Amp Recommendations/Help 200-500$

[Corsair]

Hey guys, I just got back into playing guitar after a 5-year hiatus. Been back at it for a while now, dusted off some of my old pedals and ordered some new ones. However, my amp was stolen before I moved down south to NC from NJ by a person who I thought was a friend/good guy. So I'm stuck with real shitty started amps which I want to change as soon as possible. Right now I got a Bugera Vintage V5 Infinium holding me off. Not a bad amp but buzzes all the time and no treble, mid or bass control.
I'm looking for something louder but within a good budget range of 300-500$ Maybe 600$ but that's pushing it. That also goes wells with pedals of course. I mainly play in my room and amp volume isn't an issue.
Any recommendations for a good solid state, all tube or hybrid amp? While on the topic, how much of a difference is there between hybrids and all tubed?

My current guitars: Squier Jazzmaster, Fender 50th anniversary all gold Stratocaster with red lace in the bridge and an Epiphone Sheraton.
Any opinions on these amps i've looked into would be appreciated as well.
- Fender Super Champ X2 15-Watt
- VOX AC30VR Guitar Combo
- Fender Champion 100

[Bacchus]

While on the topic, how much of a difference is there between hybrids and all tubed?

Lots. I think most of the hybrid style amps are basically solid state amps, but with a tube sitting in the pre-amp not really doing anything.

I'm always recommending them, but the Roland Cubes are brilliant (if ugly) solid state amps that do most things well.

If I was after something a bit bigger and valve, I think I'd be looking at the Bugera V22 and hoping that they'd fixed all the reliability concerns people had about earlier models

[Corsair]

While on the topic, how much of a difference is there between hybrids and all tubed?

Lots. I think most of the hybrid style amps are basically solid state amps, but with a tube sitting in the pre-amp not really doing anything.

I'm always recommending them, but the Roland Cubes are brilliant (if ugly) solid state amps that do most things well.

If I was after something a bit bigger and valve, I think I'd be looking at the Bugera V22 and hoping that they'd fixed all the reliability concerns people had about earlier models

Thanks, that's kinda what I thought when I began reading about them. They have tubes in them but really are solid state, seems to be more for marketing purposes, I don't know of any value the tube has if it is sitting in the pre-amp.. Yet the usb connection into the computer on some of them seem interesting, you can use other tubed amp settings/sounds I believe through this, which sounds cool on paper but not so sure in real life.

I didn't even think about the Bugera V22. Anyone have any experience with this amp? It seems like a steal compared to the other stuff out there. I might even consider that instead. What were some of the concerns people had with it in the earlier models? Since I might go cheap a buy used.

[Corsair]

Well I did a little research and found a lot of negative and some positive feedback about bugera's stuff. They are a part of Behringer and most of the parts and manufacturing are cheap and made in china. So it seems like it may be to good to be true. I'm sure they are fine but are prone to randomly break down. Not so sure if I want to invest into something risky like that.

[Bacchus]

For ages I played with a Marshal AVT (one of the earlier hybrid style amps). I thought it sounded brilliant, but none of that was to do with the tube. My point is, that just because the tube is only there for marketing purposes, doesn't mean it's a bad amp.

I like the sound of the Bugera, but opinion is all over the place on them. I suspect a lot of this racism and snobbery and people being a bit aggrieved that they expensive gear they bought might not have been worth it. Any Behringer pedals I've had have always been fine, but yeah, an amp is a different prospect. I sort of doubt they've been built in such a way as to be easily serviceable either.

[Corsair]

For ages I played with a Marshal AVT (one of the earlier hybrid style amps). I thought it sounded brilliant, but none of that was to do with the tube. My point is, that just because the tube is only there for marketing purposes, doesn't mean it's a bad amp.

I like the sound of the Bugera, but opinion is all over the place on them. I suspect a lot of this racism and snobbery and people being a bit aggrieved that they expensive gear they bought might not have been worth it. Any Behringer pedals I've had have always been fine, but yeah, an amp is a different prospect. I sort of doubt they've been built in such a way as to be easily serviceable either.

Yeah, you're right. Now that I think about it, my past amp was hybrid and it played great. It's funny I asked some of my buddies for amp advice, who own either twin reverbs and another guy who had a twin reverb plus a shit ton of Sun O))) racks and a blues junior. And they immediately got snobby when I mentioned the possibility of a solid state.
I'm really thinking about getting the Fender Super Champ X2 15-Watt or possible that Bugera you mentioned. I must go to work now.
But any more advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. And thanks Bachhus for you're insight. Ill be back later.

[Nick]

What kind of music do you primarily play? How loud do you need to be?

My suggestion if you're spending $600 tops get an Ac15C1 or a used Deluxe Reverb. That should be good to play in a band with a drummer and also small venues if your drummer isn't too loud.

[Corsair]

What kind of music do you primarily play? How loud do you need to be?

