Looking for my first tube amp

[NELG]

Hello all,

I'm looking for my first tube amp, having come from solid states. I filled out the questionnaire.


How much would you like to spend?

about $800

What's the absolutely most you will spend?

about $1200

How many years have you played guitar?

about 5 or so

Do you seek tone quality or versatility?

An even mix of both

What is your primary guitar (include pup type and configuration)?

A Les Paul with 2 Burstbuckers, possibly a bass if high enough wattage.

What style(s) of music do you primarily play?

Jazz, Blues, Rock, everything but metal. Great clean tones are a must.

What one guitarist do you wish to emulate?

Nobody. I play my own style.

Do you prefer to plug straight in, or will you be using effects?

Prefer to plug straight in, but I might use chorus, reverb, or delay once in a while, if reverb isn't built in.

What will be the primary use of the amp?

Primarily bedroom playing, but in the future, as in 7-8 months, I'd like to start playing solo gigs.

Do you prefer a combo or head/cabinet (and why)?

Combo, but I'd take a head and cab if they aren't too big.

What amplifier(s) do you have/had and why do you want a change?

Only Solid State bass amps, as I'm a frequent bass player. I want a dedicated guitar amp, and one with tubes.

I've been looking at a few amps.

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Vox AC15C1

Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue

A Marshall of some sort, I'm not sure what my wattage needs would be, no model idea.

Clean tones are a must, so I'm looking more towards the first four than the Marshall.

 

[TWANG]

Ignore the crooked panel in this shot, it's not all the way done yet.

25 watts.
hi/lo input.
enharmonic footswitch. not a boost .. just think blooming.. pinch harmonics.. sort of effect. sweet!
bright switch.
gain volume bass middle treble
power jewel standby
4,8, 16 ohm speaker taps.
eminence Wizard speaker.
rectifier tube and choke.

Design.. Fender 5E3 tweed deluxe as the basis.. but swapped to twin 12AX7 preamp tubes, and dual 6s3p-E.. russian tubes .. I think I have the damn letters right.. they spell funny over there, but they are dynamite.

The amp is made to have more of a marshall vibe..
but the cleans are just a wonder.. and the drive is .. just a wonder.
It loves pedals..Like you I have to have great cleans.. and then I use the overdrive I built myself.. and a delay.. and often a compressor.
I use other pedals of course..you can just see my 'board'..
it's a REAL board not one of these silly euphemisms!..
behind this has all 8 1spot cables loaded.

Here's a top shot in progress of the chassis, the tubes are just the testing tubes.
The Transformers are Fender style, Classic Tone PT and OT. That's a drop through PT and that part was NO fun to build.

Heres the PT and again. these are in progress shots so don't sweat the dangling wires, etc.

steel chassis. my panels added. cabinet is from a Raven RG60.

I owned a hot rod deluxe and I like this better by far.
not a metal amp on it's own, I use a vox satchurator sometimes, that's as hairy as I get.
and it has NO problem keeping up with that even if I kick my overdrive in on top of it.

Gig yer brains out. or crank the volume down, gain up..
I'm not really nuts about it's highest gain.. like 9 or 10.. but I think what I'm hearing --I just finished this amp-- is some dirt between the speaker and frame.. not the amp.
I gotta clean it up!

To me some of the neatest things about this amp are
the so sweet cleans.. put the bright sw. off.. very warm.. hit the footswitch... and it's crisper.. a tick of treble but no spikey eye piercing kinda thing subtle but right there!
so you have a sort of marshall tone.. with a lead option the FS.
flip the bright on.. much more fender with some real top end.. this is neat with efx, and it's like a different channel..and you still have the FS!
think marshall vox fender in one.. but not actually three amps.. just very nice changes that help with different pups, tunes, efx..

I could make the FS two button.. but the second would be a gain boost.. and it would cut the tone stack. the problem there is HOLY MACKAMOLY TURN THAT THING DOWN.
It'll just be monster even on 2 with your gain on clean!
I don't think you need that since it's got a lot of dirt on call already that fits your description very close.

Here it is being born.

I am trying to get clips done.. of all my amps. but I'm so overextended all the darn time.
I think I could go 650.00 on this. Shipping would be fairly hefty, it's no puppy dog!

It has 4 8 16 ohm taps so any speaker cab will do.
4X12 will probably kill the first three rows.

I built this. And I'd stake my reputation and my honor that it's right up there with everything you mentioned.

