Bluemoon Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I am looking for a tube amp to use for practice at home. Don't want to spend a ton. I own a Gibson LP Standard. Suggestions? Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson CS Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 fid a vintge obscure 1x12 i used to own VM amp, it was a small company out of mich. that only was around from 1952-55, and they made PA systems well needless to say, that litte 75 watt amp had the best vintage blues overdrive ever, and it had a jensen speaker, and built in reverb if you are looking for something like that , then i strongly recomend it otherwise any fender frontman or marshall mg is good enough for bedroom rockin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer993 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Fender Blues Jr. eBay is a place to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FennRx Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 dont forget the epi valve junior. packs a wallop for only 5 watts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaresz Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I use a VOX AC-15 myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stryker69 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 i like the fender blues jr or the peavey classic 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FennRx Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Classic 30 is a good one. I should note that home use to me is very quiet. i have a Fender HRD and those 40 watts are WAAAAAAAAY too loud for me to drive the power tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I also recommend the Fender Blues Junior but with some comments. The master volume knob is very touchy at low volume; there is a fine line between a whisper and what might be almost too loud for late night jamming if you have thin walls. I bought mine used and the stock speaker either had issues (abused) or it just sucked. After doing research, it seems a lot of players don't care for the stock speakers so you might want to budget for a replacement if you don't like it either. I ended up replacing mine with a Weber but would consider a Celestion if I were to do it again. Do your research as the cabinet is small and the speaker a tight fit so not everything will fit in there. Try to find one used; Fender has sold tons of these amps so they're pretty easy to find on Ebay and the like. At $450 new, I think that's a bit steep for what the amp is but if you can find one in good condition (most people just keep them at home so that should be easy) for around $350, that'd be a good buy IMO and would leave you $100 left over if decide you don't like the speaker. BJs are popular candidates for mods so keep your eyes open about that. Some might be good mods, some might not. A popular site for mods is Bill's BJ mod page; his mods seem to make sense and are cost effective although I've never done any: http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bluesjunior.htm Just beware of over investing in mods; it's a cheap amp and you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot if you decide to sell it later and can't recoup the money you sank into it. Some folks swear by changing out the stock tubes. I went that route but didn't hear enough of a difference to think it was worth it and I tend to be really critical. It's a small box amp so don't expect a lot of low end thump. If you try to make up for it by turning the bass control much past "5" get ready for some muddy overdrive. However, it does sound really good for what it is and gets some cool classic rock sounds as well as nice clean tones as well. Overall, a good practice amp if you can get a good price on one. It's what I use at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 fender blues junior, epiphone valve junior, blackheart (the 5Watt version), vox ac15 (but i think that one might be a little to much for home usage, remember "tube watts" are not the same as "solid state watts". theres is of course this gibson GA5 Les Paul Jr amp that i cant find on MF or GC and someone in this forum owns (i think it was daveinspain but am not sure). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I use a Crate V8. Five watts, 10 inch speaker, class A tube power lil' monster. Also has a line in/out you can use with head phones. I think they're around $150. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgolf2000 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I'll second the Peavey Classic 30 - nice clean tones and better distorted tones than Fender (IMHO of course) You really need to spend some time playing a bunch of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michelliot Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Purchased a Fender Super Champ XD for my daughter. Small, light with a punch. Also has a wide range of effects if your into it. With the gain engaged, I can't believe how long her LP can sustain a note. Nice and clean without any effects. I've read of others change the factory speaker, but for now, all sounds fine as is. Good luck and stay well, Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I'll second the Peavey Classic 30 - nice clean tones and better distorted tones than Fender (IMHO of course) You really need to spend some time playing a bunch of them... Totally forgot about the peavey classic 30... but isnt it 30W? i think it may be a little too much for home use if you plan on cranking it to 10. Nice amp! as you noted, he should go and play as many of them as he can, and then let his ears decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Bought my fiance a Marshall MG15CD. Pretty nice little amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KooAa Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Orange Tiny Terror Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I've got 3 of the ones mentioned so I'll comment. The Marshal MG15CD is nice because it also has a headphone output and a CD in so you can practice quietly with your favorite CD. I've got the CDR which adds a true spring reverb and I'd recommend going that route if you go solid state. The FDD switch is necessary, the thing is a lifeless POS without it. The Valve Junior is inexpensive and will teach you more about your guitar since all there is is a volume control. You control the sound with the tone and volume on the guitar and the the volume on the amp. The sound is a little hollow and thin but that can be fixed with better tubes and a few pedals, but it's still a small speaker. The Blues Junior is good for classic rock and blues, but you'll need a pedal for metal type distortion. As someone said there isn't a lot of low end volume adjustment, below 1.5 it's pretty much on/off. The Bill M mods are cool, but I'd stay away from the bias mod. It sucked the life out of mine and I ended up reversing it. It has enough power that you could gig it in a small room, or mike it for larger spaces or recording Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPRIDER Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Bluemoon, what do you consider a Ton of Money..? What price range are you talking..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgolf2000 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Totally forgot about the peavey classic 30... but isnt it 30W? i think it may be a little too much for home use if you plan on cranking it to 10. Nice amp! as you noted' date=' he should go and play as many of them as he can, and then let his ears decide.[/quote'] it is 30W so for bedroom practice probably too loud and no headphone capability. Mine is certainly not cranked - more like 10 or 11 o'clock. Good for basement or garage and could be gigged with as well. IMHO a good all around amp for the money. Quiet enough for home use but also loud enough to piss some people off..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saturn Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Have you ever heard of B-52? I have a 100W AT212, that sounds incredible. The problem is that it weighs 85lbs. I know they make a 60W AT112. I haven't tried it but I think it sounds pretty much the same as the AT212, only smaller and lighter. One of the coolest features is that you can operate it in Class A, Class A/B or solid state. Although it's pretty high wattage, there's a good matser volume that lets you get a great tone at low volumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heritage cherry Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Bluemoon said he was looking for a small TUBE amp for home use. The Marshall MG series are not tube amps. They are solid state. I'd recommend the Fender Blues Junior (15W). I have one. Or the Vox AC-15. The Fender '65 Deluxe re-issue (pricey) has lovely tone but may not be suitable for home use at 22W and lacking a volume/master set-up. In other words you've got to play it with volume on 1 or 2 at home and that doesn't reach the "sweet-spot" tone you get higher up the dial. Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is nice too, but too loud for home use at 40W. I hear good things about the Peavey Classic 30, but have never actually heard one or played through one. Same goes for the Fender Super Champ XD. Overall the Blues Junior is built like a tank (for a small 15W amp) & has a 12 inch speaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullseye99 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 marshall mg15 mszw micro stack looks cool,sounds killer=d> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 How much is too much? I would say more than $200. I just picked up a Standard so I have very little money left. Will probably search around for used amp. Thanks for all the great suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 a good tube amp for less than 200... hm... maybe the epi valve jr or the blackheart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieDean Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I know you said tube amp, but for home use why not something like a VOX Valvetronix, or a Peavey Transtube? I own the Vox AD50VT, and while I don't have the experience that most of the people here have, I think it sounds way better than any pure solid-state amp I've heard. Additionally, the variable power input combined with the Master volume control over the mod volume control lets you crank the gain and the volume up to saturate the "tube" and still play at a level that your neighbors can tolerate.....without ever losing that growl. ...just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 For $200 you should also consider the Fender Champ 600. Sort of like the Epi Valve Junior but it sounds like a Fender amp (this is a good thing). It uses a 6V6 tube in the output rather than the EL84 that most of the other 5 watt amps use. If you find one definitely give it a try - you should interview amps just like you do guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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