The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Electric Guitars

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-30-2012, 11:24 PM
bozz_2006 bozz_2006 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,703
Default A good "home" tube combo amp??

Posted this thread in the "Amplification" section, but should probably be here instead.... oops. Sorry. Anyway.


I don't play much electric but am wanting to do more. I have a huge Line-6 Flextone II XL amp with full floorboard that is just too much amp and too much hassle for me. I'm thinking of selling it (and a couple other things) and buying a smaller all-tube combo with great blues and classic rock tone which will also work for some "Green Day" type tone that is smaller and super easy to use. Any suggestions? I don't really even know where or how to start looking, so any advice/guidance is welcome!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-30-2012, 11:41 PM
moon moon is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Scotland YES!
Posts: 1,983
Default

Checkout some youtube vids of the Blackstar HT5 and the Vox Lil' Night Train and see if you like the sound.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-30-2012, 11:46 PM
bozz_2006 bozz_2006 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,703
Default

Thanks! Will do.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-30-2012, 11:58 PM
mjz mjz is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: nowhereland
Posts: 5,266
Default

Vox AC-15C1.
max
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-01-2012, 12:07 AM
jseth jseth is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Oregon... "Heart of the Valley"...
Posts: 10,831
Default

I played an amp at a local store... fairly small, VHT was the company name... and the amp was a 5 or 6 watt-er, but it had a "cute" name, like the Super Six or something like that...

Anyway, I was very impressed! Selectable for wattage, tube amp... form .1 w to 6 w... nice gain/volume boost arrangement... SCREAMING TONE from a whisper quiet, low watt setting... about the only thing I didn't find was any onboard reverb...

for $400? Wonderful little amplifier!
__________________
"He's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith.
Spread your arms and hold your breath,
always trust your cape..."

"The Cape" (Guy Clark/Jim Janowsky/Susanna Clark)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-01-2012, 12:11 AM
ddeand ddeand is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 65
Default

I did this search earlier this year and ended up with three small, inexpensive amps in front of me. After testing them out, one stood out above the others. The three were the VHT Special 6 Combo, the Bugera V5 and the Blackheart Killer Ant. All were 6 watts or less, and all were purchased used for less than $150. Without going into detail, I settled on the VHT Special 6, because it sounded much like a blackface Fender amp (which I love). With any of these inexpensive amps, swapping out the tubes makes a huge difference in their sound.

Let me know if you'd like additional commentary about my selection, and have fun looking for an amp!

Dean
__________________
Some mornings, it's hardly worth gnawing through the restraints . . .
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-01-2012, 06:00 AM
Bingoccc Bingoccc is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 7,048
Default

I've got a Fender Blues Junior and a Marshall Class 5. I'm happy with both.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-01-2012, 08:14 AM
skyver skyver is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 867
Default

I've had a gazillion amps and I think the best of them all for practicing at home is an old 60s or 70s Fender Champ.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-01-2012, 08:51 AM
J Patrick J Patrick is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,679
Default

...i've been using my Traynor Dark Horse for about a year now....its got a whole lot going on in a small package but it is a head and speaker setup...albeit quite small...i've had a lot of small amps...even had a 5 watter made by custom builder Winfield Thomas...Champs. Princetons i have a Vox AC4C1....this little Traynor is the most versatile amp i've ever owned and it has a 2 watt setting that rocks...google it for lots of demos and reviews...
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-01-2012, 09:06 AM
sweiss's Avatar
sweiss sweiss is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 2,238
Default

I have a Fender Champion 600 5 watt tube amp that I love. They're under 200 bucks at GC right now.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-01-2012, 10:42 AM
bozz_2006 bozz_2006 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,703
Default

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'll have to check them out to ought online. I should add that I would want to be able to use it for church and nursing home settings too. Are the 5 watt models up to that task. I don't want setting so big that it needs to be LOUD to get decent tone, but also something loud enough that it can fill a large room of quiet listeners and stand up to some congregational singing.

I'd put my budget at around $600.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-01-2012, 11:00 PM
muscmp muscmp is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: socal
Posts: 8,123
Default

hmmmm......green day at church and nursing homes! lively people!!

here is a review by guitar player mag of some small watt amps.

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/...be-amps/148843

play music!
__________________

2014 Martin 00015M
2009 Martin 0015M
2008 Martin HD28
2007 Martin 000-18GE
2006 Taylor 712
2006 Fender Parlor GDP100
1978 Fender F65
1968 Gibson B25-12N
Various Electrics
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-01-2012, 11:42 PM
Sage97 Sage97 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: GA
Posts: 7,712
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bozz_2006 View Post
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'll have to check them out to ought online. I should add that I would want to be able to use it for church and nursing home settings too. Are the 5 watt models up to that task. I don't want setting so big that it needs to be LOUD to get decent tone, but also something loud enough that it can fill a large room of quiet listeners and stand up to some congregational singing.

I'd put my budget at around $600.
The Cornford Harlequin, the Cornford Carrera and the Carr Mercury would fit this bill very nicely. However, they cost a bit more.
__________________
"Dreams are the answers to questions that we haven't figured out how to ask." - Mulder
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-02-2012, 01:07 AM
Paikon Paikon is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Thessaloniki Greece
Posts: 1,814
Default

egnater tweaker 15 watts 650$ and very versatile
video 2 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yo7-JxVY8s

for less watts

the cornford is top of my list but expensive
the vox lil nighttrain and Blackstar worth checking out

check also Laney amps ,very good tone and CHEAP

Last edited by Paikon; 12-02-2012 at 01:19 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Electric Guitars

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=