50 Watt all tube stack for £319?

[HTH AMPS]

15 watt 1x10 combo with FX loop £112.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_ga15.htm

Really though, I've owned a few different cheap valve amps, and my experience is that unless maybe you are competent at modification (I'm not) then for the money you can get better sounds using modeling gear.

The cheap 10" speaker and tiny cab do nothing to help matters with that amp though.  Put it through a decent 2x12 and it's a whole different ball game.

Depends what you want out of these amps too - they're not gonna be great rock amps to gig with, but for rehearsal at home with some pedals, you can get some great tones.  I remember my first Epi Valve Junior was nice clean, but turd overdriven (and it was way too loud for home use when overdriven anyway).  I used an MI Audio Crunchbox into the front end, kept the amp's volume around 3 and the pedal's volume down low to keep it at bedroom-friendly levels.  Was a crackin tone for noodling at home.

[Brow]

John Chambers in the UK does a good line in extreme valve amps. Notice the size of the transformers on this beast (which he winds himself!).

http://www.chambonino.com/construct/const17.html

He's the guy I take my amps to, he's a bit of a nutter  :lol:

Lives at home with his Mum and works out of an extension on the side of the house. He has really weird working hours too! Really knows his stuff though.

[dave_mc]

15 watt 1x10 combo with FX loop £112.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_ga15.htm

Really though, I've owned a few different cheap valve amps, and my experience is that unless maybe you are competent at modification (I'm not) then for the money you can get better sounds using modeling gear.

The cheap 10" speaker and tiny cab do nothing to help matters with that amp though.  Put it through a decent 2x12 and it's a whole different ball game.

Depends what you want out of these amps too - they're not gonna be great rock amps to gig with, but for rehearsal at home with some pedals, you can get some great tones.  I remember my first Epi Valve Junior was nice clean, but turd overdriven (and it was way too loud for home use when overdriven anyway).  I used an MI Audio Crunchbox into the front end, kept the amp's volume around 3 and the pedal's volume down low to keep it at bedroom-friendly levels.  Was a crackin tone for noodling at home.

+1 (I haven't tried the ga15 but i have a valve junior and a vht special 6).

I mean i'd rather have a kickass high gainer, but for not too much money those cheap low wattage tube amps sound pretty good, especially through nice speakers and if you have a few nice pedals.

What i also like is how a lot of them are based on vintage/classic circuits- so someone like me who predominantly plays more modern music can get some nice classic tones without breaking the bank.

[Philly Q]

^

I've got a "Rat" modified Harley Benton GA5, with upgraded transformer, speaker, power scaling etc.  I don't suppose there's much, if anything, of the original electronics left, but the basic chassis seems quite well made anyway!  :lol:

It doesn't sound great through the internal speaker (and with me playing), despite the Celestion upgrade.  I should try it through a bigger cab, really, I think that might make the difference.

[dave_mc]

^ what speaker is it?

EDIT: the ga5 is basically a V2 valve junior with a tone control, isn't it? I have a v2 valve junior... pretty dark stock, but this means it sounds awesome with pedals :lol:

[Philly Q]

the ga5 is basically a V2 valve junior with a tone control, isn't it? I have a v2 valve junior... pretty dark stock, but this means it sounds awesome with pedals :lol:

Yeah, as far as I know it's exactly that, although I never saw it in its original state!

The speaker is, I believe, a Celestion Super 8.

Here's the "Rat" chap's website:

http://www.ratvalveamps.com/epiphone-valve-junior

My amp is like the GA5 in the gallery here (the one with the Triode/Pentode switch):

http://www.ratvalveamps.com/rat-amp-gallery

[dave_mc]

^ ah ok, thanks :)

never tried the super 8, but was it really an upgrade on the stock speaker? I'm sorta thinking a while back here, so i might be misremembering, but i think some of the epis had weber speakers? and then maybe eminence? so not too bad, probably. and the cheaper celestions (at least some of them) aren't always all that great...

i sorta toyed with maybe getting my VJ or vht special 6 modded, but never got round to it... was always worried it might not be worth the cost.

[Philly Q]

I don't know how much of an upgrade the speaker is, but is any 8" speaker going to sound that great?  I'm sure the amp would sound better through a bigger speaker, I must try it with my Orange 1 x 12" at some point....

[dave_mc]

that's a good point :lol: