Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

[SepultuRick]

Hi, i am considering buying a small second hand tube amplifier. I want it to be fairly small in size with at least one 12" speaker. I have never owned a tube amp but i play a lot of metal so high gain sound is important. When i say high gain i mean upto like death metal sounds. Thats not all i play but it need to be able to do that. thanks

I think 30watts or more would be sufficient, i do play guitar with my friend who is a drummer and my other friend who uses a 120watt line 6 spider 2.

I have never been happy with the tone of any solid state amp i have played although i have heard good things about the tech 21 trademark series

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

Marshall JCM800 4010 combo with overdive or booster in front.

Traynor blue combo (don't know if you'll find many used yet).

They're both 50 watts, but what the heck. Either is better than something smaller, like the Marshall DSL401. There aren't many tube amps on the market that do high gain at low output power.

If you're handy, look at AX84.com. Their P1-Ex and HO designs are managable by beginners. DIY amps can be inexpensive if you shop smart, use donor parts, etc. Plus, you'll learn a ton.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

Engl Screamer or Thunder Combo!!! :headbang:
Both are 50W, damn loud if needed, equipped with really big gain reserves and man do they sound great under heavy dorptuning since they(like all engls) are relatively bright and pretty tight and focused what prevents your sound from getting muddy even under high gain combined with droptuning(C and B are the droptunings i used both amps with).

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

At around 30 watts, both Soldano and Mesa used to make high gain combos.

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

At around 30 watts, both Soldano and Mesa used to make high gain combos.

A Mesa .22 Studio+ might do the trick, at an affordable pricetag secondhand. It's at slightly less than the 30 watts you're asking for, but it's loud as hell!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

5150 combo
XXX combo
Carvin Legacy
H&K Tube 20

I know you said you didn't want solid state, but the Vox AD60 and AD120 heads on a sealed back cab will give you the most extreme metal tones you've ever used. You can dial in any shade of highgain by mixing the best highgain amp models with the OD models.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

What about the Mesa Lonestar Special It is class A and has a switch for 30 15 or even 5 what has 2 channels and can get a lot of gain.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

For a small high gain combo a Mesa Boogie F-30 is a good choice. I got rid of mine because I couldn't get the dirty channel to be clean enough....too metal for my taste.

 

[flipside]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

For metal? Peavey 5150 combo wins hands down.

 

[RGN]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

Engl Screamer or Thunder Combo!!! :headbang:
Both are 50W, damn loud if needed, equipped with really big gain reserves and man do they sound great under heavy dorptuning since they(like all engls) are relatively bright and pretty tight and focused what prevents your sound from getting muddy even under high gain combined with droptuning(C and B are the droptunings i used both amps with).

+1 (first time I have ever done that :beerchug: )

The Screamer 50 is the best combo out there for metal and can do everthing in between. The quality is far superior to Peavy and competes with the boutique stuff.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

Screamer or XXX. I'd go with the Screamer, but the XXX's can be had for 450 on eBay. It's obsurd.

 

[haiz69]

Re: Suggest a small tube amp 30Watts or more that can handle high gain stuff

MESA DC-3. Probably the best buy in the MESA line. You can get a used one for $400 or less.