RowdyMoon Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 We all know our Marshalls and Mesas and Oranges and Fenders (Oh my)..but what about some of the smaller known (or cheaper) amps. I like the Orange rockerverb 50 or a Pete Townshend Hiwatt reissue but honestly the pricing on those amps are way to high for most peoples budget....anyone have some stories or suggestions.. What about avatar or bugera or Blackhearts..etc etc.
brundaddy Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Learn to solder and to read Electrical circuits - there are pdf electrical manuals for every amp ever made, and most are free downloads. Then buy cool old amps on Ebay, the ones you want have descriptions something like: "The light comes on but the amp don't work." Dirt cheap. So buy whatever vintage amps look the coolest on Ebay. Old amps are made with heavy-duty components, higher quality than 21st-Century Chinese amps. Easy to repair. Before long you will have a sweet collection. Buying new gear just isn't worth all the extra money. And if you're going to be playing in bands, knowing how to troubleshoot electrical systems will be clutch sooner or later. To your specific question tho, if you're looking to buy a new tube amp for under $500, it WILL be made in China (or equivalent) of cheap components...
D-poland Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 To your specific question tho, if you're looking to buy a new tube amp for under $500, it WILL be made in China (or equivalent) of cheap components... I'am not sure, but if your not familiar with CARVIN amps ya might be interested! CARVIN.com I've got 2. :wub: made in San Diego, cal. they have a good selection at a reasonable price in comparison to other USA made amps!go take a look! :D/ I would not say they are cheaply made! imho
DiamondJig Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I like Egnater amps especially the Renegade, made in chine but that sucker is built very well and she sounds great, and they give you the foot switch and amp cover , and the price is great and with a GC/MF 15% off it's unbeatable. I also like the little VHT 6 watts hand made in China and again well made. I don't care for Bugera, they are aren't made as well, and don't sound as good. Blackstar are not cheap.
Searcy Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 To your specific question tho, if you're looking to buy a new tube amp for under $500, it WILL be made in China (or equivalent) of cheap components... My Marshall Class 5 was made in England. These amps sell for $399 brand new and if you're willing to buy a used one like I did you can get then all day long for $299. I wouldn't really call Marshall and obscure amp brand though.
saturn Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I had a pretty darn good tube amp called a B52. I sold it last year, but it served me well for over 5 years. I did have to take it to a tech once during that time, but at less than $500 for a 100w tube amp I think it was well worth the money. It had a fantastic Clean channel and the OD was pretty good too. When I purchased mine, they were supposedly made in California, but I'm not sure what their status is now.
stein Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I don't know if I would call any of these cheap amps mentioned here 'obscure', as the stores are full of them. I can tend to be somewhat of an 'amp snob', mostly because I had plenty of older tube amps and found the higher priced ones well worth the money by the time these cheap ones started to come out, and had no use for them personally. So, for what it's worth, I have tried some of the "hand built in China" cheaper all tube amps, and have not been impressed. I might explain it that the key components, like the trannies, are cheap. It is a lesson to me that, just because it is all tube, does NOT garrentee a descent sounding amp. The ONLY way to know is to play it. I think for this particular question, there is no way around it.
daveinspain Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Love my Egnators... Bought the Rebel 20 when they came out and then the Rebel 30 for the extra 10 watts and additional channel and built in reverb... Still have the Rebel 20 for a back up amp...
Searcy Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Well, if we want to get into really obscure and cheap I'll offer up my 1962 Premier Club Bass 120. It's all tube and it was $15 at the thrift store. It, like more tube amps, sounds like dog poop unless you really crank it up. So for 90% of that I do a good, clear, solid state, stereo amp and a Line6 POD are all I need.
LP4Me Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 +1 on the Egnater Rebel 30. I have one paired with an Egnater Tourmaster 2x12 cab and I love it. Yes, made in China, but as someone else mentioned, very well built, at least so far. I've had a ton of compliments on my tone since I started using that amp. If there was a sound in my head (aside from the voices) that I was looking for, I found it with this amp.
krock Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I have a blackheart hd15 and really like it. It's great with pedals or just using the gain from the 12ax7's (or both)
jdgm Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Traynor. I see you are in Canada so you should be familiar with these - truly great valve amps, great tones but built very heavy! I used to like my 4x10 Peavey Classic 50w back in the '80s...should have kept that one! And way back in the late '70s I had the loan of an old-even-then Ampeg Portaflex combo. A lovely amp. I repaid the lender's kindness by....blowing it up...I still cringe at the memory!
