Opinions requested on first tube amp.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the input. Did forget to mention the amp will be for home practice and maybe occasional jamming with my father in law. The Jet City combo was at the top of my list for awhile but I really don't need 20 watts. I lean towards darker warmer tones and the two amps I mentioned seem to be able to do those well. The Excelsior really is my first choice at the moment but the local used gear shop should be able to get the Class 5 head for under $200 so that's kind of a no brainer. Keep the conversation going. And I'll keep everyone posted how things turn out. And I apologize if my posts aren't as eloquent as they could be.
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

84camarofreak said:
and maybe occasional jamming with my father in law.
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"Honey I really want to grow closer with your dad. He's a really cool guy. I think we should play more music together but I don't really have a good enough amp for playing with other musicians. I get kind of drowned out and it's difficult to play along with them and hear myself. I know we agreed on $300 but I don't think that can get me an amp big enough for playing along with others like your dad. Maybe we can see what's in the $500-$600 range? I know it's a little more money but it will be an amp that will last a long time and get a lot of use and be more practical than a smaller one that might have to get replaced a few years down the road."


:14:
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

hareek said:
"Honey I really want to grow closer with your dad. He's a really cool guy. I think we should play more music together but I don't really have a good enough amp for playing with other musicians. I get kind of drowned out and it's difficult to play along with them and hear myself. I know we agreed on $300 but I don't think that can get me an amp big enough for playing along with others like your dad. Maybe we can see what's in the $500-$600 range? I know it's a little more money but it will be an amp that will last a long time and get a lot of use and be more practical than a smaller one that might have to get replaced a few years down the road."


:14:
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Got to be worth a try :D
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

Dr. Vegetable said:
I recently picked up a used Egnater Rebel-20 that is in your price range. It's a decent little 20W tube amp that has a mixable power amp section to let you blend between Fender-like and Marshall-esque distortion. (With the emphasis on "-like" and "-esque".) It may get a little loud for a practice amp, but could be a good option for you.

I've been curious about the Ibanez TSA15H as well, but haven't had the opportunity to play one.

But beware the power of the Dark Side. Since getting into tube amps, I've become a bit of a tube snob. I haven't heard a budget solid state or modeling setup that I really like by comparison.
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I tried a Rebel 20 once. It sounded more "Fender" to my ears, even with the dial at the EL84 side. Not a bad sound, just not my thing. Same with the Tweaker.
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

I've got an Excelsior on back order right now, so I can't describe how it sounds, as I've never heard it except on YouTube videos. I wanted something different, but unlike you this will be my third tube amp. But this 300$ amp is already costing me more than I originally expected... The amp hasn't even arrived yet, and I've already bought a new speaker, new power & preamp tubes and everything I need to do the Tone mod... And that's not counting the three new pedals I've bought to plug into it...
 
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Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

Andrew Lamprecht said:
You don't know much about women do you? :D
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yeah open and honest.

Me: I want a new blah blah blah. the reason I want it is blah blah blah blah blah blah blah I found a good deal on one I have been looking for a whileblah blah blah
Wife:Whatever. Do we have the money to pay for it and still get our bills paid?
Me: Yep
Her:Well happy birthday/fathers day/Christmas (which ever one is closest)
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

84camarofreak said:
Hey everyone, thanks for all the input. Did forget to mention the amp will be for home practice and maybe occasional jamming with my father in law. The Jet City combo was at the top of my list for awhile but I really don't need 20 watts. I lean towards darker warmer tones and the two amps I mentioned seem to be able to do those well. The Excelsior really is my first choice at the moment but the local used gear shop should be able to get the Class 5 head for under $200 so that's kind of a no brainer. Keep the conversation going. And I'll keep everyone posted how things turn out. And I apologize if my posts aren't as eloquent as they could be.
Click to expand...

go with the jet city
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

If you buy used, you'll get more amp for your money. I suggest looking at the Ampeg Jet J-12 or J-12T, or the Blues Jr. I've owned the Jet (T model) since '95. I thought it was one of the best sounding amps ever made when I bought it, and I still think that 17 years later. I've also played my bandmate's Blues Jr. a bit. I thought it was a good sounding amp too, and it has a feature or two over the Jet. You also might be able to score a Traynor YGM-III, which I believe is based on the Deluxe Reverb, for $300 if you hunt around. I had one, and I kick myself for selling it. It was a great amp.