For tone. no doubt! For volume, you bet. for features.. not so much.. this is really designed to be a plug in guitar and play amp.. with an affinity for pedals that borders on
incest.

No, it's not as purty, I guess, as the Manu's amps.
I'm sitting here wondering if I should even sell it. I bet that if there were any other pickers around this half horse town that once I showed 'em, they couldn't buy it.

Don't feel bad about saying no. Those assembly line amps are not junk. lifetime warrantys are nice. You pay more, especially compared to what it costs them for parts at huge discounts while I pay the same as anyone.
I spose some do go home from work and brag, righteously, that they helped assemble 10 amps or some such. And I spose I'm a bit of a dork for being so proud of building it. But at least I'm aware of my dorkosity in that regard and don't snob on people over it.

So. get what you want.. and post pics when you get it!
me and the Bear will be happy for ya!

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

. . . ^ ^ ^ hey there TWANG . . . do you have any audio clips of the amp ?

 

[djlogan33]

 

[rjwilson37]

I would do the Deluxe Reverb, since it has the best clean out of all of those and takes pedals well.

 

[Rhust]

the DRRI is great! my recommendation as well... when someone says they want clean, I think fender blackface.... one thing to think of, the DR has no master volume... making it kinda loud for a bedroom amp... you will be on '2' since 1 is mute...

the princeton reverb is a good bedroom amp, but not enough for gigs without a mic.

the AC15C1 is not to be dismissed though... the fact it saves you $500-600 alone makes it worth a check... vox gets nice cleans too, and has the gain on tap for other things.... and has a MV

 

[gtimach1]

Definitely try and get out and test drive a VOX AC15C1. Amazing cleans and a very nice gain in the Top Boost channel. A relative bargain and one of the finer looking combos out there. They also make a blue covered/light colored grill version and the regular one doesn't take a back seat to it at all.

 

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

if you wait it out and check regularly you might be able to snag a used marshall major for that price.

 

[nauc]

custom Phaez, 2 channels. Fender cleans on 1, Marshall dirt on 2

Phaez Amps

 

[Drew224]

Play an AC15, AC30 (would be in your budget if you are cool with a Greenback model), a Deluxe Reverb, and a few Jet City amps, since you said you're interested in Marshall, the Jet City line is mostly based off Soldano designs, which are sorta between Marshall and Fender, not like Mesa though. Try to crank them all up if you can in the store. Some places will let you, others won't.

 

[AngryHatter]

Hot Rod DeLuxe - although I'd ask what drew you to it?

 

[ErictheRed]

You didn't really give enough information for me to make a specific recommendation, but I'm VERY serious about these points:

1. Buy a well-recognized, name brand amp. This is related to point 2
2. Try to buy used if you can.

Thing is, if it's your first tube amp, your tastes are likely to change and as time goes on you'll better understand what you want. With a name brand amp you'll have more of a point of reference for what that tone was (i.e. you can tell people what you liked and didn't like about a Fender DRRI and they'll understand you). And if you buy used, you won't lose money if you turn around and sell it in a year or two.

Otherwise good luck, you have a lot of options with your budget!

 

[CA-8-5799]

Hello all,

I'm looking for my first tube amp, having come from solid states. I filled out the questionnaire.


How much would you like to spend?

about $800

What's the absolutely most you will spend?

about $1200

How many years have you played guitar?

about 5 or so

Do you seek tone quality or versatility?

An even mix of both

What is your primary guitar (include pup type and configuration)?

A Les Paul with 2 Burstbuckers, possibly a bass if high enough wattage.

What style(s) of music do you primarily play?

Jazz, Blues, Rock, everything but metal. Great clean tones are a must.

What one guitarist do you wish to emulate?

Nobody. I play my own style.

Do you prefer to plug straight in, or will you be using effects?

Prefer to plug straight in, but I might use chorus, reverb, or delay once in a while, if reverb isn't built in.

What will be the primary use of the amp?

Primarily bedroom playing, but in the future, as in 7-8 months, I'd like to start playing solo gigs.

Do you prefer a combo or head/cabinet (and why)?

Combo, but I'd take a head and cab if they aren't too big.

What amplifier(s) do you have/had and why do you want a change?

Only Solid State bass amps, as I'm a frequent bass player. I want a dedicated guitar amp, and one with tubes.

I've been looking at a few amps.

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Vox AC15C1

Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue

A Marshall of some sort, I'm not sure what my wattage needs would be, no model idea.

