Which Tube Amp on a Budget

rkreisher · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:03 pm

nikininja wrote:

If the superchamp is anything like the vibrochamp get that one. The pro jr is a good choice too.

Marshall have a new bunny on the track its pretty much a 5watt bluesbreaker combo with a 10" speaker capable of pushing a 4x12 quite easily. Ofcourse being marshall its going to sound like its atleast 12 watts.

http://www.dv247.com/guitars/marshall-class-5-class-a-all-valve-guitar-amp-combo-5w--66796

Ofcourse as Mr Allthumbs and myself know, the only real option for amps is blackstar.

Orange and Egnater indeed .... pffft :wink:

I'll have to look into the Blackstar...are their smaller tube amps able to keep up with a drummer and bassist in a garage-type band? (Oh crap I sound like a teenager---garage band, haven't played in a garage band in years).

The Super Champ XD is the step below the Vibro Champ. When I checked them out, it was what I was used to, an amp with bells and whistles...oh and it's a tube amp.

Thanks for the suggestion.

RK

nikininja · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:09 pm

Nah the Superchamp is a step above the Vibrochamp. As a vibrochamp owner i cant help wondering "what if i'd sprung the extra?" The only reason i havent traded it for a superchamp is i'm happy enough with the Vibrochamp.

Truth about those 5 watt amps, they will struggle in a band situation and if youn try to make em succeed your going to fo through parts quickly.

After Hearing JoeyB and the class5 i'm just infatuated with the idea of it.

rkreisher · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:20 pm

nikininja wrote:

Nah the Superchamp is a step above the Vibrochamp. As a vibrochamp owner i cant help wondering "what if i'd sprung the extra?" The only reason i havent traded it for a superchamp is i'm happy enough with the Vibrochamp.

Truth about those 5 watt amps, they will struggle in a band situation and if youn try to make em succeed your going to fo through parts quickly.

After Hearing JoeyB and the class5 i'm just infatuated with the idea of it.

Sorry, thought it was the step up, thanks for heads up. 5 VS 15 watt, I see. Vibro Champ sounds cooler than Super Champ, I guess my misconception. I figure I will need at least a 15w tube to keep up in a small gig (not that I'll be giging any time soon) or a practice session with a drummer and bassist.

rk

russianracehorse · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:26 pm

At 5 watts, the Vibro Champ XD actually would have had all the power I need in the little room where I play. Both amps have all the same voices and effects, but I decided to go with the Super Champ XD because I liked the fact that it had a dedicated clean channel. I tend to use this channel most of all, so the SCXD was a good fit for me.

rkreisher · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:31 pm

russianracehorse wrote:

At 5 watts, the Vibro Champ XD actually would have had all the power I need in the little room where I play. Both amps have all the same voices and effects, but I decided to go with the Super Champ XD because I liked the fact that it had a dedicated clean channel. I tend to use this channel most of all, so the SCXD was a good fit for me.

This is why the SCXD is a real contender for me.

RK

hendrixfan99 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:31 pm

nikininja wrote:

After Hearing JoeyB and the class5 i'm just infatuated with the idea of it.

+10000

You don't think it'll be overpriced like the '57 champ do you? :roll:

And then Alain will brag, "oh I have a nice class 5 Marshall amp, but that's okay because I'm rich and I don't care if you're not rich, I'm just going to sit down and drink my Port!!!!" LOL I scare myself sometimes mate...

-The Screamin' J

63supro · **Joined:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm **Posts:** 8827

hendrixfan99 wrote:

nikininja wrote:

After Hearing JoeyB and the class5 i'm just infatuated with the idea of it.

+10000

You don't think it'll be overpriced like the '57 champ do you? :roll:

And then Alain will brag, "oh I have a nice class 5 Marshall amp, but that's okay because I'm rich and I don't care if you're not rich, I'm just going to sit down and drink my Port!!!!" LOL I scare myself sometimes mate...

-The Screamin' J

That's too funny. I believe the expression he uses is, a grand is just peanuts to him. LOL. That crap don't impress me in the least. I'm a retired banker. Big deal.

Truth of the matter is a 5 watt amp is not even made to use in a band situation. You can mic it, but unless you have a good PA and monitor system, it'll get lost fast. I my experience, I think 20 watts is pretty much the minimum. An extension cabinet will help a lot though.

SlapChop · **Joined:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 1257

63supro wrote:

[

That's too funny. I believe the expression he uses is, a grand is just peanuts to him. LOL. That crap don't impress me in the least.

You know what I always say:

"Nice checkbook. Let's hear you play."

Ceallach · **Joined:** Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:13 pm **Posts:** 1633

63supro wrote:

Ceallach wrote:

As far as tube amps go, I think Orange amps outclass all others. But they are a bit more expensive.

I thought so too until I tried Egnater.

Egnater, hm, I may have to look into them, but the nearest dealer is in #$@*&!% North Carolina when I get back to the USA. Or Farmington if I go home.

peterp · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:17 pm

Sweetwater is listing that Marshall class5 amp as on sale for 399$us
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Class5/

with a long wait period for shipment.

Not a bad sounding little amp if that is your kind of tone.

Egnater if you want the freedom of changing amp tone on the fly.
------------------

At this point this is just a practice amp so it does not matter much, but in the future when you go looking for performance equipment :

Budget is very important, at least for most of us,.
But in the end you do get what you pay for.
Buying a consumer grade amp like a BJ or BD and expecting pro performance is not likely going to happen.

