Off Topic Need an amp quick

[Johnny Guitar]

Hey guys, I'm trying to pick up an amp tomorrow and want your advice on what I should get. I had a Blackheart Handsome Devil combo on order (7/15w) but my dealer told me that it's backordered until August. So now I'm looking for another small tube amp that's in the $500 (new or used doesn't matter) range and is loud (no more than 30w preferably) and stays clean for long.

What do you guys think?

 

[SPI]

traynor ycv20wr

 

[Johnny Guitar]

Thanks man! I'll look into it.

Keep the suggestions coming please!

 

[RobW]

The Crate vintage club series are always great amps in the sub-$500 new/used category

 

[Larry]

Mesa Boogie F-30 combo.

 

[fsmith]

The Crate vintage club series are always great amps in the sub-$500 new/used category

I gotta agree on that one, I love my little beast even though I just bought the Roadster. The V1512 is one cool little tube amp and it loves pedals.

 

[RobW]

I gotta agree on that one, I love my little beast even though I just bought the Roadster. The V1512 is one cool little tube amp and it loves pedals.

ya, I have the VC3112 (B?? it has the black tolex...) and it's a pretty kickin 30w amp.

I got it used w/ new tubes for $350 like 6 years ago, and I'll never get rid of it.

 

[Nemesys]

Peavey Classic 30. Crank the clean channel, pure tone. Dirt channel can get a great growl, too, if you turn the midrange up.

+1 on the Mesa F-30. The F-Series amps are great, flexible, "everything you need, nothing you don't" amps.

+1 on the Crate V-Series as well. I plugged into one to try it, and thought I was playing a great old tweed Fender for a minute. Given Crate's reputation, I might be inclined to worry a bit about build quality, but it's a damn fine sounding amp.

Maybe a silverface Deluxe Reverb or used blackface reissue?

A Vox AC-15 or AC-30 reissue, if that's your thing (whenever I play a Vox, I spend most of the time fighting with it, but they do have a sound).

Good luck with your amp search.

 

[Lou]

Good suggestions here. +1 on the Peavey Classic 30 if you want something with not a huge amount of distortion on tap. F30 has plenty more gain if that's what you're after, but will be about $100 more than your limit.

 

[ShaneV]

...

Given Crate's reputation, I might be inclined to worry a bit about build quality, but it's a damn fine sounding amp.

...

That's a real concern IMO, I've used a Crate Powerblock as a slave amp for effects for a little while, and the last time I went to use it it simply didn't work. Nothing happened to it, it didn't even leave the house between working and not working, it just crapped out on me randomly. Definitely did not make me a big Crate fan

 

[tonemeister]

Mesa Boogie Studio Caliber.....22 LOUD watts, 2 channel, footswichable, usable FX loop, good reverb. Did I mention LOUD?

 

[Johnny Guitar]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great suggestions. I've been researching amps to see what will best fit my needs. I'm really just looking for a very clean 1x12 combo. I don't really need it for any dirt or anything like that. I'm thinking about a Fender Blues Jr. I would love a Blues Deluxe b/c it has that warm clean sound that I love but it's a bit out of my price range. I would consider an F-30 depending on the kind of distortion it has. I have a dual rectifier now and I'm really not a fan of the rectifier distortion sound.

Anyone have any experience with a Blues Jr?

Can someone tell me what kind of distortion the F-30 has?

 

[Johnny Guitar]

The studio caliber also sounds interesting. Can someone tell me about the gain channel on that amp?

 

[Slingy]

I'm really just looking for a very clean 1x12 combo. I don't really need it for any dirt or anything like that. I'm thinking about a Fender Blues Jr. I would love a Blues Deluxe b/c it has that warm clean sound that I love but it's a bit out of my price range.

Anyone have any experience with a Blues Jr?

These are good amps for the money but the Blues Deluxe has two channels and an effects loop and uses 6L6 instead of EL34 and 40 watts which equals lots of clean headroom. The Junior is too limited for me. You might also look at the regular Hot Rod Deluxe. The clean channel is just that, very clean.

Here's a clip of me noodling through it. Bad playing, it was early.

Video page of Slingy on SoundClick

 

[TimSz]

For the price one was to pay, I would suggest a PEAVEY VALVE KING for anyone.

We just got one in at the store I work at yesterday... and it's something like 50 or 100w for under 600 bucks. There's a clean and distortion channel, the reverb sounds lush, high and low inputs, I believe it has an effects loop.

Down the road, if you threw in a couple of really nice Celestions and retubed the thing, it'd kick more as than a tiny army of Bruce Campbell's.

Know this though... I generally HATE Peavey.

 

[TimSz]

While I'm at it, I also suggest looking into the new KRANK REV Jr. because of how damned cool it looks. I've never played one, but have had a 50% success rate with Krank amps before. I tried a combo once with my pal Dylan at a store down in Calgary and blew it up. Then I tried the same combo at the sister store here in Edmonton, and it was actually a dreamy amp. I think Krank does put out good amps, and this REV Jr. is a little brother to their big stuff. Neat idea, methinks!

 

[terdrocket]

i own two blues jr.s and love them. run em in stereo.

 

[fuzzracer]

Engl, any of the range.....

 

[INMT]

I don't recall Engl making a an amp in the $500 range..new or used.

I recently aquired a Peavey Bravo 112, 30 or 40 watts. After a fresh retube from Eurotubes that little sucker screams, cool ass cleans and most any type of gain level your looking for. They run about $300 on evilbay. Check youtube for "Peavey Bravo" lots of vids.
It has a full size reverb tank in it, I think that helps because the reverb is great (IMO).
It's fast becoming my main recording amp at the moment. Going through a 4x12 is madness, I love it.

 

[DrKev]

How about a Laney LC15 or VC15?