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Post subject: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 6:32 pm
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Hello,
I just started playing guitar, I picked up a great combo deal on a MIM Strat & Tele and I bought a used Mustang IV V2 amp, if I was looking to buy a good Tube amp new or used for $1000 or less what would be my best option?
Deluxe Reverb Reissue - Super Sonic 22 - Hot Rod Deluxe III - Blues Deluxe?
Or are there better options out there?
Was thinking about trading in the Mustang IV V2 and putting some money with it to get a good tube amp.
Thank you
Michael


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 7:10 pm
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Michael,

Just my opinion, but the SS22 is the most versatile in the list. It has two channels, efx loop and long spring reverb. You may be able to find them at your nearby GC for under $800. It is also made in the US.

The vintage channel is essentially the Deluxe, but with a solid state, rather than tube, rectifier. The Burn channel, with its two gain controls, can be dialed in for rock, blues or metal.

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 8:23 pm
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Some nice tube amps do cost a lot, so the idea of being affordable really is streching it.

I always liked the HotRod series. Maybe some people don't.
I'd start out small like a Pro, Blues Junior, or BDlx, HRD. See how you like it.
If you can, I'd keep your Mustang IV V.2. That has a lot of sounds that your new tube amp might not have.


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:10 pm
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My vote would be the Made in the USA Deluxe Reverb Reissue. No point in fartin' around. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:09 am
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Hello Michael,

A recommendation would depend largely on its intended use. Are you looking to practice at home, play with a band, gig, etc. anything from 5watts to 22 watts can usually accomodate home practice and or live use. Best to try out as many as you can and take it from there. Good luck on your journey... :D

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:32 am
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I'd suggest you try out one of these bad boys:

http://www.fender.com/guitar-amplifiers ... 78&start=1

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:47 pm
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+1 for the Deluxe Reverb Reissue.


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:54 am
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Going from a standing start I wouldn't necessarily blow all your budget at one hit. If you were after your first car you wouldn't buy a Ferrari.

Get something modest for home practice, perhaps a 5 watter of some sort to atune your own ear. Alternatively a Blues Junior or Bassbreaker might be a good halfway point.

Unless you are competing with a drummer and need plenty of clean headroom you don't need a monster amp. Better to have something modest that you can fully exploit than the ultimate which you merely scratch the surface.

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 5:14 am
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You could do what I did which was to, get a used Fender Roc-Pro 700 combo. It has a 12AX7 preamp tube in it, which gives you that Tube sound. I got mine almost a couple of years ago and it's now my main amp.


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:02 am
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John Sims wrote:
Going from a standing start I wouldn't necessarily blow all your budget at one hit. If you were after your first car you wouldn't buy a Ferrari.

Under $1000 isn't Ferrari territory from an amp perspective. It's more in the midrange segment.
Which is a sensible place to look for both cars and amps if you can afford it.

From a starting point, I think the worst thing a new player can do is buying on the cheap if they can afford otherwise. The risk of something that's off-putting increases significantly. If you don't really like it, you're not going to play it. I also don't think a new player can take full advantage of top models, but a midrange guitar and amp that you don't feel embarrassed about and don't wish was something else goes a long way towards making you play.

For versatiliy, I think a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 is possibly the most bang for the buck in the Fender $750-$1000 segment right now, with two very different sounding signal paths. But it's new, so who knows about quality.
The Blues Jr is far more tested by time, and sounds great, even if not nearly as versatile.
Supersonic 22 is great, and has enough upper range and not too heavily scooped sound like most Fender amps, so you can use it for acoustics too, but you have to look hard to find it under $1000.

Other than that, the big British guys (Marshall, Vox, Orange) have some pretty good amps in that segment too.


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:57 am
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Minnesotastrats wrote:
My vote would be the Made in the USA Deluxe Reverb Reissue. No point in fartin' around. :wink:


+10K...Couldn't agree more! A Deluxe Reverb has great tone, and they take pedals well to cover all the bases.

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 2:28 am
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arth1 wrote:
John Sims wrote:
Going from a standing start I wouldn't necessarily blow all your budget at one hit. If you were after your first car you wouldn't buy a Ferrari.

Under $1000 isn't Ferrari territory from an amp perspective. It's more in the midrange segment.
Which is a sensible place to look for both cars and amps if you can afford it.
....


A very fair point. I get slewed by the $1000 which, once that reaches the UK tends to be £1000. This then getting into more exotic territory with many good tube amps available from £400 to £600 or there abouts - the equivalent of $1000 Stateside...if that makes sense.

The conversion/tax/shipping does make Fender products more expensive in the UK but we are blessed with many reasonable priced tube amps of UK origin.

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 8:11 am
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John Sims wrote:
The conversion/tax/shipping does make Fender products more expensive in the UK but we are blessed with many reasonable priced tube amps of UK origin.

True. Across the pond, I'm cursing that the (non-Chinese) Orange I want costs an arm and a leg, and I won't even get the legal warranties you get.


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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:12 pm
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You just started playing guitar and you have a Mustang IV amp...you have no idea how good the Mustang is and what it can actually do in the hands of an experienced player 8) I would strongly suggest that you make good use of what you have in your hands before you move into antiquated tube territory :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Best Affordable Tube Amp under $1000
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:11 am
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Lots of fine amps mentioned here. If price is a consideration, the HRDlx III might be a good choice to cover a variety of tube driven sounds. To make a good amp sound even better, you might want to change tubes, possibly the speaker, but the stock amp still sounds good.

I have a DRRI and a HRDlx I, and I like 'em both a lot, each for it's own sound.

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