Tube amps with POWER please!

Jonathan · 11-03-2009, 04:33 PM

Hello fellow musicians!
Im on the lookout for a new amp to replace my marshall valvestate! I want it to be a tube amp and at least a 30 watter cause its goin to be used for band practice and gigging!
Now im looking for a tube amp with POWER! I have a gibson standard faded which is a GREAT sounding guitar with overdrive and distortion! My band is playing our own style of music but we are greatly inspired by led zeppelin. Myself, im a jimmy page fan and im really digging his tone. Especially on the live immigrant song: YouTube - Immigrant Song - 1972 . okay, i know i cant get jimmy pages tone and thats not what i want. I want that kind of tone. I want an amp that has some serious smokin' hot overdrive/distortion with some nice gain . no HIGH GAIN, but rather that type of gain that adds POWER to the tone. like pages tone in the video with that nice flavour tubes add! Im not into that very crisp low gain fender clean tone, but the ballsy heavy tone!

I have a very little knowledge about tube amps.

Ok, i have a gibson standard les paul. Thats 50% of the tone. now i need the amp ^^. i've tried great marshall amps. They are simple amps and sound great. plug in -> click on boost channel -> TONE . Thats how i like my amp. I've also thought of VOX amps. They seem pretty nice but i dont know much about them. My budget is 800-1500 dollars and i would prefer combos!. Suggestions ?

im open for anything!

currently im looking on a:
marshall JCM 900 4102, 100 W, 2 x 12"
VOX AC30 cc2

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 04:44 PM

Find a JMP or early JCM 800 2204. 2203 if you want 100 watts.

zeppelin101 · 11-03-2009, 04:55 PM

The AC30 is a great amp imo

Jonathan · 11-03-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeppelin101

The AC30 is a great amp imo

has it got BALLSY POWER?

Liam · 11-03-2009, 05:14 PM

The AC30 is a lovely amp, but doesn't IMO have ballsy power of the type you're looking for.

For my money it's a Marshall 2203, a Hiwatt Custom 100, or best of all a 1959 plexi (or early metal face). Early Orange 120 Graphic also does the "big" sound. You need at least one decent 4 x 12 if you're going to move air like that. Not a high gain sound, just big and punchy.

Liam

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 05:14 PM

The amps I suggested can be found in that price range and have more BALLS than you'll ever need.

Jonathan · 11-03-2009, 05:24 PM

Thank you guys! A few nice amps mentioned here! I'll look out for those

axepilot · 11-03-2009, 06:27 PM

Just how much balls are you looking for? Move houses off their foundations balls, or a smaller amp that can cut your hair and rattle your bones a bit?

I know it's out of your budget, but case in point - my little Germino Club 40 combo is 40 watts, and it can get obscenely loud with a huge ballsy punch...................so don't get hung up on wattage as a measure of balls.

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axepilot

Just how much balls are you looking for? Move houses off their foundations balls, or a smaller amp that can cut your hair and rattle your bones a bit?

I know it's out of your budget, but case in point - my little Germino Club 40 combo is 40 watts, and it can get obscenely loud with a huge ballsy punch...................so don't get hung up on wattage as a measure of balls.

I've got a Germino dealer five minutes from me and there's always a long waiting list. I'll get to try these Marshall killers one of these days. They're made here in NC if I'm not mistaken.

axepilot · 11-03-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

I've got a Germino dealer five minutes from me and there's always a long waiting list. I'll get to try these Marshall killers one of these days. They're made here in NC if I'm not mistaken.

Boles,

I've had the amp now for over three years and it never fails to put a smile on my face. It's pictured in my avatar. Greg's shop is somewhere outside of Greensboro. His workmanship is top notch, and he's a patient man - I talked his ear off for about an hour with many questions before I pulled the trigger on my Club 40. I waited almost five months for the amp...........................worth every second of the wait. Try a few out!

Liam · 11-03-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

The amps I suggested can be found in that price range and have more BALLS than you'll ever need.

You're quite right. The amps I mentioned have been found within the budget mentioned as well, but the temptation to move them on for a profit is generally quite big. 2203 definitely does the trick, 2204 is somehow a sweeter sounding amp, but does what the OP is asking for pretty well. So please don't think I'm being contentious, I agree with you!

Liam

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liam

You're quite right. The amps I mentioned have been found within the budget mentioned as well, but the temptation to move them on for a profit is generally quite big. 2203 definitely does the trick, 2204 is somehow a sweeter sounding amp, but does what the OP is asking for pretty well. So please don't think I'm being contentious, I agree with you!

Liam

Oh, not at all! I posted that before I read your response!

A 2204 would be right up his alley I think.

