Author Topic: Vintage guitar people...HELP! (Read 2665 times)

ColinMc · « **on:** March 31, 2011, 09:38:52 PM »

Well i'm getting back into playing...again. I just sold my Epiphone SG and Crate Amp/combo....and then promptly got a Washburn HB15(older better one)

So the problem is I need, yes you read that right...NEED a tube amp/combo to use. Reasonable size and hopefully under 250 bucks. I've been scouring craigslist and ebay for something...the more vintage the better lol. Anyone have any idea of some options of what I might look for? Or better yet anyone got one they wanna sell?

faux fiddy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:00:32 AM »

I got a rogue bass amp on craigslist but it is across the country and not tubes.

Very basic, lots of noise for the price though.

dave500 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:13:45 AM »

oops,,i thought i read village people!im now backing out very slowly.

MOtub · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:29:18 AM »

Fender Blues Junior. Not quite vintage, but in your price range and it's a very good tube hybrid with authentic tube sound and look. And it's portable enough to tote around without risk of hernia. I have one and really like it. Mine's not for sale but they're not hard to find.

azuredesign · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:47:59 AM »

+1 on the Blues Junior. There's quite a selection of aftermarket parts and hop ups as well.

333 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2011, 05:34:44 AM »

Quote from: dave500 on April 01, 2011, 02:13:45 AM

oops,,i thought i read village people!im now backing out very slowly.

Wait, you came in here because you thought you saw "Village People", and YOU'RE backing out? Did you back in?

ColinMc · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2011, 09:46:13 AM »

I'm slightly confused...the Fender Blues Junior seems like a great setup...but I can't find one for anything less than 400-500...should I just keep scouring wantads and craigslist until something shows up?

ColinMc · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2011, 09:55:48 AM »

http://www.americanmusic.com/fender-champion-600-combo-guitar-amp.html

What about something like that? Worth getting?

Goofaroo · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2011, 03:55:07 PM »

Most Guitar Center locations will probably have a Fender Champ that you can try to see if you like it. They also carry the small Epiphone combo and stack. Either one could be had for under $250 and there are all sorts of mods for them. Don't rule out Peavey. Your local guitar shop may have some used ones or you can watch CL. The old Peaveys are built like a brick crapper and are pretty nice sounding amps. Also, Peavey has the ValveKing line that are made in China but on a whim I bought the model 112 a few years ago and it has been a great amp and I've had no problems. I'm going to upgrade the speaker eventually and a few minor other mods but overall it has been a deal at about $400 new. You might be able to find a used one for $250.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:07:36 PM »

I commend you for wanting a tube amp...although they are often expensive both to buy and maintain...tubes will innevitably need to be replaced and can often cost half the price of the amp. If they are not replaced before they go totally bad, it can cause some rather spectacular damage to other parts of the circuitry. I do feel the extra cost and maintenance is worth it though. Don't rule out some decent sounding solid state amps though...

vance · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:42:39 PM »

i have bought, sold and played many vintage and fake vintage amps. i can make a recommendation for you but i need to know what you whether you're just jamming at home or are you playing with a band or looking for something that can do both? what style of music?

azuredesign · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:26:09 PM »

http://allentown.craigslist.org/msg/2299580636.html
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/msg/2298622098.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/msg/2296451795.html
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/msg/2286920787.html

Here's a few things, these are small amps, shipping shouldn't be too expensive. Just make sure the tubes are removed for shipping, and bubble wrapped separately. Amps should also be bubble wrapped and in a shipping box so that if the package is shaken hard, nothing moves inside the box.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2011, 04:06:30 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on April 01, 2011, 04:07:36 PM

I commend you for wanting a tube amp...although they are often expensive both to buy and maintain...tubes will innevitably need to be replaced and can often cost half the price of the amp. If they are not replaced before they go totally bad, it can cause some rather spectacular damage to other parts of the circuitry. I do feel the extra cost and maintenance is worth it though. Don't rule out some decent sounding solid state amps though...

There is some truth in that but i have had a fender valve amp for nearly 20 years and haven't replaced a part....she still sounds great but definitely a cheap amp. You can not beat valve tone , there's just something special about a good valve amp.....

ColinMc · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:09:46 AM »

I'll be playing at home in my room/basement/garage. So something small I can move around is ideal. I am a blues old style country fan so i'm going for that drink yourself to death old style sound if that makes sense. Nice and gritty.

mlinder · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:31:26 AM »

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Valvetronix-VT40-40W-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=H68242
Or you could by a new amp with a tube pre amp (the vox tube setup is pretty cool.. it uses different resister layouts to emulate different kinds of cabinets before it sends the signal to the solid state amplifier) with a tad more power, that's new, and has a warranty.
I've used the 2x12 vt100 for years on stage and at home. The sound(s) is (are) really just fantastic.
There a separate knob for the power amp volume, so you get the same guitar sound no matter what volume you are playing at.
Honestly, it sounds better than any of the overpriced fenders you are going to look at (or, you can make it sound pretty much just like the overpriced fenders, with the modeling available), it's powerful enough to play in medium sized venues should you decide, it looks awesome, it sounds awesome, and it's a vox.

vance · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2011, 11:06:49 AM »

since you're just playing at home will have the most fun with a small low powered amp. stick with something vintage. it will have way more character to the tone than anything new. with a lower powered amp you can turn it up to where it needs to be to get that natural power tube overdrive sound without being to loud for you or your neighbors.

agreed with mlinder that vintage fenders are overpriced. look on ebay for a small ampeg, traynor, kay, gibson, valco/supro/airline or similar.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ampeg-Guitar-Combo-M-12-Mercury-Vintage-Tube-combo-/170623221461?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b9efbed5

http://cgi.ebay.com/50s-Kay-K503a-Tube-Guitar-Amplifier-Harp-Amp-/220762492978?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3366785032

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Traynor-YGM-3-Guitar-Mate-Reverb-Not-Reissue-/290535812292?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a548acc4

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1961-Gibson-GA-30-RV-Invader-Tweed-Amp-NR-/280651726452?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4158257e74

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valco-Supro-Gretsch-Reverb-Tube-Amp-Amplifier-6973-6149-/300542485173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f9ba62b5

good luck and let us know how it turns out!

mlinder · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2011, 11:40:02 AM »

Vance, you tried a valve tronic vox? The modeling will emulate many different vintage tube amps.

