Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

[bigcupholder]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Interesting take. I do like the versatility inherent in my DAW plugins, but even though I probably couldn't accurately tell you which is which in a blind test, there's just always been something NKR about the modeling amps. I will give the SpiderValve a good look if/when I can find one.

Which is another problem; even though I'm in a major metro, it's a big sprawl, not really known for its live music scene, and GC isn't what it used to be in terms of selection, new or used. So, finding a decent selection of these lower-cost options to try out has been tricky of late, even though you'd think these kinds of options would be best sellers among home studio recordists and patio-gig players.

I have not tried a SpiderValve so I can't say how they sound. My experience has been that cheap modeling gear is still noticeably off and you need to get to the Helix/Fractal/Kemper level before it's indistinguishable, but I haven't tried newer cheap stuff in several years.

The HX Stomp is a great option if you don't need tons of effects all in the same preset (it has all the same amp, cab and effects models as the bigger units, but fewer can be used simultaneously). I already had a Helix LT when it came out, otherwise I'd have gotten that, because I just run an amp and cab model 90% of the time, so the full setup is overkill for me. The amp tones are amazing and recording with it is so convenient (I save a copy of the preset named after the song I used it on, so if I go back to work on the song again I can use exactly the same tone).

I recently took my Helix to a rehearsal space where I'd been using their DSL40CR and plugged into the effects loop return. I really like the amp but I'm now 100% sold on this setup. Being able to assign multiple things to one footswitch is a game changer. Being able to swap out amps (even in the same preset, changing mid song with no lag) is huge. Want a Fender clean tone with reverb and your leads to sound like a tubescreamer into a JCM800 with a bit of delay? You can do that easily and you can switch between them with only one footswitch.

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[guitfiddle]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Huh? I had Tiny Terror and it was strictly good for mid gain hard rock crunch.

It sounded great, but that was pretty much all it could do.

Yeah, I'm also confused by that post. I like my Tiny Terror a lot but versatility is not the point of that amp at all. It has 3 knobs that give you small variations on the same sound.

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The Orange Rocker 15 Terror and Brent Hinds Terror both have dedicated clean channels. The Tiny Terror isn't their only lunchbox, you know.

Then, there is the Dual Terror. With 30 watts, it's cleaner than any of the other ones.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

I have the Bugera G5 which is a copy of the Blackstar HT5

both have similar features

headphone cab emulated out that is alway active just leave in standby

xlr out cab emulated as well

a morph knob that changes the tone stack from American to British or a blend of both

two channel with a nice gain

attenuation on the power section

comes in a 20 watt version as well
but 5 is what the home recorder needs

a pedal in front for higher gain would help

I love mine I use a Joyo Ultimate drive in front if I need more grind

 

[JamesPaul]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Yeah, question of the ages perhaps, but my interests range across many genres, while money is, as often happens, in much shorter supply than inspiration.

Long story short, I've been lurking around looking for a true tube circuit that will take me from true cleans up through, let's say 90s hard rock in terms of gain/crunch. Pretty much everywhere I go, I'll have access to pure solid-state volume where I need it, so the little sub-30w jobs have been my primary focus.

My specific "one" and front-runner for years now has been the Peavey Valve King II series, either the mini-head and a cab of my choice or one of the 1x12 combos. On paper, its everything a home and small-gig guitarist would want in a single amp, with a massive gain range and a variety of I/O configurations. In practice, reviews are mixed, with many saying the tones just aren't there, the amp is too fiddly to gig with even when you find the tones you like in each channel, and the quality of the cab and speaker are where they cheaped out to have the money for the feature set. While none of this seems totally insurmountable with enough time and money, I'm hoping against hope that another manufacturer has taken the studio/small-gig do-all to a level of execution I'll be happy with long after initial novelty, and without needing hundreds more in mods to fully realize the concept.

I'm wondering if any of you have found a true "do-all" in the clean through moderately-heavy gain range, that doesn't compromise anywhere a discerning ear will notice, but does wring out every drop of value for dollar in its price range. I'm no stranger to solid state but I am interested in true tube tone, so a hybrid "valvetronic" circuit isn't a turn-off, but modeling just isn't my bag at the moment.

