What's everyone favorite overpowered, underspent sleeper amp. Mine was forever the Butcher, but its becoming less and less of a sleeper these days.
Burmans. Was Sound City, but they stopped being sleepers. Then Laney AOR, but they stopped being sleepers. And Crate Power blocks, which are stopping being sleepers.
Bogen Challengers. 100, 50, & 35 Watt versions. 6L6's and point-to-point.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/GOYA_551st/Picture071.jpg)
$150 on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOGEN-CHALLENGER-CHB-50-POWER-TUBE-AMPLIFIER-With-Manual-/221244601706?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item338334b56a (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOGEN-CHALLENGER-CHB-50-POWER-TUBE-AMPLIFIER-With-Manual-/221244601706?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item338334b56a)
My SG Systems/CMI amp when it was working. Super loud and clean. You can find them for a couple hundred once in a while.
It's now waiting for SunnJake's loving touch.
It seems the obvious are the VTM's even if they're Peavey
Ain't nuthin wrong with Peavey.
vtm, rockmasters, butchers, heritage vtx, mace, ampeg ss70/140, ampeg vh-140C, Crate 130gxl.
My "Sleeper" stack. For me, Ain't nuthin can touch the Peaveys for bang for the buck. Not a fukin thing.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/666bigbang/cf61f566-f00c-4d37-a898-9196ce54ea4e_zpsfd5a727f.jpg)
(http://dharmastrum.net/eye/GuildThunderbass1.jpg)
(http://www.hartsafire.com/images/music/rig/classic_400.jpg)
(http://www.zephyrsound.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Sundown.jpeg)
Jake, I'll agree on the Classic 400. Had one, and sold it to spite my bass player. Dumb move.
I just broke my Butcher out last night after having it sit on my bench for a year.
Its a great sounding amp.
SOmething is still a little wrong with mine though. If I crank the post gain, I get a terrible noise.
But at 100 Pre, and 50% post, it was sounding nice.
Those are brrrrright. I yanked the bright caps outta mine.
my sleeper selections will be in the lower wattage range
had the chance to pick one of those Musicmasters up a couple years ago for cheap and I didn't. Super cool little amp.
they are about $300 on CL...but people are becoming aware of them.
They are loud enough to gig in a regular rock band. not loud enough for doom
i am super enjoying my tube reel to reel for $80 ;D. Can't wait to find a 2x12 for it though. Gonna look so cool in the living room. That shit's a sleeper for sure.
I built this for a customer.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/993625_10151720197266346_261186523_n.jpg)
Fender M-80 cab, vintage alnico II speakers, Conn organ stereo power amp (side-A 7868 side-B 7027A) and a custom built stereo preamp with positive feedback channel coupling.
Peavey Bravo. Looks just like a Bandit but the bravo is all tube.
The Peavey Butcher and VTM series and the Laney AOR are still tops for me. You can still get all of them for around $300 or under with some patience. All great amps for tone, reliability and volume from my personal experience. Plus, they're not "rare". They're everywhere on the used market and they don't have a huge cool factor for Johnny Suburb, like Marshall or Mesa, so most people are trying to get rid of them to save up for something else. The only bad thing about the Peavey stuff is that a lot of original owners are always trying to bundle the cab with them too. They're not bad cabs at all, it just usually drives up the price and lowers the "hot deal" factor vs actual worth a bit.
Silvertone 1484:
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/tele118/Silvertone1484_zps38b424f1.jpg)
I'm super excited to get my Traynor YBA-1, which I would definitely consider a lesser known kick ass amp.
Quote from: taylo)))r on July 17, 2013, 05:40:45 PM
I'm super excited to get my Traynor YBA-1, which I would definitely consider a lesser known kick ass amp.
Those are great amps. I have a YBA-3, I love it. I need a good cab to go with it. Not sure what to get.
Quote from: RacerX on July 17, 2013, 05:12:11 PM
Silvertone 1484:
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/tele118/Silvertone1484_zps38b424f1.jpg)
What do these bad boys sound like? There is one for sale locally. I was going to buy a 65 reissue twin locally next week, but saw this pop up for the same price.
I see those Silvertones as being fairly popular. Are those el84 or 6v6?
That Silvertone is speaking to me. I love the oddballs. How much do those usually go for.
Quote from: RAGER on July 17, 2013, 06:15:18 PM
I see those Silvertones as being fairly popular. Are those el84 or 6v6?
6L6. Two of 'em in the power section.
Since peeps started noticing Jack White was using 'em, they are starting to get more popular.
Quote from: taylo)))r on July 17, 2013, 06:10:40 PM
Quote from: RacerX on July 17, 2013, 05:12:11 PM
Silvertone 1484:
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/tele118/Silvertone1484_zps38b424f1.jpg)
What do these bad boys sound like? There is one for sale locally. I was going to buy a 65 reissue twin locally next week, but saw this pop up for the same price.
Don't buy the Twin without checking it out first. Unless you really need the wattage of the Twin, of course.
Quote from: RacerX on July 17, 2013, 06:40:25 PM
Quote from: RAGER on July 17, 2013, 06:15:18 PM
I see those Silvertones as being fairly popular. Are those el84 or 6v6?
6L6. Two of 'em in the power section.
Since peeps started noticing Jack White was using 'em, they are starting to get more popular.
'bout 60 watts or so then.
i think I'd buy a 70's silver face Twin before a re-issue. Judging by what I've read. I've never done a side by side comparo though.
went to a guitar show a couple years back and saw ne o fthose silvertones for $100. I pounced no it, but some asshole dealer had already claimed it ,bought it before the show doors opened and this vendor hadnt removed it from his table yet...fucking assholes.
twin and that silvertone are about as different as you can get. I wouldnt call that one a sleeper anymore thanks to Jack White.
