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Post subject: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:22 pm
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I'm looking at buying my first full tube amp within the next month and am having problems deciding. As my two guitars are a US tele and a US strat I thought I'd stick with Fender for an amp as well but I'm torn after having a go on a few others yesterday at a local shop. I'm mainly into blues so I'm looking for an amp with a nice clean tone that can also growl a bit when needed. I first tried the Fender Super Champ X2. Sounded great and I was also impressed with the USB connectivity and all the effects that come with FUSE. Then i was introduced to a Fender Blues Junior. I really liked this amp a lot...great tones. If it had USB it would be ideal! (hint, hint!). Then the guy introduced me to a T20 Hiwatt...wow, this was easily the most powerful (equipped with a 12" Fane speaker) and though my strat it sounded literally amazing! (-maybe I shouldn't be talking about other brands here but to compare them fairly I sort of have to). As 2 of my favourite guitarists (Dave Gilmour & Pete Townsend) uses Hiwatt amps I knew they must be ok at least and after trying one I realized why. It seemed to make me a better player somehow -which I know isn't logical, just the tones were amazing for a bluezy/pink floyd style lead. Then, just to add more confusion, I plugged into a Vox AC15. This was also a really great sounding amp and had some really warm clean tones but not quite as good as the Hiwatt or the Fender Blues Junior. One of the things that Blues Junior doesn't have is the ability to plug in another cabinet or speaker (that I could notice anyway) and for the same price the Hiwatt does have that ability. So, I'm sort of torn between being a loyal Fender customer and getting the Blues Junior or venturing out into Hiwatt land.
Has anyone else out there had any experience with any of these amps? Maybe you can help me decide! If anyone knows of any issues with any of these amps could you kindly point them out to me? Cheers!! :-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:40 pm
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Don't know how helpful the replies will be, as US posters will suggest all sorts of amps under $800, that you can't get, or imported to Oz, for under $800.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:52 pm
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I have to be very careful when it comes to importing an amp to Australia as we use 220-240 volts compared to the USA which uses 110-120 volts. The money i save buying from the USA will be eaten up getting it converted for use here.
I'm mainly asking for opinions on what they may own or had experience with in that price range.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 7:05 pm
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Drubbing wrote:
Don't know how helpful the replies will be, as US posters will suggest all sorts of amps under $800, that you can't get, or imported to Oz, for under $800.

Ah, what was the point anyway with even typing that useless reply? If you don't understand or can't contribute don't just type a reply saying "Don't know how helpful he replies will be"....gee, neither do I. No wonder you've clocked up over 500 replies...if they are all as useless as that one it's no wonder! Do you just go up to posts you can't answer and reply that you you don't know how many replies they'll get??!!
Haha!
If you are that bored just open a new Word document and type meaningless rubbish to yourself there.
:-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 7:50 pm
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Well done

Won't be getting any of the benefit of my experience. Rude git.


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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 7:59 pm
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If you are going to import an amp, you can import one from the UK (or any country using compatible voltages). I imported my Fender Super Sonic Twin from the UK when I was living in South Africa, but now I am using it in Perth, with no issues (except for changing the plug to suit). But you will lose the warranties etc. so it is risky.

As for a valve amp under $800, I didn't really like the Vox AC15 when I tried it, the AC30 was just better sounding but quite expensive. There is nothing wrong with going with your instincts and getting a HiWatt.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:30 pm
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Drubbing wrote:
Well done

Won't be getting any of the benefit of my experience. Rude git.


Just stating facts...which is better than saying dribble about not being able to answer....I don't think that's rude at all.
Besides that, you've got no experience I need...you've proven that already. I noticed you live in Perth and you're telling me to import an amp from the USA. You obviously know nothing about overseas voltages....probably never even been overseas. I bet you just sit at your computer waiting for your mum to cook your dinner.
I think you're the rude one.
Go off and keep looking out for posts you know nothing about and then tell them that....keep your quota of posts up!
:-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:37 pm
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AaronK wrote:
If you are going to import an amp, you can import one from the UK (or any country using compatible voltages). I imported my Fender Super Sonic Twin from the UK when I was living in South Africa, but now I am using it in Perth, with no issues (except for changing the plug to suit). But you will lose the warranties etc. so it is risky.

As for a valve amp under $800, I didn't really like the Vox AC15 when I tried it, the AC30 was just better sounding but quite expensive. There is nothing wrong with going with your instincts and getting a HiWatt.


