I need an amp

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:59 pm

so, I have a $400 dollar budget for an amp head. I'm looking to go used because I'm trying to get a good value. The sound I don't have a particular tone I'm going for, really. I listen to circa survive, minus the bear, manchester orchestra; lots of indy type of stuff.

right now, I'm fairly sold on the Orange tiny terror. I've played one a few times and really like it. Where I am at makes it really difficult to play different kinds of amp. I was just wondering what people suggest. I need it to get loud enough to gig with at small bars and such. 15 watt tube seems to be perfect from what I can tell. I just haven't really had the change to compare so, I was wanting other opinions.

any suggestions?

p.s. I know these threads usually suck and I'm sure this has been covered a hundred times, but like everyone else, I feel my situation is a little different from the times before.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:03 pm

I absolutely adore my Blackheart Handsome Devil. I got mine on clear out for $170. Best money I've ever spent.

In that price range, if I was after a head now... I know exactly what I would get.

Bugera 1990

I love that fricken amp.

analogsystem · Post by **analogsystem** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:08 pm

Silverface bassman, bandmaster, showman, etc. Whatever you can find on craigslist in your town. Best band for buck. It'll grow with you, take pedals well, and have enough power for playing with most drummers.

Rock

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:12 pm

bassman for under $500? not on my local craigslist.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:12 pm

Ends: I'm going to check out demos of those amps now.

Everything I get is going to have to be off ebay. It really sucks but the town I live in just got a craigslist this may and there have around 20 musical instrument post ever. So, unless I get really lucky, I'm going to have to go else where.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:19 pm

It really depends on what you want the amp to do. If you want lots of clean headroom so you can expand with pedals I'd recommend a bassman or even on down to a blues junior, a Peavey Classsic 30 or 50 head is a good option too. Even the Bugera v55 has an impressive overdrive channel and well featured to boot. If you just want a great crunchy amp all the time then the Tiny Terror is THE way to go. Egntors are great for this too but a bit more expensive. A Marshall Class 5 is amazingly good with the volume flat out and it's plenty loud for small gigs.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:27 pm

I'm really looking for a good clean tone. The only pedals I use are a big muff, volume, and a delay (soon).

I'm a fan of the Bugera 1990. hmmmm

analogsystem · Post by **analogsystem** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:30 pm

endsjustifymeans wrote:bassman for under $500? not on my local craigslist.

Silverface bassman head = $350 to $500 if you look around

Also look for a Fender PA-100 head

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:34 pm

If it's a clean tone your after the tiny terror might not be the best route. They manage it alright but might not stay clean when getting up to gig volumes. In my experience they take pedals pretty well but that was always with the gain up. Its a shame to have such a great crunch amp and only use it for cleans, ya know?

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:35 pm

After watching Mike's demo of the Bugera V55, I'm thinking that might be the way I go.

I really dig it and it is a good price. 55 watts is enough that it will definitely get enough but I will also be able to use it at my house with it being over kill. I never thought I would really be a fan of Bugera but I like what I hear.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:37 pm

analogsystem wrote:
endsjustifymeans wrote:bassman for under $500? not on my local craigslist.
Silverface bassman head = $350 to $500 if you look around

Also look for a Fender PA-100 head

I picked mine up for $300, originally listed for $350 but it needed caps and tubes ($100) so it was a good haggling point. Great amps if you want a clean platform for pedals

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:41 pm

portugalwillie wrote:After watching Mike's demo of the Bugera V55, I'm thinking that might be the way I go.

I really dig it and it is a good price. 55 watts is enough that it will definitely get enough but I will also be able to use it at my house with it being over kill. I never thought I would really be a fan of Bugera but I like what I hear.

Love bugera. I had the V5 before I got the handsome Devil. If I hadn't gotten such a good price on the HD I'd still be using it for bedroom play and recording.

Berto · Post by **Berto** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:41 pm

its 40w, but a fender hot rod deluxe would be a good choice

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:02 pm

i got my working 71 bassman for 250 shipped from NY, then put 100 bucks service in.

Skip · Post by **Skip** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:09 am

bassman or bandmaster would be great
bandmaster is a little more tame than the bassman

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:13 am

I posted a want to buy on craigslist just for the hell of it (it is actually KC craigslist which is like 3 hours away but I make the drive a lot)

A guy has a 74ish Music Man 65 head. He said he'd sell it for $275. I may be able to get the cab for it too for $400. Good deal? I don't know much about them, other than they are post-Fender, Leo designed.

If I don't go with this or some other amp that someone has, I think I am leaning towards the tiny terror right now. Just because I would know for sure what I am getting.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:04 am

that's a decent deal. i love the music man stuff, but i know a lot of folks who don't.

next time you come up here, go to midwestern musical @ 19th(?) and locust, and they have all kinds of vintage shit, and the dudes will let you jam on whatev you want. call me and i'll meet you up thar.

i would say either the v55 or the tiny terror would be fucking dope. why not just a combo?

you can't really find silverface shit for less than $700 or so around here, but if you see something on CL that you like, go try it.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:12 am

The dude also offered me the head plus a 71ish traynor 8x10 cab. It has had three speakers replaced but still has at least one of the speakers.

8x10 seems like overkill for a guitar. haha, but it would be kind of sweet too.

And hotrod, yes fo sho. I'll be in town early may. So, in about a month I'll be back to KC for three months.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:56 am

You might check out the Egnater 20 or 30 heads. Good prices used. They just came out with the new Tweaker head for $399.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:02 am

I looked at the egnater. To me they sounded like a tiny terror with more knobs and switches but I am yet to hear a demo of one that doesn't sound like the tiny terror.

If I can pickup the bandmaster that posted elsewhere in the amp forums, I will probably go with that. If not, I'll probably go tiny terror. Or Bugera. Or Egnater. Or something else.

the guy officially offered me the music man plus a vintage 8x10 traynor cab. That seems like a good deal doesn't it? I feel like I could turn around and sell either one of those pieces for close to 400.