Rager how many watts is that reel to reel.? Usually for lower wattage vintage amps, people go with a vintage low wattage single 10 or 12...not a 2 x 12.
The idea is to get a little "speaker distortion" into the mix.
Not sure right now. It's obviously not very loud through the 4x12 I play it through right now but I want some low end and not too much volume hence the 2x12. I fi were to run it at it's peak efficiency it might sound like an 18 watter but right now it sounds like less than 5 watts. Single 6v6
I got you yba-1 Taylor...
I have an Alamo Paragon Bass, 30 watts of fury ;D
Seriously though, the thing sounds badass, i paid 250 shipped for mine, which for a 50 year old all tube amp in perfect working order seems pretty fair. Channels jumped everything at 10 it sounds great, pretty high gain really, gets you to the Vitus tone at least that's for sure.
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/smrz/DSCF1263.jpg)
I think the Silvertone cabs are made out of pressboard. Just sayin'. It's a low budget amp and probably not as sturdy as a Fender.
My picks: tube amps from PLUSH and EARTH. 100 watt heads that can be found for less than 300 dollars. In the 200 range is a bro price.
I guess there are some good tube amps from UNIVOX as well, but I have no experience with them.
I have one of those Plush 1000s blue sparkle jobbies.
Quote from: Lumpy on July 17, 2013, 08:24:18 PM
I think the Silvertone cabs are made out of pressboard. Just sayin'. It's a low budget amp and probably not as sturdy as a Fender.
My picks: tube amps from PLUSH and EARTH. 100 watt heads that can be found for less than 300 dollars. In the 200 range is a bro price.
I guess there are some good tube amps from UNIVOX as well, but I have no experience with them.
Those Univox amps look FUNKY in a good way.
Thought of a modern one, the Ashdown Little bastard 30w valve bass head. Eventually people might twig if you crank the fuck out of it and play guitar through it, you get all the power drive, and it has some bottom, unlike most low power guitar amps. They were sold off cheap a while back, so plenty floating about.
I wondered how those sounded with guitar.
You had one for sale at one point?
Yeah, scored one at a flippable price because I wanted to try out, then some online store had a sell off and I couldn't get it gone. They basically sound like guitar heads sounded before Marshall lead the way with cheaping the fuck out on everything.
Quote from: rayinreverse on July 17, 2013, 10:38:55 AM
I just broke my Butcher out last night after having it sit on my bench for a year.
Its a great sounding amp.
SOmething is still a little wrong with mine though. If I crank the post gain, I get a terrible noise.
But at 100 Pre, and 50% post, it was sounding nice.
Wanna sell it to me? I sold my Butcher years ago and even though I have an OR120, considered the crem de la crem to some, I haven't stopped thinking 'bout the Butcher.
Jake, tell me more about the Classic 400.
Quote from: RacerX on July 17, 2013, 06:41:55 PM
Quote from: taylo)))r on July 17, 2013, 06:10:40 PM
Quote from: RacerX on July 17, 2013, 05:12:11 PM
Silvertone 1484:
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k306/tele118/Silvertone1484_zps38b424f1.jpg)
What do these bad boys sound like? There is one for sale locally. I was going to buy a 65 reissue twin locally next week, but saw this pop up for the same price.
Don't buy the Twin without checking it out first. Unless you really need the wattage of the Twin, of course.
Checked it out yesterday. Seemed to be in working order, but the dude lived in an apartment so I couldn't crank it. And, of course I need the wattage. I also contaced the friend I sold my old silverface twin to about 10 years ago and asked him if he wants to sell it back. Haven't heard from him yet.
anyone had first hand experience with a sunn solos ii 2x12? one just popped up locally. i guess it's solid state?
For lower wattage stuff, I'll go with old Sano combos. I got one off eBay cheap a few years back.. probably early 60s, 1-12 open back, black sparkle cab, 6L6's I think (its been a while) Breaks up nicely when pushed, and the tremolo sounds unbelievable. This amp would probably sell for $200-250.
For higher wattage, I agree it's hard to beat Peaveys and Ampegs for the $. Traynors rule too.
Also +1 for Alamos.
Quote from: morgantician on July 18, 2013, 04:18:07 AM
Quote from: rayinreverse on July 17, 2013, 10:38:55 AM
I just broke my Butcher out last night after having it sit on my bench for a year.
Its a great sounding amp.
SOmething is still a little wrong with mine though. If I crank the post gain, I get a terrible noise.
But at 100 Pre, and 50% post, it was sounding nice.
Wanna sell it to me? I sold my Butcher years ago and even though I have an OR120, considered the crem de la crem to some, I haven't stopped thinking 'bout the Butcher.
Jake, tell me more about the Classic 400.
Yeah I suppose. LIke I said its making a weird noise when I crank the post gain.
Any new or old cheap clean loud solid state bass amp for guitar if you use a pedal for distortion and want a tight loud sound for tuning low so long as your speakers can handle the power and you don't go crazy with the bass knob.
Glad to see that the Jam Room community is alive and well, I definitely missed that damn forum and just found out there was a resurrected one! Better late than never i guess....feels good to see a lot of familiar names
I'll put in my two cents on the sleeper amps, and I guess maybe they haven't been sleepers for a good while, but Traynor YBA1A's def get my top vote. I have 2 and use them for bass and guitar, built like tanks and handle whatever you throw at them.
I also have an old SS Peavey Bass 400 that I really dig and you can find for super cheap. Has some interesting input options and does the SS bass sound pretty well with a built in distortion option that doesn't suck (at least thats what i think)
Ray, microphonic preamp tubes.
Quote from: SunnO))) on July 18, 2013, 01:10:21 PM
Ray, microphonic preamp tubes.
thats what I suspected. just havent changed em yet.