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axepilot

Boles,

I've had the amp now for over three years and it never fails to put a smile on my face. It's pictured in my avatar. Greg's shop is somewhere outside of Greensboro. His workmanship is top notch, and he's a patient man - I talked his ear off for about an hour with many questions before I pulled the trigger on my Club 40. I waited almost five months for the amp...........................worth every second of the wait. Try a few out!

Awesome!

Fracture · 11-03-2009, 07:01 PM

Isn't Swart in Wilmington?

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 07:03 PM

I dunno, but Carr is made here as well as Germino.

axepilot · 11-03-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

Awesome!

If you do, PM me and let me know what you think. Greg builds very honest amps that are superlative in every way.

Jonathan,

Sorry about the brief thread hijack...................it's all yours again..........

Texas07R8 · 11-03-2009, 07:09 PM

there's a lot of great tube amps out there. Speaker combinations will effect overall tone of any good tube amp more than you may realize so be sure to test out different speaker cabs.

Also, you mention you need a loud amp, you've done the ValveState route and now you want the real deal.. I hear you and agree, it sounds like you're ready to get a good tube amp. Just remember, a 50w tube amp that's well built and is driving a good pair of 12's in a combo amp will be a LOT louder than a more powerful SS amp.

Put that same 50w amp on a hot 4x12 straight cabinet and it will sound unreal and frikkin loud! The 100w version won't "sound" much louder that a 50watter but will have more dynamic range and a much more headroom, meaning you can get a lot of fairly clean tone volume out of a 100w whereas a 50w head will start to clip at lower volumes.

I don't see why you can't do pretty much any gig with a 50w half stack or maybe even the right combo. If you need a lot of clean volume then you may prefer a 100w head.

I've got a Marshall Vintage Modern, it's a 50w combo with 2-12" Greenback/Hendrix Celestions and this frikking thing cranks. I can only imagine what a 100w version can deliver.. I've had tons of amps over the years and I have to tell you this Vintage/Modern is the best sounding and most dynamically sensitive I've ever had the pleasure.

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas07R8

I've got a Marshall Vintage Modern, it's a 50w combo with 2-12" Greenback/Hendrix Celestions and this frikking thing cranks. I can only imagine what a 100w version can deliver.. I've had tons of amps over the years and I have to tell you this Vintage/Modern is the best sounding and most dynamically sensitive I've ever had the pleasure.

A cranked 100 watt V/M through a 4x12(or two

) will blow your head clean off. I know these things.

Texas07R8 · 11-03-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

A cranked 100 watt V/M through a 4x12(or two

) will blow your head clean off. I know these things.

It makes sense what you say there Bole.. I wondered what happened to you bro, now I know it was just Mr. Marshall working his magic on you

I used to gig with an old Carvin 100w X100B?? I forget, it was a late 70's tube head that had the 5 or 6 band EQ and Master Volume. It had 4-EL34s and me and my bandmates built our PA cabinets and I make some guitar 4-12 cabs while we were at it.

I gigged that 100w Carvin with a full stack under it and it was thunder! I miss that amp.. It sure sounded better than my 50w Marshall I had before that. I forget what head model it was, just a mid 70's 50w is all I remember. I traded my first flying V for it.

I had a Peavey Musician lead amp too and tried it through the full stack and it wasn't as loud as my 100w tube driven Carvin full stack. That Peavey Musician was a SS head with 400 w RMS, you'd think it would be loud but it can't compete with the right valve amp.

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 07:41 PM

Ah! The Carvin XB100s. I wouldn't mind trying one of those as well.

axepilot · 11-03-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas07R8

I had a Peavey Musician lead amp too and tried it through the full stack and it wasn't as loud as my 100w tube driven Carvin full stack. That Peavey Musician was a SS head with 400 w RMS, you'd think it would be loud but it can't compete with the right valve amp.

I remember those amps!

Jonathan · 11-04-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axepilot

Just how much balls are you looking for? Move houses off their foundations balls, or a smaller amp that can cut your hair and rattle your bones a bit?

I know it's out of your budget, but case in point - my little Germino Club 40 combo is 40 watts, and it can get obscenely loud with a huge ballsy punch...................so don't get hung up on wattage as a measure of balls.

Defintly number two! I dont need a 100 watts head. Just a nice little combo that i can crank up a little and hear a smoking ballsy OD/little distorted tone!

Jonathan · 11-04-2009, 02:04 PM

But i have to point out that i don't need an insanely loud amp! I need an amp that can without problems outplay an acoustic drumset but still isnt extremely loud. I want to be able to turn the amp past 5 and have have a nice volume level along with a drumset.

and i PREFER COMBOS

or a LITLE halfstack

mad dog · 11-04-2009, 02:23 PM

My fave in this department is old school, no reverb. The Fender '57 lo power tweed twin RI. At 40 watts, it's MUCH louder than my 35 watt amps. I run it half way up, maybe a little past, on volume at loud gigs. And most of the time don't even get the guitars wide open. The volume part is reassuring, but it's the tone of this thing that keeps me coming back. If you're comfortable with alternate reverb sources, and can find one of these used, it's well worth a try.
MD

hipofutura · 11-04-2009, 03:15 PM

Old Traynor YBA, YRM, YSR, etc. You'll never again look at Marshalls in the same way.

