Cheap tube amp or modelling amp?

luke · Post by **luke** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:42 pm

I have a budget of about Â£400, and I want to get myself a head and cabinet. I don't care about the wattage, I don't care about the amount of speakers in the cabinet, really all I'm looking for is something with some cool sounds and some versatility.

My two biggest current options are getting the VOX AD100VTH:

With a cheap 2x12 or 4x12, whatever's cheapest when I look for one. I've played the VOX AD50VT and it's impressive. It may be all digital and fake and may only have one valve stuck in there, but it got some neat sounds out of it. It's got about 11 preset distortion sounds designed to sound like other amps and there are some cool ones in there, and there are some onboard effects, and it even has a preamp knob on the back which kinda works as a master master volume switch. I was pretty set on this, right up until I realised how cheap the Peavey Valve King is...

100 watts, all valve, has 2 footswitchable channels plus a boost. My only concerns with this are that I haven't played one of these, 100 watts seems like a lot for anything less than a large gigging venue, and being a very cheap valve amp I'm slightly worried it might be cheap in quality.

Anyway, you guys know best, what do you recommend? Any better ideas for my money (Â£400ish)? Thanks.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:52 pm

Do you gig? Don't buy a 100w tube amp for bedroom use, it'll never sound as good as it should. Get a Tiny Terror and rock your nuts off.

Buying a cheap crappy cab isn't gonna do you any favours, you're better off getting a combo unless you're playing live lots and can borrow cabs from other bands.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:52 pm

Does the four hundred quid have to get you the cab as well as the head?

I really like my Marshall AVT150H halfstack. When I got mine's new, it was six hundred quid, but you might get one for around five now, maybe even cheaper. It's the same sort of idea as the Vox, but I'd rather have a Marshall than the Vox.

I heard bad things about the Peavey Valve King. I would suggest the Peavey Classic thirty head if your budget permits, or the fifty, if you need da powah.

I think Epiphone have a Valve head in that sort of a range too. I think it might be the Triggerman, or maybe the Valve Special. I''ve never heard much about either, but if the Valve Junior's anything to go by, they're worth a punt.

Gandalf · Post by **Gandalf** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:11 pm

Save up another hundred and buy a Blues Jr.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:15 pm

Gandalf wrote:Save up another hundred and buy a Blues Jr.

or, buy a peavey valssic thirty combo, and spend the rest on nice stuff.

luke · Post by **luke** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:42 pm

BacchusPaul wrote:Does the four hundred quid have to get you the cab as well as the head?

Yeah, and even the Â£400 is pushing it. I've seen cheap cabs for Â£100, but cheap is exactly what they are.

I'm not looking to get the best amp I'll ever have here, I just want something that's giggable, but also works at low volumes without compromising on the sound. I've played those Valvestate Marshalls and they're not bad at all, but I've really liked the VOX counterparts since I played one, so it's a hard choice there I guess.

Anyone else heard anything of the Valve King?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:00 pm

Malik wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:Does the four hundred quid have to get you the cab as well as the head?
Yeah, and even the Â£400 is pushing it.

Then I reckon you shouldn't try to get a head and cab. I think for that money, you're more likely to end up with a setup that you'll not be happy with, and have to spend more money on in a few years.

I think, if you're determined to get a head and cab, you'd be better off waiting and getting something of a higher quality.

Bear in mind that that sort of money will buy you a very giggable valve combo. I'd rather have the head and cab, but it might make more sense to be more practicle.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:04 pm

2x12 combo FTW. Sometimes a half stack (even just a 2x12 setup) can be a pain in the arse- the 2x12 cab alone is about the same size as a combo if not bigger. I guess you get the benefit of a closed back with a cab (and it's low end whoompf), most combos are open backed.

Are you just after a basic clean tone to run pedals into, a few channels, what?

luke · Post by **luke** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:14 pm

Doog wrote:2x12 combo FTW. Sometimes a half stack (even just a 2x12 setup) can be a pain in the arse- the 2x12 cab alone is about the same size as a combo if not bigger. I guess you get the benefit of a closed back with a cab (and it's low end whoompf), most combos are open backed.

Are you just after a basic clean tone to run pedals into, a few channels, what?

The more options the better. If there are options, obviously I want a footswitch option, but I'd settle for a simple clean amp.

What sort of decent valve combo amps are there available for that price then? I want a 2x12 at the very least, not one of those little 30 watt things, no offence Paul.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:24 pm

Malik wrote:What sort of decent valve combo amps are there available for that price then? I want a 2x12 at the very least, not one of those little 30 watt things, no offence Paul.