Classic 400:
- 400 all-tube watts
- 6550 x8
- 93.6 lbs
Nuff said?
Quote from: Jake on July 18, 2013, 04:28:43 PM
Classic 400:
- 400 all-tube watts
- 6550 x8
- 93.6 lbs
Nuff said?
And half the price of an SVT
Quote from: Slugfuct on July 18, 2013, 01:01:47 PM
Glad to see that the Jam Room community is alive and well, I definitely missed that damn forum and just found out there was a resurrected one! Better late than never i guess....feels good to see a lot of familiar names
I'll put in my two cents on the sleeper amps, and I guess maybe they haven't been sleepers for a good while, but Traynor YBA1A's def get my top vote. I have 2 and use them for bass and guitar, built like tanks and handle whatever you throw at them.
I also have an old SS Peavey Bass 400 that I really dig and you can find for super cheap. Has some interesting input options and does the SS bass sound pretty well with a built in distortion option that doesn't suck (at least thats what i think)
I had one of those SS Peaveys in the 90's and it was great for bass, though I didn't have the experience with tone I do now. I've been thinking of buying one for bass and seeing what I can do with it. Of all of those 400 models is there a "best" one?
Quote from: Jake on July 18, 2013, 04:28:43 PM
Classic 400:
- 400 all-tube watts
- 6550 x8
- 93.6 lbs
Nuff said?
How the hell are they still affordable? If it's anything like pretty much anything else Peavey, they're bulletproof.
Quote from: rayinreverse on July 18, 2013, 11:57:28 AM
Quote from: morgantician on July 18, 2013, 04:18:07 AM
Quote from: rayinreverse on July 17, 2013, 10:38:55 AM
I just broke my Butcher out last night after having it sit on my bench for a year.
Its a great sounding amp.
SOmething is still a little wrong with mine though. If I crank the post gain, I get a terrible noise.
But at 100 Pre, and 50% post, it was sounding nice.
Wanna sell it to me? I sold my Butcher years ago and even though I have an OR120, considered the crem de la crem to some, I haven't stopped thinking 'bout the Butcher.
Jake, tell me more about the Classic 400.
Yeah I suppose. LIke I said its making a weird noise when I crank the post gain.
Cool, I'll PM you.
They liked to overheat, but that is easily remedied (and most have already been bodged in,) not a lot of room for tubes, in there.
Quote from: morgantician on July 18, 2013, 06:29:29 PM
Quote from: Slugfuct on July 18, 2013, 01:01:47 PM
Glad to see that the Jam Room community is alive and well, I definitely missed that damn forum and just found out there was a resurrected one! Better late than never i guess....feels good to see a lot of familiar names
I'll put in my two cents on the sleeper amps, and I guess maybe they haven't been sleepers for a good while, but Traynor YBA1A's def get my top vote. I have 2 and use them for bass and guitar, built like tanks and handle whatever you throw at them.
I also have an old SS Peavey Bass 400 that I really dig and you can find for super cheap. Has some interesting input options and does the SS bass sound pretty well with a built in distortion option that doesn't suck (at least thats what i think)
I had one of those SS Peaveys in the 90's and it was great for bass, though I didn't have the experience with tone I do now. I've been thinking of buying one for bass and seeing what I can do with it. Of all of those 400 models is there a "best" one?
The 400B is the one I have, with the Slope control under the Master Volume. Usually can find them for dirt cheap, obviously not the loudest or greatest bass tone but it cuts through a mix great and can really pump out the low mids. I got it for $150.00 and don't regret it at all.
The fake tweed is a turn off on the Peavey classics but that's a relatively cheap fix as well.
I saw a re-ish Butcher for $600 on CL tonight.
Quote from: clockwork green on July 18, 2013, 09:00:15 PM
The fake tweed is a turn off on the Peavey classics but that's a relatively cheap fix as well.
It's not fake tweed, it's real. It's just not lacquered like some of the Fender amps (not all of the Fenders are lacquered, either). Peavey might have their own tweed style too (?) but it's definitely real tweed.
Quote from: dogfood on July 18, 2013, 11:13:08 PM
I saw a re-ish Butcher for $600 on CL tonight.
i dont think the reissue butchers are anything like the old ones.
I know the peavey's are built like tanks.. but - still - its an older tube beast... it WILL require maintenence - and you are looking at an ez 400 beans every time its re-tubed... i swear... I will forever be stoked with a Markbass LT800 with a JHS lodrive in front of it - love!
Can any 100+ watt Fender tube amps be had for cheap?
I'm curious about this one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Dual-Showman-Red-Knob-amp-head-/141128514030?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20dbea39ee
Let's just say those... blew. Fuck those amps. I bought one thinking I got a rad deal, and it sounded like asshole. Are you on the tone hunt again?
Ah. Are any other Fenders that are lowered priced any good?
I've recently realized that for recording I NEED a tube amp. Should have kept my GH50 just for that purpose. Could buy another one but I could also buy something louder and maybe use it live but it would have to have a lot of headroom. I'm probably going to buy a Power Block because they are cheap used but I'm not expecting them to sound great, just need to try one. 2 of them would probably work. If I was a rock star with roadies I'd probably use a vintage SVT but fuck lugging around an 80 lb amp plus they are pricey. Did Traynor make those 2 or 300 watters back in the day? Yeah, the tone hunt, again, but just the amp, I'm good on the pedal end. Didn't Fender make some 180 watt beast way back?
Bassmans aren't all that rare and are usually about 600. If you can find a Super Twin, get it. They're not very sought after and are rated at 180 watts and cheap. I have one if you remember. I turned it into a head. it sits atop my Ampeg 8x10 and makes a great bass amp but souds great for guitar too. of course I prefer my MARSHALL.
