New first tube amp for guitar

[TRex]

I'm looking to get my first all tube amp soon, as my Gdec 3 15w is a bit lacking in the ease of use and sound quality.

I'm specifically looking for a head, as I will sometimes be going into a mixing board to a party system or using other people's cabs.

I mostly want something voiced a bit more "Marshally" than my fender can model. I'm not super knowable about amps, as I until now bought amps for features like modeling and built in petals.

All I know us I would like the touchy crunchy overdrive of a tube amp over a Solid state amp.

Preferably I would like:
5w-20w
Two channels but one is fine
Equalizer if possible
Single input
No need for an effects loop

Budget ~$300 or less for the head

Jet City 333 20w, VHT special 6, and Ibanez tube screamer 15w are the major candidates right now.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

The Laney Cub is worth looking into. It fits most of your criteria. I love mine, it's a beast of an amp. 15 Watts, EL84 tubes, 3 EQ plus tone shaping. It's only a single channel but the tone is awesome.

 

[the toad]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I'm not sure all (or any) of the amps listed has a direct out and can run without a speaker hooked up...

 

[TRex]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I'm not sure all (or any) of the amps listed has a direct out and can run without a speaker hooked up...

Well I'll be running it into a cabinet I guess, I'll be getting one of those anyway haha

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Peavey Classic 20 Micro

The name says "Mini" but it's versatility makes it a much bigger amp head than it looks.
The Classic 20 MH Mini Head is part of Peavey's timeless Classic Series which are revered by blues, country and rock players alike. Their versatility allows them to span the tonal landscape from vintage to contemporary with ease, and the Classic 20 MH Mini Head provides that tone in a highly portable package.

The all-tube, 20-watt Classic 20 MH is powered by two EL84 power tubes and three 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes. It has two channels that follow the same gain structure and voicing of the Peavey Classic Series amps for pure and versatile tone. The channels share a three-band EQ, lush reverb and an effects loop. The channels, effects loop and reverb are all footswitchable.

Peavey's TSI tube monitoring alerts players of power tube status, and in the event of a necessary tube replacement, identifies which tube needs to be replaced. Rear panel features such as a Microphone Simulated Direct Interface (MSDI) with XLR output and USB out, speaker defeat switch and three-position power attenuator switch make the Classic 20 MH Mini Head perfect for studio environments.

 

[TRex]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

The Laney Cub is worth looking into. It fits most of your criteria. I love mine, it's a beast of an amp. 15 Watts, EL84 tubes, 3 EQ plus tone shaping. It's only a single channel but the tone is awesome.

I'll take a look into those

 

[TRex]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Peavey Classic 20 Micro

Looks like a great amp, but a tad out of my budget..

$500 isn't far from twice my budget for a head.

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Fender Super Champ X2.......tubes, modeling and effects. (Head or combo)
Vox Lil' Night Train........all tube.........2 watts using twin triode preamp tube as a push-pull output.
.....or buy a vintage Fender Champ or Vibro Champ.

 

[tman]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I like those JET CITY 333 amps they have a nice tone for rock/blues

 

[the toad]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I'd be checking Craigslist with a $300 budget... You will be able to afford more amp for your money. Imho

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Looks like a great amp, but a tad out of my budget..

$500 isn't far from twice my budget for a head.

a wise man once told me, "it only costs twice as much to get exactly what you want"

 

[the toad]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Can you solder?

 

[RStabler]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Looks like a great amp, but a tad out of my budget..

$500 isn't far from twice my budget for a head.

Honestly, it may be to your advantage to hold off and get the Peavey. They have 3 micro heads that are just fantastic. It really depends on what you like.

But there is the Blackstar HT-1 head. Two channel, reverb, but not much in the way of tweakability. They have the 5 watt version at $400 with a full EQ. I have played the combo versions of both and enjoyed them quite a bit.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Search ebay for tube amp head (or just tube amp if wanting a combo) with filter on for minimum $1, max $300

lots of items

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Check out Bugera. A lot of nice tube stuff in the $200-300 range.

 

[dystrust]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

Preferably I would like:
5w-20w
Two channels but one is fine
Equalizer if possible
Single input
No need for an effects loop

Budget ~$300 or less for the head

With those requirements I'd pick an Egnater Tweaker (which I have) or a Jet City JCA-20 (ideally JCA-22). I think I paid $269 shipped for my Tweaker, and I've seen JCA-20s listed on craiglist in the $200-250 range. I once saw a JCA-22 for $250, but it sold before I could get in touch with the seller.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I've seen used Blackstar Studio HT-20s for sale for around 300, in fact theres one on Guitar Center's site now. The Jet City's are nice too.

 

[Sleepy]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I've owned or extensively played these:

The VHT and Ibanez are both basically mini Fenders with a boost mode so if you don't want Fenderish I'd scratch those. I love both but they are not what you describe.

The Egnater Tweaker (sitting right next to me) is I'd say smack dab in the middle of everything (lil bit of marshall, lil bit of fender, lil bit of modern stuff) with very prominent grainy midrange as is Egnater's signature, at least to my ears. The different tone switches are fun to play with but you can tell its the same amp.

Blackstar HT (just sold) series is like marshall thru an EQ with most of the top end clipped off and the lower mids cranked up to distort. You can plug these into a mixer and this may be what a lot of younger people think of when they say marshallish (boosted & modded 800s/900s/2000s, not old jtm 45s). This seems to be the one that fits your requirements.

Laney Cub 12 is where you start actually getting close to old school marshall imitation. It has that bright and sometimes harsh top end of a small marshall at lower vols and can do ac/dc crunch once you crank it up. I think the harshness could be tamed with the proper speaker.

If volume constraints arent a problem or you dig using a boost pedal Marshall class 5 sure sounds marshallish. It has a lot of practicality issues given the lack of features and narrow volume sweet spot but, but 1 chord and you know you're hearing marshall.

I never really got into jet city stuff (just sold). Owned a 50 watter and it just sounds too preamp biased/fizzy for me. People say they can do jcm 800 tones but i dunno what jcm 800s those dudes have played... sounds totally like an ultra saturated stiff 5150 style amp to me. The vintage version of the 20w is mucho better but has it's own unique sound. At the price I WANTED to love these... There's a youtube vid shooting out a Bugera v22 and one of the jet city combos that sums up my own experience. Fizzy ultra compressed saturation (JC) blown away by clear dynamics (V22).

 

[Demanic]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

I have a Jet City Picovalve. Part of the strategy with Jet City is to run the pre-gain fairly low (1-3) and crank the main power section. Maybe it's not exactly the same, but for the price point, not too shabby.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: New first tube amp for guitar

The Jet City is by far the most Marsahlly out of those you listed.