tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Big Blue

New member
for under $750 new? I've seen plenty of boutique amps that I love, but I can't justify selling my car for a small tube amp. I'm thinking something like a Blues Junior or Peavey Delta Blues would be the best bang for my buck. I don't need a lot of clean headroom, and I will only be jamming with friends and maybe playing a small club now and then. I currently have a 50W V-Series Crate that I have to crank too loud to get the tone that I want (and it has all of those digital effects on it that I never use). I get great clean tones and it works well if I use an OD pedal, but it's hard to get that power tube distortion at useable volumes. Any suggestions?
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Crate V32 Palomino. You'll get that power tube saturation at a lower volume than with the 50. Great cleans and overdrive at a great price, I really couldn't be much happier with mine (I'm waiting for my Fargen to be done with an upgrade).
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Hughes and Kettner 20th edition tube
Nicest cleans ive heard, chunky overdrive tones, tight and articulate bass smooth mids and clear highs. Nice tube saturation at moderate volume leves.
I love mine. Dills
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Rivera Pubster. I believe it is the 20 watt amp, either that or a Blackface deluxe clone. You can build your own for less than 750 and have a great sounding amp.
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

You could also look into something from Laney.
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

i think a blues jr with a tube and speaker upgrade would be good for a bluesy type setup and itll be well under $750
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Crate V1512 or 15 watt palamino, crunches at a nice volume for small gigs and gets more distortion than I will ever need in the preamp, I am thinking of switching to lower gain tubes because mine breaks up so easilly. It has ok headroom tho
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Ashdown Essex Blonde 15 (for some reason though, they recently started calling the handwired model series 'Hayden Amps' instead of Ashdown, to make them stand out more I guess). Really nice, versatile but simple and very responsive.
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

I'd go with a Deluxe Reverb RI. If you can find a used one it should go for around 600 to 700. A good OD pedal in front and you are good to go. 22 Watts can be pretty awesome!
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Laney LC 30 mrk II. 4 pre tubes and 4 after hehehe.

I've never played through a Laney before, but I have always wanted to try one (Simple, British, class A, all things I like). What can you tell me about the LC30 or VC30?
 
Re: tWhat is the best 15W-30W tube combo...

Bludave said:
I'd go with a Deluxe Reverb RI. If you can find a used one it should go for around 600 to 700. A good OD pedal in front and you are good to go. 22 Watts can be pretty awesome!

I second that-legendary cleans-awesome with a Fulldrive 2. A used DRRI will run about 600 and a FD2 just about 175, so that's on budget. Nice recommendation Bludave!
 
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