Quote from: RAGER on December 04, 2013, 01:27:04 PM
Bassmans aren't all that rare and are usually about 600. If you can find a Super Twin, get it. They're not very sought after and are rated at 180 watts and cheap. I have one if you remember. I turned it into a head. it sits atop my Ampeg 8x10 and makes a great bass amp but souds great for guitar too. of course I prefer my MARSHALL.
If I'm gonna expand on my current bass rig that's definitely one of my plans. If I had dough, I might have picked up a red knob Twin locally and made that into a head.
I use my Marshall for bass all the time. Holy Mountain tone all days.
Quote from: RAGER on December 04, 2013, 01:27:04 PM
Bassmans aren't all that rare and are usually about 600. If you can find a Super Twin, get it. They're not very sought after and are rated at 180 watts and cheap. I have one if you remember. I turned it into a head. it sits atop my Ampeg 8x10 and makes a great bass amp but souds great for guitar too. of course I prefer my MARSHALL.
That sounds like serious crafty work. How much does your head weigh? Did they ever make a head version or any other models that powerful? Does it sound tubey at low to moderate volumes or sterile?
I use a DOD 250 for that Holy Mountain tone ;D Probably my favorite pedal on my board right now. I also have a new Superfuzz clone that kinda beat my Supercollider for place on my board.
Maybe too pricey to be sleepers, but anything made by Music Man sounds awesome (old school Fender with a touch of Orange) and the Fender TB-600 is a great bass amp.
Not exactly an amp, but Dietz 1x15 and 2x15 bass cabs are The Shit
Sent from a can on some string using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
Quote from: liquidsmoke on December 05, 2013, 04:22:59 AM
Quote from: RAGER on December 04, 2013, 01:27:04 PM
Bassmans aren't all that rare and are usually about 600. If you can find a Super Twin, get it. They're not very sought after and are rated at 180 watts and cheap. I have one if you remember. I turned it into a head. it sits atop my Ampeg 8x10 and makes a great bass amp but souds great for guitar too. of course I prefer my MARSHALL.
That sounds like serious crafty work. How much does your head weigh? Did they ever make a head version or any other models that powerful? Does it sound tubey at low to moderate volumes or sterile?
It is a heavy bitch and tubes always sound better loud. Dopn't think they made a head version.
Quote from: liquidsmoke on December 04, 2013, 01:06:28 PM
Ah. Are any other Fenders that are lowered priced any good?
I'm a big fan of silverface Twins. Blues lawyers don't like the ultralinear models 'cause you can't put them back to blackface specs (or at least not without a bunch of trouble) so they tend to be cheaper. Like anything it's about waiting for a good deal - I paid $350 and $450 for mine. Replace the speakers if you're keeping the combo, or cut them into a head (like Rager's Super Twin, which can also pop up for a good price). The ultralinear's are 135 watts and are a great pedal platform - I'll run either a BAT Revelation or a diy OR80 preamp in front of mine and feel pretty good about life.
Reminder that Michio Kurihara ran two Twins playing with Boris: http://cannibalcheerleader.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/100_1291.jpg (http://cannibalcheerleader.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/100_1291.jpg) for those worried about combos.
Is there a band called the Blues Lawyers? If not, there should be. I can certainly picture what they might look like onstage.
Ha!
Sent from a can on some string using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
Hawaiian shirts and dockers all around.
Super Reverbs and Eric Johnson strats, and one dude with a SRV song.
Blues Lawyer is my favorite term that I have picked up from you guys. We use it at the shop all the time now.
Quote from: SunnO))) on December 05, 2013, 07:25:30 PM
Super Reverbs and Eric Johnson strats, and one dude with a SRV song.
You've just described my gf's uncle, provided his backup guitar is a Bonnie Raitt strat.
I've seen those Budda amps go for cheap, sometimes crazy cheap on websites. I think people are starting to catch on.
A lot of the older, not as desirable, Mesa Boogies can still be had for a great deal.
where the fuck did chovie go? any discussion of blues lawyers and/or blues bears is lacking without his input. fuck!
liquidsmoke- I got some hot tube amps FOR SALE!!!! Guess I should put 'em in the buy/sell thread..
Quote from: the diddler on December 06, 2013, 08:03:58 PM
liquidsmoke- I got some hot tube amps FOR SALE!!!! Guess I should put 'em in the buy/sell thread..
I have very little money at the moment but please do.
Peavey Windsor?? I never heard of this thing before tonight.
Never knew Peavey made a 100 watt 'Classic' series head
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PEAVEY-CLASSIC-100-ALL-TUBE-100-WATT-USA-GUITAR-HEAD-/111228507301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e5bc54a5
Carvin
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-Carvin-VTR-2800-100w-Tube-Amplifier-/181271935248?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Amplifiers&hash=item2a34a63910
?
Quote from: liquidsmoke on December 07, 2013, 04:58:50 AM
Never knew Peavey made a 100 watt 'Classic' series head
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PEAVEY-CLASSIC-100-ALL-TUBE-100-WATT-USA-GUITAR-HEAD-/111228507301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e5bc54a5
eight 6bq5 power tubes?
And, I liked my Carvin X100B a bunch, zero comlaints.
I had one of those X100B amps.. Still around here somewhere I think. Great amp, no complaints at all. Well... maybe the gray carpet covering..
Every time I see one o' them x100's for $300 I think I should buy one just cuz. But do I need another 100 watter? No. But the next VTM60 I see...........
some of the x100 owners prefer playing them at 50% or 25%, personally I think they are idiots. But, to each their own.
Can you X100 folks give us a quick overview on them?
Even knowing nothing about them that VTR2800 on ebay would be mighty temping if I had the cash.