How's this sound:

YouTube - Traynor YBA 1

Hamtone · 11-04-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liam

The AC30 is a lovely amp, but doesn't IMO have ballsy power of the type you're looking for.

For my money it's a Marshall 2203, a Hiwatt Custom 100, or best of all a 1959 plexi (or early metal face). Early Orange 120 Graphic also does the "big" sound. You need at least one decent 4 x 12 if you're going to move air like that. Not a high gain sound, just big and punchy.

Liam

2203 or hiwatt and 1959, without a doubt

Hamtone · 11-04-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipofutura

Old Traynor YBA, YRM, YSR, etc. You'll never again look at Marshalls in the same way.

How's this sound: YouTube - Traynor YBA 1

That sounds veyr much like fender when I am driving it hard

hipofutura · 11-04-2009, 03:35 PM

Ham, that's a pretty good description. My Traynor YRM-1 is a Fender Bassman preamp coupled to a Marshall Plexi power amp. Traynor did some very cool things back in the day.

***Led Zep Fan*** · 11-04-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boleskinehouse

find a jmp or early jcm 800 2204. 2203 if you want 100 watts. :d

the amps i suggested can be found in that price range and have more balls than you'll ever need.

+1

gilmourjunkie · 11-04-2009, 03:48 PM

There are lots of amps out there for that price, but my answer for nearly everything rock music related.... Soldano. Very versatile amp. Since you don't need a clean channel, I would shoot for a HR50 Plus. With the pre around 5-6 and the master at 6, its just awesome. I could go on and on about the amp, but you should be the judge of what you are buying. For me, my search is over and has been since 1999. At any rate, you owe it to yourself to check one out before you buy anything. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

11-03-2009, 04:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jonathan Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 149 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Tube amps with POWER please! Hello fellow musicians! Im on the lookout for a new amp to replace my marshall valvestate! I want it to be a tube amp and at least a 30 watter cause its goin to be used for band practice and gigging! Now im looking for a tube amp with POWER! I have a gibson standard faded which is a GREAT sounding guitar with overdrive and distortion! My band is playing our own style of music but we are greatly inspired by led zeppelin. Myself, im a jimmy page fan and im really digging his tone. Especially on the live immigrant song: YouTube - Immigrant Song - 1972 . okay, i know i cant get jimmy pages tone and thats not what i want. I want that kind of tone. I want an amp that has some serious smokin' hot overdrive/distortion with some nice gain . no HIGH GAIN, but rather that type of gain that adds POWER to the tone. like pages tone in the video with that nice flavour tubes add! Im not into that very crisp low gain fender clean tone, but the ballsy heavy tone! I have a very little knowledge about tube amps. Ok, i have a gibson standard les paul. Thats 50% of the tone. now i need the amp ^^. i've tried great marshall amps. They are simple amps and sound great. plug in -> click on boost channel -> TONE . Thats how i like my amp. I've also thought of VOX amps. They seem pretty nice but i dont know much about them. My budget is 800-1500 dollars and i would prefer combos!. Suggestions ? im open for anything! currently im looking on a: marshall JCM 900 4102, 100 W, 2 x 12" VOX AC30 cc2 __________________ - Gibson Std Faded '08 Honeyburst. - Vox Tonelab LE.

11-03-2009, 04:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 17,799 Thanks: 63 Thanked 506 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! Find a JMP or early JCM 800 2204. 2203 if you want 100 watts. __________________

11-03-2009, 04:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
zeppelin101 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland OH Posts: 1,055 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! The AC30 is a great amp imo __________________ My vocation is more in composition really than anything else - building up harmonies using the guitar, orchestrating the guitar like an army, a guitar army. Jimmy Page

11-03-2009, 05:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Liam V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom Posts: 2,862 Thanks: 34 Thanked 24 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! The AC30 is a lovely amp, but doesn't IMO have ballsy power of the type you're looking for. For my money it's a Marshall 2203, a Hiwatt Custom 100, or best of all a 1959 plexi (or early metal face). Early Orange 120 Graphic also does the "big" sound. You need at least one decent 4 x 12 if you're going to move air like that. Not a high gain sound, just big and punchy. Liam

11-03-2009, 05:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 17,799 Thanks: 63 Thanked 506 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! The amps I suggested can be found in that price range and have more BALLS than you'll ever need. __________________

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11-03-2009, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jonathan Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 149 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! Thank you guys! A few nice amps mentioned here! I'll look out for those __________________ - Gibson Std Faded '08 Honeyburst. - Vox Tonelab LE.

