Members JMR Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 I figured since there's a lot of buzz about low-wattage/more affordable amps (all the way from 5 watts or less to 30), we should compile a list of the best cheaper tube amps and their pros and cons as a reference. Submit one and I'll add it to the list.Let's try to keep it sub 700 at least , but preferably have them around 400 or under BLACKSTAR HT-5street price: $300Pros: great gain, ISF,cons: no headroom EPIPHONE VALVE JUNIORstreet price: $150pros: good no-frills tone, lots of modscons: one knob, not much headroom Egnater Rebel 20street price: $600pros: good headroom, versatile with plenty of featurescons: a little bit weak according to some, definitely have to try it before you buy it Blackheart BH15Hstreet price: $350pros: good tone, lots of bang for buckcons: little headroom Crate GTX1200ProsGreat rhythm and lead tonesExcellent crunch channelExcellent lead channelGreat for metal ConsOne trick pony (good for pretty much only metal/hard rock)Cleans are so-so, but again the point above.Not very pedal friendlyThe stock speakers from the matched cab limit it's capabilitiesmostly used now, so price is about 300-400 Peavey Ultra+Pros:Three channel (clean, crunch, lead)Great tones from all three channelsCheap as hell on the used market ($300-$500)Reliable and durable (it's a Peavey)It lights up! Cons: ??? Epiphone Blues Custom 30 (combo alert, but can be used as head for any cab)street price:500-550Pros:Two channels1/2 power switchableTube rectifiedIndependent/Interactive EQ settingsExtra mid control on the overdrive channelSeparate master vol. for each channelTube driven spring reverb Cons:Not a lot of gainHeavy as helltoo bright for some (very easily fixed) Orange Tiny Terrorstreet price: 650Pros:Great Tones, spongey and ballsy OD.Very loud considering wattage.Cons:No efx loopWon't do modern metalVERY little headroom Peavey ClassicStreet: $550pros: cons: 16 ohm only Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zacman0126 Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 There was a forumite here who has a website that compiles information like this. Hopefully he'll chime in. I know his latest list involved portable/battery powered amps. But, as far as cheap tube amps go: Peavey. Far as cheap tube amps in the 5-30 watt range: Blackstar HT5 / Epiphone valve (I hear other's praising those quite a bit around here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members charveldan Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 You don't want a "cheap" tube amp, you want a good amp at an affordable price, don't you?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JMR Posted June 21, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 FINE, I'll edit it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YngwieReid Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 As of now, probably Black Star HT5. You may be lucky and find a local used amp, JCM800, 5150... etc for 500-700$ maybe even a cheap cheap Red Bear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JMR Posted June 21, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 I found a red bear for 350on CL I'm hoping it'll still be there when I have 350 (birfday plus leftover money form when I buy my new geetar?) Also, what I discovered with some of the 70s ACC amps is that there is sucxh a thing as a solid state with good tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Marshallmel Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 Egnater Rebel 20 is teh seckz! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zacman0126 Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 Lot's of SS sound fantastic, it's the boutique cork sniffers that bring it all down to justify the massive cost of they're amps. I play my $500 Crate halfstack more than my $2700 Mesa Triple Recto halfstack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JMR Posted June 21, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 okay.... coming along Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YngwieReid Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 If I had to live my life over again here's what I would of done. Instead of wasting thousands of dollars, flipping gear. I wish I saved up and bought a decent guitar first. That's #1 priority. Then saved up and bought a great tube amp. Used that for a while and saved up for a great guitar. Instead I end up owning 15 cheaper guitars, a bunch of half stacks and combo's...nothing I was really satisfied with. I saw the light, sold it all and bought 3 nice guitars, and 1 nice amp. Its time to make music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zacman0126 Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 Crate GT1200H Pro's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pioneerprogress Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 I found a red bear for 350 on CL I'm hoping it'll still be there when I have 350 (birfday plus leftover money form when I buy my new geetar?) Also, what I discovered with some of the 70s ACC amps is that there is sucxh a thing as a solid state with good tone. tis true. I love my peavey supreme. Also the triumph (such as the one in my sig ) can be had for 300 or under. I also hope you don't live near me and we are not chasing the same red bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zacman0126 Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 FYI, the GT1200H was just selling on MF for about $190 USD brand new, so used prices about the same since that was a