Cheap Clean Tube Amp

[J.custom]

Hi guys, need some recommendation on a cheap clean tube combo around 300-400. Looking for more fenderish clean tones, preferably with a 3 band EQ.

 

[theunknown]

vox ac4tv? not fenderish...
laney cub 10? fenderish but not 3band eq.

thats all the tube amps i can think of with ur budget.

 

[MutantBanana]

I have the AC4TV. It's only clean at lower volumes and breaks up quite easily. Even on the full 4 Watt mode. I do like it when it's clean at lower volumes as at higher volumes it does get a bit muddy. Quite bright and not really Fenderish as theunknown stated. I'm interested in finding something like TS too

 

[J.custom]

Mm considered it before, but it's a no go for me. I find it a little too muddy and mid range focused.

How much is the Cub 10 and the model above it? Cub 12 if i'm not wrong. My friend has a cub 8 and it sounds fantastic for such a small amp.

 

[Godspeed64]

Honestly just get a decent solid state at that price range. Getting tube amps at 300-400 is just paying for mediocre tone IMO.

 

[J.custom]

It's going to be mainly for playing at home, but should be loud enough to jam with my band.

 

[theunknown]

Mm considered it before, but it's a no go for me. I find it a little too muddy and mid range focused.

How much is the Cub 10 and the model above it? Cub 12 if i'm not wrong. My friend has a cub 8 and it sounds fantastic for such a small amp.

precisely why i sold my ac4tv. too muddy and midrange focused. and little headroom.

yeap im using the cub 12. spec wise, same as the fender blues junior. from the tubes (el34), i guess it still sounds british.. but love the controls. the cub 10 is also good for its price. go ahead and try the laney. since u can dial the pre and post amp gain, u can expect much more clean headroom than the vox.

 

[valentinik_15]

Honestly just get a decent solid state at that price range. Getting tube amps at 300-400 is just paying for mediocre tone IMO.

Agreed! If you want a practice amp for jamming at home, you're better off getting something in the Line 6 Spider range. More bang for buck.

 

[dodgethis]

The problem with your budget is that almost any tube amp at that price range is going to be low wattage, which equates to very early break-up in the power-amp section and low clean headroom. You're going to need a power amp section of at least 50 watts, with a speaker or two that can handle at least double the power output, if you want to keep everything very clean. Also, you need to be looking for something with 6L6 tubes, if you're going to want something Fender-y.

Also, the Laney Cub comes with EL84s, not EL34s. Putting two EL34s in a power section of only 12watts is a huge waste.

 

[J.custom]

The Line 6 stuff is mediocre in all aspects, not particularly GREAT in a particular aspect

However, I'm looking for an amp that's GOOD WITH CLEANS and TAKES PEDALS WELL.

So please keep that in mind.

Not looking for any solid state or digital stuff. Not that I have anything against them.

 

[dodgethis]

Then I wish you the best in luck in finding a tube amp in the 300 to 400 price range that can do all that you want because it's not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[carboxymoron]

However, I'm looking for an amp that's GOOD WITH CLEANS and TAKES PEDALS WELL.

So please keep that in mind.

Not looking for any solid state or digital stuff. Not that I have anything against them.

Seriously, the low wattage tube amps will break up relatively early and are more picky about pedals than good solid states in the price range. Of course not a Spider. Take the chance to try a Randall or older Laney if you have nothing against them

 

[J.custom]

Mm, yeah i know i have to accept that, but should be able to control the amount of break up with my vol pedal? makes it more 'clean' (not truely clean of course)

 

[dodgethis]

The break-up we are referring to occurs in the power section of the amplifier. As the amplitude into the power amp increases (ie getting louder), it reaches a certain point where the output signal starts to clip, in more common terms, distort. The lower the power rating of the power section, the earlier the clipping occurs. In a jamming environment, you may have to max out the volume of the power section in order to be heard over everything else. And of course, by then, your signal has already distorted to lovelovelovelove and back.

The power section of the amplifier is located in the entire signal chain after the effects loop, where is the last place that you can place your volume pedal, doing so only reduces the amplitude of the signal before that.

You have to understand what you want to get is able to achieve the outcome that you want. In this case, it isn't going to get you what you want. So, either you raise your budget, or you stick to what's available in your means.

 

[iwantdigimon]

i think its possible if you play around with the tubes. jus sayin'. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-72524.html

 

[theunknown]

dodgethis: yeap el84s. sorry for the typo.

agree. but u can make do with the pre n power amp gain controls in the laney rather than the single vol in the vox. up the power n down the pre brings u a cleaner sound, of course not as clean as you would get with high wattage amps, but definitely clean enough you may not tell the difference.

what more should we say? GO AND TRY THEM OUT!

 

[Godspeed64]

Still vouch for solid state amps:
OLD Randall RGs
Vox Pathfinder (crazy good cleans turned up, raved on TGP also lol)
Roland Blues Cube
Sound Drive (I believe they ain't bad)
Roland Jazz Chorus (beyond your budget)

Anyways a high wattage GOOD solid state amped, turn it up, TONAL BLISS. Volume makes a huge difference mate.

If you die die want tubes cause it looks cool lit up, then save up, get a Pro Jr for your Fender cleans....

And just for the heck of it Pathfinder reviewssssss:

 

[Ized]

Try the Blackstar HT-5. Think its a pretty nice 5 watter with a full 3 band eq and ISF sweep. It may just fit the bill and attain what you'r looking for.

That being said, the VOX AC4TV is a nice amp with a tube swap. and at a sub-par 300 bucks(think its 270 now), I would say its a good buy.

 

[J.custom]

Hmm, HT-5 isn't a full tube amp, but even at 2nd hand prices it doesn't fit into the 300-400 range?(can't really remember)

Mm, I wanna get the distortion/OD from my pedals.

From what I remember about the HT-5, the 3-band EQ is for the distortion channel only.

 

[keithC]

hmm what tube swaps would be good for the ac4tv? i'm also looking for higher headroom but thats about it. it takes my pedals really well and im loving the mid-range focus. would i require biasing?