amp search - tube combo

[johank]

im looking for a nice tube combo. just a small amp to use for practise purpose.
any good suggestions?
Laney LC15R, Laney VC50, marshall DSL401, ENGL screamer 50?

[satch]

Hi!

I think Mesa Subway blues is a very nice practise amp! Also you should check out a Peavey's classic series. Loely amps. The Mesa has very few knobs ( and only one channel), but the sound is incredible!! I've only heard the 30 of Peavey's classic series ( I know that 50 and 100 also is avalible from that serie). It has two channels with different EQ's, reverb and a lovely sound on both channels! Both of the amps is 1*12 combos!
I really recomend you to try both!! They really are sweet sounding amps!

[zoob]

Hmm... *out of those amps, I haven't tried the Engl and I own the DSL401. The Marshall is a very nice amps for most types of clean (yes, I think the clean channel is really great) and heavy, bar metal. This is because the smaller DSL combos lack the 'tone shift' and 'deep' switches present on the head versions. For classic and heavier rock - anything with a certain amount of midrange - it (ahem) rocks.

The Laney VC50 is a great all-round amp - nice clean (not as nice as the Marshall, but ice cream is ice cream), heavy and heavier distortion - it remains clear, however. It has a 'different' tone which may take some getting used to (think Paul gilbert - doh!) and is hard to describe, but it is a great sounding amp either way.

The LC15 is more of a classic rock amp from my interpretation of it. It sounds a bit like the Marshall, but it can't pile on the gain like the DSL401 can.

Out of those two, I'd say the Marshall if you never venture into the Limp Bizkit, Metallica, etc. territory, Laney VC50 if you do.

Btw, the VC50 is heavy as sin.

Hope this helps,

Nick

[ScottB]

Before you buy, definitely check out the Carvin MTS-3212. It's a 100/50W 2x12 all tube combo.

Greg, the other guitarist in my band uses his for practice at the 50W setting and it's not overpowering. For gigs, he adds a 2x12 Marshall cab and the 100W setting. He gets some heavy tube distortion for leads and crunchy rhythm. The clean channel reminds me of a mix of a Fender Twin and a Marshall Bluesbreaker. It's one of the best clean channels I've heard on a master volume tube combo.

Because it's a 2x12 and weighs over 60 lbs., it may not be as portable as the others. It does fit nicely in the back seat of a car though.

At $699.00, you can't beat it for "Bang For Your Buck".

[johank]

thanks for the replies.
I will try to test as many of the amps as possible, and make up my mind.

[Satans Little Helper]

For bang for the buck Laney rules. For your purpose check out the VC30. It's class A & comes in 112,212,&210 combos. You could also check out the VC50, but that might be a bit much. I'd recommend the VC line over the LC line of amps for tone. Laney's are built like a brick ****house. *

[gkelm]

I really like my Peavey Classic 30...with a speaker change it's a great amp for the money. *I also just picked up a Laney LC50...also nice. *It's brighter than the PV, more Vox/Marhsall type tone. *I'll probably keep the PV ad let the Laney go, since I can't justify both. *Try the Laneys if you can, but also give the PV a shot.
Greg

[Mikael Jurman]

Hallåj!

Just what do you mean by "practice amp"?. Out of the ones you listed the Laney LC15 is the only one that wouldn't stand for giging smaller venues. I've owned an LC15 and I liked it, especially the clean sound.

How much money are you willing to spend? I've seen used Laney VC50's go for 4500-6000 SEK and that's about what you'd have to pay for a used Mesa/Boogie DC-2. I'd go with the Mesa...

Good luck!

Mikael

[need more money]

exactely, mikael
vad do thie mean with en practise-amp?!!
en laney vc 50 is like kind of big
skärpning d:k
but go for the lc 15 (2000 sek on ingvar)so will every ting be good

[tmgaz]

Folks - new to the group. Great forum.

I'm picking up my js1000 in a week or so. I'm looking for a practice amp that can possibly gig. Problem is, can that be had for less than $500?

[jemsite]

welcome to the forum. $500 in the USA will find you a nice practice amp if you search around... especially used gear. Alot boils down to the tone you want, options you can't live without and compromises (in versatility) that you can live with. Most here don't buy solid state, but if you can tollerate this, you can save $$$ in bundles. Marshals JTM/JCM all-tube combos should be found for that, which are pretty good (especially with new models DSL/TSL) as well as many other brands. With amps you really have to shop around and consider used gear. Don't worry as much about the brand name, instead worry about features and tone. Good luck... glen

[tmgaz]

Thanks Glen.

I'm a Satriani fan. Also somewhat of a metal head (80s mostly). Matured into more of a Satch/Jazz/funk person. Don't know if that helps as far as "tone".

I haven't been in the market for a while and I'm not sure what, if anything, has changed as far as amps are concerned.

Mike.

[Mikael Jurman]

Well, Glen, wellcome to Sweden sometime!
For $500 you don't get that much ampwise. Especially not if you want an American amp. The Swedish crown/US dollar rate is at an all time suck level. Good for you if you'd like a Volvo, bad for me if I want a Mesa. A new Mesa/Boogie Mark IV is SEK 39.900, about $4000, a new Laney LC15 is about SEK4000 and so on, and so on. So, the used market is about the only way to get your hands on nice gear without paying a king's ransom.

...plus we have to pay polarbear insurance

Mikael


(Edited by Mikael Jurman at 6:55 pm on Jan. 3, 2002)

[trajectory fish]

i was at the local shop looking at tube combos earlier today, and they had an ampeg jet and a peavey prowler. *both of them sounded realy good, but the prowler has pretty good distortion and a low price, though the reverb on the ampeg was much better.

on the ampeg jet;
volume, tone(bass -> trebble), tremolo speed, intensity, reverb, *15 watts, 12 inch speaker

the prowler had too many features for me to remember now, but it has two channels both with eq, footswitchable channels, reverb, effects loop, and a speaker jack

for versatility i'm thinking the prowler might be better, seeing as how the ampegs had no distortion.

the ampeg jet would make a good practice tube amp. even though it only has clean, the sound is awesome.

both of these amps were $450

i think i'm going to get the prowler if i ever actualy need a guitar amp... *right now i'm playing through a fender bass amp...

[johank]

ok
I have found a used laney vc50, that sells for about 600$.
is it a good buy??