My suggestion if you're spending $600 tops get an Ac15C1 or a used Deluxe Reverb. That should be good to play in a band with a drummer and also small venues if your drummer isn't too loud.

I usually tend to play a variety of different stuff if I'm jamming along to music, that's when I'm mostly using my fuzz pedals with delay and/or reverb mixed in, sometimes turns into a shoegaze sound. When it comes to creating my own music I tend to go into a more post-rock kind of sound and add in some fuzz at times. That's what I find the best to let my feelings flow.
Lately, I've been listening to Godspeed You! Black emperor, Mogwai, This will destroy you, Sigur Ros, Explosions in the sky, and other stuff such as Slowdive, Dinosaur Jr, My bloody Valentine, Minus the bear (everything up to OMNI), the helio sequence, Faunts, Grizzly Bear and other random artists I can't think of right now. All depends on my mood, my mood sorta dictates what I will listen too.

In summary, I tend to play ambient type stuff, post-rock kind of but in my own kind of style and sometimes ill play along with some songs. And other times I jam out with my fuzz factory or big muff to whatever gets me pumped or create something my own.
My pedalboard as of now is (not in this order) big muff(which has been acting up), Zvex Fuzzfactory(which died on me this week, gonna see if Zvex will be able to fix it), EarthQuaker Afterneath Reverberator, Boss Giga Delay DD-20, Boss DD-3, Rat2 distortion.
By Monday I'll have two new pedals added on to my board, Strymon Blue Sky reverb and Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh Fuzz Pedal. Can't wait to try out that fuzz pedal, a buddy of mine suggested it. But I'm really excited for the Strymon Blue Sky reverb, the ambiance from it seems exactly what I've been looking for, plus I really wanna mess around with it along with the Afterneath and delay pedals and see how it plays out.

Heh, sorry if I got carried away but I wanted to give you a better idea of what I'm doing.

Do you think something like the VOX AC10C1 will be up my alley? 600$ is actually past my spending limit right now. I thought I had more but I'm still in the range of 300-500$ Max.
Is there much of a difference tone wise between VOX AC15C1 and the VOX AC10C1?
I might be able to get the VOX AC15C1 if used. I'd love to get it but might need to sacrifice something for it.

PS: Thanks for helping me nick, I appreciate it a lot.

[Corsair]

Also, I'm mostly a rhythm player but I do play lead.
So an amp that handles pedals well with a good clean sound, good for rhythm with some lead and plays well with my Jazzmaster, Stratocaster and Sheraton.

[Corsair]

Also, I'm mostly a rhythm player but I do play lead.
So an amp that handles pedals well with a good clean sound, good for rhythm with some lead and plays well with my Jazzmaster, Stratocaster and Sheraton.

Amazon has a used VOX AC15C1 for 566.99 and I have prime so hopefully free 2-day shipping and 5% back. I may be able to get it.
They also got a VOX AC10C1 used for 395.99.

[Concretebadger]

What you play sounds quite a lot like what I do (or did until recently), and I found a Deluxe Reverb reissue worked well. As far as all-tube low-to-medium wattage tube amps go, it definitely should be on your list when shopping around. It has a lovely clean sound that starts to really shine with the volume set around 3, which is the point where it's at that "just about quiet enough for home use but just about loud enough for rehearsals."

A Princeton is pretty similar and just as nice-sounding (the speaker and wattage are a little lower), but the price difference when new is fairly small.

I've no experience with Voxes at all I'm afraid, but if it doesn't work for you I don't see why you can't send it back to Amazon as long as you keep the receipt!

[Gabriel]

If you're just playing at home and not worrying about going out for gigs I'd pick up an old Ampeg secondhand. I use a 65 Ampeg Jet to practice at home and it's awesome. It's also totally capable of playing loud gigs, but I've got a 76 Vibrolux for that.

Vintage amps are built a lot sturdier than modern circuit board amps, so something like an old Ampeg will probably be more rugged once it's been serviced.

[Josh]

If you're just playing at home and not worrying about going out for gigs I'd pick up an old Ampeg secondhand. I use a 65 Ampeg Jet to practice at home and it's awesome. It's also totally capable of playing loud gigs, but I've got a 76 Vibrolux for that.

Vintage amps are built a lot sturdier than modern circuit board amps, so something like an old Ampeg will probably be more rugged once it's been serviced.

I'd go the vintage tube amp route, or polar opposite and go for a real blank slate amp like one of those little acoustic control corp heads or one of those ampeg micro vr heads, they're super loud and clean and you let the pedals do the work anyways.

Personally I love old Sears Silvertone amps, the solid state ones are loud and clean, as for the tube modes the 1482 is loud and gritty, the 1483 is super loud and will be hella jangly with your jazzmaster. Quiet or loud volume is never an issue for me, I use a lot of effects too and they sound good though it. You can find the solid state ones for 300-600, 1482 combo for 350-550, and the 1483 piggyback head/cab for 500-1000. Prices vary like crazy depending on whether you use eBay or luck out with Craigslist. I lucked out super hard and snagged a clean stock 1483 for $400, I see those things going for 1000 sometimes in good shape. Vintage tube amps are a solid investment because you can usually make your money back and then some if you take care of them.

