Tube Amps

[AsphaltMK]

Hey guys, i'm interested in looking for a replacement amp. Right now, i'm using the Ibanez toneblaster 25R, and i personally think it doesn't compliment my pedals too well.. ( i own an SD-1, DD-6 and M-108) The clean channel goes fairly well with my multi-effects though. (behringer v-amp). I was thinking of getting a tube amp to replace it, or just as a second amp. I'm not too familiar with the lesser published dealers and brands available in singapore... nor am i possibly able to test them all out with my guitar... hence i need YOUR help in this matter.

Basically, I'm looking for a tube amp with character.. sorry, i dont really know how to explain this.. but if i hear it, i suppose i'll know.. haha... I think that the amp should have a nice, warm clean tone that would work swell with my pedals, as well as my pedals to come in the future, of course. And it shouldn't break up too easily. I think perhaps a wattage of anywhere between 25 to 50 watts would range from good enough to much more than i need. I would prefer either a 1X12 , 2X12 or 2X10 combo unit, rather than a head or something smaller.

The sounds that i need from the amp would range from warm clean tones to heavy boosted-mids distortion...not scooped mids and not overly gainy... that's not rather overkill. I would like if the amp could have a good tight bass response, as my LTD guitar is always tuned CGCFAD.
It would be great if the amp has footswitch options, headphone jacks, effects loops and multiple channels.

My guitars right now are an LTD Viper-50 with stock pickups, tuned CGCFAD and a Squier Jagmaster, also with stock pickups, tuned standard. My pedals are the Boss SD-1, Boss DD-6 and MXR M-108 ten-band EQ.
My budget is somewhere around S$700.

any and all suggestions are welcome and very much appreciated.

 

[vernplum]

For around $500 to $600 you could get a Fender Blues Junior (as an example, but other similar alternate vendor offerings) which is at the entry level sort of range of Tube amps. Not sure if the results will be satisfactory based on your tonal requirements - in fact you may be sonically better off with a reasonable solid state amp with some kind of tube preamp/overdrive pedal in front of it for that sort of $$.

 

[thor666]

a fully tubed amp would cost you a lot ... for the wattage/size you're looking at.
might want to consider tubes only on the preamps.

if you're playing from home.. i'd suggest looking at the 1X12 or 2X10 amps... a speaker larger than 8" is much more welcome since you're looking for tighter bass response when you tune down.

the amps u can look at... luthermusic has vox valvetronix 30W and 50W. or the marshall avt50.. i have one and the cleans are very very good. but i do think that marshall clean tone is more of an acquired taste..

 

[AsphaltMK]

I actually intend to use the amp for doing small gigs, like parties or school concerts and whatnot.... Fender Blues Junior, many people at other forums seem to have a less than satisfactory opinion of it, along with the hot rod deville fender amps... don't quite see why though...

in fact you may be sonically better off with a reasonable solid state amp with some kind of tube preamp/overdrive pedal in front of it for that sort of $$.

How close can I get it to simulate tubes breaking up if i resort to using tube pedals instead?

a fully tubed amp would cost you a lot ... for the wattage/size you're looking at.
might want to consider tubes only on the preamps.

I read in other forums that having tube in the preamp alone will do little to give you an anyway-near-to-tube sound in an amp. Is this true? these hybrid amps (am i right to use that term?) aren't really all the hype they were made out to be, according to other forums once again...

luthermusic has vox valvetronix 30W and 50W. or the marshall avt50.. i have one and the cleans are very very good. but i do think that marshall clean tone is more of an acquired taste..

yeah, i was looking at the Vox amplifiers... but, i was a lil skeptical about the valvetronix and pathfinder series.... has anyone here had any prior experience with these amps?

 

[AsphaltMK]

How about this amp? Is it available in Singapore though?

Laney VC-30 112 Combo

Channels 2
Dimensions 559 x 250 x 420 (mm)
Effects Reverb
Impedance Minimum 4 ohms
Output 30 Watts
Speakers 1 x 12" Celestion Seventy 80
Weight 21.5kg
Inputs HI & LO Jacks
Equalisation Bass, Middle, Treble
Preamp Valves Premium ECC83
Output Valves Premium EL84
Other Features Bright Switch, Class A, Footswitchable (FS2 Not Included), Speaker connections, FX Loop


sounds great.... going for US$700.00 though... over my budget by quite a bit... sigh...

 

[penta-tonic]

hey man i think sum1 selling on luther a peavey classic 50. if memory does not fail me its sumwhere around ur budget range. do check it out.

 

[Weiht]

I have heard great thigns abt peavey classic series. Judging for the way u tune, i believe u need some gd speakers that can handle the lows real well.

8" speakers are out, 10 is ok. But 12 wld be better. Also if u get combo, the open back will cuz the sound to be brighter.

Tube pedals are still subjected to the amp u r putting it into. Tube amps can handle pedals better than SS amps. I can get a nice sound with my pedal on tube amp, but on a SS amp, it sounds really shit. So pedals not matter how gd they r, the sound will still depend on how the amp can take it.

ALso indyguitarist says that the clipping stage of the TOnebone tube od is more SS. THe tube just warms things abit. It still sounds great no doubt, but the thing is not every thing that puts a tube in it really works

I have seen some sliver face bassman 50 ard for $600+, but they r head. Laney LC is another choice but the prices went up, also heard gd stuff abt their AC30 clone.

