Cheap Tube Amp?

newbienewbie · Newbie Alert Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I have a Squier Stratocaster and a Fender Frontman 15 W amp, and was thinking about getting a new amp. I play rock, hard rock, alternative, classic rock, and I guess some metal. I started a thread about distortion/over drive pedals, and everyone said to get a tube amp, so I started looking and they are very expensive. Someone said that Craig's List was the way to go. I came across an Epiphone Valve Standard for $200 and saw nothing but good reviews and praise, and everyone said I should get it. Then suddenly everyone started telling me to get the Peavey Classic 30 Amp. The Epiphone Valve Standard is originally $300, priced at $200 on Craig's List. The Peavey Classic 30 Amp is $125 more, and it took me a while just to get the $200 for the Epiphone Valve Standard. The Crate V16 Palomino 112 Combo class A tube which I found for $250 also looks pretty good. I also want an amp that takes pedals well, meaning that pedals sound good on it. My price range is $200-$250, possibly $300 if it's a really good amp and a really good deal.

The amp also needs to be loud enough to gig in a small theater, club, auditorium or a gym. Everyone said that a 15 Watt tube amp is plenty loud. To give you another idea of what kind of music I play, here are a few of the songs my band will cover is our next gig.

1. Pork and Beans-Weezer
2. Blue Orchid-The White Stripes
3. Hate to Say I Told You So-The Hives
4. Crazy Train-Ozzy Osbourne
5. Either Love Train or Joker and the Thief-Wolf Mother

tw001_tw · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

newbienewbie, there is a lot to say on this topic.
I'm going to narrow my thoughts down into 1 sentence - this will summarize
my personal thoughts on the matter. I could go on and on, but I doubt anyone
wants to hear all that so I'm keeping it short and simple.

Try out as many amps as you can in person with your guitar, and then
decide which amp to buy based on your price range and the sound that
you liked the best.

(p.s. the majority of tube amps in your price range will take pedals pretty
good to really good, so don't worry about that.

newbienewbie · Newbie Alert Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Thx! Also you can talk all you want and express all of you thoughts because I really want to hear what you guys have to say!

owwdatune · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

of those mentioned in your post.......the classic 30 is a good solid amp & alot of peeps are familiar with it.....my choice tho would be the Crate....good sounding, good features, a reliable amp that will do what you need it to do IMO. Cool

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russ@savage · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

The PV Classic 30 is the best bang for the buck out there.