HiGain Practise Tube Amps

[J.custom]

Hi guys, i've been playing for 4 years now, and thought it was about time to upgrade to a new amp. Currently using an Ibanez J.custom, running through a Boss GT-8 or a Marshall Echohead and EH Graphic fuzz into a Roland Cube 15x. I've been thinking of upgrading my amp now, into a high gain tube end and using that as my primary distortion. I play stuff from John Mayer to Paul Gilbert, to Dream Theater and LTO so hoping to be able to get a rather liquid type of distortion for solos out of them amp and just a nice crunch by turning the gain up on the clean channel for that bluesy tone. I will be using the amp for bedroom practise and possibly for gigs as well and since i'm a student, budget's low, probably under $1k(If that is possible) Any suggestions?

 

[jskadiang]

You probably are gonna be hard-pressed to find a 2 channel tube amp that runs at bedroom volumes for less than a thousand. Night train + pedal perhaps?

 

[xklusivly4u]

Mesa Boogie Express or Blackstar HT 5. Express can switch power to 5 watt, its above your budget though. They both can handle high gain. Or buy any tube high gain combo with effect loop, put your GT8 in the loop and control the output in GT8, then you can reach the sweet spot at bed room level volume but multi FX might colour your tone.

In fact, the other night I was playing at a friend place with Marshall TSL 100 watt stack with an overdrive pedal at living room level volume and it sounded good. Check out BlackStar HT20 as well, you can easily gig with it in small venues.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Multi-effects processors are very likely to colour the tone...

 

[J.custom]

Mesa Boogie Express or Blackstar HT 5. Express can switch power to 5 watt, its above your budget though. They both can handle high gain. Or buy any tube high gain combo with effect loop, put your GT8 in the loop and control the output in GT8, then you can reach the sweet spot at bed room level volume but multi FX might colour your tone.

In fact, the other night I was playing at a friend place with Marshall TSL 100 watt stack with an overdrive pedal at living room level volume and it sounded good. Check out BlackStar HT20 as well, you can easily gig with it in small venues.

I have thought of both options, initially the Mesa cos i really liked the tone but it was so expensive to bring it in. Then my friend introduced me to the blackstar but i havent got down to trying it out to see whether i like it or not. what do you think of hughes and kettner?

 

[J.custom]

Multi-effects processors are very likely to colour the tone...

Yup i'm quite aware of that so i'm trying to start up my analogue pedalboard, hence the EH graphic fuzz and Marshall echohead. looking for a overdrive which can act as a clean boost, rhythm and solo boosts and a Paul Gilbert Flanger and finally the Moen effects commander

 

[xklusivly4u]

I have thought of both options, initially the Mesa cos i really liked the tone but it was so expensive to bring it in. Then my friend introduced me to the blackstar but i havent got down to trying it out to see whether i like it or not. what do you think of hughes and kettner?

20 watt is the lowest power you can find in H & K tube amps. I have tested 25th anniversary and Statesman 20. They both don’t have enough gains for my liking, you need pedals in front.
Stateman clean is very nice though.

 

[subversion]

Marshall's Haze offerings might have something for you. it's default drive isn't too raunchy but a simple OD pedal would be just right for commandings riffs/ solos

 

[J.custom]

http://www.easymusiccenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Marshall_Haze.jpg[mg]

Marshall's Haze offerings might have something for you. it's default drive isn't too raunchy but a simple OD pedal would be just right for commandings riffs/ solos 8-)[/QUOTE]

No offense here but i dont really like marshall amps:P hahahhaa. slightly biased and somehow i find that there isnt as much body compared to Mesa, so to simplify it more, the amp has to be fuller sounding and have more body, so to speak.

 

[J.custom]

20 watt is the lowest power you can find in H & K tube amps. I have tested 25th anniversary and Statesman 20. They both don’t have enough gains for my liking, you need pedals in front.
Stateman clean is very nice though.

Any idea where i can try H&K out in spore?

 

[J.custom]

You probably are gonna be hard-pressed to find a 2 channel tube amp that runs at bedroom volumes for less than a thousand. Night train + pedal perhaps?

hahah thought of it but i would prefer a combo rather then amp head, even considered orange dual terror before.

 

[jskadiang]

The Pianoman's Shop in Bukit Timah brings in a few, but not sure if they have the ones you're looking for. The Blackstar might be right up your alley though! The five dollar testing fee at Woodworkz however, is not.

 

[J.custom]

The Pianoman's Shop in Bukit Timah brings in a few, but not sure if they have the ones you're looking for. The Blackstar might be right up your alley though! The five dollar testing fee at Woodworkz however, is not.

Yup heard of it but i checked the website and only saw the solid state edition blue ones. It's pretty near my place so i'll go down to test them out one day. Woodworkz has a testing fee!!!???/ thats insane! first time i heard of it. Any where that brings in blackstar besides them?

 

[van_halen]

testing fee? that's an ingenious idea just like ERP.

 

[subversion]

No offense here but i dont really like marshall amps

then it's your personal liking...

there are more amps with a stronger midrange but these are solidstate units, which you aren't looking for in the mean time

 

[jskadiang]

testing fee? that's an ingenious idea just like ERP.

THIS. They justify it by saying it'll be used to offset the final price for "serious buyers". But seriously? "Serious buyers" want to try an amp to make sure it doesn't suck before they buy it too. =/

 

[ciki]

THIS. They justify it by saying it'll be used to offset the final price for "serious buyers". But seriously? "Serious buyers" want to try an amp to make sure it doesn't suck before they buy it too. =/

man...are they serious on the "testing fee"...?

 

[J.custom]

then it's your personal liking...

there are more amps with a stronger midrange but these are solidstate units, which you aren't looking for in the mean time

Read your blog and thought it was really impressive. hahah. i actually read it sometime ago in october last year, just wanted to check on any new gear and stuff. hmm what do you think of jet city amps by soldano?

 

[dodgethis]

There are no shops in Singapore that currently sell the Jet City line. Last I checked in with the distributor (the name currently escapes me) in December, they were still looking for retailers to carry the brand here.

But from the video reviews on Youtube, the reviews seem rather positive. I was considering the JCA20H or JCA100H until a good deal for a JVM410H popped up for me.

 

[guitarsan]

THIS. They justify it by saying it'll be used to offset the final price for "serious buyers". But seriously? "Serious buyers" want to try an amp to make sure it doesn't suck before they buy it too. =/

Agree. The "serious buyer" logic is kind of weird.

People who tested amps but ended up not buying are usually as follows:

(i) the amp sucks.
(ii) the amp does not meet their expectations or tonal needs.
(iii) they like the amp, but need to shop around a while before deciding.
(iv) they like the amp, but need time to assure if they "really need it" to avoid buyer's remorse.
(v) they like the amp, but need some time to raise funds before buying.
(vi) they like the amp, but need to "research" the specs, prices, opinions and functionality before deciding.
(vii) genuine time wasters who test amps for kicks

Category (i) to (vi) are actually "serious buyers" to varying degrees. As the amps cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, people do need time to decide, depending how deep their pocket is. IMO, the $5 fee will end up alienating many serious buyers because people don't like to have their "arms twisted". Just a thought.