The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

[Stratman]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Stratman: Does a Franklin fit my description? Can you get a Franklin with Reverb? I assumed that Celtic would be out of my price range. I quess these are questions for Scott F.

I am sure that Scott (And Jeff, if necessary) can made an amp that fits your description. The Franklin is a take off a Matchless amp of the same wattage (e.g., Lighting) and is a really great amp.

The small price increase that you would pay is well within that budget you have mentioned and it is an amp that you would keep for the rest of your life. (ie Smart investment)

PM Scott_F for details or http://www.celticamplifiers.com/ btw - you can hear some of my tunes on that web site.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Peavey Delta Blues 30W
'Nuff said, that's a combo the rhythm guitarist uses.
VOX AC15
Vox AC15 15Watt, looks nice, alnico speaker....
I'd say '65 Fender Twin Reverb Reissue, but it's over-wattage.
Fender Hot Rod DeVille
Heard some good stuff about this....
In worst case scenario, www.musiciansfriend.com or some other site, sort by tube type amp, customer rating sorted, then price sorted. Customer ratings aren't perfect, so go to a music store, but you can also read reviews.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

I would stay away from the Hot Rod DeVilles and Deluxes. I couldn't get a useable tone from it besides loud and clean. Might be good for a PODXTL or something.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

I would stay away from the Hot Rod DeVilles and Deluxes. I couldn't get a useable tone from it besides loud and clean. Might be good for a PODXTL or something.

Well me, I tried a couple with just guitar. More of a easily-overdriven blues-overdrive-distortion-greasy-sounding amp, in my opinion. It's worth it if you want southern rock, I guess, but not sure. Oh well.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Eh, maybe I didn't use it right. Didn't get to crank it, just had to use drive/more drive. Probably where I went wrong.

I still proudly stand by my Blues Junior.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Eh, maybe I didn't use it right. Didn't get to crank it, just had to use drive/more drive. Probably where I went wrong. I still proudly stand by my Blues Junior.

They're good too....

 

[metallicaxlxl]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

you could also check the crate v32 palomino. very nice amp. this one and the traynor's are the BEST amps for the bucks. i say the traynors could be 1k more expensive and theyd still be really requested. nothing better than those around that price range combo amps, and especially for what you want to play. NOTHING BETTER!!

 

[some_dude]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Thanks all for the responses so far.

Alec: Its ok to rain on the parade. That's what I'm trying to figure out: Would a tube amp in this watt range give me an improvement in tone over the digitech? Otherwise, I'd buy a Cube 30 and be done with it.

The only way to know for sure is to borrow/rent one for a night and find out.

15w to 30w really is loud. I have 15w and 30w amps and they'll still rattle the walls. Even when I play what I think is quiet in my basement my wife can still hear it clearly on the 2nd floor. When I need to be quiet I use a MicroCube. It's a great little travel practice amp, though I think I'd rather have a Cube 30 for use at home.

 

[some_dude]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

If only you could spend about $200 more you could buy a Dr. Z Maz 18! those things rule for what you described. Also stay as far away from the AC15CC as possible.

If I remember correctly, the Maz 18 is loud as hell.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Try to seek out a Gibson Goldtone 15RV or Trace Elliot Vellocette 15R.....almost the same amp for cheaper. They have a great natural British breakup at reasonable volumes, and better reverb than any other British amp......reverb like a Fender. Another good one is the Hughes & Kettner Edition 20.

I'm beginning to be a huge fan of 2 EL-84 amps, simply because they sound cranked at normal levels, and feel like miniature EL-34 amps.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Here's my list:

Mesa F-30
Mesa DC-3
Palomino V32
Marshall DSL401
Mesa Nomad 45
Mesa Rocket 44
Vox AC15
Mesa Blue Angel
Mesa Maverick

Youl could buy any of those Mesa amps used for well under your budget. I like Mesa's and I own a 112 DC-3 and a 212 Maverick--but I would love to have a DSL401 and a Blue Angel. Lots of different flavors there.

Bill

 

[Jeroen]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Here's my list:

Mesa F-30
Mesa DC-3
Palomino V32
Marshall DSL401
Mesa Nomad 45
Mesa Rocket 44
Vox AC15
Mesa Blue Angel
Mesa Maverick

Youl could buy any of those Mesa amps used for well under your budget. I like Mesa's and I own a 112 DC-3 and a 212 Maverick--but I would love to have a DSL401 and a Blue Angel. Lots of different flavors there.

Bill

Now THERE is an interesting list!
The Blue Angel is delicious, with its Progressive Linkage, but those amps are very expensive here. I've seen secondhand ones advertised for up to 2000 euros (that's even more in USD). They're regarded 'rare' and 'collectors items' here, so it seems. I would NEVER pay that much for those amps, no matter how good they are!

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Koch StudioTone

 

[Stratcat]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

A 6 watt Fender Champ with a couple of pedals is more than enough volume for bedroom volume.

http://instruments.search.ebay.com/...ZQQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZbs

 

[Rusty Fingers]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Koch StudioTone

There's one I've tried. Love the clean tones, but not the distortion and a little out of the desired price range.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

There's one I've tried. Love the clean tones, but not the distortion and a little out of the desired price range.

I was thinking he was in the Netherlads. It was another post.

What was wrong with the distortion?

 

[Rusty Fingers]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

What was wrong with the distortion?

I dunno, probably me / my guitar. I was playing some very hot pickups through it and was struggling to get a sound that I wanted.

 

[Rusty Fingers]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Here's my list:

Mesa F-30
Mesa DC-3
Palomino V32
Marshall DSL401
Mesa Nomad 45
Mesa Rocket 44
Vox AC15
Mesa Blue Angel
Mesa Maverick

Youl could buy any of those Mesa amps used for well under your budget. I like Mesa's and I own a 112 DC-3 and a 212 Maverick--but I would love to have a DSL401 and a Blue Angel. Lots of different flavors there.

Bill

The Mesa Lone Star Special looks interesting, but I assume that's out of my pricerange too.

 

[Jeroen]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

Koch StudioTone

Now why didn't I think of that? Great little amp!
Many people tend to find the overdriven sounds of a Koch somewhat fizzy, due to the large amount of presence. However, when playing a Koch in a band or a jam, or when recording with the amp, you'll find this very helpfull, as it helps you tremendously in cutting through the mix. I also think Koch amps sound very transparent and 'honest', they really let the true character of your guitar shine through. I used to have a Koch Pedaltone until a few months ago, and it was just brilliant!

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: The 15 to 30 watt tube amp question

I dunno, probably me / my guitar. I was playing some very hot pickups through it and was struggling to get a sound that I wanted.

Hum. If that is the case, you may best off with a nice clean amp and a pedal like a SD Twin Tube Classic or another pedal for your driven sounds. It will allow you get what you want. Or if the drive is your thing, something like a small marshall, mesa. But if you need a clean I would say use the amp as the base and work from there.