This business of discovering 100 watt tubes amps that go for under $400 is nice. A fella could justify buying and using 2 of them.
Anyone here have or ever play that 150 watt Bugera?
Peavey Valveking? They seem to go for around $300 used. Today Musician's Fiend is selling them for that price new.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/peavey-valveking-100-head
My credit card trigger finger is itching. Surely that old Carvin on ebay for $350 would be a more worthy target though no?
edit: the Carvin VTR-2800 does not have a tube preamp. Weird.
I'll bet a gut shot would be helpfull, one of these amp gurus here could chime in, eh? I'd bet the iron on the old carvin is better.
Valveking is passable.
If you're happy with your live tone maybe just get a low wattage pedal platform? I get that you want to use another amplifier on stage but it might be easier this way?
Quote from: SunnO))) on December 07, 2013, 02:17:47 PM
Valveking is passable.
Higher quality than the Windsor I assume? For $300 new I can't really go wrong. It has an actual clean channel, that would be nice.
Quote from: MichaelZodiac on December 07, 2013, 02:22:30 PM
If you're happy with your live tone maybe just get a low wattage pedal platform? I get that you want to use another amplifier on stage but it might be easier this way?
I'm using a bass amp which is okay with a high gain pedal and live we crank super loud so it being SS is nice for tightness but for recording and for clean parts it doesn't cut it.
4 major sounds got by my mid 80s x100b, stock el34s-italic times new roman lettering-no carpet.
1)Rythmn channel-this is the clean everyone likes and crank it up for a very good od ie pedal platform. I never used it bright.
2)Lead channel-Marshall-low imput, none of the bells and whistles engaged, dimed baby dimed, big and ballsy, plays well with pedals.
3)Lead channel-ride the lighning-any input,all the bells and whistles engaged, dimed, eq to your hearts content, uhhh hope you like early metallica. does not play well with pedals. when someone says they hate this amp they have engaged everything, pushed everything to 11, and wonder why they can't get the tone of a triple rectumfier. facepalm. ps the all out distortion is awesome if a one trick pony.
4)somewhere inbetween 2 and 3-this is where you will live. the middle ground that works for your ear and pedals. distortion you can dial in.
graphic eq-assignable with toggle switch, active, slightly noisy at extreme highs. prefer to use with gentle touch. can acheive extreme bass.
reverb-spring, exactly what you want and expect. no let down here
presence-hell yeah. works. had mine dialed way down.
100-50-25 switch-yup you can play 25 watts and not get arrested. 100 is the real thing though, no compression, no dampening of tone.
foot switch-must have.
got mine local for $400 with a home built 4x12 loaded with throw away eminence speakers.
cons- not the loudest amp on the planet (though earplugs ARE needed), does not have the orange/matamp tone, is not a modern metal amp, are poo poo'd by everyone!
^ thanks for the review
Another amp for the sleeper list- Peavey XXX? A local guitar player uses one with a pedal and slays. Guitar Center has one listed used for $250.
The new run Acoustic B200H has a lot of bang for the buck.
Finally got mine back from the shop after 2+ years being out of commission.
Sent from a can on some string using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
Theres a Peavey Butcher for $250 near me. I'm a little tempted but that might be too much amp for me.
Quote from: da_qtip on December 09, 2013, 06:49:43 PM
Theres a Peavey Butcher for $250 near me. I'm a little tempted but that might be too much amp for me.
Good price. Play it first if you can, buy it if you like it and just don't turn it up that loud.
I'm thinking I'll wait and see if it's still up after Christmas. I shouldn't be buying stuff for myself this time of year.
An X-100B recently went for $202 on ebay. Damn.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carvin-X-100B-Tube-Guitar-Amplifier-Head-MADE-IN-USA-VERY-NICE-/221332030046?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D3341157125235124907%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D131064691129%26&nma=true&si=%252BtnXdaXc4%252FDAQPRdA7pdW%252B9R5pk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
I'll give a big +1 for the Carvin X100B. I bought mine for $300 used (80's version, with black tolex, whew...no rat fur) and it's my main guitar amp for recording. I generally leave it on the clean channel and use pedals, but dogfood did a great job of breaking down the versatility of the lead channels. I've used the boosted lead channel with an additional overdrive (with a 3 band EQ) to goose things a big into Mesa rectifier type territory, for recording other people who wanted that type of sound. Most the guitar tracks on the demos on my soundcloud account are with that amp. The fact that you can do power scaling with it just makes it that more versatile. The fact that Carvin has never been sold in any mega chains and there's a huge supply of them on the used market has kept them REALLY affordable, but even new from Carvin they're still pretty affordable.
I keep an eye out for the X100 (I think it might sometimes be referred to as the X100A), which is the same amp in a smaller shell without the graphic EQ. They're more rare, but still never high priced, but I've never been able to get a response whenever one shows up online for sale. I never use the graphic EQ on mine and it pretty much lives on a 2x12 cab in my home recording/mixing room, so I'd like to snag one of those eventually.
I think I'm going to try to get one.
I have an Acoustic 160 100W head on layaway right now. It's $300 and man is it LOUD. I love this thing.
I have two 80s Peavey Butchers (only one in the pic here) and a newly purchased Peavey VTM120. I have Orange and Sunn amps, I gig with the Peavey Butchers. They are louder than God, reliable, great mod platforms and take pedals really well - and I use Black Arts pedals so a good platform for those is nice. Just got the VTM and only used it once, it is a freaking monster - has excellent driven tone. Mine had not left the bedroom it was in for over 20 years, still has original tubes, ever opened and 100% mint. A little dusty and stinks like stale cigarettes - I'll clean her up and play the hell out if it at massive volumes. One of my Butchers is also a studio queen - looks new, has original tubes and has never been opened. Total prices: Butcher #1 $200 (then had it checked out, new power cord, and new tubes). Butcher #2 $200 and nothing done to it. VTM120 $200. Planned mods include the bias warm and treble mod - do not plan on converting to EL34s, I have EL34 amps, I prefer these with 6L6s
Butcher #1 and VTM120
(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/s403x403/1468634_10152093191897165_989782570_n.jpg)
Butcher #2 and Orange cab and 1981 MIJ Yamaha SBG500 (yes bad ass guitar)
(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/s843x403/1468614_10152052899337165_1956279050_n.jpg)
God damn. The Butcher is gone. I shouldn't have waited.
