Recommend me a good amp

[J-Nick]

Hi!

I will soon be in the market for a new amp and would like to get some suggestions (I know next to nothing about amps). I need something that will sound good at low volume since it will only be used to play in my apartment, I do not gig or play with a band. My budget is about 700$US (I'm looking for something second hand). I love the tube amps sound, is there a tube amp that will sound good at low volume? I've been told to check out the Peavey classic 30 or Fender blues jr, any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help!

 

[shreder75]

what style do you play??

 

[J-Nick]

what style do you play??

Mostly classic rock but also a little bit of metal and blues... I want something versatile

Thanks

 

[fsmith]

J-Nick,
I have a Mesa Boogie Studio .22+. That thing flat out works great in the type of situation you're looking for. It's and older amp, but all tube. I can be playing in my room and the wife and kids can be in the room next to me watching TV and I can be having a ball. It takes pedals real well, and you can get some serious saturated distortion at bedroom levels. It also sounds great cleaned up. I've seen them on eBay for around $400-$500 depending on the condition.

just my .02

fred

 

[shreder75]

hmmmm...could get a new AT-100 for around there...the combo's a little more than that, but you wouldn't have to get a cab

I'm sure there's a few peavy's out there for for around that price on ebay..

or you could always go modelling..but I wouldn't suggest that..lol

 

[blackspy]

You'll laugh... until you try it. For a practice type amp that sounds great a low volumes, check out anything by Crate with that FlexWave 5 Preamp. The GFX 2x12 or similar, they're 120 Watts, solid state, but they sound fantastic for a practice/rehearsal situation. Easier on the back too

 

[J-Nick]

Modeling is not an option... I already have a V-amp2 it's ok but I was thinking about a tube amp...

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I will definately take a look.

What is the advantage/disadvantage of a combo versus amp+cab? (sorry I am really ignorant when it comes to amp... and many other things )

Any other suggestions are welcomed

Thanks guys!

 

[shreder75]

Modeling is not an option... I already have a V-amp2 it's ok but I was thinking about a tube amp...

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I will definately take a look.

What is the advantage/disadvantage of a combo versus amp+cab? (sorry I am really ignorant when it comes to amp... and many other things )

Any other suggestions are welcomed

Thanks guys!

I didn't think so, but thought I'd mention it anyway..lol...

combo amps take up less space and can be less costly (not always) than buying a head and a cabinet..but they can be heavy and harder to lug around than say a head and a 2x12 cabinet...

soundwise, I think it's a preference thing....

 

[blackspy]

Well, if modelling or solid state are not options, I'd definitely vote Classic 30 Fantastic little amps.

 

[hbucker]

PV Classic 30 and Delta Blues should absolutely be on your "must check out" list. They would fit your style and needs perfectly. And if it ever comes to this, you could gig with them.

 

[Raz]

J-Nick bro, check this out:

H&K Edition 20

User Reviews

Sound Clips: Not the exact same amp but similar
Sound Clips


If your interested there's someone selling one locally, if you need help, just call me.

 

[aníbalsantander]

mesa boogie subway blues, a very nice sounding small amp, sounds better with a little 1X12 cab (or 2X12). i had it for 2 years. i sold it, so i could pay the EBMM...

just put a decent overdrive pedal in front and your ready to go, it has one of the best reverbs i ever heard(in a small amp) and a powerfull natural overdrive when is cranked, i've played the classic 30 and it didn't sound good to my ears, it sounds a little "cheap".
like most of all the small amps, the subway blues sounds a lot better with single coils.

 

[Gregguinho]

If you have not checked out the Fender CyberTwin, you should do so. I think they make a 1x12 version that is affordable. The CyberTwin is a tube amp that "models" several amps. However, it is not a "modeling" amp in the same sense as the Line 6 junk. I would recommend a trip to Fender.com to read about it. They also have headphone jacks that are great. I hate modeling amps myself, but I have one of these. It is basically a true amplifier with a speaker simulator built in. That makes for great tone at any volume.

If you have a larger amp already, you might want to think about just getting a speaker simulator. I managed to find a couple of Palmer PDI-03s on Ebay a couple years back and snagged them. I live in a condo with similar constraints to an apartment and I have been playing my Soldano SLO-100 straight through the Palmer and into a little board. The amp is set at stage volume and the sound from the Palmer is incredible.

 

[lock-ny]

Also check out the mesa mark series stuff, you can get the combo or the heads if you wanna put it on a 212 or something, another combo to check out is the 40 or 60 watt XXX combo, its a 1/12 but they can cover alot of ground, the mesa will sound better though -russ

 

[Raz]

If you have not checked out the Fender CyberTwin, you should do so. I think they make a 1x12 version that is affordable. The CyberTwin is a tube amp that "models" several amps. However, it is not a "modeling" amp in the same sense as the Line 6 junk. I would recommend a trip to Fender.com to read about it. They also have headphone jacks that are great. I hate modeling amps myself, but I have one of these. It is basically a true amplifier with a speaker simulator built in. That makes for great tone at any volume.

If you have a larger amp already, you might want to think about just getting a speaker simulator. I managed to find a couple of Palmer PDI-03s on Ebay a couple years back and snagged them. I live in a condo with similar constraints to an apartment and I have been playing my Soldano SLO-100 straight through the Palmer and into a little board. The amp is set at stage volume and the sound from the Palmer is incredible.

man every review I read about the Cyber Twin said it was one funky chicken...

 

[vexed73]

I really like Carvin Tube amps. I own a Bel Air that sounds awesome but had some mods done to the soak channel to really make it sing. I also had a master volume put in it for playing in my living room. It is a 50 watt amp but I take out two of the power tubes wich should bring it down to 25 for in the house.

I also used to own a Carvin XV-112. This amp is more versital than the Bel Air with out mods. I would buy another if I had room!!!!

Carvin also makes some other tube amps but have not tried them out personally but if they are like the ones I have tried very good bargain.

 

[J-Nick]

Thanks to all!

With all those suggestions I will certainly find something that I like... I won't buy anything before a month or two but I will certainly let you guys know what I get.

Thanks again!

J-Nick

 

[Jonny Dubai]

here is one from left field.....The all tube Laney stuff is pretty cool.

 

[Raz]

here is one from left field.....The all tube Laney stuff is pretty cool.

He's right Laney's awesome, Mattias can't be wrong

 

[blackspy]

Thanks to all!

With all those suggestions I will certainly find something that I like... I won't buy anything before a month or two but I will certainly let you guys know what I get.

Thanks again!

J-Nick

You mention you want alot of versatility and tube tone at bedroom/practise levels. Just for a laugh try out one of the Crate Amps with the Flexwave preamp. Dirt cheap, great tone (yeah I know..it's Crate so how can that be?) very versatile and light.