All-tube amps for the hobby (non-gigging) player

[cookiemonster2]

So for the last 4 years I've lived in a condo and couldn't even play my 20 watt solid state Fender without bothering the neighbours. I had to get by on headphones and a Guitar Port. Now I'm building a house and want to get a real amp. The crux is I don't play live shows and I want a tube amp that will give good tones at low to moderate volumes. I'm willing to spend a few thousand $ as long as I can use the amp to get good tones without making my ears bleed.

So today after doing some research I went for my first test drive and told the salesguy my criteria - good tone at low to moderate volume. I wanted to try a TSL100 since it has the virtual power reduction. Tried it, liked the crunch channel, clean was ok, but was disappointed with the high gain channel. Couldn't get the metal sound with the gain all the way up and the mids cut.

I asked the guy about both the Lone Star and Roadking because I'm interested in the Mesa tone, but the salesguy really tried to talk me out of the Mesas. Said that with the Mesas you really have to crank them to get good tone so they wouldn't meet my criteria.

He suggested two other amps I've never heard of before

- Soldano Lucky 13 combo
- Orange Rocker combo
I didn't have time to try these ones out after chatting with the guy and trying the Marshall. Anyone tried either of these? I may go back to try them.

I also plan to try the Peavey XXX combo, and JSX combo. How are the XXX and JSX heads at lower volumes? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Ozz666]

If you're looking for a combo I am quite impressed with the Mesa studio .22+.....that amp does it all. I'm not a Mesa fan by any means, but that amp is great...and it will drive a 4x12 cab like nothing too.

[JACKSONFREAK]

If ya want a good low powerd all tube combo. Try the Boogie F30. The Marshal DSL 401, or the Crate VFX1x2 or 2x12. All great amps and under 1500 bucks. The most expensive is the marshall. It has typical Marshall clean and if the gain isnt enough for ya throw a pedal in front of it and it will come to life and loose character. The f30 is more compressed like a typical Mesa. But also runs on EL84s like the Marshall. The clean is warm and bright for being el84s but it is a bit compressed. The Crate (my personal favorite cus i won one) But then so does Billy Gibbons and Vernon Reed. The Crate is all tube with parallel digital effects. You can bypass them completely if ya dont want them on. Its 2 channels with a very Fender like clean and a nice warm but a bit buzzy high gain with gain up high. But dont let this stop ya. Swap out the chinese GT12ax7c and put in some GT12AX7M's the mullard version. It makes the amp sweeter and warmer when in gain mode and doesnt sound scratchy at high gain. Or just leav it on clean and use a pedal of your choice to drive that. with my amp on clean and a Ibanez smash box distrtion I get very marshall-esque early VH brown sound. And with the metal Zone I get anything bluesy and slightly compressed to raging pitpull with an attitude. I've gotten many compliments on my tone with this amp and how i run mypedals in front. My amp which is only 50 watts and 2x12 out played and out toned a marshall dsl 100 half stack at band practice. Mde the other guitar player rethink his rig of choice. Anyway. Yeah I love the Crate but they do get great reviews and Billy and Vernon can afford any amp they want. But they both play The Crate VFX2x12.
Gil

[Predator1]

I have a Crate V1215 and love it for the house.. All tube 15watt's of EL84's so they are always cookin. I run an Ibenez tube screamer in front and get great early 80's metal tones at a low volume. However mine is a very early one and came with a Crate speaker,the new ones I hear come with Celestions. $353.00 out the door at GC. I would however very much like to test drive the new Mesa Stiletto Ace combo.50 watts EL34 power modeled after the British amps of the 70's/80's these are very new and scarce.

[TheDragonknight]

+1 for the .22+
it's a very good amp, but it's LOUD. I was amazed at how loud mine is for the wattage. Needs OD/dist pedals tho, if you're to reach high-gain territory at low volumes, I think..

All the talk these days seems to be about the Splawn Quick Rod. But that's a head, and you're looking for a combo, aight?

[Tashtego]

What about a Triaxis with something else for a power stage? I don't have one but I've heard they sound fantastic if you are a Mesa fan.

[kp59]

Laney makes some pretty good tube amps at low wattacge, especially for classic rock sounds. LC-15R is pretty good with a speaker out that can push a 4X12 pretty well, if you want more ..ummpp.

You can pick up one for about $200 or less on ebay (but there are not a lot of them up). You might want to try one since they are so cheap and see what you think. You could probably re-sell and not lose you shirt if it's not your cup of tea.

[fr0sty]

Check my sig. Not a combo though.

[jtr]

Fender Pro Junior 15 watt class A and used $200 & under.

[FusionFarmer]

I bought an old Peavey Bravo off a JCFer for 215 bucks and its a great little 20 watt tube amp. 3 ax7s 2 el84s. tons of gain, I use it more than the 5150

[toejam]

If ya want a good low powerd all tube combo. Try the Boogie F30.

+1 on the Mesa F-30 combo. I had one for a couple years, really liked it. I sold mine on ebay just before Christmas, and I kinda miss it, but I'd rather have the head version now and may pick one up eventually.

[Robotechnology]

A Boogie Mark III would do the trick.

[Drsracing]

Old school Jcm 800 is what it's all about

[srommes]

Just get the Mesa you want and buy a THD Hotplate to load it down. I use two with a Recto Rackmount/Mark IV and it works perfectly.

[TheDragonknight]

+1 for HotPlate if you buy any amp in the three last posts.. JCM 800 and Mark III, loudass amps

My mom went crazy when I played the JCM 800 I had before in our cellar.. cups rattling in closets, etc.. sick..