Cheers! I suppose I shouldn't feel funny about getting a different brand. I did originally have my heart set on one of the Fenders though. I personally don't know anyone that's used Hiwatt before. Maybe that could be a good thing....being a little bit different is good sometimes!
I thought the Vox wasn't really suited to the sound I'm after as well.
:-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 10:13 pm
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The Hi Watt sounds very interesting, though I've not tried one. The Hi Watt certainly sounds like it is the most powerful of the ones that you listed.

BTW, the BJr does have a speaker jack, you just unplug the internal speaker and plug in a cab of your choice. Be careful, as there is a "FAT switch" jack right next to the speaker jack.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:06 am
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That's good news about the Blues Jnr having a speaker jack after all. I just couldn't see it! I've got about another month before I can afford to buy but so-far I'm torn between the Blues Junior and the Hiwattt T20. I feel kinda guilty admitting this on a Fender forum but I think I'm leaning towards the Hiwatt. It's not only more powerful for the same price but it has a switch at the back that halves the wattage to 10watts when needed and a 12" 150watt Fane speaker. When I looked up Fane speakers on google I found out they supplied speakers to a lot of top notch British amp makers, from Hiwatt and WEM to Laney and Vox. Evidently they were one of the most used speakers in the 60's and 70's so that might be why I liked the sound so much. They seem to have that genuine vintage tone that really suit my US strat (with CS Texas Special pickups). I also remember when I watched Pink Floyd's "Pulse" video, Gilmour had a wall of Hiwatt and WEM amps, so did Pete Townsend in the 1970 Isle Of Wight DVD.
Gee, I think I've talked myself into it already!!
:-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 4:17 am
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Nothing wrong with owning other amp brands, most of us here do. Yes, the Hi Watt sounds like it might be the best option of your choices listed, if it is the same price as a BJr, and I am a BJr fan and owner. :shock:

Of course, what I would advise (and do myself) is get both! :D 8)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 6:41 am
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Cheers! Thanks for easing my guilt about liking Hiwatt!!
As for buying them both goes, believe me, if money was no object I would love to!! I'd probably go for a Fender Super Sonic 60 as well! They sound amazing -to me anyway.
:-)

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:34 am
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Tube amps are very volume related, as they don't start to cook until you wind them up. So the first port of call is establishing what you are using it for. You may ultimately decide you need more the one amp.

5 Watts is great for home and recording (can even be a bit loud) but won't gig unless miced. 15 (valve) watts will do smaller gigs happily but is going to be loud if you want to use it at home. Anything above is almost useless at home (even those with Master Volume). My Marshall MV 50 volume control doesn't really do anything until 2 and then needs micrometer fine adjustment to stop it going from loud to very loud. Above 4 it becomes more linear and becomes directly proportional to the amount of blood which comes out of your ears and the number of neighbours who complain. Either way it sounds completely different when it starts to cook.

Fender amps do superb clean and blues and any combo will take external speakers in lieu of the on board speaker; you just unplug the internal and plug in the cab.

If going for bigger wattages a head/cab combination is far more convenient as the transformers in big amps get damn heavy and it is easier to manoeuvre small heavy things. Tube amps need to be treated with care, speaker cabs can be thrown down stairs with little impact on their audio performance. :D

At the end of the day it is all down to finding the sound that you want. Some amps have many knobs which do many things but, sometimes, no amount of twiddling will give up the sound that you want. - Brian May is reputed to remove the controls on his amps as there is a very specific place where the amps give the sound he wants. I have amps with just a volume control and they hit the nail on the head for me, and I have a rack with more knobs and settings than I can think of but, for home, love my little one knob Fender Champion 600.

According to Pete Townsend (Who? What would he know? :wink: ) in the latest Fender on line magazine, the days of massive volume back line amps is gone, unless you are a full on metal head who enjoys being deafened by a wall of Marshall 4x12s.....so small really is beautiful.

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:05 pm
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Yeah, very true about them needing to be moderately loud to get their true sound. At the moment I'm not performing so anything below 20 watts is more than powerful enough. If money was no issue I'd love to buy a shipping container and put it underground to create my own personal sound-proof chamber!! I reckon that would be great! 8)
Good to know that I can attach a cab to any amp by just unplugging the internal speaker though.
Thanks!
:D

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Post subject: Re: Looking for 1st tube amp under $800US
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:53 am
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Hi Dan,
That Hiwatt is 18 watts. I tried one and really liked it. If I just didn't just build my own 18 watt Marshall clone, I probably would have picked one up. For me it's no contest between a Hiwatt and a Blues Jr. The Blues Jr always sounded small and boxy to me with its internal speaker. Fane makes some really fine speakers. I don't know where your located, but VHT makes some really nice hand-wired amps as well as Jet City and the Peavey Classic is another great amp, but between those two amps, Hiwatt gets my vote.

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