Fletch-Man Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 D- Poland knows his stuff I bought a carvin and I love it. Besides, Carvin is made in USA (unlike Marshall) and is also slightly more economical than most mainstream brands. Pic is not mine but its the model ive got. (sx300) ps its alot bigger than it appears.
dc3c46 Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I don't know if I would call any of these cheap amps mentioned here 'obscure', as the stores are full of them. I can tend to be somewhat of an 'amp snob', mostly because I had plenty of older tube amps and found the higher priced ones well worth the money by the time these cheap ones started to come out, and had no use for them personally. So, for what it's worth, I have tried some of the "hand built in China" cheaper all tube amps, and have not been impressed. I might explain it that the key components, like the trannies, are cheap. It is a lesson to me that, just because it is all tube, does NOT garrentee a descent sounding amp. The ONLY way to know is to play it. I think for this particular question, there is no way around it. +1 You get what you pay for. Quality has its price.
bonzoboy Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 One amp that has piqued my interest lately is the Albion.These amps are the brainchild of Steven Grinrod.If his name isn't familiar then his designs should ring a bell.Grinrod along with Ken Bran,Jim Marshall et al developed many of the most famous Marshall amps most notably the Bluesbreaker and the 1959 plexi plus he worked with Celestion and was the brains behind the Greenback.He also worked with Vox developing the famous Bulldog speakers.In recent years he has worked with Vox and Wharfedale and designed the speakers that now are standard issue in Vox amps. It's suitable that the optional Celestion speakers that Vox uses were designed by him too. These new Albion amps are supposed to be an amalgam of the best features of both Vox and Marshall amps.I'd love to give one of these puppies a spin around the block-figuratively of course.
RowdyMoon Posted February 8, 2012 Author Posted February 8, 2012 Traynor. I see you are in Canada so you should be familiar with these - truly great valve amps, great tones but built very heavy! I used to like my 4x10 Peavey Classic 50w back in the '80s...should have kept that one! And way back in the late '70s I had the loan of an old-even-then Ampeg Portaflex combo. A lovely amp. I repaid the lender's kindness by....blowing it up...I still cringe at the memory! Funny you should say that...been lookin at this one (Traynor) but haven't decided. Someone also mentioned good solid state heads, I have a Marshall solid state now and for alone time or basement jamming it can produce some serious volume and tone....but you know how us guitar freaks are, always checking out new sounds and alternatives.
bonzoboy Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Re Traynor amps: I have owned several Traynor amps over the years and foolishly I've traded or sold all except for 2 that I still have.Traynor has in the past couple of years reissued the much lauded Guitar Mate (or Guitarmate depending on the vintage).I have the earliest version of the Guitar Mate that has tremolo only and no reverb.The amp is 25 W and sounds incredible,it's the quintessential blues/rock amp and once cranked a bit has the most lovely gutteral distortion and brings out gobs of sustain from just about any guitar.The new ones are hand wired in Canada and are faithful copies of the original plus they have a lush reverb unit.If you come across one of these little beauties in a guitar store,give it a try and you'll have a hard time going home without it.
Jon S. Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Silvertone 1483 and 1484. Not sure if they'd be considered obscure or non-mainstream, but they sound incredible(minus the reverb on the 1484) and you don't see many people playing them out of the studio. I bet if the cabs were made better alot more bands would be using them live.
EVOL! Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Silvertone 1483 and 1484. Not sure if they'd be considered obscure or non-mainstream, but they sound incredible(minus the reverb on the 1484) and you don't see many people playing them out of the studio. I bet if the cabs were made better alot more bands would be using them live. The cabs aren't that bad, even if they are plywood. Cool thing about them is that space at the bottom to slide in the head. And, yes, my main amp is a 1484 with matching cab. Played all over the Midwest for two years with her and she held up fine.
EVOL! Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Silvertone 1483 and 1484. Not sure if they'd be considered obscure or non-mainstream, but they sound incredible(minus the reverb on the 1484) and you don't see many people playing them out of the studio. I bet if the cabs were made better alot more bands would be using them live. Just remembered that the 1483 was a bass amp. The 1484's louder and higher wattage cousin is the 1485. Jack White claimed to play them, but every Silvertone of his I have seen was a 2x12 which leads me to believe they are 1484s. The 1485's cab was a stereo 6x10. If you intentionally meant 1483, ignore my rant.
ChanMan Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Obscure? /shrug heck if I know. I play through an Eden Nemesis N8. I think it retailed for around $130. 40w of SS goodness.
canon_mutant Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Nice to hear Egnater gettin' some love here! Been preaching them up since I first played a MOD50. Got the Rebel 30 and recently added the Renegade before Xmas when MF had 15% off and Egnater threw in another 15%. Couldn't resist. Got a great throw and go in the Rebel and the Renegade for the next level if I get there again. Carvin makes some great amps too. If I didn't love what I have so much, I'd be seriously getting the new Vai Legacy III. Thought I might be able to replace both Egnaters with the one Carvin but just not quite . . . close though!
Duende Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 We all know our Marshalls and Mesas and Oranges and Fenders (Oh my)..but what about some of the smaller known (or cheaper) amps. I like the Orange rockerverb 50 or a Pete Townshend Hiwatt reissue but honestly the pricing on those amps are way to high for most peoples budget....anyone have some stories or suggestions.. What about avatar or bugera or Blackhearts..etc etc. Rowdy I don't know why I didn't mention it earlier; but if you a want reasonably priced amp with top notch specs and sound quality - yet also obscure! Fellow member Danny Rogers (Drodge sp) makes amps and would be worth contacting. Matt
surfpup Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Hmmmm... the amps mentioned in the OP seem to be pretty high wattage amps. Is that what you are looking for? If you really want recommendations a bit more info would be helpful. How loud do you think you need it to be? Are you looking for new only, or is an older (used) amp okay? Do you want something easily moved, carried, etc? Head or combo or either? I can think of many suggestions but they vary tremendously depending on the answers to the questions above.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.