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Guitarists, I need a combo amp.
- Thread starter two fingers
- Start date
Fender Princeton popped into my head first. Laney is another great brand that offers a different vibe. I have 5 watt lion heart that is incredible. I am sort of a gear snob in that I do not think there is an amp that sounds good under $500 new. By the time you add a new speaker and tubes you are approaching the price of something in the $800-1000 range. I personally hate blues jrs. They are harsh and brittle. The reverb sound crappy to me as well. I like the Egnator mentioned about better.
I’ll add to the Fender Blues Jr. and Peavey Classic 30 recommendations.
I agree with this. Whichever one you can get a better deal on. I also play with a guy that uses and Egnator and it is pretty nice as well.
Peavey Classic 30 is 40 lb, might be much for hopping. Super Champ X2 and Monoprice 15W are more trekable at 25 lb. You could re-cab to pine, go with a lighter speaker, and save a few more pounds. Both are respectable, and disposable.
Roland GR 88
Commercial User
Blues JR's are almost the standard bar amp. It sits in nicely with a moderately loud drummer. They're everywhere and come in some cool colors too.
The Princeton '65 & '68 re-issues are really nice, smoother and more scooped & compressed than the Jr. The FSR versions with a 12" (or an aftermarket upgrade to one) are better suited to louder stages but might be hard to find at a decent price.
We could all use more friends like you .....
The Princeton '65 & '68 re-issues are really nice, smoother and more scooped & compressed than the Jr. The FSR versions with a 12" (or an aftermarket upgrade to one) are better suited to louder stages but might be hard to find at a decent price.
We could all use more friends like you .....
+1 for the Blues Jr. or the Champ, or a Peavey Classic 30. I know that Peavey gets no love here, but those tube amps amps sound great and are bulletproof and easy to tote. My buddy has one and my impression is that it can get a little dirtier than my Blues Jr.
If he likes the classic Fender sound, probably the Jr. is the ticket. There are lots of mods for them too.
Crate VC508 is great small amp that is highly mod-able. I bought a modded one on the cheap and dropped an Alnico Weber speaker in it. The preamp is solid state and a mod I have is a bypass switch.
Crate VC-508 5-Watt 1x8" Guitar Practice Amp with Original TKL Carry Bag
Crate VC-508 5-Watt 1x8" Guitar Practice Amp with Original TKL Carry Bag
Here's my recommendation: Invalid Link Removed
I've had an HT40 Club (the previous version of this) for a few years now and it sounds like a million bucks. Blackstar amps are quite a bit less expensive than Fender and Vox and sound every bit as good. Great build quality too.
I've had an HT40 Club (the previous version of this) for a few years now and it sounds like a million bucks. Blackstar amps are quite a bit less expensive than Fender and Vox and sound every bit as good. Great build quality too.
Pro, Jr. at 15w. with a 10" - bare-bones and lovely (Jeff Beck, Roscoe Ambel).
(EDIT: I originally posted 8".)
More stageable would be the Hot Rod Deluxe what is 40w. with a 12", 2 channels with boost, and real spring reverb (standard studio and club's back line).
I also find the Vox Night Train extremely flexible - mine is a 50w. head but there are 15w. versions and combos (yo).
(EDIT: I originally posted 8".)
More stageable would be the Hot Rod Deluxe what is 40w. with a 12", 2 channels with boost, and real spring reverb (standard studio and club's back line).
I also find the Vox Night Train extremely flexible - mine is a 50w. head but there are 15w. versions and combos (yo).
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Vox Pathfinder 15R (V9168R); it's not a tube amp, but you wouldn't know it unless you looked. 15W, 8" speaker, tremolo & reverb built in, weighs very little, boost switch, foot-switchable, headphone jack, & gets louder than it has any right to. $100-$150 used all day long. I stumbled across mine when I bought a Tele to mess around with, & couldn't be happier. It has really great tone.
I have that Pathfinder and it is a really nice recording amp, particularly with the tremelo, but it sounds great all around. But no DI out, and if yer clubbin' it, you have to have it mic'd in the PA and monitors; it won't get over a loud acoustic drummer (I tried).
I use this amp often. It allows you to hear exactly what your guitars sound like.. I have heard that the Layla tracks were recorded through The Champ...
A tweed champ, seen in cover photos, a slightly different animal, and now very collectible/pricey. As far as Silverface champs go(and those have 8” speakers), there’s also the original Bronco, absolutely the same as a Vibro Champ. Came in a beginner’s package with a Music Master guitar, I believe. I can’t image gigging with one, though.
