Looking to buy a decent, tube half-stack

[Tanman711]

I'm very new to half-stacks (I've been using combos and what not), but I've been kinda looking around into these amps recently so I'm hoping to find one with good tone. I listen to anything, but my main band plays more hard-rock, metal,post-hardcore and what not, i'm in a few side projects that would require me to get heavier tone, and a nice clean one at the same time. I'm just kinda looking for a stack that can give me everything I could need at a great price. I've been recently looking into Blackstar amps, and they seem nice but again I could be wrong. If possibly any of you guys could help or give me a decent opinion or amp to look into, I would deeply appreciate it.

[Paul_Cat]

I hear Bugera heads are quite nice and are modelled after 5150's and 6505's. Is lugging a 412 cab really worth it, though? I've been in your boat a while back and have downgraded to a Peavey Classic 30. With a nano metal muff, it gets heavy as hell!

[rockin'rolldad]

What price range are we looking?

[Drew224]

Originally Posted by Paul_Cat

I hear Bugera heads are quite nice and are modelled after 5150's and 6505's. Is lugging a 412 cab really worth it, though? I've been in your boat a while back and have downgraded to a Peavey Classic 30. With a nano metal muff, it gets heavy as hell!

but unless you do some of the bugera fixes, the reliability of the amps is definitely in question.

tanman, what amps are you using now?

[Tanman711]

I have a fender hot rod tube amp, nice great amp, but i'm looking for something with more of a kick. I have a blackstar HT Dual Tube Pedal, but it broke while I was at camp (EPIC SAD FACE) it sounded pretty nice.

And Price range? Under a grand in total. If there would be anyway around being 500 that would be great.

[Drew224]

so, what exactly are looking for tonewise? marshall, mesa, soldano, punchier fender, hiwatt... ?

[AngryHatter]

Kick?
Get something with more speakers - IE if it moves more air it will be louder, deeper, et cetera.

[Tanman711]

Hm Marshalls, mesa, not really so much fender, and from what i heard blackstars are nice. Some of my favorite guitar tones are Slash's, The Last Vegas, LoveHateHero (White Lies album), Framing Hanley, etc. I play a shit loads of music, so I need something with a great hard rock, some what heavy tone, but if I need to, I can switch to a different tone without a problem.

[Drew224]

used dsl series heads are 500-800 on average, and a 1960 cab is typically 350-450 used.

[Drew224]

and i've seen some really glowing reviews of the blackstar club and venue series amps. they are pretty versatile.

[Strikerfox]

Originally Posted by Drew224

used dsl series heads are 500-800 on average, and a 1960 cab is typically 350-450 used.

Stay away from DSLs. Get a JCM 900 if you want solid metal tones. The regular model with diode clipping for extra gain (kinda like having a distortion pedal built into the circuit) goes for cheap. They also made another model with is ALL TUBE and has no diode clipping but that one goes for much more in the used market.

All in all the JCM900 is basically what some people did to mod their JCM800, but it never caught on as well as the 800. The 2000's sound like utter crap.

For recent production models, the Vintage Modern is great for hard rock and perfect for metal with a dirt box, the JVM is expensive but can dial in any tone.

If you want a Soldano get the HR50 on ebay for around $800-1200 depending on the day. I almost bought one fore $800 but decided to buy my current amp instead which has even lower noise level than any soldano.

Dont buy anything made in china. Chinese built amps are all about quantity not quality.

[Reaperc89]

Nothing wrong with the DSL series, they just take a little more effort to dial them in than the 800/900 series did . The new MA series heads are very similar in tone to the DSL series as well (my personal opinion), and you can get them for great prices. If you want Marshall, I recommend the MA series, or the DSL series as a good entry to the tube stack world.

[rockin'rolldad]

I used to play alot of hardcore and metal and at the time I used a hughes and kettner switchblade. You can grab a used on for about $800 and it is seriously punishing. Plus it's midi so you can program up to 128 channels.

[Drew224]

Originally Posted by Strikerfox

Stay away from DSLs. Get a JCM 900 if you want solid metal tones. The regular model with diode clipping for extra gain (kinda like having a distortion pedal built into the circuit) goes for cheap. They also made another model with is ALL TUBE and has no diode clipping but that one goes for much more in the used market.

All in all the JCM900 is basically what some people did to mod their JCM800, but it never caught on as well as the 800. The 2000's sound like utter crap.

For recent production models, the Vintage Modern is great for hard rock and perfect for metal with a dirt box, the JVM is expensive but can dial in any tone.

If you want a Soldano get the HR50 on ebay for around $800-1200 depending on the day. I almost bought one fore $800 but decided to buy my current amp instead which has even lower noise level than any soldano.

Dont buy anything made in china. Chinese built amps are all about quantity not quality.

if you can stretch for a VM or JVM, do it.

[Monster]

For good tone really cheap, get an old Peavey Butcher (very similar to a Marshall 800).
If you want a step up from that, go with an old Traynor Bassmaster, or one of the Marshall clones (Ceriatone, Germino, Metropolis, etc.)
For a good cab cheap, go with an old Ampeg or Carvin, and replace the speakers with Eminences if it isn't already loaded with something good.
If you get a non master volume model, also budget for an attenuator unless you play at reallly high volume.

[LesPauI+SG=Win]

Dare I say it again?

JET CITY!!!!

[Reaperc89]

Originally Posted by Monster

also budget for an attenuator unless you play at reallly high volume.

Let me fix that for you slightly. Unless you play at REALLY high volume.