Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: MDV on November 10, 2008, 02:36:27 PM

Title: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: MDV on November 10, 2008, 02:36:27 PM
No, not for me  :lol:

Unsuprisingly I'm not to up on small blues combos

Recommendations wanted for another guy for a small valve amp for blues to rock.

He wants something smooth and ungritty, that'll let a strat sing somewhat. Hes looking at Epi stuff at the moment. How are they? What else is there.

He says he wants to spend £300 and in a perfect world it would have 3 chanels (clean, OD, lead) so obviously he's living in dreamy weamy land at that price, but what could do two out of 3 well and respond favourably to a boost or OD? For arguments sake we'll entertain stuff up to 600 or so, in the hopes that he can find it second hand perhaps.

Before anyone says it, I already recommended a VHT CL :twisted: and, more realistically, suggested he look at matamp and martamp :P
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: Spitfire on November 10, 2008, 02:50:29 PM
laney VC series valve combos...
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: MDV on November 10, 2008, 02:52:37 PM
Forgot about them. Been a while since I played one, but thats not a bad call.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: MDV on November 10, 2008, 02:59:24 PM
hes specifically looking at the Epi Blues Custom 30 at the moment
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: Twinfan on November 10, 2008, 03:46:22 PM
The new Blackstar 5w thing?  Would give clean and gain for under £300...
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: mikey5 on November 10, 2008, 04:14:28 PM
Orange TT
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: Will on November 10, 2008, 04:38:50 PM
Orange TT

3 Channels + £300 budget ;)

Second hand Laney Lionheart?
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: HTH AMPS on November 10, 2008, 06:26:37 PM
a Blackheart 5w (or 15w) combo could be had at that budget plus an MI Audio Crunchbox.

Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: mikeluke on November 10, 2008, 07:29:18 PM
Only 2 channels but you'd get a used Peavey Classic 30 for that price - ideal for bluesy stuff
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: dave_mc on November 10, 2008, 07:50:36 PM
hes specifically looking at the Epi Blues Custom 30 at the moment

i preferred the laney vc, but he might prefer the epi. i know that before sound control went bust, they were selling their grainger versions of the blues custom for £200...

laney lionheart might be worth considering too... is it for gigging?

i'm not too well up on blues either, i should add. :lol:
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: mikey5 on November 10, 2008, 08:02:55 PM
Seems like a lot to ask for that price. Especially for Valve. Laney Lion Heart is a good Idea though. If he got a two channeled overdrive distortion he could just use that and a one channel amp.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: JustBecos on November 10, 2008, 11:33:00 PM
Only 2 channels but you'd get a used Peavey Classic 30 for that price - ideal for bluesy stuff

+1

I just got the head version secondhand perfect condition for £200 and a slightly beat up marshall 1960 4x12 cab with V30's for another £220, it's great for bluesy stuff.

I really need a hotplate now though :oops:

You would need about £400 for a new combo version but would be able to get a secondhand one for less
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: TheDev01dOne on November 11, 2008, 03:08:18 AM
Laney TT50 Combo? There's someone on the MusicRadar forums selling one for around the £300 mark.. I have the head (payed more than that aswell) and it's a brilliant amp, great for blues and everything that I ever use it for. 3channels like you want, clean, crunch and lead, switchable master volumes etc. Loads of features..

If that's too fancy/too much power, I agree with everyone else and say Laney VC15 or 30.. Great value amps aswell.

Go used too, you'll get a lot more value for money.. Credit crunch means if you have the cash to spend you can get great gear used at lower prices than usual.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: MDV on November 11, 2008, 09:35:33 AM
He's looking at the laneys now, and I seconded the blackeheart to him

Cheers fellas, keep them coming by all means.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: Ratrod on November 11, 2008, 10:28:05 AM
The Peavey Classic 30 is great.

But...........

The Fender Blues Deluxe. I tried that one with a Tele. It gave me a smile from ear to ear. It works great with any Fender guitar, and (semi) hollow body guitars. It also handles pedals really well such as Tube Screamers and Blues Drivers. Plus you get a built in reverb to die for.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: Ted 'N' Leo on November 11, 2008, 09:36:06 PM
The Fender Blues Deluxe. I tried that one with a Tele. It gave me a smile from ear to ear. It works great with any Fender guitar, and (semi) hollow body guitars. It also handles pedals really well such as Tube Screamers and Blues Drivers. Plus you get a built in reverb to die for.

STOP MAKING ME WANT FENDER AMPS!

Seriously though, i would try one too, very nice amps.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: Perandor on November 11, 2008, 10:06:13 PM

He says he wants to spend £300 and in a perfect world it would have 3 chanels (clean, OD, lead) so obviously he's living in dreamy weamy land at that price, but what could do two out of 3 well and respond favourably to a boost or OD? For arguments sake we'll entertain stuff up to 600 or so, in the hopes that he can find it second hand perhaps.


Man, I wish I had 300 pounds to spend, cause over here in the USA, you can get what he wants.  'Cept shipping would be a lot
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: d1dsj on November 11, 2008, 10:21:42 PM
I like the Matamp MiniMat... I did try one once and it sounded very cool... not sure of the price though.
Title: Re: Small blues valve amp on a budget
Post by: AndyG on November 12, 2008, 01:58:01 PM
Must it be valves? I would strongly recommend a Roland Cube 60 which does great blues noises; for £300 he could buy two!
I like valve amps as much as anyone but the Cube really surprised me with how good it sounds.