Hey guys, so as I wait for my tax return to get here next week or so I have been shopping around online looking at amps. I have never owned a tube amp, mostly due to my ignorance about them, and the fact that they were usually out of my price range. Well when I get my tax money back, a portion of it will be used to pick up a small (15-30 watts) tube combo amp.
My question to you guys would be what suggestions do you have of amps in that power range that are around 500 bucks or less and are high quality?
At the top of my list right now is the Jet City JCA2112rc 20w combo. I also have looked at some reviews of the Kustom Defender combo and like the tone of that one, but it seems a little harder to find someone that sells them.

So yeah, guys (and girls), hook me up with some suggestions, although I'll probably be buying the Jet City or a used Hot Rod Deluxe.
Thanks!

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Although it is a smaller wattage than you want check out the Blackstar HT-5 Combo.
I have the HT-5 mini half stack and it a nice little amp!!!

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Thanks for the suggestion Chet. I really like Blackstar amps, but I need something a little more powerful for gigging, otherwise I'd seriously consider Blackstar.

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My recommendation would be a used Peavey Classic 30. I've had one for several years, it was my first tube amp. I found one for sale with JJ Tubes and an attenuator for $350 shipped. It has a really nice warm clean tone, and when you turn on the drive channel or use an overdrive pedal it's break up is really good too.

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get you a egnator rebel20 bro.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Listening to Classic 30 demos right now. Very nice sound. Thanks for the suggestion TGS. Certainly one for me to consider.

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That's gonna be later this year, as for now, I gotta keep the cost low. Sadly enough, as of last week I now need a new car and that's gonna put a damper on my gear spending for a few months. But a tube amp is the one thing I'm gonna buy over the next couple months (well that and a new pickguard for the Tele ). The Rebel is something I already know I'll be buying in the somewhat future. Probably a birthday gift to myself in August. For now I'm pretty sure the Jet City is gonna find it's way to my house.

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you can easy find a used egnator for under $500.
the marshall class5 is an option so should be the marshall haze 40.
that class5 is really nice too.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

You make a good point my friend. I think I'll see what I can find used, because a rebel20 with it's tube-mix feature is something I MUST have at some point.
As for Marshall, I know some people will call me crazy, but I have never been impressed with Marshall amps, and unless I sit down in front of one that just blows me away, I doubt I'll be going with Marshall.

For now, I'm gonna jump on eBay and CL and see what I can find as far as a Rebel20 is concerned.

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tim

dont forget to try GC as well. if they dont have one, they can get it from another store too, even if ya go used. i got my head used for like $370 or something
(christmas gift) plus you can work with them on price too.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Peavey makes some great tube amps in the $500 range and they can put out a lot of grunt.Vox also makes some great Hybrid amps that have a tube driven preamp-12 AX 7- and a S.S. power amp but they sound convincingly tube-like.I have done side by side comparisons with the real things and have been amazed by the closeness in tone. I think that you'd be surprised if you gave the Marshall Haze of Class 5 a try they're not the ear splitting monsters like the 1959s and JCM 900s and 2000s and can be exceptionally bluesy instead of heavy metal raunchy.Even the 15 W Haze mini stack is capable of real nice tone but the 40 W combo has the edge for overall quality of sound.For $500 you could also pick up an outstanding used amp too-I've picked up some real gems for a song, like a '69 Fender Bassman head for $200 and a 2-15 Bassman cabinet for $250.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

The Fender Super Champ XD is the one i'd like to get.

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Experience is the best teacher

The Blues Jr. is a nice amp. Its worth checking out.

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Check out Bill Machrone's BJ w/ extension cab :

http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bjr/bjrextspeaker.htm

Bill's a smart guy about amps and electronics and he's even built a USB guitar! They funny thing is - - it's not even his regular gig, he's an editor for PC Magazine!!!

http://machrone.net/

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The lower-end made in China (even though I hate to buy anything from China if I can avoid it) Vox AC15 amps can be found for around $400, and are much louder than you expect. I have played a gig with a full (4-piece) LOUD punk band and kept up volume-wise, very well. It even sounded good for harp (Surprisingly).

One of those amps is on my GAS list...

+1 on your Marshall amps opinions. I have played through a few Marshalls, but I just can't make them do what I want. They sound good in other guy's hands (Billy Gibbons is one of my heros), but not mine, for some reason.

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