Thoughts?

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I am using the much maligned ValveKing II 20 in this role. :smack:

The only place I find it lacking is the Clean channel breakup. However that is because I am measuring it against my Classic 30 Clean channel.

:scratchch Thinking about this, I run a very specific set of tubes in my Classics. The VK II is still whatever went in it on the assembly line. I might have to roll some tubes thru the VK II...

Other than that one spot on the dial, my VK II can hang with my JSX.

Have you tried one of the VK II's yet?

 

[Gamera]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Genz Benz El Diablo 60 combo can be found used for next to nothing these days. A very underrated, versatile amp with a fantastic clean channel.

Having said that, and having owned one for years, I've found versatility overrated. My next amp will be a one-trick pony. One good trick is all I really need.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

The IRT Studio caught my eye; a lot of the same on-paper features as the Peavey, somewhat of a half-assed wattage selection but offset by the more straightforward pedal control, and it can definitely do a tight clean and a hard crunch. Haven't heard too many 70s-80s sounds out of it, Laney has a rep for much harder tones, so I'll have to play around with a TS or clean boost on the clean channel to see how clean it stays. Used prices are pretty nice, though I will need to find a cab for live work.

Nice '80s sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_8g1GXyoKU

 

[Jacew]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

The Orange Rocker 15 Terror and Brent Hinds Terror both have dedicated clean channels. The Tiny Terror isn't their only lunchbox, you know.

Then, there is the Dual Terror. With 30 watts, it's cleaner than any of the other ones.

Well, I haven't tried those two, but just having clean channel doesn't necessarily translate to "versatility".

15 w is pretty low wattage for it, and Orange amps in general aren't exactly know for that either...

But maybe they are. Dual Terror especially might be really good candidate.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

The Spidervalve doesn't fall under the heading of "cheap modeling gear".

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Boogie.

Many choices, but I like the Mark III (fully-loaded), Mark IV, Mark V (all of them!). The V:90 is like 27 amps rolled into one; I use one with my band, with multiple guitars doing a really wide range of material.

The Dual Calibre Series (DC-3/-5 especially) are terrific, as are Lonestars, or the more basic Express +. Stiletto and Atlantic models get you Brit tones, and a Maverick 212 will put an AC-30 to shame. Though it's not a high-gain amp, there are also Plexi and Fender tones in the Mav. The Electro-Dyne is another one that can be really versatile.

The new Fillmore Series is pretty cool, and I'd buy one...but I already have seven Mesas! And for just a "basic" amp that California Tweed has a lot of cool features and lush 6V6 sounds.

A lot to choose from. And honestly, I've gotten a lot more compliments on my playing since I sold my vintage Fenders and Marshalls and began using Mesa amps.

Bill

P.S. I use my 112 Mesa combos on top of a Mesa 112 EVM Thiele cab for added low-end thump and projection. I love the small footprint, and it will hang with any half-stack.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Bugie (Bugera 333XL Infinium :lmao

Seriiously great tones ..anything from sparlkly cleans to killer crunch to absolutely awesome high gain...

I'd say my 30W Cicognani Brutus Live as well...does just about anything really well..

Hard t come by ...but it's a tone monster....

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

&...Sexy tone!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

The VH thing..

 

[jeremy]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

mesa boogie is what comes to mind but they arent cheap. a mark iv or mark v can do almost anything very well. is it the same as having a super reverb sitting next to a 1987 next to a slo? no, but its a hell of a lot easier to haul around. well made and very tweakable

 

[EC Strat]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

For me it’s a Marshall DSL 40 cr - has all the fixings and 4 channels - all of them very nice and useable. Surprisingly nice cleans too.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Versatility and decent value, the Egnater Tweakers spring to mind for me.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

The jvm is really good

The valveking ii was mentioned and while I thought it was good the 20w one I found was many kinda nice but slightly bland tones but maybe just needed different speaker when I tried it.