[Corsair]

What you play sounds quite a lot like what I do (or did until recently), and I found a Deluxe Reverb reissue worked well. As far as all-tube low-to-medium wattage tube amps go, it definitely should be on your list when shopping around. It has a lovely clean sound that starts to really shine with the volume set around 3, which is the point where it's at that "just about quiet enough for home use but just about loud enough for rehearsals."

A Princeton is pretty similar and just as nice-sounding (the speaker and wattage are a little lower), but the price difference when new is fairly small.

I've no experience with Voxes at all I'm afraid, but if it doesn't work for you I don't see why you can't send it back to Amazon as long as you keep the receipt!

Glad to I'm not alone haha. Only 2 or 3 of my close friends and have a musical chemistry, in that we can play together and feed off each other perfectly. And we tend to go to some post-rock jam session sounds mixed in with heavy fuzz or distortion. Unfortunately, I moved down south from NJ to NC and can't jam with them anymore. I've jammed with others locally but its hard to find someone that fits your music style and chemistry as I like to call it. It's like finding a good date.

I would love to invest an old vintage amp, that's been my dream for years but financially I'm on a budget due to my current job occupation. I recently had a Phone interview and week later, an in-person interview for a Beer and Wine distributor. Full time with benefits 40-50 hour weeks plus time and a half. Lots of driving and lifting, which I don't mind, I've been going to the gym lifting weights for years. And they compensate my gas mileage. I'm really hoping I get that position because then I'd be set to do whatever I want money wise. Wish me luck guys. I'm gonna try and call them for a follow-up call today and/or tomorrow. If I get this job I can without a doubt go for a vintage amp.
If it doesn't work out I gotta stick to amazon with my store card to buy stuff. That's why I've been looking at newer things. If I get the full-time position I'm going straight to reverb.com and order a vintage tube amp.

I should find out tomorrow hopefully the results otherwise, I gotta start cranking out applications again and talking to vendors/distributors in my store. (work at a beer and wine specialty store). And if worse comes to worse I'll have to find yet again a second part time job for the 5th time. Which I can't stand. Or look into something else like lyft or this other company my brother's friend works for, dropping off deliveries in Charlotte. The delivery sounds like it could be rough but you would be you are your own boss kinda like uber or lyft but just dropping off stuff.

Also, Gabriel and Josh, I'll look into those as well. I have some time to figure this out.

[Josh]

For sure, definitely good to take your time and sift through the overwhelming amount of options. With reverb you can't really lose if you decide to wait. Also echoing Gabriel waiting on a vintage one would be ideal, just looking inside my Silvertones compared to my buddies deluxe reverb reissue shit looks way easier to get to for repairs. If you're patient I'm sure you can find something that checks all your boxes at the price point you're trying to hit.

My biggest thing is just wait and click around until you come across something that you just have to hit buy on. Otherwise you'll probably be disappointed

[Corsair]

For sure, definitely good to take your time and sift through the overwhelming amount of options. With reverb you can't really lose if you decide to wait. Also echoing Gabriel waiting on a vintage one would be ideal, just looking inside my Silvertones compared to my buddies deluxe reverb reissue shit looks way easier to get to for repairs. If you're patient I'm sure you can find something that checks all your boxes at the price point you're trying to hit.

My biggest thing is just wait and click around until you come across something that you just have to hit buy on. Otherwise you'll probably be disappointed

Well, I decided for the time being to get the Vox AC15C1, ordered a used one last night for 566$, will arrive by Friday. I've spent the past week watching demos and reading on forums about multiple amps, to make a decision. From the demo's I've heard, I like its tone and it seems like a nice amp to hold me off until the day I have enough money to spend on a nice vintage amp, which in my case will be a while in my current situation. Not sure if it will be for my post-rock like style but its worth a shot. And if anything I can always return it.

[Corsair]

Well I got my order from amazon and they sent the wrong model Vox AC15VR, instead of the AC15C1. Not only that the box was batterer up badly. And at the bottom was a return slip from a previous customer stating that they recieved the wrong amp as well, stating what I just said. I was pissed called up amazon explained the whole situation. And apparently this is a common occurrence because apparently you're supposed to write on the box, "wrong item in box", which isn't mentioned anywhere on the return shipping label instructions. So I'm supposed to get a full refund once they receive it.

I went ahead and ordered a used one off of reverb.com from a high reviewed salesperson. Not just waiting for them to ship it.

So let this be a warning to those who order from amazons used Warehouse department. Since they even said this is a common problem. Will still order from them but not certain used stuff. Pedals for now only.