Clean tones are a must, so I'm looking more towards the first four than the Marshall.

Hi,I almost exclusively use Mesa,s,except for an SWR Super Redhead I use for my own bass work.Recently brought over a Fender Blues Deluxe and I was really impressed with it.I rarely use pedals,so can't comment on that,but did use my wireless and recorded through it,both line out and mic'ed.I cranked as loud as I could stand in a 20 X 30 room in a studio.Very unforgiving sound quality in this room and tons of sound deadining.It's part of a studio.I was very impressed with this amp.Went to Guitar Center recently looking for a MarkBass and decided to plug into one of the femders while I wad there,with an off the wall Squier.I was just as impressed there.I could'nt fault it.Especially liked reverb tank.If I had a need for something new,this would be a definite comtender.I play strictly blues and jazz.Vintage cleans and treble and reverb are really my prioriyies.Sorry,cic,nt look at the price but definitely would consider buying if I was looking.Also dead quiet when cranked up and not in use.Kinda of a pet peeve.Good Luck with whatever you buy.

 

[TWANG]

I am without clips as of right now.
I have just been finishing up my builds so I can make clips all at once.
I've never done it, so it's going to be quite a bit harder for me than most people who are not computer dunderheads.
But I'm gonna!

The plan is different speakers, pups, guitars, efx and maybe even tubes for each amp I demo. so it will be comprehensive.

I can make a clip with my camera.. but nothing loud.. it can't be adjusted for loud.
I have a zoom digital recorder and garage band. and honestly am not sure yet how to do either one right now.


Recommending that one buy an amp because of the brand name is not a recommendation of sensibility. Every manu has some dogs.. so if you buy a name brand, at least have the sense to google reviews, problems, customer service, warrant service, etc. It can vary greatly within the same company.

And I'm not gonna say a thing about someone thinking that the one-off builders are
somehow less good at it. We all know better than that, and I don't even include me
with they guys around here and elsewhere who I learned from over the years.

 

[classic]

Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue

In the meantime my '92 DRRI is the only one ( except my BH5 Head ) which had survived!
It has all you've described ... and if you're ready to tinker with speakers and tubes you've got all the opportunities from one amp - but metal.

E.g. ToneTubby speakers, nice old tubes which give your tone warmth and sweetness ...

 

[Rhust]

Recommending that one buy an amp because of the brand name is not a recommendation of sensibility. Every manu has some dogs.. so if you buy a name brand, at least have the sense to google reviews, problems, customer service, warrant service, etc. It can vary greatly within the same company.

agree... and on some amp mfgs I think they value the nameplate on the front more than the rest of the amp...

the uphill climb for most of us is we like to try before we buy...

 

[2themax]

I just picked up a used Fender Blues Jr. and am more surprised each time I play it at how good it sounds. With your budget there are a lot of options and expand even more if your willing to go in the "lightly" used market. Based on this little guy I'd say that if your are looking for clean Fender tone that a Hot Rod Deluxe, Blues Deluxe, or something in that class might be a good option - 40w is plenty of power for solo gigs (and you can run a cab with it). Plus you can get a good tone without knocking the walls down.

Just my 2c's, good luck - there's lots of options out there.

 

[gtimach1]

Some people are perfectly happy to buy an amp based on the name. Hopefully some research allowed them to get one they like, because (as was mentioned) there are hits and misses with any amp brand.

Others will meticulously search and try out different amps to get the one that fits their needs.

Hopefully, the method used results in a happy and satisfied amp owner....until the lust for another amp comes along.

 

[Rhust]

Hopefully, the method used results in a happy and satisfied amp owner....until the lust for another amp comes along.

I'd say USUALLY it does... no matter how many "what amp should I buy threads" we have, it seems like no one ever says "I just got this new amp, and it sucks"... 1) quality is better and 2) people kinda already know a lot about what they like... 3) if someone is told "this amp sounds like a JTM with a SLO gain stage" usually, they will hear the same thing when they get it home... there's a placebo effect is what I mean... they love it before playing it, so of course they love it afterwards too...

 

[yawny]

Now I want a new amp... damn.

If only I had the scratch for a JTM45 kit with MV...

OP, you won't needs anything more than 15-25w tube for solo gigging. A tube amp is LOUD, especially if you aren't competing with other instruments. I'd suggest something in the 10-20w range, nothing more. Any more than that and you'll be blowing off your walls before you get overdrive for bedroom use.