OT: Please help me select a tube amp

[Supreeth]

Mods: Please feel free to move this post elsewhere if it is not appropriate here.

I finally did it. I sold off my Line 6 Spider II amp and am looking for a good tube amp. I have played many tube amps in the store (each time taking my EBMM JP6 with me) and have narrowed my choices down to the Peavey Classic 30 and the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Both amps are very good and it is hard for me to make a choice. My primary criterion for a tube amp is a great clean channel that serves as a base for the rest of my tone. The second is to have an amp I can use in my bedroom for practice. I didn't really like the OD channel of the Hot rod, but the clean channel is killer but so too is the clean channel of the classic 30. I intend to run a BOSS MT-2 pedal into the clean channel to get me the high gain distortion when I need it. If you guys have played on these amps before please give me your opinions and suggestions so that I may make a wise decision. Thanks!

 

[ArthurS]

Try the Traynor tube amps as well, the YCV40 and 50. Those easily beat both the C30 and HRD in my opinion. Some of the cheaper Laney tube amps (VC30, LC30) are supposedly pretty nice as well.

Between the C30 and HRD, I'd probably go for the C30. The HRD has nicer cleans, but the overdrive channel is simply unusable. The C30 is usable out the door and seems to be a fantastic platform to modify, so it's easily 'improved' down the road. Replace the speaker, though.

 

[TwAn]

Hi,

I play my Axis Super Sport through a Fender Hot Rod Deville (with 4x10" speakers). The Deluxe and my Deville are more or less similar I believe (Deville is 60Watt and the Deluxe is 40, if I'm not mistaking).

The clean channel is, indeed, amazing, it's great for blues and funk (which I play the most) and even jazz. The overdrive channel is good, but not great. I don't use it very often.

I use a Line6 POD II to get some extra effects (reverb, chorus, delay,...) and a Ibanez Tubescreamer for more heavy sounds. All of these are played through the clean channel and really sound great (that's of course, my personal opinion)!

The quality of the amp is very good, it looks great and is really built to last!

Hope this is helpful to you... Of course, it's always a personal choice...

 

[mhorse]

Have you tried Rivera Pubster/Clubster series? They are supposed to be really good. Pubsters are 1-channel, Clubsters are 2-channel, and both are available in 25 or 45 watts, so you can use them at bedroom levels.
There are also Ampegs and new Crate V-series out there, but I can't speak to their quality.
I haven't tried Peavey Classic 30, but I did try Fender HRD, and I didn't like it.

 

[SteveB]

I wouldn't pick a Peavey over a Fender in every situation.. but in this case I think I'd take the Classic 30. My $0.02

 

[John C]

I actually consigned out a Fender Strat to purchase a Rivera Clubster 25; so hopefully if won't be too long before I get to bring it home and give you a full report.

FYI - the Pubster/Clubster only have 2 preamp tubes; there is a review in the July Guitar Player of the Clubster 45 and the Chubster 55 that mentions the Pubster/Clubster's have some type of "mosfet" circuitry in th preamp section. The 25-watt amps have 2 6v6 power amp tubes and the 45-watt amps have 2 el-34 power amp tubes.

That circuitry may bother some people, but my first "good" amp was a Music Man RD-50 which had a 100% solid-state clean channel, one preamp tube for the gain channel, and 2 6L6 power amp tubes so for me it is a bit of a homecoming.

 

[tvanveen]

A few of my friends have the deluxe. It's solid and takes distortion pedals well. Loud as hell too.

 

[blackspy]

The Classic 30 is a great little amp. Well worth the money. Lotsa guys use it, even the guys who don't mention it.

 

[mhorse]

A few of my friends have the deluxe. It's solid and takes distortion pedals well. Loud as hell too.

That is VERY true. I tried it in a small store, and I had to keep both volumes at the very minimum to allow other people in the store hear each other. I don't think it's a good amp for bedroom practice. My 50-watt Mesa works much better at bedroom levels then Deluxe.

 

[Supreeth]

Thanks guys. Going by your responses, I think I will just go for the C30. Seems to be great value for the money. I knew I could rely on EBMM forumites to help me make an informed decision

ArthurS, you suggested replacing the speaker on the C30. Any particular reason for this? Does anyone have recommendations on speakers in case I do need to change the stock C30 speakers? Thanks!

 

[OrangeChannel]

Supreeth,

Look into the Mesa F series combos also...they may cost a little more...but you won't need the MT2....

Late,

Jon Z.

 

[Supreeth]

Supreeth,

Look into the Mesa F series combos also...they may cost a little more...but you won't need the MT2....

Late,

Jon Z.

Will do man. Thanks. I'm planning on spending this evening at the local GC getting into tube amp heaven with my JP6

only 4 more hours to go.......

 

[OrangeChannel]

Those Mesa's run the gamut....between pretty and clean to uber crunch...I almost bought one a few years ago...and may still, prolly my favorite Mesa due to it's "non-Recto-ness"

 

[bearkat16]

Try an overdrive with the fender and the peavey's dirty channel. Keep the drive down and the volume up to push the tubes a little. You might be suprised at the difference and might not use the mt-2 as much. Ibanez Tubescreamer, Boss SD-1, and the MXR ZW-44(Zakk Wylde sig.) will all do the job nicely. Good luck.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

Peavey XXX half stacks are amazing all tube amps

 

[SteveB]

Peavey XXX half stacks are amazing all tube amps

They are indeed. I know that I'm enjoying mine very much.

 

[tommyindelaware]

i'd really like to try one of those new 20 watt handwired marshalls..........

 

[AxSport4me]

Have you tried Rivera Pubster/Clubster series? They are supposed to be really good. Pubsters are 1-channel, Clubsters are 2-channel, and both are available in 25 or 45 watts, so you can use them at bedroom levels.
There are also Ampegs and new Crate V-series out there, but I can't speak to their quality.
I haven't tried Peavey Classic 30, but I did try Fender HRD, and I didn't like it.

I have a Rivera Knucklehead combo that`s absolutely incredible!!!!! I almost went with the Clubster but the Knucklehead is better for heavier styles of music!

 

[Supreeth]

I finally have a tube amp! I bought the Peavey C30 at a good price from my local music store. At first I went to GC to try out the Crate V-series and the Mesa F-30. I must say that I loved the Mesa F-30. I went for the C30 because I was on a budget. I might get a Mesa after I get my degree and a full time job. The C30 is amazing. I have never really played on tube amps before, and I am enjoying it a lot. Thanks for all the comments suggestions guys!

 

[mhorse]

I finally have a tube amp! I bought the Peavey C30 at a good price from my local music store. At first I went to GC to try out the Crate V-series and the Mesa F-30. I must say that I loved the Mesa F-30. I went for the C30 because I was on a budget. I might get a Mesa after I get my degree and a full time job. The C30 is amazing. I have never really played on tube amps before, and I am enjoying it a lot. Thanks for all the comments suggestions guys!

Congratulations! I still remember how it felt to move from cheap solid-state amp to a real tube amp. You'll enjoy it more and more as time goes by!
As someone mentioned above, try gently pushing the preamps stage with tubescreamer-like pedal before slamming Metalzone into it. That way you can save more of the amp's natural dynamics.
And let it warm up before you start playing. I'm sure you already know all this anyway.