Tube amps with shizzloads of clean headroom...

chrismakesgod · Post by **chrismakesgod** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:40 pm

I would appreciate a list of tube amps in the Â£300-500 with loads of clean head room. I would prefer a head so i can plug it into this sweet little 2 x 10 i got for Â£30.

Im deliberately being un specific. I want what your favourites are so i can excercise my fingers and do some online research.

foofoo982 · Post by **foofoo982** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:43 pm

Silverface Fender Bandmaster or Bassman, assuming you're fine with used. My Bandmaster doesn't break up until volume 7-8 really.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:46 pm

I have a 1970s Laney 'Supergroup' head, its actually a PA head, 60w valve and impossible to distort but will deafen you past 4 on the volume anyway. I paid Â£50 for it and love it because it is the perfect 'blank canvas', a few pedals is all i need.
So yeah, if you can find an old PA head from the 70's/80's (they turn up on ebay) like Sound City, Laney, Carlsbro, Peavey, etc. you will get more clean headroom than you could ever need.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:12 pm

foofoo982 wrote:Silverface Fender Bandmaster or Bassman

Seconded. I used to have a 72 Bassman that NEVER broke up unless you jumpered the channels. Even on 10 it was super clean.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:15 pm

they're really not very common over here though, and bandmasters especially cost a fortune. i'd second fran's suggestions seeing as he's in the UK.

Rayjaysonic · Post by **Rayjaysonic** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:43 pm

Bugera V55HD. Think you can pick them up for about Â£260 new. Swap the tubes out for JJ's with the spare cash. Runs at 4, 8 and 16 ohms so can use it with just about any cab you want. It's a lovely amp for cleans. Takes pedals well too. The dirt channel isn't too great but is much improved by the tube swap.

aen · Post by **aen** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:45 pm

Woah. Every bassman Ive ever played (which I admit is only three) was crunchy as fuck at stage volume unless you played like a widdo babby.
I was under the impression that was the "bassman sound"

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:47 pm

I wouldn't go with a Silverface Bassman if you want cranked and clean. Mine breaks up at 4-5. Love it, though.

EDIT: Aen beat me to it. Bassman's ain't clean.

Does your 2x10 have decent speakers? Seems a shame to put an expensive head through a cheapo cab, no?

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:06 am

I was going to say, I didn't think bassman's were known for being good clean amps. You can always find late 70's Twin Reverbs for pretty cheap. I got mine for only $400, I know that converted to pounds that's above your price range, and it's a combo, not a head. But keep your eye open for those, you can always bypass the speakers in the twin in favor of your cab if you prefer.

Stuart · Post by **Stuart** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:07 am

Billy3000 wrote:I was going to say, I didn't think bassman's were known for being good clean amps. You can always find late 70's Twin Reverbs for pretty cheap. I got mine for only $400, I know that converted to pounds that's above your price range, and it's a combo, not a head. But keep your eye open for those, you can always bypass the speakers in the twin in favor of your cab if you prefer.

As a straight conversation it is well with in his price range, but I think he would be pretty lucky to find one for that kind of money (i.e Â£255) here.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:59 am

Stuart wrote:
Billy3000 wrote:I was going to say, I didn't think bassman's were known for being good clean amps. You can always find late 70's Twin Reverbs for pretty cheap. I got mine for only $400, I know that converted to pounds that's above your price range, and it's a combo, not a head. But keep your eye open for those, you can always bypass the speakers in the twin in favor of your cab if you prefer.
As a straight conversation it is well with in his price range, but I think he would be pretty lucky to find one for that kind of money (i.e Â£255) here.

Yea, I didn't know how common they would be over there in that price range. I seem to be seeing a ton of 70's twin reverbs popping up in that price range around here... even quite a few silverfaces.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:33 am

I got my '72 Twin Reverb for ~$750Cdn; my guess is that's around Â£450?
I love the amp... though sometimes I wish it would get a little dirty

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:36 am

Does it have to be tubes? If you can track down a Yamaha G-100 solid state amp, those sound ace. Like a less sterile (and less noisy) Jazz Chorus.

24HRS2MDNT · Post by **24HRS2MDNT** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:40 am

Will wrote:Does it have to be tubes? If you can track down a Yamaha G-100 solid state amp, those sound ace. Like a less sterile (and less noisy) Jazz Chorus.

+1

I always thought solid state were supposed to be lighter but each one I've found has been as HEAVY as Tony Iommi's nutsack.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:16 am

Ankhanu wrote:I got my '72 Twin Reverb for ~$750Cdn; my guess is that's around Â£450?
I love the amp... though sometimes I wish it would get a little dirty

I agree.. I have a '77 and I've cranked it all the way to 10 and still no dirt!

aen · Post by **aen** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:50 am

Wheras I had a 70something twin that farted out as soon as you hit it with an OD. At any volume.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:53 am

Silverface Dual Showman. It's a Twin in head form. Heavy as fuck, weighs a ton.

I got a sf Bandmaster Reverb from Germany. Still heavy, but not as clean-clean icepicky as a Twin.

Rayjaysonic · Post by **Rayjaysonic** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:47 am

24HRS2MDNT wrote:
I always thought solid state were supposed to be lighter but each one I've found has been as HEAVY as Tony Iommi's nutsack.

Yeah, my 1974 Marshall Lead 100 Solid State head snaps my spine every time I lift it. I think solid state combos are much lighter but heads...just as heavy as tubes I reckon!!!

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:08 pm

My 75 Bassman is awesome. I've never played it above 4 though as it's fucking loud but at that level it stays very clean. I got mine for 450 with matching 2 x 15 cab. Some people try and get silly money for them though. Bugera V55HD is worth looking at too, great clean and takes pedals really well.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:40 pm

Fran wrote:I have a 1970s Laney 'Supergroup' head, its actually a PA head, 60w valve and impossible to distort but will deafen you past 4 on the volume anyway. I paid Â£50 for it and love it because it is the perfect 'blank canvas', a few pedals is all i need.
So yeah, if you can find an old PA head from the 70's/80's (they turn up on ebay) like Sound City, Laney, Carlsbro, Peavey, etc. you will get more clean headroom than you could ever need.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carlsbro-PA50-han ... 955wt_1139

Just spotted this.

edit:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carlsbro-60PA-Rev ... 500wt_1156

this one looks nicer.

Damn you guys are giving me ideas for buying a new amp!