You know a thirty watt valve amp would be hella loud, and certainly giggable, without mic'ing.

Although I've a suspicion you should be after a Marshall combo or something. It would be a bit more ballsy, and remember, you can always add a cab beneath in a few years if you decide you want to.

superfuzz · Post by **superfuzz** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:27 pm

theres a neat epi 2x12 valve combo, its a new one, its 30 watts, and i think its only $500 usd. There are also hot rod devilles, which i am a fan of, but many arent.
search for Epiphone Blues Custom 30 Watt 2x12 Combo Amp on the musicians friend search. It may be out of you're price range, and i've never tried one.[/url]

luke · Post by **luke** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:32 pm

superfuzz wrote:theres a neat epi 2x12 valve combo, its a new one, its 30 watts, and i think its only $500 usd. There are also hot rod devilles, which i am a fan of, but many arent.
search for Epiphone Blues Custom 30 Watt 2x12 Combo Amp on the musicians friend search. It may be out of you're price range, and i've never tried one.[/url]

Yeah, that thing is like Â£500 our money, it seems a lot for what you get but I bet that thing sounds pretty awesome. I'll look into the Hot Rod Deville.

Keep the ideas coming people.

superfuzz · Post by **superfuzz** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:35 pm

Malik wrote:
superfuzz wrote:theres a neat epi 2x12 valve combo, its a new one, its 30 watts, and i think its only $500 usd. There are also hot rod devilles, which i am a fan of, but many arent.
search for Epiphone Blues Custom 30 Watt 2x12 Combo Amp on the musicians friend search. It may be out of you're price range, and i've never tried one.[/url]
Yeah, that thing is like Â£500 our money, it seems a lot for what you get but I bet that thing sounds pretty awesome. I'll look into the Hot Rod Deville.

Keep the ideas coming people.

yeah you could probably pick up a used hotrod deville for les than 400 usd, im not suree if it loses that much value across the pond though.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:41 pm

I don't know too much about Fender amps, but I don't think I would buy one, when the similarly styled Peavey's are so good.

StevePirates · Post by **StevePirates** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:02 pm

If you go with a head/cab set up, buy the best head and the worst cab, you can always swap out the cab later for not so much money.

But if you're not planning on leaving the bedroom, a combo is probably right up your alley. Fender and Marshall both make some great all tube (valve) combos. What are you trying to sound like?

Also, for a bedroom, 30Watts is plenty. Too many watts and you'll never get your overdrive to the sweetspot without your neighbors banging down the door.

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:11 pm

Laney VC30 2x12 - Â£370

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/option ... EAod4iCXQw

Mine is loud as hell and its only a 1x12.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:29 pm

Definitley choose a Peavey Classic over a Hot Rod Deville.
The peavey's are all-tube whereas the fenders' overdrive is all solidstate and sounds quite crap. TRUE STORY.

luke · Post by **luke** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:33 pm

StevePirates wrote:If you go with a head/cab set up, buy the best head and the worst cab, you can always swap out the cab later for not so much money.

But if you're not planning on leaving the bedroom, a combo is probably right up your alley. Fender and Marshall both make some great all tube (valve) combos. What are you trying to sound like?

Also, for a bedroom, 30Watts is plenty. Too many watts and you'll never get your overdrive to the sweetspot without your neighbors banging down the door.

Well, in the future I may well plan on "leaving the bedroom", so obviously I want room for expansion!

The VC30 looks really good Euan, is that the one you keep arse licking? Have you posted any samples of it?

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:36 pm

Nae mic like. I've been meaning to borrow a preamp and SM57 of a mate every weekend since I've got it. Sometime soon, but I have other plans that involve girls this weekend.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:48 pm

Sloan wrote:Definitley choose a Peavey Classic over a Hot Rod Deville.
The peavey's are all-tube whereas the fenders' overdrive is all solidstate and sounds quite crap. TRUE STORY.

I've never played the Fender, but I can't begin to say how good I think the Classic Thirty sounds, although in fairness, I've only played a second hand one, for about twenty minutes in a shop once.

It was great for clean bluesy stuff, with a nice, three dimensional sort of tone. Plenty of depth. I also metal'd the fuck out of it for about forty-five seconds, much to the surprise of the shp owner, who had got used to my naff bluesing out. It sounded great for the metal too. The overdrive seemed pretty verstaile.