[onlytwin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Haha noted. I'm not a fan of Marshall anyway, so I'm not looking into them.

I'll take a look at the 5150 and see if I like it.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Can't forget Carvin! A Carvin Nomad is $500 from the factory and the Vintage 16 combo is $400. The V3m is like $650, but you might be able to find it used.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Okay great, I'll look for those. Any other brands people would recommend?

Looks like my knowledge of amps is a bit old, everyone has always said to me 15w is not enough for a gig.

As was said, it really depends on the situation. When I was in two bands this summer, the 15w was enough for both of them. One band had a quite drummer (the one I left) and the other one has a REALLY LOUD drummer. In both I was able to get a good clean sound from the Blues Junior, without micing. However, with the loud drummer, that was in a fairly small bar. Had we been at another venue that was a bit bigger, I would have either miced it, or taken my g/f's 68 Bassman head.

I also had a Hot Rod Deluxe for a while. I ditched it for a few reasons, 1) it didn't mesh well with my Gretsch 5120, 2) while I got good sounds from it, I never got anything I would have called "great" and 3) it was too loud for most of the venues I was playing at the time. I never turned it up past 2.5.

I'll also second the Peavey Classic's, and add in a vote for the Peavey Delta Blues, and cast a vote against the ValveKing (for your applications, there are much better uses of your money).

 

[onlytwin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Alright, seems like the Classic 30 is a strong option, and a Fender Blues, so I'll keep my eye out for them.

Anyone have much to say about Traynor, Blackstar or Egnater? I had those mentioned to me on another board.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Alright, seems like the Classic 30 is a strong option, and a Fender Blues, so I'll keep my eye out for them.

Anyone have much to say about Traynor, Blackstar or Egnater? I had those mentioned to me on another board.

Traynors are built like a tank. I'm not a huge fan of their YCV series but the YGM and the YGL series are AMAZING and take pedals well. I was not a fan of the blues junior but the YGL1 was bigger sounding then its size and the YGL2 was a beast of an amp

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Have you looked at the Fender Super Champ X2? It's got an all-tube path as well as modeled voices with a tube power section. I think they've also got the USB in and line outs. I'm leaning heavily in that direction when I finally get around to buying an amp.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

The Blues Deluxe is going to be loud for your applications. If you mean the Blues Junior, it's got a good amount of headroom. I was borrowing one for a while and played a couple of small venues unmiced and was able to get a really good clean out of it (I have 4 overdrive pedals on my board, so I get all my dirt from that). FWIW, I was also using a Tele

Agree the Blues Dlx 'can' be loud, but offers good headroom and works well with pedals.
I'd take exception to the statement on the Blues Jr...."it's got a good amount of headroom". The posting below better describes my experience with the Blues Jr.

15watts can be enough, or not enough depending on how much clean volume you need. It really depend on how loud the rest of the band plays (especially drummers).
You can always use a pedal to get more grit from a clean amp, but you cant get more clean from an amp that is overdriving unless you turn it down and mic it up.
Its really a hard question to answer, but most of the dudes i know who gig regularly have two amps of different capacities and take along the best amp to suit the band and venue.
Wattage really pertains to low end response and clean headroom. Both of which go hand in hand. If you have a sound you like and you feel a little bit "undergunned" you can increase your volume appreciably by installing a more efficient speaker.
In the end, you are going to have to see if you can beg, borrow or steal one or more of these amps and see how they go either at gigs or in band rehearsals.

From what you have said, i get the feeling that a hot rod is probably your best bet because it has enough power for clean sounds in plenty, but also has two more footswitchable levels of gain. They are probably the most popular tube amp on the planet for good reason: they are good bang for buck and they give you everything most working players need. Yes they have their shortcomings (all amps do) but the main reason for hearing about them is because every second player out there has used them or owned them. They are a pretty standard, pretty humble but hardworking and versatile amp. If you cant manage to sound good with one of these, then you probably can't sound good using any amp.

I converted my Blues Jr. to a head and run a 2X12 cab with high sensitivity Eminence speakers in it. The Blues Jr. is never really pristine clean IMO, but has good tone and can be sufficient for many applications. When more is needed (i.e. headroom) I use my Blues Deluxe and far prefer it over what I consider the poor "drive and more drive" of the Hot Rod. The BDRI can be hard to use at TV volumes @ home and still get decent tone.

There are no free lunches! What is the higher priority...gigging or home use? Both may do the job, but will be a compromise in one situation.

 

[onlytwin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Recording is probably the #1 priority for me, then gigging, so I want an amp that I can use for both. Not too concerned about getting a perfect tone in my bedroom, I can just use my Vypyr for that.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Recording is probably the #1 priority for me, then gigging, so I want an amp that I can use for both. Not too concerned about getting a perfect tone in my bedroom, I can just use my Vypyr for that.

With recording being priority #1, why not use the Vypyr with your recording software? and get a BDRI for gigs.
IMO recording and gigging are too different (using the average guy's home recording equipment/methods) to expect optimal result from one amp, unless you have all the sophistication of a recording studio such as an isolation box, or mic the amp in another room, etc. Then there's the issue of noise from tube amps to deal with in simple recording methods.

Yes, I'd agree that the ss modeling amps give better tones at 'bedroom' volumes.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Have you looked at the Fender Super Champ X2? It's got an all-tube path as well as modeled voices with a tube power section. I think they've also got the USB in and line outs. I'm leaning heavily in that direction when I finally get around to buying an amp.

unfortunately there's no path in the Fender Super Champ XD or X2 that bypasses the DSP. it's all digital preamp with a tube power amp and phase inverter.

 

[onlytwin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

I have a project going with a friend, and he has access to professional-level recording equipment, so that's why I'm looking for a good recording amp. It's more than just recording on my own.

 

[onlytwin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

But either way, I still want something better than my $100 Vypyr

 

[saladin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

I just score a Fender "red knob" Dual Showman head for $200!!!
Dirt channel is not so hot but the cleans are amazing!!!!!!
Keep an eye out, as they are very under rated!

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

I just score a Fender "red knob" Dual Showman head for $200!!!
Dirt channel is not so hot but the cleans are amazing!!!!!!
Keep an eye out, as they are very under rated!

Very true. Then just get a decent dirt box for the distortion.

 

[onlytwin]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. I'll see how many of these I can find to demo.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

Can't forget Carvin! A Carvin Nomad is $500 from the factory and the Vintage 16 combo is $400. The V3m is like $650, but you might be able to find it used.

Good call on Carvin.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carvin-Lega...905?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7618a239 - $500.00 BIN

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peavy-ultra...645?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e82a75a85 - $425.00 BIN

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sovtek-Mig-...846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd7c945f6 - $400.00 BIN

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

That's why i too got a 5150.
The price.
And i really like the 5150-kleen tone.

Been messing around with the 5150's clean channel - all day today !

I REEEALLY LIKE IT !

Even my Tele's bridge p/u sounds GODLY through it !

 

[Ascension]

Re: Looking for a used tube amp around $500

whatever you do don't get a Marshall DSL... those amps are probably the worst amps I have ever played through at gigging levels. TERRIBLE!

Dude you must not know how to set the amp up or some thing was wrong with it!
A 100 watt DSL head has one of the best clean channels on the planet! In fact many COUNTRY players in well know bands started using them when they first came out and came loaded with 5881's. The crunch side while not my all time favorite Marshall is also quite usable. I can gig with a good DSL at high volumes in just about any setting you could throw my way.