It is like in my business buying a eos dRebel and a consumer lens and hoping for eos 1Ds / L lens results. (600$ vs 9,000$ purchase prices) then complaining when it doesn't perform to expectations.
.

63supro · **Joined:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm **Posts:** 8827

SlapChop wrote:

63supro wrote:

[

That's too funny. I believe the expression he uses is, a grand is just peanuts to him. LOL. That crap don't impress me in the least.

You know what I always say:

"Nice checkbook. Let's hear you play."

How true. I know a lot of people with nice stuff but can't play and a lot of people who have what could be perceived as garbage that can do incredible things with it.

Money and arrogance don't impress me in the least.

hendrixfan99 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:54 pm

Well I was proven wrong about the class 5. Same price as a Pro Junior off a Sweetwater :shock:

That looks fabulous...

-The Screamin' J

P.S. SlapChop and Supro, isn't it so ironic? I honestly would love to have some things that would just add a whole new dimension to my tone. Actually, it is a good thing from my perspective to lack cash... you spend more time finding your skills rather than your tone.

SlapChop · **Joined:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 1257

hendrixfan99 wrote:

P.S. SlapChop and Supro, isn't it so ironic? I honestly would love to have some things that would just add a whole new dimension to my tone. Actually, it is a good thing from my perspective to lack cash... you spend more time finding your skills rather than your tone.

I've been playing for over 40 years. My skills are pretty well ossified.

Twelvebar · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:51 pm

63supro wrote:

SlapChop wrote:

63supro wrote:

[

That's too funny. I believe the expression he uses is, a grand is just peanuts to him. LOL. That crap don't impress me in the least.

You know what I always say:

"Nice checkbook. Let's hear you play."

How true. I know a lot of people with nice stuff but can't play and a lot of people who have what could be perceived as garbage that can do incredible things with it.

Money and arrogance don't impress me in the least.

Now that I no longer gig, and am I guess really just a hobbyist, I have much better guitar gear than when i used to rely on music for part of my income.

Kind of funny when you think about it.

Syeklops · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2009 5:01 pm

rkreisher wrote:

Syeklops wrote:

I started playing with people several years ago. At that time, I only had a Fender Frontman 25R (25 watts). I used it for a few months, had it cranked up all the way, yet it could not truly compete with the drummer, bass player and others there. I had it cranked up, which caused the sound quality to deteriorate.

Anyway......I ended up buying a tube amp with a lot more power and now it's no longer a problem.

Are you sure 15 watts did the job for everyone at your jam? Especially with a drummer? (and remember.......they said it was a "quiet session") I know amps are expensive, but what if you put out the money and in the end........the 15 watt amp was not enough? Then you spend even more money buying yet another amp. I think I would be patient......save a little more money and get what you truly want and need. Of course.......unless you saw what those 15 watt tube amps were capable of..........and you were satisfied. Just a thought..........

Also......solid state amps are less expensive, and you might be able to afford more power and volume with one of those. Don't be in a hurry....check everything out and in the end.......be satisfied and sure of your purchase.

Syclops,

I think you misunderstood. I already have a 30 watt solid state tube amp. My friends 15 watt tube amp blew it out of the water. It has always been my understanding that a tube amp is more powerful than their solid state counterparts.

The drummer was not holding back when playing, the other guitarist was not either. His amp was set to 3. It was a Fender Hot Rod Blues Jr. I really loved the tones he was getting from it and it could go higher. My 30 watt solid state was barely keeping up and was crackeling bad.

I have always played solid state amps, but I am ready for the switch to tube amps. I guess I was just wondering which one was better suited for small jam sessions like the one we had?

Thanks for the reply.

RK

Ok.....I got it now.......Like I said before......I'm not familiar with those amps, and haven't heard them in a jam environment. Also......I was once at Guitar Center.......and the salesperson told me that you couldn't compare tube watts (for volume and power) against solid state watts (meaning 40 watt amp in tube, was not the same as 40 watt amp in solid state for power and volume.) I wasn't sure whether or not to believe him.

I do know that my 40 watt tube amp has been up against a 100 watt solid state and it's never had any problem keeping up with it, so if you tell me the two amps you've mentioned, kept up with the drums, etc......I'll believe it. After all.......you should let your own ears be the judge. Good luck on whatever it is you choose.

	Page 2 of 3	[ 35 posts ]	Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3 Next
Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3 Next

	Page 2 of 3	[ 35 posts ]	Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3 Next
Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3 Next

Andorra	EN	ES	FR
Belgium	EN	DE	FR
Croatia	EN
Czech Republic	EN
Estonia	EN
France	EN	FR
Germany	EN	DE
Italy	EN	IT
Latvia	EN
Lithuania	EN
Malta	EN
Netherlands	EN
Poland	EN
Romania	EN
Slovakia	EN
Sweden	EN
United Kingdom	EN

Austria	EN	DE
Bulgaria	EN
Cyprus	EN
Denmark	EN
Finland	EN
Greece	EN
Hungary	EN
Ireland	EN
Liechtenstein	EN	DE
Luxembourg	EN	DE	FR
Monaco	EN	FR
Norway	EN
Portugal	EN
Slovenia	EN
Spain	EN	ES
Switzerland	EN	DE	FR	IT

Mod Shop

Custom Shop

Which Tube Amp on a Budget

Who is online