cheapest amp youve ever actually liked?

[byebyejimmy]

I got given a Sessionette 100 bass amp. The thing was knackered and still needs a full overhaul, but I'm reluctant to do get it done because it sounds amazing. Deep n dirty... Love it.

 

[masonsjax]

Peavey Mark III - $75

I've got one of these too. I bought it new for around $250 I think. Gigged with it for years, still going strong. They don't build em like that anymore, the thing is a tank.

 

[RS]

Ashdown MAG300

 

[babebambi]

the Carvin B1500

 

[Russell L]

Peavey Mark IV head. Got it and two 115 cabs back in 1988 for $600 total. Bunch o' heavy stuff, though.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Used to have a Peavey "Bass" head that was well worth the $25 it cos me, and then some.

 

[georgiagoodie]

Carvin BX500
SWR Workingman 15

 

[tabdog]

On the other hand, my first amp ever was a Peavey Basic 40 in 1984. Not only did it sound terrible, but somehow it weighed as much as a small car.

In 1985, I got a Peavey Basic 40 for cheap in a pawn shop.
I just wanted a practice amp because my rig had a 2X15
cab and a Mark III amp.

I hated it also. In 1985, I put a vintage Standell 100 watt
12 inch speaker in it and that helped a lot. That thing is
loud. It can cut through the mix better than a Fender Rumble
1X15 combo with 230 watts. I know because I had them side
by side in a band setting several times. It didn't have much
bass though.

I have found that it can produce bass with a preamp added.
But that comes at the cost of volume. But it really can sound
all warm and runny if you want,

After more than 25 years, I think this amp is amazing.

Tabdog

 

[tabdog]

The Basic 40 has held up so well I never
got another practice amp until recently.

There is a good deal you can get at GC
when they have the Acoustic B-20s on
sale for $99,

I finally broke down on July 4th and got
me one for a bedroom amp. Plus it weighs
less than a car like my basic 40 does,

Tabdog

 

[chubrocker]

Ahhhh, my first amp. So many memories.

Besides an old TKO75 (that replaced my Basic 40), I got a Laney 1x12 tilt-back amp that was amazingly deep and punchy. I paid $125 at local music shop. The carpet was coming off and screws kept coming out of the wood. I adhesived the carpet back on and took the speaker out and caulked all inside the cabinet then used bigger screws in areas where the screws were stripped. I can't remember the model number but it was only about 100-150 watts. GREAT little amp tho.

In 1985, I got a Peavey Basic 40 for cheap in a pawn shop.
I just wanted a practice amp because my rig had a 2X15
cab and a Mark III amp.

I hated it also. In 1985, I put a vintage Standell 100 watt
12 inch speaker in it and that helped a lot. That thing is
loud. It can cut through the mix better than a Fender Rumble
1X15 combo with 230 watts. I know because I had them side
by side in a band setting several times. It didn't have much
bass though.

I have found that it can produce bass with a preamp added.
But that comes at the cost of volume. But it really can sound
all warm and runny if you want,

After more than 25 years, I think this amp is amazing.

Tabdog

 

[thomasthecat]

used silvertone 20w practice amp 20$, its great for acoustic type practices, but my go to amp is an acoustic 200b head and 4-10's.....which is a little bit more expensive

 

[Exploiter8]

Peavey Centurion-$125, Peavey 2-15-$100.

Gigged with 'em for 10 years. Not much high end but lows for miles. Best bang for the buck I ever got for an amp.

That was the rig I gigged with in the 80's. More than enough and never let me down. I wish I had a VT or BDDI back then to REALLY bring it to life! I guess it wouldn't cut it nowadays since it only puts out 130 watts @ 4 ohms. It doesn't meet the minimum requirements most people recommend these days!

X8

 

[M.Wrenn]

Ampeg BA112.

Wally, I don't think fluke great buys like that B-15 count

Mine was an Ampeg BA115.

And yeah, there's no way in hell that counts Wally. haha

 

[sanderic]

early sixties Ampeg B15N, bought used in 1978 for $80.00, also a Peavey TNT130 with JBL K140 bought used for $130.00; also SWR 2X10C (might have that model number wrong) bought used for $200. and a Peavey Combo 210TVX amp for $100.00
bargains are out there if you are willing to search.

 

[Exploiter8]

Peavey MINX 110, the final version.

Bought on ebay for 68.50 total. SUPER CLEAN, but I had to re-solder the input jack which had popped loose from the circuit board. With some leftover parts from other projects, I replaced the speaker, lined the cab, added dual ports, put a Stealth Kickback Stand on the bottom, even had a cover that fit! It weighs close to 40 pounds but has a huge, clean sound, even without my BDDI or VT!

X8

 

[TripleDouble]

400RB - $125
Backline 600 - $150

I no longer have either of these because I am stupid.

 

[wideyes]

Happy to see all the Hartke love in this thread - I used and regularly gigged a Hartke B60 combo for a few years that I still wish I had. Don't miss the weight, though - it ended up being worth the price, but not worth the weight. That's probably a common story with affordable amps these days.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Hartke Kickback
Carvin B and BX series
Eden E300T
GK RB series

I also paid $500 for my Mesa 400+.

 

[IvanMike]

80's peavey TNT

 

[fishtx]

GK-400RB...