acexxxoasis
Well-Known Member
So I went to a few local stores and tried out a few new amps that have been biting me in the ass to try. And I will only give my thoughts on the amps I'm considering and such. I want to spend a thousand USD or less preferred but budgets can be flexed for good gear. So without further ado.
What I'm looking for is a moderate tube combo preferred to be el34/84 power section, with a damn good crunch/metal tone but also flexibility to be able to have chimey class a style tones and a very clear clean for jazz and effects. Be able to play relatively quietly or loud enough to be micd and pa'd. The minimum of 2 channels.
The amps
Blackstar ht studio20/club40. These amps were great sounding and dynamic, did not have the gain I was looking for but price point was good and could push the front end harder with an od to get to the level I'm looking for. Under my price range by a long shot for either leaves money for more gas!
Peavey valve king 2 this was the first amp I tried out it sounded good was not my favorite amp I tried but I also didn't mess with it too much (some hipster douche was CRANKING a jazz chorus 120 and I couldn't hear it well BTW nice fedora and matching white suit jerk) but I know peavey these amps tend to last for a long time and hold value and sound good doing it for almost 1/2 what I'm willing to spend.
The next amp I played (that is on my list) was the mesa boogie express 5/50+ this amp sounded amazing at 5w/25w/ did not push to 50 (not a jerk) clean was amazing crunchy clean amazing lead face melting 5 band sliders were awesome touch all the little switches I didn't see on pics all felt solid and switched clean with no pops a great amp but 1.5* more than I was looking to spend at $1500
Went to guitar center and grabbed a 7421 (I have a 7321 and went to town) I played through a few different amps none really spoke to me, then I saw a line 6 dt25 (on my way out almost left) so I patch in and check it out see class a a/b pentode and triode options on the front panel and start falling in love before I hear it lol. the 4 models really only 3 worked right in my tinkering. The lead channel was amazing and tight focused with a ton of gain, clean sparkly cleans (and the ability to run class a power section with high gain front end is what I really want in an amp) also amazing! Great sounding amp.
Plug into the dt50 2*12 and this is exactly what I'm looking for and its practically a half stack but combo. Same thoughts as the DT 25 but even more focused and loud maybe too loud for me though also same problem as the mesa too much money lol.
So thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated, looking to upgrade out of my vox vt30 a great amp, but looking for actual tube tone and a mid to pro level amp that isn't a stack that way I can actually move it on my own. Was looking at the Randall diavlo 20 but cannot find one locally.
Thanks guys!
Links for the lazy
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Blackstar ht studio 20 -
Blackstar Venue Series HT Studio 20 20W Tube Guitar Combo Amp Black | Musician's Friend
Blackstar ht club 40 - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...e-series-ht-club-40-40w-tube-guitar-combo-amp
Peavey valve king 2 -
Peavey ValveKing II 20 20W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp Black | Musician's Friend
Line 6 DT 25-
Line 6 DT25 112 1x12 25W Tube Guitar Combo Amp | Musician's Friend
Line 6 DT 50 - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...x12-guitar-combo-amp?rNtt=line 6 dt50&index=1
Mesa boogie express 5/50+ -
Mesa/Boogie Express 5:50 Plus 50-Watt 1x12" Combo - Black w/Black Grille | Sweetwater.com
What I'm looking for is a moderate tube combo preferred to be el34/84 power section, with a damn good crunch/metal tone but also flexibility to be able to have chimey class a style tones and a very clear clean for jazz and effects. Be able to play relatively quietly or loud enough to be micd and pa'd. The minimum of 2 channels.
The amps
Blackstar ht studio20/club40. These amps were great sounding and dynamic, did not have the gain I was looking for but price point was good and could push the front end harder with an od to get to the level I'm looking for. Under my price range by a long shot for either leaves money for more gas!
Peavey valve king 2 this was the first amp I tried out it sounded good was not my favorite amp I tried but I also didn't mess with it too much (some hipster douche was CRANKING a jazz chorus 120 and I couldn't hear it well BTW nice fedora and matching white suit jerk) but I know peavey these amps tend to last for a long time and hold value and sound good doing it for almost 1/2 what I'm willing to spend.
The next amp I played (that is on my list) was the mesa boogie express 5/50+ this amp sounded amazing at 5w/25w/ did not push to 50 (not a jerk) clean was amazing crunchy clean amazing lead face melting 5 band sliders were awesome touch all the little switches I didn't see on pics all felt solid and switched clean with no pops a great amp but 1.5* more than I was looking to spend at $1500
Went to guitar center and grabbed a 7421 (I have a 7321 and went to town) I played through a few different amps none really spoke to me, then I saw a line 6 dt25 (on my way out almost left) so I patch in and check it out see class a a/b pentode and triode options on the front panel and start falling in love before I hear it lol. the 4 models really only 3 worked right in my tinkering. The lead channel was amazing and tight focused with a ton of gain, clean sparkly cleans (and the ability to run class a power section with high gain front end is what I really want in an amp) also amazing! Great sounding amp.
Plug into the dt50 2*12 and this is exactly what I'm looking for and its practically a half stack but combo. Same thoughts as the DT 25 but even more focused and loud maybe too loud for me though also same problem as the mesa too much money lol.
So thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated, looking to upgrade out of my vox vt30 a great amp, but looking for actual tube tone and a mid to pro level amp that isn't a stack that way I can actually move it on my own. Was looking at the Randall diavlo 20 but cannot find one locally.
Thanks guys!
Links for the lazy
[]
\/
Blackstar ht studio 20 -
Blackstar Venue Series HT Studio 20 20W Tube Guitar Combo Amp Black | Musician's Friend
Blackstar ht club 40 - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...e-series-ht-club-40-40w-tube-guitar-combo-amp
Peavey valve king 2 -
Peavey ValveKing II 20 20W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp Black | Musician's Friend
Line 6 DT 25-
Line 6 DT25 112 1x12 25W Tube Guitar Combo Amp | Musician's Friend
Line 6 DT 50 - http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...x12-guitar-combo-amp?rNtt=line 6 dt50&index=1
Mesa boogie express 5/50+ -
Mesa/Boogie Express 5:50 Plus 50-Watt 1x12" Combo - Black w/Black Grille | Sweetwater.com