I've tried several of the newer 5W amps like the Class 5, and to be honest, they just don't do it for me. They feel cold and overly compressed, like they might as well just be a solid state amp on the dirty channel. If you want 5W for $300, you can get a nice Gibson Skylark from the '60's. I love mine. Very Champ-like, but not as expensive. Gets a great Cropper or Sumlin sound at 5 to 7, and breaks up nice without sounding super compressed dynamically at 10. Very early Kinks-like. They're also pretty inexpensive and simple to repair. They have not **** for features, though. Not even a tone knob. (I think some of the higher end models have tremolo, though.) And the good thing about an old amp like that is that it will either hold value or gain value in the time between when you get it and when you decide to "upgrade."

Neither the Skylark or any of those modern 5W amps I've tried would cut it in a full band situation IMO, unless you could be mic'd. In a quiet jam without drums, for playing quiet at home, or for recording, sure.
 
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Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

I think for your favorites, the Class 5 sounds to be the natural option for yourself but, it seems that you don't like the available headroom.

If you are thinking on to have a nice clean foundational tone and work the dirty part with some pedals, I would recommend you to include in your list the Vox Night Train, with power enough (15W), headroom enough and stunning cleans. I saw a thread in this forum saying that they are selling that cab for about $200, what is ridiculous for such a nice amp. Just a single channel amp. Even that can do very good driven tones (mode thick) you can not swap the channel on fly.
Its very easy to maitain (two pre-amp tubes, two cheap EL84 tubes), has that British vibe and, its really nice to transport, hunging from your shoulder.
Stock sounds really nice but, as soon as you swap their pre-amp tubes (at least) for anything just a bit better (cheap EH 12AX7 could be ok) the amp sounds incredible good.

Another great sounding amp for a nice price is the VHT Special 6 or the Special 6 Ultra. Those sound closer to Fender's and mount 6V6GT tubes. For the price they are really good and, don't be fooled by their 6 Watts, they sound loud enough for just home practicing. Also not switchable single-channel, even that it has a boost switch that overdrives the pre-amp section (and increasses loudness in, at least, +3dB). Tone/price relationship is outstanding.

But, honestly, for your musical tastes, I think you will feel more at home with that Vox Night Train.
Throw a couple of Mullard 12AX7 reissues in the pre-amp and a couple of Mullard EL84 reissues (late, when you can afford them) and be on Heaven.
At least, swap the stock Sovtek 12AX7-WA tubes with a pair of cheap JJ ECC83S tubes and, if possible, a couple of JJ EL84. This is the minimum I would do.
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

I'd go for a Fender Pro Junior and some pedals. Good enough for Jeff Beck! You can find them on Ebay and Craigslist all day long for well under $300.



In terms of a head, the Vox Night Train impressed the heck out of me.

But you'll need a speaker cabinet.

I found that the Vox Night Train sounded best through a 2 x 10" cab that I wired for 16 ohms. Much better than any of the single 12" cabs I tried it with, even Celestions! The 2 x 10 cab my buddy AJ uses with his Night Train has a couple of 8 ohm Jensen C10Q speakers in it wired in series for 16 ohms.
 
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Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

I got a re-stocked Blackstar HT-5H from MF for $265. It's a pretty versitile amp, with the 3 band EQ and the ISF you can get alot of good sounds out of it. Right now I have it rinning to a G12 75-T but once Christmas is over I'll get a V30 to go with it. Sounds great even with only one 12".
 
Re: Opinions requested on first tube amp.

I second the idea of something like the Pro Junior, Ampeg J12-T, or some other super simple amp. That way you get to learn to control the tone with your playing, and not get too caught up in tons of options.
 
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