New amp shopping

vinnie1971

vinnie1971

New member
I am looking to get a tube amp, I have been without one for some time.

Mostly for practice and recording but occasionally gig duty will be required. Reasonable clean headroom required...

My style of playing I'd call contemporary blues. So I tend to avoid the cliches and 12 bar idiom but it's blues mixed with country, classic rock, folk rock and alternative pop. But under pinning it is Blues guitar. From clean to low gain with occasional moderate gain.

I have been reading the reviews and listening to YouTube land and so far its down to 4. Listed in no particular order:

Fender blues junior (or tweed version)
Pros :
It's a blues junior!
amazing cleans and awesome driven tones
Cons - £200 more than the others
No switchable channels / fine most of the time, a PITA when gigging

Vox AV30 - so called hybrid amp - analogue modelling - the demos sound more organic than digital- I am not normally a fan. Both preamp and power section are tube driven. I guess this is better than other hybrids who only have one tube on the preamp.
Pros:
8 good tones modelled after some goodies such as the fender tweed, bassman and Marshall JCM800
Headphones - no need to keep
My 20 year old fender Frontman for headphones practice
Switchable channels
Cons:
Is it really as good as a proper tube amp?
Not so sure what speaker is in there.

Laney cub 12R
Pros:
Best sounding Laney in my opinion- sounds like it bridges the tones between British and American amps, kind of fender crossed with a Marshall to my ear.
Decent speaker
Switchable 15w and 1w
Cons:
No switchable channels

Bugera v22
Pros
Cheap full valve amp
Good fender like cleans and low gain
Marshall like high gain
Switchable channels

Cons
Not sure about the speaker
Older version had issues but is the new one fixed?

Any opinions welcome.

I can't try all these out as done may only be available online [emoji853]




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Re: New amp shopping

I'd go Laney, mostly cause I don't like the v22. Of course, you can't go wrong with a blues junior unless you're playing metal
 
Re: New amp shopping

i havent played the laney but that sounds like a great option if you like the way it sounds
 
Re: New amp shopping

I know absolutely nothing about the Vox AV30.
The Fender Blues Jr. is OK, but in addition to being over-priced for what you get (IMO), I wasn't happy with mine until speaker and cab were changed. That adds even more to the cost, and there are better options.
Had a V22 and it was the worst amp I ever owned....reliability issues (early model) and horrible 'fizzy' OD channel.
If you're going to occasionally play out, the lower wattage amps may leave you short on headroom (the BJr. and Laney Cub).
There's a deal going on right now for what I consider a great Blues amp, the Peavey Delta Blues 115 (HERE). It's only drawback to me is it's a bit heavy @49#, but since you would be using it predominantly @ home, that's no big deal. It's become one of my favorite amps.
 
Re: New amp shopping

While I absolutely love my Fender Tube amps (had a Blues Jr. with a Cannabis-Rex speaker, awesome amp) I think the better choice for you hear is going to be that Vox. I think Vox does the best job of the "hybrids", can really nail the cleans and the drive.

I used to love the V22, but recently acquired one and sold it very quickly...tone was just "off" to my ears. Also the over all quality seemed to be lacking (reverb went out, scratchy pots and the selector switch popped off.)

I've not tried a Laney, so I will let others speak on that. But for the money for those amps I would go: Vox, Fender, Laney and then Bugera.

Also, if you haven't sat down with any of them I would recommend playing as many as you can (I did read some may only be available online, but if you can try at least one then I would shoot for it.)
 
Re: New amp shopping

treyhaislip said:
While I absolutely love my Fender Tube amps (had a Blues Jr. with a Cannabis-Rex speaker, awesome amp) I think the better choice for you hear is going to be that Vox. I think Vox does the best job of the "hybrids", can really nail the cleans and the drive.

I used to love the V22, but recently acquired one and sold it very quickly...tone was just "off" to my ears. Also the over all quality seemed to be lacking (reverb went out, scratchy pots and the selector switch popped off.)

I've not tried a Laney, so I will let others speak on that. But for the money for those amps I would go: Vox, Fender, Laney and then Bugera.

Also, if you haven't sat down with any of them I would recommend playing as many as you can (I did read some may only be available online, but if you can try at least one then I would shoot for it.)
Click to expand...

TBH I did like other Vox amps I have played but then saw this video

https://youtu.be/aQ4ZK-ut9Ck


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Re: New amp shopping

IM4Tone said:
:bigok: I must agree!
Click to expand...

Certainly will help me with gigging so I can replicate my recordings to switch from clean Fender to overdriven Marshall with a footswitch. Looks like it's number one choice .


