Buying my first tube amp

[cr0wnest]

I've been thinking of getting a new tube amp for home use, I play in my room, not too big, sometimes with the doors and windows closed and sometimes not. I currently have a Fender Mustang II (V1) which is a 40-watt amp and i've never cranked up the volume anywhere near max before. So I won't be needing such a high powered tube amp.

Right now I'm looking at are the Laney Cub 8, VOX AC4C1BL, and Vox AC15VR. I figured I should get one thats no more than 10 watts? Im aware that on tube amps in particular you have to take the wattage into consideration as it will determine how much more easily it drives. I play classic rock, hard rock, and blues.

 

[eljo89]

Those are decent amps you could look at! What sort of budget are you looking at, and do you want to get natural tube drive, or do you run pedals for drive most of the time?

 

[cr0wnest]

I will be running it natural and also through pedals, so it also needs to take pedals well.
Budget around $300 - $350.

However is it wise to purchase a 15 or even 20 watt tube amp for my type of usage? Or should i stick to something 10 and below?

 

[seeyoudownthere]

IMHO the wattage isn't that important as you can get a good sound through when you're driving things via the pedals so it becomes a matter of taste of the kind of sound you're looking for when comparing. Not sure if the shops here allow you to demo multiple amps in small room but i'd aim to do that if they want my business.

 

[cr0wnest]

Im mainly looking for vintage warmth, though im not exactly picky about the tone as long as it sounds there about. I'll head down this weekend to try them out, I doubt shops in singapore will be so kind as to allow that unless you're at swee lee.. We're way behind time in terms of service haha.

 

[CyanideJunkie]

Vox amps can be finicky with pedals; the Night Train series not so much. If volume is a concern, it's best to purchase an amp with a Master Volume. Even a 1-watt non-MV amp is freaking loud by HDB standards when cranked.

Laney is alright, consider VHT and Jet City as well. I would personally stay away from hybrid amps as they don't really cut it for me, but ultimately go with your gut and trust your ears.

 

[vwkng]

Another consideration is the Blackstar ID15. While is not a valve amp per se, it certainly sounds like one. Try it & see.

 

[cr0wnest]

Vox amps can be finicky with pedals; the Night Train series not so much. If volume is a concern, it's best to purchase an amp with a Master Volume. Even a 1-watt non-MV amp is freaking loud by HDB standards when cranked.

Laney is alright, consider VHT and Jet City as well. I would personally stay away from hybrid amps as they don't really cut it for me, but ultimately go with your gut and trust your ears.

I see.. The AC4TV has got good reviews from many though, several mentioning it sounds similar to the much larger AC15, and they're both similarly priced as well.

And yeah i was just looking at the VHT Special 6.

 

[J.custom]

Check out the laney cub12, pretty good. Takes pedals quite well, one of the most underrated amps within this price range.

 

[cr0wnest]

I was just looking at the 5W Laney Cub 8, I have a feeling even 10W may be too high for me. I play mostly around TV volume, and sometimes even lower when I play at night in my room so as not to annoy the neighbours.

Someone suggested I should also look to 1W amps like the Blackstar HT-1 or Blackheart Killer Ant, so as to easily achieve saturation and also considering I'm not going to use this amp for gigs or recording. But do you think its wise to do that? 4W - 6W would still allow more headroom when I find it necessary.

 

[J.custom]

The Cub12 has a <1watt mode, so you can still play it at pretty low vol levels. Furthermore, it has a 4 band EQ control, gain knob and master vol, so on certain days that you feel like it, you can crank the gain on the amp but turn the vol down with the master vol.

Another amp you can consider is the Yamaha THR10, one of my best purchases that I've made so far. Super awesome amp modelling, great sounding effects, ESP the hall reverb. It is to die for. And even better, it's portable and runs on batteries as well.

It's a bit above your budget at 449, but definitely worth buying.

 

[eljo89]

Pretty much whatever was recommended in an earlier thread about tube amps too! Haha. The AC4 (whichever version) is pretty good, let's you run at 1/4W too so that's helpful.

Fender Pro Junior and Blackstar HT5R (I have one as a backup) are great options too. If budget wasn't a consideration I'd save for a Ceriatone Spitfire. Haha.