11-03-2009, 06:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
axepilot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 1,352 Thanks: 14 Thanked 40 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! Just how much balls are you looking for? Move houses off their foundations balls, or a smaller amp that can cut your hair and rattle your bones a bit? I know it's out of your budget, but case in point - my little Germino Club 40 combo is 40 watts, and it can get obscenely loud with a huge ballsy punch...................so don't get hung up on wattage as a measure of balls. __________________ 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, 2001 Les Paul Studio Plus, 2002 SG Supreme, 2006 Les Paul Standard LE, 2008 SG Classic, Fender Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat copy, Fender Tele, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Taylor 355CE Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Axe FX Standard rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab (V30's), Highly modded Gibson Titan Medalist

11-03-2009, 07:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
Fracture Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Midwest, near the ocean Posts: 1,194 Thanks: 90 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! Isn't Swart in Wilmington?

11-03-2009, 07:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 17,799 Thanks: 63 Thanked 506 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! I dunno, but Carr is made here as well as Germino. __________________

11-03-2009, 07:09 PM	#17 (permalink)
Texas07R8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,220 Thanks: 101 Thanked 70 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! there's a lot of great tube amps out there. Speaker combinations will effect overall tone of any good tube amp more than you may realize so be sure to test out different speaker cabs. Also, you mention you need a loud amp, you've done the ValveState route and now you want the real deal.. I hear you and agree, it sounds like you're ready to get a good tube amp. Just remember, a 50w tube amp that's well built and is driving a good pair of 12's in a combo amp will be a LOT louder than a more powerful SS amp. Put that same 50w amp on a hot 4x12 straight cabinet and it will sound unreal and frikkin loud! The 100w version won't "sound" much louder that a 50watter but will have more dynamic range and a much more headroom, meaning you can get a lot of fairly clean tone volume out of a 100w whereas a 50w head will start to clip at lower volumes. I don't see why you can't do pretty much any gig with a 50w half stack or maybe even the right combo. If you need a lot of clean volume then you may prefer a 100w head. I've got a Marshall Vintage Modern, it's a 50w combo with 2-12" Greenback/Hendrix Celestions and this frikking thing cranks. I can only imagine what a 100w version can deliver.. I've had tons of amps over the years and I have to tell you this Vintage/Modern is the best sounding and most dynamically sensitive I've ever had the pleasure.

11-03-2009, 07:41 PM	#20 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 17,799 Thanks: 63 Thanked 506 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! Ah! The Carvin XB100s. I wouldn't mind trying one of those as well. __________________

11-04-2009, 02:04 PM	#23 (permalink)
Jonathan Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 149 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! But i have to point out that i don't need an insanely loud amp! I need an amp that can without problems outplay an acoustic drumset but still isnt extremely loud. I want to be able to turn the amp past 5 and have have a nice volume level along with a drumset. and i PREFER COMBOS or a LITLE halfstack __________________ - Gibson Std Faded '08 Honeyburst. - Vox Tonelab LE.

11-04-2009, 02:23 PM	#24 (permalink)
mad dog Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! My fave in this department is old school, no reverb. The Fender '57 lo power tweed twin RI. At 40 watts, it's MUCH louder than my 35 watt amps. I run it half way up, maybe a little past, on volume at loud gigs. And most of the time don't even get the guitars wide open. The volume part is reassuring, but it's the tone of this thing that keeps me coming back. If you're comfortable with alternate reverb sources, and can find one of these used, it's well worth a try. MD

11-04-2009, 03:35 PM	#28 (permalink)
hipofutura Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maine Posts: 1,580 Thanks: 12 Thanked 44 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! Ham, that's a pretty good description. My Traynor YRM-1 is a Fender Bassman preamp coupled to a Marshall Plexi power amp. Traynor did some very cool things back in the day. __________________ Don Unencumbered by Knowledge Trapped inside this old man's body, is the mind of an old man 08 Classic Antique Wine Red Traynor YRM-1 (1x12 JBL) Phaez Daisycutter (2x12 Webers) www.dcsysinc.com www.seatrakinc.com

11-04-2009, 03:48 PM	#30 (permalink)
gilmourjunkie Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tube amps with POWER please! There are lots of amps out there for that price, but my answer for nearly everything rock music related.... Soldano. Very versatile amp. Since you don't need a clean channel, I would shoot for a HR50 Plus. With the pre around 5-6 and the master at 6, its just awesome. I could go on and on about the amp, but you should be the judge of what you are buying. For me, my search is over and has been since 1999. At any rate, you owe it to yourself to check one out before you buy anything. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

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