Skunk Stripe · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2011, 01:54:57 PM »

How are you with electronics and wiring? If decent, why not just make your own? Oodles of plans on the net to make some nice 5 and 10 watt tube amps. In your basement 5 will probably be all you need. I have an old peavey 12 amp 108 rage and it is so damn loud in small places, it never goes above 5.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2011, 04:17:24 PM »

Hi Vance, check out power scaling mate, you can now have 100 watt marshall tone at bedroom levels. This is completely different to a power brake and works extremely well....

Check this out....

Suhr Badger amplifier

Mick

vance · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2011, 12:54:39 PM »

Quote from: mlinder on April 02, 2011, 11:40:02 AM

Vance, you tried a valve tronic vox? The modeling will emulate many different vintage tube amps.

No I haven't tried one of those but it looks like it may be a good option for ColinMC if he wants a new amp. It's in his price range and it would be practical if he wants to do some home recording and get different amp sounds without having to actually buy all those amps!

Quote from: Retro Rocket on April 02, 2011, 04:17:24 PM

Hi Vance, check out power scaling mate, you can now have 100 watt marshall tone at bedroom levels. This is completely different to a power brake and works extremely well....

Check this out....

Suhr Badger amplifier

Mick

Thanks Mick that looks like that would be a good way to go if you wanted to use the same amp for live/rehearsal and at home.

All good options for ColinMc but for me personally I don't think anything would beat the sheer enjoyment of plugging straight into a beat up 30+ year old fire hazard and dimeing that sucker and just letting it rip. It's just a different experience than I've ever had with a newish amp. Tone is not just a result of a circuit and a speaker, but of the age of the components and the cabinet as well. These vintage combos have some pretty flimsy and loose cabinets, some of them sound like they're about to explode when you play them, which only adds to the enjoyment!

ColinMc · « **Reply #20 on:** April 03, 2011, 01:40:35 PM »

Quote from: vance on April 03, 2011, 12:54:39 PM

All good options for ColinMc but for me personally I don't think anything would beat the sheer enjoyment of plugging straight into a beat up 30+ year old fire hazard and dimeing that sucker and just letting it rip. It's just a different experience than I've ever had with a newish amp. Tone is not just a result of a circuit and a speaker, but of the age of the components and the cabinet as well. These vintage combos have some pretty flimsy and loose cabinets, some of them sound like they're about to explode when you play them, which only adds to the enjoyment!

You hit the nail square on the head Vance, thanks everyone for the input. I'm just going to keep scouring ebay...used guitar shops...etc for a good old beat up tube amp. Thanks for all the links on ebay too Vance, i'm pissed I missed out on that first one that sold for 100 bucks...oh well.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #21 on:** April 03, 2011, 04:30:40 PM »

Quote

Thanks Mick that looks like that would be a good way to go if you wanted to use the same amp for live/rehearsal and at home.

All good options for ColinMc but for me personally I don't think anything would beat the sheer enjoyment of plugging straight into a beat up 30+ year old fire hazard and dimeing that sucker and just letting it rip. It's just a different experience than I've ever had with a newish amp. Tone is not just a result of a circuit and a speaker, but of the age of the components and the cabinet as well. These vintage combos have some pretty flimsy and loose cabinets, some of them sound like they're about to explode when you play them, which only adds to the enjoyment!

I just can't see Colin getting anything useful for the sort of money he wants to spend. Also don't completely rule out new amps guys, there are custom amp makers like Ceriatone that make awesome replica's of all the old amps including the dumble, marshall, fender and matchless amps, they are all extremely well made and all feature point to point wiring.....If i were Colin i would look at bone of their 18watt marshall clones, classic sound excellent build specs and can be bought in any configuration from cuircut board to completed amps........Check them out, also check out the reviews

http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/BS18w/BS18w.htm

reviews http://www.harmonycentral.com/user-reviews/search-products.jspa?containerType=14&containerID=1&brand=ceriatone&query=ceriatone&model=

faux fiddy · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2011, 05:49:44 PM »

Quote from: mlinder on April 02, 2011, 11:40:02 AM

Vance, you tried a valve tronic vox? The modeling will emulate many different vintage tube amps.

There's a lot of vox people out there.

Anyone know anything about the old RCA theater amps? I picked up one of those, I heard they can make quality noise but I'm not sure about hooking it up. I got new tubes for it.

ColinMc · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:12:27 PM »

Well I bought a vintage Sears Silvertone on ebay...we'll see how she sounds lol.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:19:10 PM »

Quote from: ColinMc on April 03, 2011, 06:12:27 PM

Well I bought a vintage Sears Silvertone on ebay...we'll see how she sounds lol.

I got a silvertone- the tiny one, I loved it but active pickups overdrive it.

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Author Topic: Vintage guitar people...HELP! (Read 2665 times)