Reccomend me a good tube head...

TwelveGauge-GT

TwelveGauge-GT

New member
I am looking for a tube head with really nice cleans that will take overdrive and distortion pedals well.
I want it to be relatively cheap (sub £600).

So far I have come up with a Laney GH50L fitted with 6L6 tubes because it's only £400 and I've heard good things about them on here. It will match with my AOR head aswell!

Thanks!
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

I forgot to mention that I would like it to be a 50 watt (or 100 if I could take two of the output tubes out to make it into 50.) head if possible.
 
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Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Sounds like you're describing a Fender Bassman. I don't think they come in a head anymore though, just a combo. I think they used to make a head once upon a time so maybe you could find a used one. It'll be tough at that price though.
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Yuo might want to put a WTB in the "Trading Post" section of this forum with a detailed description of what you are looking for. You can request responses only from forum members in Europe, if you don't want to look at high shipping costs.

Juat an idea.

I just bought a 1964 Fender Band Master head from a forum bro. He is a few thousand miles away, so I have to do some waitng...that is a pain!! This head is only 40 watts, so not as much power as you are looking for....but you never know who might have something.

Good Luck

Dave
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Since no one has really suggested anything i will,

The laney gh50 or 100 will be awsone all around, but it is only a single channel amp, I would suggest the vh100r or an older aor head with two channels for clean and distortion.

You could help out by tellin us what you play and other equipment etc...
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Check out some of the groove tubes singles, if my conversion rate is right they are in your price range. They are pretty sweet handwired amps.

Smilemon
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

I don't mind it only being one channel, as long as it take pedals well. I will probably get my drive and distortion from them.

I was looking at a JMP45 the other day, but was didn't actually get to try it. But I was under the impression that the cleans weren't all that great on them?

Old used bassman heads look pretty cool. Am I right in thinking that they are 70 watts with only two output tubes? Do they take 6L6s?

Sorry but I think those Groove Tubes heads are a little out of my price range and they're really thin on the ground over here.

Are the ValveKing heads bad at cleans?

Thanks for the replys.
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Y'know, if you're looking for just a clean amp and all of your overdrive will be coming from other sources, maybe a Line 6 Atomic Reactor? I'm not really familiar with these but as I understand them they're essentially a simple tube amp meant to accommodate and amplify a POD. Just another idea.
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

TwelveGauge-GT said:
Old used bassman heads look pretty cool. Am I right in thinking that they are 70 watts with only two output tubes? Do they take 6L6s?
Click to expand...

They come with 6l6 or 5881s supposetly, but it's the same tube just different name.

They are supposetly 45 watts.

I don't know how loud those amps will be before they start to break up.

If you are looking for a super clean amp maybe you can look for some used fenders.

Others here know fender amps better than I so they can tell you some names to look out for.

A twin is a very clean amp from what I hear, but I am not sure that you can get one in UK with 600 pounds...
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Another question is "why tube?" If you're not going to rely on the tubes for that signature breakup and overdrive, wouldn't a nice SS amp get you there? I'm currently using the clean channel of a Fender Stage 160 and overdriving it with Boss ME-50. It has a crystal clear clean and takes effects extremely well.
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Haha, you have me there!
Every SS amp I have ever tried has always sounded like it is lacking something to me, I can't really explain it.
When you use a drive pedal into a tube amp you are actually getting distortion from the tubes aswell, when I use them into a SS amp the tone doesn't sound as 'full' and can get glassy at high volumes.
I don't like the high hiss you get from them at low volumes either.

If you know any good SS amps that will give me what I want then, by all means, mention them.
Would an SS amp need to be around 80 watts to match with 50 tube?

The Fender Bassman still looks good to me, I'll see if I can find one to try.
You're right, Fenders are really expensive over here, even used.
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

TwelveGauge-GT said:
The Fender Bassman still looks good to me, I'll see if I can find one to try.
You're right, Fenders are really expensive over here, even used.
Click to expand...

www.ceriatone.com

or

www.celticamps.com

So, if you are sure you 're going with tubes, do consider these two because they offer great prices...

I have noticed difference between ss cleans and tube cleans too. Not too big, but enough that I can feel them.

You should try out those VOX valvetronix. either silver grilled of blue grill...

Give them a shot, lot's of people consider them the best modeling amps, not just for tone but for "tube feel" as well.

I have tried them myself and I found that the clean sounds are slightly worse than the overdriven ones. That might defeat your use for them, but give them a shot...
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

I've played a valvetronix, not a head, but I didn't really like it much.
Those sites are cool, but I think they only ship to the USA, and I'm in the UK.

How are the cleans on the peavey valveking heads?
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

http://www.germinoamps.com




TwelveGauge-GT said:
I am looking for a tube head with really nice cleans that will take overdrive and distortion pedals well.
I want it to be relatively cheap (sub £600).

So far I have come up with a Laney GH50L fitted with 6L6 tubes because it's only £400 and I've heard good things about them on here. It will match with my AOR head aswell!

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
Re: Reccomend me a good tube head...

Lol! I thought I said relatively cheap?
Those amps look and sound beautiful though.
 
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