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Re: New amp shopping

im always gun shy about gigging with a ss amp. ive played those vox and they sound fine, but they are still an ss amp as far as im concerned. using tubes as a tone shaping tool is nice, but its not the same as a tube power section
 
Re: New amp shopping

vinnie1971 said:
Fender blues junior (or tweed version)
Pros :
It's a blues junior!
Click to expand...
cons: particle board cabinet will rattle. Stock speaker is rubbish.
vinnie1971 said:
Vox AV30 - so called hybrid amp
Click to expand...
Cons:
Is it really as good as a proper tube amp?
No
vinnie1971 said:
Laney cub 12R
Bugera v22
Click to expand...
Pros (all the amps listed): Really all of these amps are workable and if you are a good player your should be able to get some good sounds.
Cons: They are all compromises based on cost. None of them are really stellar sounding amps that inspire you to play more.

Still, in this day and age bang for buck is important and compromises based on cost are a reality.
IN the cheaper end of the tube amp market check out the laney vc15 too as well as the peavey classic 30.

Also if you can stretch a few more dollars, look out for a 5e3 tweed deluxe clone. Serious point to point tone machine in a solid pine cabinet.
Do not overlook the difference a nice cabinet makes. Think of the difference between ply and solid guitars. If you can avoid it, steer clear of particle or MDF cabinets. A few extra bucks at the start means not needing (or wanting) to upgrade later.
 
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Re: New amp shopping

I like the sound of that Vox!

Would'nt worry about it being hybrid or SS either. If it sounds good ..it's good. Just means less hassle..

Here's my 50 watt SS AMT Stonehead giving those tired old vintage tube amps a run for their money.. :outahere:

 
Re: New amp shopping

Phantasmagoria said:
I like the sound of that Vox!

Would'nt worry about it being hybrid or SS either. If it sounds good ..it's good. Just means less hassle..

Here's my 50 watt SS AMT Stonehead giving those tired old vintage tube amps a run for their money.. :outahere:

Click to expand...

I do prefer the warmth and depth of a tube amp clean or just breaking up. But that Vox AV30 seems to have the tones nailed- the fender and Marshall tones especially. But it's no ordinary hybrid as it has a valve for the preamp and another valve for the power section - some day it's more like a tube amp with a solid state analogue circuits to get the 8 voices rather than a hybrid or modelling by amp. I don't personally care to much what it is, going by that demo it sounds pretty awesome.

I had a tube amp many years ago - transformer fried, tubes all exploded and was beyond repair. Been solid state ever since. But I miss that sound.

I am considering the Laney VC15 it's got switchable channels but I thing the Cub 22r with its bigger speaker does clean tones better. I am struggling to justify the extra £200 on the FBJr. Hopefully going to be able to play them all back to back this weekend (apart from the Bugera - that's not in the shops where I am)


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Re: New amp shopping

Well, I do think the Vox sounds pretty sweet ..& these days the line between tube sound and pure (analog) SS stuff is actually really, really fine...probably way less than you'd expect. They're both (hybrids & SS) capable of extremely tube-like tone/feel/response, so much so that on most settings you actually could'nt tell a difference. In the end I just use my ears and go by what I think sounds nice (don't really care about type/configuration or whatever) I have amps that are hybrid, SS & tube & just look at them as different "amps".
 
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Re: New amp shopping

i would love to get a ss amp that gave me the tone and (especially) feel of a great tube amp but i havent found one yet. there are great ss amps out there but nothing that i would trade my tubes for yet. granted im going for a fairly vintage tone
 
Re: New amp shopping

jeremy said:
i would love to get a ss amp that gave me the tone and (especially) feel of a great tube amp but i havent found one yet. there are great ss amps out there but nothing that i would trade my tubes for yet. granted im going for a fairly vintage tone
Click to expand...

I am looking for vintage tones, good sparkling cleans, but can warm up too. Nice edge if break up and low gain. Not fussed about high gain or distortion.


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Re: New amp shopping

Phantasmagoria said:
Well, I do think the Vox sounds pretty sweet ..& these days the line between tube sound and pure (analog) SS stuff is actually really, really fine...probably way less than you'd expect. They're both (hybrids & SS) capable of extremely tube-like tone/feel/response, so much so that on most settings you actually could'nt tell a difference. In the end I just use my ears and go by what I think sounds nice (don't really care about type/configuration or whatever) I have amps that are hybrid, SS & tube & just look at them as different "amps".
Click to expand...

:bigthumb: :yes11: If it sounds and feels good, it is good.
 
Re: New amp shopping


Hughes Kettner Tubemeister Deluxe series might be a choice for you as well.
40w version would give you the head room.
Built in redbox for home recording.
1w to 40w switchable.
Switchable channels.
There's also a 20w version.
 
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