Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

Hoss

Hoss

Joyfulnoiseologist
i know we've all discussed this before, but i'm looking for a small tube amp in the $300 - $400 price range (used of course) from 15 to 50 watts after i get my Schecter out of layaway here this week or next. so what should be on my list of amps to definitely check out. i want to eventually get a nice cab and some heads, but i don't have the patience right now to save that much...so a combo will due fine until then...but i do want it to sound as good as possible of course...LOL!

Peavey Classic 30 (i've tried before and liked)

Traynor YCV (haven't tried-opinions?)

and what else...?

thanks in advance,
mike
 
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Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

My cousin has one of those Traynors and loves it. It's a great sounding amp and would probably be right up your alley.

I like the Classic 30, too. I almost bought one used instead of my Blues Jr. I think I was still stuck on the "new" thing.
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

well, its 15 watts but i love my LC15R!^-^
its more geared towards vintage sounds, but i can get pretty high gain when i boost the amp with my sd-1. clean settings are great too. very chimey and sparkly with a strat! key is to eq it right!

benji
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

what sound are you looking for?

the classic 30 dimed and volume at 4 will get you a kickass ac/dc sound
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

i like rock...classic and modern (from Petty to Chevelle)...and i like good cleans with some verb. i know that one tube amp won't get me everything by itself so i'm open.
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

I liked the Delta Blues over the Classic from Peavey. The two 10"s give ti a bit more depth to the sound, I think.
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

Don't pass up the Ampeg J12T Jet Reissue. 2xel84. Good llittle amp. Also, the Crate V30 would be a nice choice in that range as well. If you could bump that up to 500, you can often find a used Rivera Knucklehead (non-reverb) head.

I'd pass on the blues junior route. You can sometimes find a used Tweed Deluxe 5E3 that someone built in that 4-600 range.

I know it's not all tube, but don't pass up the Valvetronix series. It's the best swiss army knife amp I've run across.
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

ampegs and tweed deluxes sound good!

anyone else have any experience with those Groove Tube amps...they look interesting too!?
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

I had a Blues Jr that I bought used. Someone had *&%# ' ed with it at some point and it just never came back. What a mess.

I have some really awesome small amps that are worth big bucks but I think I can still add something useful to the discussion.

I had a Rivera R30, or Thirty Twelve or something. They don't make them anymore. I saw in a buyer's guide that they can be found for $400 or less. It was really nice, had tons of options for an amp that size ( 30W ), and could hold it's own in a studio or small club if asked. However, out of curiousity, I looked online in dealers shops and they were over 400, so look on eBay 1st if interested.
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

MIke, I know you're looking for tubes, but you know I highly recommend the TM60.....and the Vox Valvetronics sound like a great option!

Maybe grab the Vox Tonelab floorboard w/headphones & then save up for a TECH21 Power Engine. 60watts of any set-up ya' want.

For tubes, I did try one of those Peavey Delta Blues & yes, the 2 10s sounded fat & full.
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

hmmm...a Rivera in my price range...i wouldn't have expected that?

sounds like i definitely need to try out the Delta blues too!?

so which one of these mentioned is the most flexible (obviously the Techs & Vox's and i may still go that route) but of the tube amps...which one combines really good cleans with nice crunch!?
 
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Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

When I tried out the Delta Blues, I didn't really check out the "crunch"....I dialed in a nice clean & then dirtied it up a bit. Very nice bluesy tone with a Strat...I would imagine a Tele would sound super thru it too.

When you get your PT, take it with you & plug into everything you can find. Doing it at the shop where you got the guitar would be nice....seems like the guy hooked you up a bit, so throwing him the business would be cool!:bigok:
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

i'd LOVE to buy an amp from Jeff (the store owner) but he only has Fender, Crate, Rivera & Genz-Benz...if had Peavey i would definitely buy one from him!

and you're right...i need to take my pt and follow the advice i give people and play it through any amp i'm considering...

so my leads so far are

Classic 30
Delta Blues 210
Traynor YCV40
Rivera thirty-twelve
Ampeg jet
Laney LC15r
Tweed Deluxe

anything else i have to try in that range?
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

You don't have any speaker cab right?

PT into a POD into one of those new Crate Powerblocks would be an inexpensive set up.

Do you still have a multi-effects box or any pedals???

That Powerblock is like $200.00....you can get a nice Avatar for a little more than $200...used POD or something like that ?????

Just ideas my Brutha!
 
Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

nah...i have zilch...no cab, no pedals, nada.

i eventually want a nice cab and a couple choice heads...so i'd like to find decent sounding combo right now that maybe could power a 2x12 cab someday too?!

right now i'm really crossing my fingers that i can get my Schecter tomorrow out of layaway! :fingersx:

i think i'm also gonna put in the nickel covered 59n and CustomCustombr in it and depending on what's underneath the nickel covers i may leave them covered?
 
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Re: Small tube amp in the $300 - $400 range?

WELL...........the upside to starting over is you know what you want this time!:bigok:

With that said, I think you could probably find a nice Blues Jr. or something small to get you by & then just save up for what you really want.

That way, you're not out a ton of dough & the resale on the Blues Jr's stay pretty constant, if you wanted to sell it later on.

First things first......get that PT !!!!:beerchug:
 
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