Recommand a good tube combo?

Timanator · #1 04-22-2007, 12:27 AM

Howdy guys.

Once upon a time I had a Ampeg Vl503 combo, well sold it a long time ago and now regretting it. So I'm searching for a good 2 channel combo, that can do a good punchy clean, and a decent crunch with good gain on the second channel.

Are there any amps on the market that does this sort of thing well and that not too powerful(preferably under 50-60 watts)

The music styles I like are Eric johnson, Vai, Petrucci, Gilbert.

Kontalonis · #2 04-22-2007, 01:16 AM

A good cheap combo that comes to mind is the peavey classic 30. As the name states it's 30 watts. I hear great things about these amps and even if it didn't have the amount of gain you needed (it's a classic tone type amp) you can always get a pedal it push it.

You'll find many jemsiters also like the lower wattage laney stuff. Worth checking out no doubt.

bammbamm · #3 04-22-2007, 02:05 AM

I've always liked the Fender Hotrod amps, they are cheap-ish.
If you can find a Mesa Studio combo, I'd nab one of those, I love the stuffing out of mine.

Darin · #4 04-22-2007, 03:15 AM

I had a hotrod, I didn't like it at ALOT on the clean, and hated the gain. I just played through a Crate tube combo at GC the other day, it sounded pretty darn good. The Peavey classic 30 sound good, and real good modded. You may do well to check out he Valvetronix AD120. It has 2 12ax7's in the power amps section to give it plenty of tube warmth. I have a friend selling one at the moment for $600 I think. He'd probably take less. The most versatile amp going, and you can easily power a 4x12 cab witrh it, I've powered 2 4x12's before. The amp has gobs of usable gain and just sounds great.

MadRyan · #5 04-22-2007, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

I had a hotrod, I didn't like it at ALOT on the clean, and hated the gain. I just played through a Crate tube combo at GC the other day, it sounded pretty darn good. The Peavey classic 30 sound good, and real good modded. You may do well to check out he Valvetronix AD120. It has 2 12ax7's in the power amps section to give it plenty of tube warmth. I have a friend selling one at the moment for $600 I think. He'd probably take less. The most versatile amp going, and you can easily power a 4x12 cab witrh it, I've powered 2 4x12's before. The amp has gobs of usable gain and just sounds great.

How does it sound cranked? I haven't found may SS amps that sound good at stage levels.

Darin · #6 04-22-2007, 11:34 AM

The Valvetronix sounds WAY better than any of the line 6 stuff. We played Jemfest and both I and the other guitar player had one. I wish I still had mine. But I'm the kind of guy that can't keep anything when I buy something new, the old has to go no matter how good it was. Or I'd have a room full of amp and guitar, and I just don't need that. Before you do buy anything, I'd try to demo one. Some guys love em, some guys don't, just like any amp. There is no BEST amp.

MadRyan · #7 04-22-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

The Valvetronix sounds WAY better than any of the line 6 stuff. We played Jemfest and both I and the other guitar player had one. I wish I still had mine. But I'm the kind of guy that can't keep anything when I buy something new, the old has to go no matter how good it was. Or I'd have a room full of amp and guitar, and I just don't need that. Before you do buy anything, I'd try to demo one. Some guys love em, some guys don't, just like any amp. There is no BEST amp.

That's cool. I hate the way line 6 stuff sounds. Not nearly organic enough for me. Plus, screaming transistors just don't sound nice like screaming tubes. I had a Peavey SS head once and it sounded terrible just turned up loud enough to hear over the drummer.

NaHuELoidE · #8 04-23-2007, 02:53 PM

those laney VC 30 sound amazingly well... and they are not so expensive..heck, here in argentina everything is expensive, but those are affordable.... and soun great... ( I tried one the other day... my jaw dropped)

erikm5150 · #9 04-23-2007, 04:33 PM

a really good amp that's under tha radar is the Traynor YCV50 Blue.
clean sound is good, and the gain channel gives a very good marshally sound.

I was also surprised by the Crate V series tube combos -- they sounded pretty good.

werx · #10 04-26-2007, 04:20 PM

Traynor's have great cleans and good metal distortion but the distortion for lead guitar is terrible.

sick-boy · #11 04-26-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaHuELoidE

those laney VC 30 sound amazingly well... and they are not so expensive..heck, here in argentina everything is expensive, but those are affordable.... and soun great... ( I tried one the other day... my jaw dropped)

What do they sound like. I saw one and it kind of reminded me of a Vox Ac 30. Is that what they're shooting for?

bebisatch · #12 05-01-2007, 09:49 PM

try the Laney LV200 true tone with a lot of soul and character. add a strong distortion and your off with the twangy cleans plus edgy distortions ala paul gilbert

Timanator · #13 05-06-2007, 03:42 PM

Ok guys

After doing a lot of research and trying out various amps(No Laney, have not seen any combos here in Houston).

I picked up the B52 AT112 Combo.

This thing has a very good tone for the price. Time will tell on how good/bad the quality is from the feed back on this site about them not being reliable. But it blows the Valve King away so bad on the clean and the Over Drive.

Anyone have any comments or wants any info on this thing?