Can anyone confirm that the Carvin XV-112 is simply just an upside down version of the X100B?
http://uraltone.com/info/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/carvin_xv112_1.jpg
4 el34s-looks like a duck and I'm sure it quacks like a duck.
I will try to lure the duck home, it's in very nice shape with new tubes.
$335 shipping tomorrow. Looks very clean. New Groove Tubes EL34s.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/CARVIN-XV-112-ALL-TUBE-AMP-SAME-AS-CARVIN-X100B-/00/s/OTAwWDE2MDA=/z/3kEAAOxyVaBSvgMh/$_57.JPG)
(http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121119142714/familyguy/images/9/95/Strippergirls.png)
:D
Bravo!
Avoid the Crate Power Block unless you want SS preamp distortion. It is not a true clean amp and to make it loud you crank the master and then have to use the distortion knob for volume.
As a preamp into something else it might be okay though.
I've used the power block for bass, works fine if you know how to operate it.
Quote from: Mr. Foxen on January 10, 2014, 07:14:15 PM
I've used the power block for bass, works fine if you know how to operate it.
I just got one for guitar and it runs out of volume quick. For whatever reason I thought it would be able to do a true clean sound loud. It doesn't. Mine has a faulty hard to get working master volume knob though so I'm sending it back. It requires way too much jiggling to work.
Do any hybrid heads(tube pre) have a nice creamy sounding loud clean channel? I tend to read that they are shit which makes me assume they skimp on the preamp. My buddy's Mesa Studio preamp sounds great, very sweet and rich, metal as hell, into my SS power amp although the clean channel didn't sound that good with a distortion pedal into it.
Quote from: liquidsmoke on January 10, 2014, 09:03:38 PM
Do any hybrid heads(tube pre) have a nice creamy sounding loud clean channel? I tend to read that they are shit which makes me assume they skimp on the preamp. My buddy's Mesa Studio preamp sounds great, very sweet and rich, metal as hell, into my SS power amp although the clean channel didn't sound that good with a distortion pedal into it.
distortion into mesa studio pre clean channel into ss power amp?
Question to you amp design builder types: What element of a ss power amp design gives it tolerable tone? Many an ear have listened to my Sunn Concert Lead and have genuinely wanted to know what I'm playing through. I've seen ads for LabSeries amps declaring their quality tone though I can't remember what one sounds like. Randall have some metal ss numbers that people don't hate.
Quote from: liquidsmoke on January 10, 2014, 07:25:38 PM
Quote from: Mr. Foxen on January 10, 2014, 07:14:15 PM
I've used the power block for bass, works fine if you know how to operate it.
I just got one for guitar and it runs out of volume quick. For whatever reason I thought it would be able to do a true clean sound loud. It doesn't. Mine has a faulty hard to get working master volume knob though so I'm sending it back. It requires way too much jiggling to work.
The Crate Power Block requires Gain (grit) and Volume knobs up to get maximum volume. That's not what you want at all.
What about using one of the Catalinbread "foundation" (amp modeling) pedals into a super high wattage solid state head? You should also look into a 100 watt Matamp or Sunn Model T amp, they are louder than shit and can do icepick clean. I saw YOB once play through a Matamp, it was unbelievably loud and clean unless he stepped on a pedal. Khanate used Sunn Model T's, they were also unbelievably loud and clean (original version Model T, not Fender reissue).
I'm surprised you are still looking for an amp that meets your needs...
Quote from: dogfood on January 10, 2014, 10:03:25 PM
Quote from: liquidsmoke on January 10, 2014, 09:03:38 PM
Do any hybrid heads(tube pre) have a nice creamy sounding loud clean channel? I tend to read that they are shit which makes me assume they skimp on the preamp. My buddy's Mesa Studio preamp sounds great, very sweet and rich, metal as hell, into my SS power amp although the clean channel didn't sound that good with a distortion pedal into it.
distortion into mesa studio pre clean channel into ss power amp?
Question to you amp design builder types: What element of a ss power amp design gives it tolerable tone? Many an ear have listened to my Sunn Concert Lead and have genuinely wanted to know what I'm playing through. I've seen ads for LabSeries amps declaring their quality tone though I can't remember what one sounds like. Randall have some metal ss numbers that people don't hate.
I tried my distortion pedal into the clean channel of the Mesa Studio preamp just to see what it would sound like. It was running into the loop in of my 350 watt class D bass head which is plenty loud enough for a guitar rig.
The preamp distortion that unit provides is amazing. I think it's supposed to be very similar to the Mark IIC+. You crank the distortion full up, make the V shape on the eq and it's one of the most heavy metal tones possible although I'd prefer it had a bit more distortion available. I think the Studio goes for about $500 on ebay.
I'm more or less of the opinion that the various types of SS power amps(within heads and rack mount) all sound pretty similar. Mosvalve, class D, class whatever. Make sure you have enough watts and you have all the headroom you want. No tube stuff going all sludgy on you at high volumes when you don't want sludgy tones. I can only imagine that people like certain SS heads because of their preamps and because their power amps have enough watts for the volume levels they play at.