I liked the Peavey jsx they are not expensive now I think I thought the crunch tones were good and the cleans were pretty nice and full. They have an ok low end and good crunch, they don't need to be cranked to get a good sound. They have a sweet preamp

The tweaker 15 needed footswitchable modes and to not cook the 6v6 so hot, I felt like I could never get it to sound really blackfacey or really tweedy, and the gainy stuff felt spongey. Not bad but i just think there's better amps worth the step up in price

I considered a mesa express 5:25 when I got my supersonic but to me the supersonic sounds little more open and less hot and boxy. But the mesa has many many good mid gain tones and a vocal quality I think is good for blues

The DSL can do a good 70s and 80s rock sound all day
I think with pedals you could get a more 90s sound
But the jvm does everything it does and has a nice smooth feel and the high gain is better than the DSL, but they are expensive!

 

[Ascension]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Have several amps that fit the bill.
New production currently available amp would be my PRS MT 15 head and a nice cab.
First off the cleans on this little head are just jaw dropping. Very warm round sweet and smooth with a pull boost that lets it get that nice edge of breakup tone. By far the best cleans I have heard from one of these smaller lunchbox style tube heads and makes a fantastic pedal platform.
Crunch side is very modern thick smooth and rich without being muddy stock. They ship with all JJ's in the pre which makes the amp on the dark side but rolling in say a set of the new 4004 Mullards will open this amp up a LOT. Gain is high and while these don't do that blusey edge of breakup tones on the crunch side well the rest of the amp tonal capability is jaw dropping. VERY expressive and organic amp to play with an incredible amount of touch sensitivity, feel and response. Cleans up and opens up with touch and volume control as well as any amp I have ever played just a very inspiring dynamic rig to play through!! Best fluid solo tones I have ever gotten ever with a tube head and nothing else this thing just SINGS!!
Only down side is do NOT expect this amp to be a quiet low volume bedroom amp as it's LOUD!! Very hard amp to control at low volumes but for a small grab and go true gigging amp with a ton of headroom versatility and great tones this is a real winner.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

mesa boogie is what comes to mind but they arent cheap. a mark iv or mark v can do almost anything very well. is it the same as having a super reverb sitting next to a 1987 next to a slo? no, but its a hell of a lot easier to haul around. well made and very tweakable

New they are expensive but some of the older amps are fairly easy to find at a sane price and very very good.
Have a pair of 90's Boogies that fit the bill here very well.
First one is my little 20 watt 1/10 Subway Rocket. Super small light amp that absolutely KILLS!! Tones miced in the FOH are truly jaw dropping with this little amp. Fantastic loop great cleans and crunches and think I paid $400 OTD for this one.
Also have a DC-5 head from the same era that is voiced very close to the little Subway and I run it with the same pedal board.
The DC 5 is super versatile can get GREAT low volume tones and is just BRUTAL when you really crank it. Think I have maybe $600 in the head.
Both are built like tanks bulletproof reliable small relative light and can get a very wide range of tones.
The little Rocket running the crunch side and have only a delay and verb in the loop with a wah on the front at super low stage volume miced in a Church setting.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

The best I've come across is the Vox AV series. I have an AV30 and absolutely love it. Everything you need to know about it: https://voxamps.com/product/av30/

The only digital in it is the effects bank. However, the delay has a very analog feel. The repeats get warmer as they fade out like an old analog delay would. It's a loud little amp. Our drummer hits his kit hard, like breaking cymbals hard, and this amp hangs in there no problem. And it is light. The 5-button footswitch is a must, IMO. That gives the ability to turn each effect on/off, tap delay and channel switching. Really easy to dial in too.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Well-executed "jack of all trades" tube amp?

Versatility and decent value, the Egnater Tweakers spring to mind for me.

If your more to hard rock / metal: Rebel has sharper voicing. Not Marshally, but smoother on it's own. It needs little push for nice cutting growl.

I love mine with treble booster.

They are not meant to be Fender to Marshall to Vox copies. They have their own tonal charcter. It's irrelevant if it doesn't sound Fendery.

If you want Fender get Fender.