closeout price. One more thing, you can use the FW120 as reference, it's the SAME amp, rebadged. EDIT: noticed a spelling error in my O.P, it's the GT1200H. Also, I was just going on a rant since the poster above me said he found it rare to find a good SS amp, hence my breakdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pioneerprogress Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 FYI, the GT1200H was just selling on MF for about $190 USD brand new, so used prices about the same since that was a closeout price.One more thing, you can use the FW120 as reference, it's the SAME amp, rebadged.EDIT: noticed a spelling error in my O.P, it's the GT1200H.Also, I was just going on a rant since the poster above me said he found it rare to find a good SS amp, hence my breakdown. Our other guitarist uses the gt1200h with a 1960 cab. It sounds really good. The only pedal she fools with is delay and it sounds fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zacman0126 Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 Our other guitarist uses the gt1200h with a 1960 cab. It sounds really good. The only pedal she fools with is delay and it sounds fine. {censored}, finally! THANK YOU! Everybody rags on them but that thing sounds awesome. {censored} everyone else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pioneerprogress Posted June 21, 2009 Members Share Posted June 21, 2009 {censored}, finally! THANK YOU! Everybody rags on them but that thing sounds awesome. {censored} everyone else I wanted to hate it. I have 4 heads currently and wanted her to use one of mine but I really have nothing to complain about like I had anticipated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shenaniganizer Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 What about the Peavey Ultra+? Pros: Three channel (clean, crunch, lead) Great tones from all three channels Cheap as hell on the used market ($300-$500) Reliable and durable (it's a Peavey) It lights up! Cons: Someone else should probably revise the info on the Ultra+, since that's all I can contribute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diehard82 Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 The Orange Tiny Terror Pros:Great Tones, spongey and ballsy OD.Very loud considering wattage. Cons:No efx loopWon't do modern metal Egnater Rebel 20 is great too. I wouldn't recommend the Red Bear, however. The tones are great, but tubes aren't readily available. The amps built later in the series have standard tubes. Be aware of the year of make. There is a Red Bear website with this info. Also, check into the Sovtek Mig series. The 100 and 60 are both great sounding amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diehard82 Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 What about the Peavey Ultra+? Pros: Three channel (clean, crunch, lead) Great tones from all three channels Cheap as hell on the used market ($300-$500) Reliable and durable (it's a Peavey) It lights up! Cons: Someone else should probably revise the info on the Ultra+, since that's all I can contribute. This too. Great sounding amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members imgooley Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 Epiphone Blues Custom 30? Pros: Two channels 1/2 power switchable Tube rectified Independent/Interactive EQ settings Extra mid control on the overdrive channel Separate master vol. for each channel Tube driven spring reverb Cons: Not a lot of gain Heavy as hell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zozobra Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 the valveking is ok. its not going to blow any minds but it gets the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yarbicus Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 Epiphone Blues Custom 30? Pros: Two channels 1/2 power switchable Tube rectified Independent/Interactive EQ settings Extra mid control on the overdrive channel Separate master vol. for each channel Tube driven spring reverb Cons: Not a lot of gain Heavy as hell Brilliant amp for the money. It's heavy because the cabinet is actually rock sold and the speakers have real magnets. Loud, too, even at 15 watts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members imgooley Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 Brilliant amp for the money. It's heavy because the cabinet is actually rock sold and the speakers have real magnets. Loud, too, even at 15 watts. Tell me about it I have one sitting right next to me Only 600 bucks new, too? IMO, it slays comparable fenders that do the same thing for such a better price (I.E. the Hot Rod series). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JMR Posted June 22, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 I've been looking at the blues custom and valve senior. I wish the blues custom was in head form, THEN it would be perfect for me. Lighter and probably cheaper that way.It's cleans are good and it's said to take pedals well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrueBlueAutoX Posted June 22, 2009 Members Share Posted June 22, 2009 What about the Peavey Ultra+? Pros: Three channel (clean, crunch, lead) Great tones from all three channels Cheap as hell on the used market ($300-$500) Reliable and durable (it's a Peavey) It lights up! Cons: Someone else should probably revise the info on the Ultra+, since that's all I can contribute. So worth it especially with an EQ in the loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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