Alot of pple like the Vox valvetronics... Its hybrid amp with modelling features. Go try them n decide, try to bring ur od pedal just to see how it reacts to the amp. Cuz i have one amp where not matter if u put a lite od or metalzone infront, the sound just comes out boosted rather than more gain/distortion.

 

[jeremyrozario]

yeah, i was looking at the Vox amplifiers... but, i was a lil skeptical about the valvetronix and pathfinder series.... has anyone here had any prior experience with these amps?

the valvetronix is a wad you refer to a hybrid tube-amp, as it has a tube pre-amp.its priced quite reasonably, but imo the onboard effects are a bit redundant as you already have your pedals, so you would probrably be paying for stuff that you don't really need

anyway the pathfinders are solidstate practice amps, that come in 10watts and 15 watts

 

[ShredCow]

Check out the Reverend Amps that Malcom (Empty71) brings in... I tried it in his home... just 1 Barber Direct Drive and my S520EX.. it sings very very nicely!

 

[thor666]

8" speakers are out, 10 is ok. But 12 wld be better. Also if u get combo, the open back will cuz the sound to be brighter.

if u get the AVT50 thou, i's closedback. though i've read online of people cutting and removing 1-2" of their closebacks to "open" up the sound... 8O

i'm thinking of doing that in the near future too... much prefer a brighter cleaner sound.

 

[Weiht]

8" speakers are out, 10 is ok. But 12 wld be better. Also if u get combo, the open back will cuz the sound to be brighter.

if u get the AVT50 thou, i's closedback. though i've read online of people cutting and removing 1-2" of their closebacks to "open" up the sound... 8O

i'm thinking of doing that in the near future too... much prefer a brighter cleaner sound.

Cool, nice sparkle yeah... I got bright switch on my amp for that, so i prefer closed back.

Oh someone is selling a classic 50, 4X10 combo for $800.

 

[Timex]

Here's a link with sound samples of some amps. Hope it helps.

http://proguitar.de/AudioDemo/CompareAmps/CompareAmps.html

 

[subversion]

this is one good tube amp (40W) which you should check out, but forgive the >$1K asking price...

Peavey XXX SUper 40EFX

 

[AsphaltMK]

DAMN, i wish i could pardon you for that price tag, brother sub.... but, nah, i couldn't, i just ain't got the dough now.... perhaps i should put off the amp for now and try again next june, when i've saved up more? or perhaps, i'll have to sell away my ibanez amp too? sigh... money money money, very funny....

hmm, just a question out of curiosity...

what are the main advantages/disadvantages of an AMP HEAD vs. COMBO?

 

[Weiht]

DAMN, i wish i could pardon you for that price tag, brother sub.... but, nah, i couldn't, i just ain't got the dough now.... perhaps i should put off the amp for now and try again next june, when i've saved up more? or perhaps, i'll have to sell away my ibanez amp too? sigh... money money money, very funny....

hmm, just a question out of curiosity...

what are the main advantages/disadvantages of an AMP HEAD vs. COMBO?

Or u can can wait for a sale yeah...

Head r more versatile in a way u can mix n match with dif Cabs, like 2X12 or 4X10...etc. N if the place u r gigging at has a cab, u just need to bring ur head along.

Combo r more convinient, cuz all it got the amp n speak in a combine. Thats why its called combo... If the place u gig has not cab, then this wld be gd, cuz its all in one. But u cant really mix n match, except using the external cab.

 

[AsphaltMK]

oh yeah.... hmm, good point there....

ok, another question! can i use a fender bassman 60W amp for guitar?

 

[Timex]

Combo amps are also more prone to microphonics from the preamp tubes especially the lower end ones when the gain is pumped up.

 

[Weiht]

oh yeah.... hmm, good point there....

ok, another question! can i use a fender bassman 60W amp for guitar?

The newer ones r only for bass. If its the vintage ones, then yes for sure... They r relatively cheap n has gd tone. There is a bass channel n normal channel for guitar. Im using a bassman currently, n it has nice clean tone. For od/dist, u still need a pedal for it. Reacts well to pedals.

I've not come across a bassman 60. There is a 50, 70, 100, and 135. The tweed 4X10 and blackfaced 50w are the more famous ones. 70, 100, 135 r later released to match the higher wattage that Marshall were offering.... Theses r not really considered the Bassmans like the old.


If u can get a bassman 50 then cool. It breaks up earlier for tube od (Not v gainy tho, more for blues), n u cld do mods to make the silverfaced one to blackfaced spec.

Combo amps are also more prone to microphonics from the preamp tubes especially the lower end ones when the gain is pumped up.

thanks for bring that up... I didnt knmow abt that. NO wonder they were complaining abt how certain models of tube combo r niosy.

 

[Timex]

actually it is not fault of the amp. Because of the poor ventilation and proximity to the speaker cone, the internal structures of the tubes loosen and rattle hence the squealling at hi gain levels. U can still get good performance by getting good solid preamp tubes such as those by JJ Tesla and Electro Harmonics.


here's a link if you are interested in tubes

http://www.thetubestore.com/12ax7review.html

 

[AsphaltMK]

well, i've been looking around a fair bit... and i'm almost convinced... i just need somemore opinions here, thanks.

it's down to:

Peavey Classic 30 VS. Vox AC30 CC2 Re-Issue


help me out people!


-p.s. if someone could give me the prices of these amps, it would be terrific!