Quote from: Lumpy on January 11, 2014, 03:41:52 AM
Quote from: liquidsmoke on January 10, 2014, 07:25:38 PM
Quote from: Mr. Foxen on January 10, 2014, 07:14:15 PM
I've used the power block for bass, works fine if you know how to operate it.
I just got one for guitar and it runs out of volume quick. For whatever reason I thought it would be able to do a true clean sound loud. It doesn't. Mine has a faulty hard to get working master volume knob though so I'm sending it back. It requires way too much jiggling to work.
The Crate Power Block requires Gain (grit) and Volume knobs up to get maximum volume. That's not what you want at all.
Correct and I discovered this in about 2 minutes. Should have read about it more but it's going back to the seller because it doesn't work properly. Considering that it was supposedly designed to be used with modeling gear I'm surprised it can't do a louder clean.
Quote from: Lumpy on January 11, 2014, 03:41:52 AM
What about using one of the Catalinbread "foundation" (amp modeling) pedals into a super high wattage solid state head? You should also look into a 100 watt Matamp or Sunn Model T amp, they are louder than shit and can do icepick clean. I saw YOB once play through a Matamp, it was unbelievably loud and clean unless he stepped on a pedal. Khanate used Sunn Model T's, they were also unbelievably loud and clean (original version Model T, not Fender reissue).
I'm surprised you are still looking for an amp that meets your needs...
Just looking for a tube preamp to sweeten up my live tone. Got the SS headroom covered.
I'm okay with the idea of modeling amps but I have a great distortion pedal already. Used to have a Matamp, sold it roughly 5 years ago because I didn't like it's tone enough considering the cost. Got into and out of Laneys after that. I suspect that a Model T or SVT or V4 would do the trick but those amps are either too expensive or more heavy than I want to deal with.
Have a Carvin tube amp from ebay coming but I'll probably just use it for recording and rock and sludgy projects. Who knows though, maybe it won't break up too much loud.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunn-Model-T-O-/221350804455?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3389893be7
3 grand? Is that a joke? Do people actually pay that much for these amps?
We went through this before, what you want only exists in solidstate world unless you start shelling out multithousands of dollars. I still think you have a miscommunication of terms, by break up, do you mean it sounds shitty ans crackly, or do you mean "overdriven?"
If you want tube pre-amp, maybe check the EHX tube pedals? SunnJake, didn't you say the British one just sounded like a JCM800? You can stay off the grit and just use it clean?
I had one, Riffer owns it now!
There is a video on YouTube of me beating on one... Let me see if i can dig it up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn52yD0Jc6c&list=UU8s1iJzlbISEcsNyZycyYEw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn52yD0Jc6c&list=UU8s1iJzlbISEcsNyZycyYEw)
Just copy and paste. It's the muff'n and a solid state Sunn power amp... Metal Dave owns the amp, Riffer has the muff'n... Xayx has the guild...
I'm sad
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/msg/4282775148.html
Deuce VT: $250.00
120 watts
Solid state preamp, 6L6 tube power amp
Probably early 80s
All original, from the looks
Sort of Peavey's answer to the Twin.
In very good condition.
Check out the prices on Ebay for comparison.
Great, I mean great clean tone, very good overdrive.
Quite versatile.
Built in phase
This thing is loud. It is also very heavy, built like a tank
No footswitch, you can find these on Ebay.
Made in the USA
Quote from: SunnO))) on January 11, 2014, 11:46:53 AM
We went through this before, what you want only exists in solidstate world unless you start shelling out multithousands of dollars. I still think you have a miscommunication of terms, by break up, do you mean it sounds shitty ans crackly, or do you mean "overdriven?"
By breakup I mean what happens to tube heads when you turn them up really loud. So for example you're rockin' on a 5150 or whatever and you've got a nice tone at lower or moderate volumes but you're not loud enough for practice or gigs so you crank the master and the louder you go the more it fuzzes out and sounds like Spirit Caravan or Weedeater and less like the tone you had at low to moderate volume. You turn down the distortion but the tone still isn't right. It may sound great but it's not the tight sound you originally had. It's got the creamy richness but too much fuzz. When I ran my TightMetal pedal into my roommate's 5150 at moderate volume for some tracking I realized what I've been missing over the last tubeless couple of years. Then later using his Mesa Studio into my SS amp(and we cranked that thing) convinced me that SS power is fine as long as the preamp sounds tubey enough. I need that rich tube cream, but not the full tube head experience. That EH Muff'n set on low might do the trick as it sounds great in videos. I'm watching one now on ebay. It's puzzling that Marshall couldn't get that sort of sound with their hybrid heads, or if they did people aren't able to dial it in very well. Or perhaps they are just that used to power amp distortion/'breakup'.
Huh, they make a whole line of tube pedals.
http://www.ehx.com/browse/tube-pedals
"Electro-Harmonix is not only an effects pedal pioneer but we are the leading manufacturer of vacuum tubes in the world. Put the two together and we are proud to present a line of vacuum tube pedals that take full advantage of the sweet, warm, lush sounds that vacuum tubes are known for. In all of our vacuum tube pedals, we run the pedals at full power with approximately 300VDC on the plates giving the tubes a chance to shine in a relatively small guitar pedal footprint. Now you don't need to search the far reaches of the Internet for deals on vintage tube amps and studio gear to get a real tube sound."
Is that similar to the kind of voltage that tube head preamps deliver?
I'm really perplexed by your search. It seems as though what you're trying to get away from is what most of us are searching for. I've found mine and it's all tube baby!
Also have you ever considered not having your guitars volume all the way up? Sorry if you've already considered this but sometimes the fundamentals need to be looked into. Most tube amps are very responsive to this. No need for two channels for me.