 

[fade2b14ck]

Personally I wouldnt go beyond 5 watts. I have a Blackstar HT-5R. I believe it's a hybrid amp, though marketed as an all-tube amp. I can't go beyond 9 -10 o'clock with the volume without fearing that it's too loud for my neighbours. But that's alright because due to it's hybrid nature, I still get good tones from the amp.

There is a 1W version that was pointed out earlier. I believe the combo is within your budget but without the EQ. But you gotta consider if it suits your needs as it is targeted at higher gain players.

 

[cr0wnest]

I'm cool with hybrids as well, as long as I get the tube amp sounds out of it I dont really mind. The Blackstar HT-5R seems interesting, will look it up. Yes theres a 1W version too, but the 5W HT-5R has a 12" speaker which would be more ideal (My current Mustang II is 12" as well) for me.

 

[fade2b14ck]

Marshall has pretty cool low wattage all-tube amps as well, including the SL5 which is a 5W combo Slash sig model that you can bring down to 1W and should get you that warm vintage tone.

But you might prolly have to double or even triple your budget though. Perhaps a non sig series wont bust your budget that much.

 

[eljo89]

I'm cool with hybrids as well, as long as I get the tube amp sounds out of it I dont really mind. The Blackstar HT-5R seems interesting, will look it up. Yes theres a 1W version too, but the 5W HT-5R has a 12" speaker which would be more ideal (My current Mustang II is 12" as well) for me.

Yup, the HT-5R is pretty good for the money. Especially if you find one on soft. Can probably get it about 350. And yeah, personally I prefer the 12" too!

 

[Junior_]

Pretty much whatever amp has been said earlier. The ac15vr is a hybrid so in terms of output though its rated at 15w, may be slightly lower compared to a full tube amp. Thats how i feel when I compare my own ac15c1 to a ac15vr that was provided at a studio.

Some other things to take note of when buying a new amp is whether you will bring it out as you progress. You may need nothing more than 10w now as you're playing in a bedroom, but you may need more power next time when you bring it out when you start playing gigs for example. My ac15c1 is a pain to bring out due to its weight that's why I bought the lighter laney cub 12r.

And take into account the ability to tweak the amp's tone, for example, I love the tone of the pro jr when you crank it up, but at lower volumes, its harder to control maybe due in part to the lack of bass/mids/trebs controls.

As for volume issues, I stay in a hdb and none of my neighbors have complained when I play through either the vox or laney in my living room with the front door opened.

 

[cr0wnest]

Pretty much whatever amp has been said earlier. The ac15vr is a hybrid so in terms of output though its rated at 15w, may be slightly lower compared to a full tube amp. Thats how i feel when I compare my own ac15c1 to a ac15vr that was provided at a studio.

Some other things to take note of when buying a new amp is whether you will bring it out as you progress. You may need nothing more than 10w now as you're playing in a bedroom, but you may need more power next time when you bring it out when you start playing gigs for example. My ac15c1 is a pain to bring out due to its weight that's why I bought the lighter laney cub 12r.

And take into account the ability to tweak the amp's tone, for example, I love the tone of the pro jr when you crank it up, but at lower volumes, its harder to control maybe due in part to the lack of bass/mids/trebs controls.

As for volume issues, I stay in a hdb and none of my neighbors have complained when I play through either the vox or laney in my living room with the front door opened.

Sound advice thanks! I take it you play your Laney Cub 12r at home at 1W and set it higher when gigging?

 

[Junior_]

I use to use the 1w setting, but somehow i find that there's less headroom as compared to if i were to use it in 15w. I normally set my amp quite clean or on the verge of breaking up depending on what i'm playing and kick in either a boost/drive/distortion when I need more. So nowadays i use the 15w channel whether at home or at a gig. But of course all of us have different setup and amp, so u may want a amp that breaks up easily etc. go and test all the amps you've short-listed to see if you like how they sound. You may even end up with something else.

 

[slowth]

I used to have the Special 12/20 by VHT. And my church uses the Special 6.

It's an excellent excellent pedal platform with lovely cleans, dirt not so much.. but if u're using your pedals for that, this'll be great.. Cheap too.