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Best Tube amp for your money


Boston004681

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Hey Guys, i said i was gonna start another thread on this in This thread.

 

What do you guys think is the best tube All Tube amp for your money?

 

I dont need lots of distortion, i dont play much metal. I'd say for rock and blues. Just loud enough for playing at home and or small gigs.

I dont really care for built-in special effects. i wouldn't use them. portability doesn't matter.

$400's the most i want to pay.

 

Is that enough info surfpup?

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Casting too wide a net there. The best tube amp for the money is the one that sounds the best to you that you can afford. With more specifics (sound, wattage needs, portability requirements, etc) you will surely get some recommendations.

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Although I just sold mine today as a matter of fact, I'd still say that the Fender Blues Junior (I had the tweed NOS version) should be in your list of amps to try. For what you are trying to accomplish while staying within your budget, you'd be hard pressed to find a better choice. Very nice amp - give it a test drive. A lot of people speak highly of the Blackheart amps as well. I've never tried one but from what I've read it might be worth taking a look at, again, based on your desired outcome.

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Unfortunately, there is no all tube amp in the 50 watt range for $400 that I am aware of. Are you sure you need that many watts? That is a lot of power -- I'm talking plaster-cracking power! Also, I'm assuming you need a combo or a head and cabinet and cannot spend $400 on just a head? If you can live with fewer watts, have a speaker cabinet already, or can spend a bit more, there are some options.

 

BTW, the following equation will tell you a lot about watts... (apologies to old timers who've heard this a thousand times)

 

To gain 3 decibels (db) of volume (which is the minimum a human ear can perceive) you have to double the watts. This means 100 watts is just barely perceivable as louder than 50 - which is just barely louder than 25 - which is just barely louder than 12... and on down the line. As a result a 12-15 watt amp is only 6db quieter than a 50 watter!

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Unfortunately' date=' there is no all tube amp in the 50 watt range for $400 that I am aware of. Are you sure you need that many watts? That is a lot of power -- I'm talking plaster-cracking power! Also, I'm assuming you need a combo or a head and cabinet and cannot spend $400 on just a head? If you can live with fewer watts, have a speaker cabinet already, or can spend a bit more, there are some options.

 

BTW, the following equation will tell you a lot about watts... (apologies to old timers who've heard this a thousand times)

 

To gain 3 decibels (db) of volume (which is the minimum a human ear can perceive) you have to double the watts. This means 100 watts is just barely perceivable as louder than 50 - which is just barely louder than 25 - which is just barely louder than 12... and on down the line. As a result a 12-15 watt amp is only 6db quieter than a 50 watter! [/quote']

 

+1

 

Well said about the watt and decibles. Honestly you may want to consider between 15-22 watts. The Blues Jr is a pretty good amp considering the type of music you want to play. The Mesa 5.25 may be another good choice, but I think it's more than $400.

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50watts with a good tube amp arel REAL 50watts.

 

I find it much louder than those SS 100watts amplifiers. If you are going to play Rock and Blues you'll need to hear you amp CRANKED.

I doubt most people are brave enough to turn a 50w tube amp loud enough to crunch properly. See, playing at home and smaller gigs you may never hear your Power tubes frying...

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Unfortunately' date=' there is no all tube amp in the 50 watt range for $400 that I am aware of. Are you sure you need that many watts? That is a lot of power -- I'm talking plaster-cracking power! Also, I'm assuming you need a combo or a head and cabinet and cannot spend $400 on just a head? If you can live with fewer watts, have a speaker cabinet already, or can spend a bit more, there are some options.

 

BTW, the following equation will tell you a lot about watts... (apologies to old timers who've heard this a thousand times)

 

To gain 3 decibels (db) of volume (which is the minimum a human ear can perceive) you have to double the watts. This means 100 watts is just barely perceivable as louder than 50 - which is just barely louder than 25 - which is just barely louder than 12... and on down the line. As a result a 12-15 watt amp is only 6db quieter than a 50 watter! [/quote']

 

Wow.... That Actually makes a lot of sense.

 

OK, 30watts is the most im going for now.

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At 50w, the Peavey ValveKing 112 looks like a good one. Some folks dump on Peavey, but my experience has been that they build solid products if not the creme du la creme.

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-ValveKing-112-Combo-Amp?sku=481442

 

I'll echo what the others said about wattage. 50w is a pretty powerful amp. My amp is switchable from 100w to 50w and, even though I run it at 100w because of the way it sounds, the 50w setting is still more than I need for a rock band that plays at moderate levels (we don't blast it, but we're not quiet either). In fact, I've been considering looking into something in the 30-35w range just so I can get the power tubes cooking a bit.

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I don't like the CHINESE Peavey Valveking, but a Peavey Classic 30 was still American last time I looked. Used ones are easy to find in your price range.

 

The Fenders are always good amps.

 

Best of luck.

 

Murph.

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Then you definitely do not want a 50w amp. I have a 5w Fender Champ which is too loud for my apartment. If you can get away with making some noise where you live' date=' a 5 watt amp will do you just fine.[/quote']

 

I do have one too. I do have a Bassman as well, but the chamion is indeed loud for my apartment it this thing rocks. There are a lot of videos of the Champion on youtube. Some are even mine =)

 

I wasn't sure if was going to enter the champion 600 subject because people tend not to believe its capacity. AND its tone is very bluesy and rocky - well, you might wanna plug some booster, but with the money you save you can get even a Fulltone OCD and rock the hell out.

 

 

EDIT:

 

Here's me attempt to play Led Zeppelin

 

 

EDIT 2:

 

And there is this guy rocking it with a 57 LP and a tubescreamer

 

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I do have one too. I do have a Bassman as well' date=' but the chamion is indeed loud for my apartment it this thing rocks. There are a lot of videos of the Champion on youtube. Some are even mine =)

 

I wasn't sure if was going to enter the champion 600 subject because people tend not to believe its capacity. AND its tone is very bluesy and rocky - well, you might wanna plug some booster, but with the money you save you can get even a Fulltone OCD and rock the hell out.[/quote']

 

Mine is actually an old 1966 Fender Champ but, yeah, I use a pedal with it too for my dirty tones. It can get a decent overdrive tone on it's own with humbucker pickups, but I have to crank it up to the point where it's too loud for my apartment.

 

Pitiful video

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