Good cheap tube combo amp? - Is it possible?

[toddw7]

Hello everyone. *
Okay, right now I have a carvin x-100B half stack. It is way too loud for me, and too bulky to take around. *So I'm getting rid of that. *My question is, can anyone recomend a tube combo amp that is in-expensive (I'd be getting it used, and by inexpensive i mean, under $300 or so)
Carvin is the only brand I can think of that would make a tube amp that can be found at that price used (I guess it's cause Carvin is relatively unknown and is made inhouse)
Are there any other brands/models to check out? *I know Carvin makes a combo version of the X-AMP.

Thanks guys
todd

[Mr Orange]

Old Mesas can be found cheap.
Not Marks, but Caliber series.

[jono]

the little Laney LC15?

[gkelm]

Try a Peavey Classic 30 (or 20)...used should be under $300.
Greg

[jay ratkowski]

I'm on the same wavelength as GKelm here.

Cheaper Peavey tube amps (classic series, prowler, etc) are not too bad for clean... They sound alright if you have lower amounts of distortion (or are able to crank the amp to 8 or 9). *The Blue Marvel speakers are rather horrible though.

[toddw7]

thanks for the replies
I said ealier that my price range was around $300 used. *What about like $400-500 used? *

thanks
todd

[jay ratkowski]

I'd still try the peavey

[Beast of Love]

Try the Fender DeVille 2x12 or 4x12. Fantastic clean sound. Distortion on the DeVille (for me) is awful, but I use a distortion pedal anyhow and I haven't found an amp yet whose distortion I really like...

-Ben

[gkelm]

With Jay...still Peavey. *Use the rest of the $$ for a speaker & pedals...my $.02. *PV Classics are great bang for the buck.

Another one I like is the Laney VC30.
Greg

[toddw7]

I'll check out the tube peaveys if I see one. *I had a Peavey Banditt 112 from the 80s (I still have it actually..) and my impression of Peavey is pretty low right now, but the Banditt is solid state so Peavey's tube stuff could be totally different.

Has anyone ever tried a carvin x-amp combo? *You know, the combo equivilent of the x-100b. *I think they made them in 60 watt versions. *

todd

[AJ Love]

at that price range (@$300 used) a Fender Blues Jr is really a very good amp....you can get one new for @$400

[lgascoig]

Mesa Subway Rocket combo's go for ~300 used.

[jay ratkowski]

With whatever amp you choose, set aside around $200 for a Z. Vex "Super Hard On" pedal. *Get over the name and buy it. *It'll make your amp sound tons better, especially if it's a cheaper one.

Go to a dealer, ask to plug a guitar into a regular stereo system, then add this pedal. *You'll buy one right away.

[toddw7]

Well i went to guitar center yesterday and they had this Cavin MTS3212 (the master tube series) 2 12" combo amp. *I bought it used for $550. *I still have like 29 days left to decide if I want to return it. *It's pretty cool. *I'm not definatly sure about it yet though. *I also ALWAYS get radio stations real loud thru any amp I plug into my electrical outlets. *But that's another story I guess.
Jay, I'll look for that pedal to try at least, I've never seen one before though. *There's this boutique amp store around here (Flynn Guitars in Evanston Illinois, you should go there) they probably have it there.

Todd

[jay ratkowski]

Sounds like you need an updated wiring job in your house.

If you are in the US, your houses wiring may not even be up to electrical code if you are getting radio signals.