Quote from: RAGER on January 11, 2014, 03:44:55 PM
I'm really perplexed by your search. It seems as though what you're trying to get away from is what most of us are searching for. I've found mine and it's all tube baby!
Ah but you see I'm actually trying to get halfway back to that tube magic! SS power headroom and tube preamp cream. If any of you get the chance to play a Mesa Studio into a SS power amp please give it a try, they sing. Creamy sustain and a huge variety of tones on tap. I mentioned before too, I ran the preamp of my Laney GH50 into a SS power amp a couple of times(a no no) and at low to moderate volumes the tone was almost identical. If I ever want to start or join a more stoner metal type band I'd want that looser tube power amp tone and would probably get a vintage 5150; no boost, overdrive, or distortion pedal needed.
Quote from: RAGER on January 11, 2014, 03:44:55 PM
Also have you ever considered not having your guitars volume all the way up? Sorry if you've already considered this but sometimes the fundamentals need to be looked into. Most tube amps are very responsive to this. No need for two channels for me.
To reduce power amp breakup? It would also reduce the doom crunch. But yeah it's good for cleaner parts for sure. I just kick off my distortion pedal instead or with my Laney would kick off the second gain stage.
Let's be real, how loud is loud to you? Is a Half cranked 100W amp not loud enough, even with two cabs?
I like SS pre and valve power section just fine while it works. Valve pre/SS power seems worst of both worlds.
Quote from: SunnO))) on January 11, 2014, 04:20:13 PM
Let's be real, how loud is loud to you? Is a Half cranked 100W amp not loud enough, even with two cabs?
They vary but half cranked is probably loud enough on some amps. Some amps are also going gangbusters breakup at half cranked too. It's possible that the Carvin's clean channel will do the trick but either way I want an all tube head for other uses.
I'm mighty curious about them EH 300V tube pedals. Some other companies also make similar high voltage units. Some people do like the cheaper low voltage ones too, could be worth a try if I could find a one used for really cheap although I suspect most of them sound more fizzy than rich.
Regarding cabs, I would be better off with two 4x12s rather than two 2x12s but I hate lifting 4x12s up steps by myself and sometimes it has to be done.
Quote from: Mr. Foxen on January 11, 2014, 04:29:46 PM
I like SS pre and valve power section just fine while it works.
A tight or super powerful valve power section would probably work for my situation.
Quote from: Mr. Foxen on January 11, 2014, 04:29:46 PM
Valve pre/SS power seems worst of both worlds.
It can be magic, I've heard it.
I know you all think I'm crazy but this isn't a crisis, just trying to sweeten things up. I'll figure it out. :)
Well, 2x12s are your loudness problem. 100%. You'd be begging for 2 2x12s worth of volume if you had a full stack worth of speakers. Your headroom issue would go away, too, because more volume gets pumped, so you don't have to drive the amp as hard.
Carvin TS100 tube power amp put some clean glass in there voila! Peavy, Marshall, and Mesa all make a tube power amp. I'd kill for two of these babies.
Quote from: SunnO))) on January 11, 2014, 05:30:32 PM
Well, 2x12s are your loudness problem. 100%. You'd be begging for 2 2x12s worth of volume if you had a full stack worth of speakers. Your headroom issue would go away, too, because more volume gets pumped, so you don't have to drive the amp as hard.
I agree that it would help but with some amps I think I'd still get too much breakup. I could get two more 2x12s :D
The one thing I do have is height so a speaker is in my face standing up. The idea may seem dumb but they only weight about 65 pounds each and of course are shorter and narrower than most 4x12s. Loaded with 150 watt Swamp Thangs.
(http://www.stagecraftgear.com/catalog/BlackJack_Studio212D.jpg)
Quote from: Mr. Foxen on January 11, 2014, 04:29:46 PM
I like SS pre and valve power section just fine while it works. Valve pre/SS power seems worst of both worlds.
It took me years and years to figure that out, and it hit me like an epiphany when I was listening to some shitty band play shitty amps via an FM radio signal. Not an ideal situation, but all of a sudden, I understood.
That isn't to say that liquid is/is not searching for that sound, but it's probably relevant when the question of 'sleeper' amps comes up and various Peavey (or Music Man) things fit the bill as good sounding and affordable. Generally.
Swamp Things are pretty efficient, too - 102-ish spl? You're not going to get great speaker break up, but you're not going to be hurting for perceived volume, either.
Quote from: dogfood on January 11, 2014, 05:52:46 PM
Carvin TS100 tube power amp put some clean glass in there voila! Peavy, Marshall, and Mesa all make a tube power amp. I'd kill for two of these babies.
My Mesa 50/50 doesn't "break up" (saturate the power tubes) unless I use the club setting (15 watts per side). I mean, it will, but I have to turn it up to 8 or above on both sides, which would clear any small to medium room.
Quote from: xayk on January 11, 2014, 07:20:18 PM
Swamp Things are pretty efficient, too - 102-ish spl? You're not going to get great speaker break up, but you're not going to be hurting for perceived volume, either.
As far as I can tell they are relatively loud. I think they break up a little bit at high volumes. I wanted darker toned loud high wattage handling speakers and I think I made a good choice. Had Manowars in a cab and they seemed too bright.
Can I suggest one of those Art tube preamps, go for about 30 dollars and you'll get your tube compression (or warmth) without getting dirty.
The micropone/channel pres?
Is a Peavey Mace useable for bass? There's 1 for sale locally and it comes with two T300 speaker columns. I've been thinking about adding another amp + cab so I can split my signal, run fuzz through the both of 'em, split the signal after my fuzz pedals and run modulation pedals to only 1 amp.
Trace Elliot Super Tramp $200
I don't know anything about these but thought someone here might be interested for the price.
http://music.bqturner.com/ProductDetail_i956858
Sexy!