Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

V

VanStone2

New member
I’m looking for some amp recommendations. I’ve been looking high and low for a tube amp head, preferably under $800 and no more than $1,000 (amp won’t do me any good if the wife kills me), that will sufficiently cover the musical ground I would like to cover.

I have in my house at the moment a Peavey Classic 50 and a Reverend Kingsnake 20-60. They’re both pretty close to what I want, but both fall just a wee bit short and in opposite ends of the spectrum. The C50 is lacking in high-end bite, and the KS is lacking in low-end growl. The musical territory I’m looking to cover is heavily overdriven blues to somewhat hard rock (SRV / Clapton to Black Sabbath / AC/DC). I know that no amp will cover every style of music, but I have to believe that the musical spectrum I mentioned is sufficiently narrow for a single amp (augmented with great pedals, of course).

So, I’m looking for a tube head with a little more bass than the KS can provide and a little more bite than the C50 can provide. Any suggestions?

I have also considered having the C50 modded. Voodoo Amps seems to have a very good reputation for that. Does anyone have experience with their work? What other people/companies mod amps?

Best,
V
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

try out the b-52 at-100..can do ALOTTA tones with that..oh yeah, I'm biased cause I own one now..lol

they're only $700
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

Hate to sound like a broken record...but MESA F-series will do what ya want. Clean channel NAILS the SRV tone with the gain up (and IMO sounds as good as any Vintage Fender I've had the pleasure of playing through).

Channel 2 with the contour on and gain dropped low and some tweakin' will get ya the rest of the sounds you require.

F-30 will have a slightly more non-mesa vibe due to the EL84s compared to the F50/100, but the clean channel is not quite as Fenderish on the 30.

In the price range you seek too.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

I just got a Carvin MTS 3200 Head with new JJ tubes (6L6's), it rocks! I'm using it with a 2-15 Dual Showman cab. I wanted a Dual Showman head but after reading reviews on the Carvin I gave it a shot. Very smooth sound and the bass response is overwhelming.Biggest clean sound I've ever heard. Distortion channel is nice but closer to a Mesa sound, I prefer Marshall sound so I'm thinking of trying out a set of EL-34's, just don't want to give up that great clean sound though. Did I mention the MTS sells new for $599, find it used on EBAY and get new tubes!
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

I think the best head out there is the new Crate V30 head. 30 watts, all class A, 4 el34's, and a cheep price tag. I think if you leave it on the dirty channel, but keep it pretty clean, you can put a DS1 or OD3 on top of it and get killer tone!
http://www.crateamps.com/html/product.cfm?pid=111

If you want something a bit heavier, try the Blue Voodoo 120's 6l6's give it a deeper sound and pleanty of head room
http://www.crateamps.com/html/product.cfm?pid=89

Those are the only heads that are under a grand that are worth a darn. The Marshall MG and AFH are not that impressive. The Peavey XXX sounds good, but it is soooo noisy.... Randall stuff is too scooped and are not that versital. But take a look at those two....
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

Crate V30H, I have the combo 50, it sounds better than a Marshall

Carvin MTS or Legacy head, both rock. I own the Legacy.

Mesa F-30 or F-50, again, both kick major ass. There are so many nice tube heads out there for not a lot of money.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

how about getting one of those high quality splitters that lets you use both amps at once? each would make up for the deficiencies of the other for a blend that you might find perfect ... just a thought ... think of how much money you can save for another toy :D ... and you wont have to worry about your wife either :D

cheers
t4d
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

saladin said:
I just got a Carvin MTS 3200 Head with new JJ tubes (6L6's), it rocks! I'm using it with a 2-15 Dual Showman cab. I wanted a Dual Showman head but after reading reviews on the Carvin I gave it a shot. Very smooth sound and the bass response is overwhelming.Biggest clean sound I've ever heard. Distortion channel is nice but closer to a Mesa sound, I prefer Marshall sound so I'm thinking of trying out a set of EL-34's, just don't want to give up that great clean sound though. Did I mention the MTS sells new for $599, find it used on EBAY and get new tubes!
Click to expand...


I play an MTS combo, and it still has the 5881s in it. Did your MTS head come with those? I need to swap pickups before I swap out tubes, but was wondering if you can elaborate on the tonal differences of various tubes. The other guitarist in our band plays LPs through a Fender Blues Deluxe, which I'm pretty sure has the Groove Tube 6L6s in it, but I'm not in love with that tone either. That amp can get really brash, and the only good OD sound is if it's turned up to 11. Overall I like the 5881s so far, but am thinking I could get a smoother, more rounded out tone with other tubes. But, like I said, I need to put new pups in my Ibanez Artcore semi-hollow before I worry about the tubes. Thoughts?
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

What about Ashdown amps ? Have you checked it out? For this kind of music the best Ashdown would be the Peacemaker model.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

Xeromus said:
Mesa F-30 or F-50, again, both kick major ass. There are so many nice tube heads out there for not a lot of money.
Click to expand...
+1 but the el-84 powered 30 only comes in a 1x12 combo.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

a full stack ENGL powerbal can cure many problems.. but i doubt it's what you're looking for.

try looking for a used bassman or something along that line. a jcm800 might get you in that ballpark too
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

I just got a THD Univalve for $845.00 shipped and I love it.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

Yeah man, an AB box. I've got a Morley that lets you switch between amps or use both at once. I use a 65 BF Fender Champ and a 65 Univox U-45B and the blues sounds are unreal. Both amps are like five and ten watts. Very cool. :burnout:
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

the crate v30 head is a cool amp, i tried one out (and own an older combo model), totally great, super versatile amp, that with a good pedal can do it all.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

Nite_Maresz_25 said:
+1 but the el-84 powered 30 only comes in a 1x12 combo.
Click to expand...

Not true!! The local guitar center has an F-30 head on display right on top of a mesa 2x12 cabinet. Sounds freakin awesome.
 
Re: Suggest Amp Head Under a Grand

I got my MTS with the 6L6's already in it. I've read on the Carvin Forum that the stock tubes are not very pleasing sounding. I wanted the amp to sound like a Fender, which it does but smoother. The distortion channel is nice but I've always preferred pedals for that and with the amount of clean headroom all the od/distortion pedals I have sound great with this amp. EL34's are the Marshall tubes, they would give a more midrangy distortion, which I prefer. I am worried about losing the Fendery clean sound though. Check the Carvin Forum there is quite a bit on the MTS and using different tubes.
 
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