Tube amp shopping $600 + or -

[ShortBuSX]

Ive got my sights set on a new tube amp to spend my "Stimulus check" on...its not die to arrive for another 2 months, so Ive got time to shop.
Id originally thought of a Blues Deville, and then a Blues Deluxe...then Id seen a Blues Jr NOS and figured Id never really get a big amps tubes cookin hot enough at the lower bedroom levels I often play.
Then I saw the Vox AC15cc112 is in the price range as well.
Ive got a Vox AD30 that I dig, but at roughly $600 I dont want a cheap feeling amp(plastic input jacks and whatnot)...I feel lucky Ive had no issues with my AD30, Ive read many negative reviews online and almost equal reviews for the AC15.
So I went to Guitar Center this weekend, test drove the NOS Blues Jr and even the Vox AC15.
I liked the size and portability of the Blues Jr...but once plugged in I was a little disappointed at the lack of available tones...and my biggest disappointment where the dials, they were all labeled upside down! As if Id adjust everything from behind the amp???? Seriously, WTF?
The Vox, I was pleasantly surprised at how big this amp really is...its atleast as big as a 1x12 Blues Deluxe if not slightly bigger. The tremelo and reverb were noticeable right from jumpstreet...but aside from that, it didnt really blow me away.
I didnt really try a Blues Deluxe, I figure thats my next step, Id like a couple of other recommendations that I may have over looked...but my shopping experience kinda left me with the feeling that I need to rock what Ive got for the time being...maybe another amp isnt what I need.

In all, the Blues Jr NOS, seemed like a one(channel)trick pony...maybe if I put some pedals on it Id fall in love *shrug*
The Vox, had alot of sparkle and seemed like more tone options, but Im still skeptical about the quality as well as being able to play stuff like Sabbath on it.

I tend to play mostly blues, but on occassion I like to play 70-80s metal stuff.
Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks!

[ce24]

5e3.....5E3

[Blues Hurler]

I've got a tweed Blues Jr. with the Jensen in it and a set of JJ's tubes, and for blues, it's a nice sounding amp, with plenty of volume and not too much weight. If you play with the EQ, the volume vs. master, and the Fat switch, you can find a variety of tones and gain in it. I'm not the guy to ask about playing Sabbath through it though.

Those "vintagey" fender amps have the labels upside down, because back in the day when there were only low-powered amps, you'd put the amp out in front of you to get the sound out to the people, so yes, you would be standing behind it.

I suspect you'll find amps like the Blues Dlx too loud for what you're looking for. They just don't have a low-volume setting due to the pots they use, but it wouldn't sound good without giving it some volume anyway.

[FirstBassman]

The pot settings are stamped into the metal on the Jr just for what Hurler explained. It is a pain in the beginning but you soon get used to it.

Look, ask two musicians their opinion on ____ amp and you'll get three opinions. The Blues Junior is no different. Search here and elsewhere and you'll find a million people who think it is the greatest thing since sliced rye bread and a million others who say it is too "boxy" sounding and not loud enough and not clean enough and not dirty enough or whatever. Or one must add this mod or that mod and on and on.

IMHO, a "one trick pony?" No, not at all.

It does have, in a way, two channels by way of the Fat switch. But there are those anyway, who say one should get an amp for its clean sound and headroom and, if you need to, use a pedal for distortion.
That idea is starting to make a lot more sense to me lately.

As far as the AC15 goes, I only tried it at GC for two minutes. Sounded fine for my level of playing. But the thing weighs a ton. Kind of partly defeats the purpose of getting a small map in the first place.

As always, YMMV.

[Rizo]

Look for a SF Princeton Reverb. I've got around $600 in one and that's counting having it serviced.

[Colt W. Knight]

Man I love my Blues Deluxe Reissue, and I really like the Blues Deville with 4 10" speakers.

[Blues Hurler]

5e3, yeah, check out L'il Dawg amps. Pretty hard to beat a 5e3

[Jenix]

didnt sabbath play on vox's?

[eugenedunn]

Hey that Epi Blues Custom 30-watt with 2x12 speakers looks cool. Someone on one of the forum threads was just talking about his....


Looks like pretty cool amp. Tube reverb, no tremelo. Switchable power option to Class A

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by ShortBuSX

...
The Vox, had alot of sparkle and seemed like more tone options, but Im still skeptical about the quality as well as being able to play stuff like Sabbath on it.

I tend to play mostly blues, but on occassion I like to play 70-80s metal stuff.
Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks!

Then I'd go for the Hot Rod Deville!

[ShortBuSX]

Originally Posted by franchelB

Then I'd go for the Hot Rod Deville!

Strangely enough, that was the amp that I had intended to get...but then talked myself out of it cause its just freaking HUGE, and Id likely never get the volume up high enough for it to be useful.

So now Im curious why you suggested the Deville? You didnt give any kind of reasoning.

[ShortBuSX]

I keep thinkin Deluxe, and its really all of the features that make the Deluxe so appealing...and after reading several topics and posts here in Amp Central, Im thinkin a few mods, such as tubes and an audio pot(for the volume), would make this amp all the much more useable for me.
Ive got a buddy with a HRD that I listen to on a weekly basis, even get to play on it on occassion...he just replaced the tubes, and it does sound all the much more desireable now.

I still havent decided, havent even got my stimulus check yet, so Ive got plenty of time to decide, so all the suggestions are appreciated and I am now looking at amps I didnt even know existed, so keep em coming! Thanks again!

[Gaber_771]

I play the Blues Deluxe and Blues Deville reissues that i play with an A/B/Y box... both running 6V6's.. i promise you that anything that says "Fender" and "Deville" on in have no business trying to be a bedroom amp.. they are just too loud with the logarithmic volume pot they use... and if you touch the pot just right to get a low volume, they sound terrible....

if you like the idea of the blues deluxe, but you need a bedroom amp, i suggest you get it, as a used blues deluxe is in your budget of $600. also, you can use 6v6's to lower the headroom a little.. Thats my bedroom amp.. blues deluxe, 6v6's, speaker pointed toward the bed... it works out quite well..

[Blues Hurler]

Those Fender Blues amps are fine amps, but LOUD for the bedroom, which is the level you said you often play at. Are you going to want to move it? Carry up and down stairs? In and out of the car? Think about it before you buy a 55lb. amp. It can get old, fast, even when you're young, especially if you want to carry all your gear at once to save on trips. If you do want to look at something in the 40 watt range, check out all the new Traynors. I suggest the blue, for what you're saying, but the wine red is good too. They both have the Vintage 30 spkr in them, which is really nice. I like 'em both.

[ShortBuSX]

Originally Posted by Blues Hurler

Those Fender Blues amps are fine amps....Are you going to want to move it? Carry up and down stairs? In and out of the car? Think about it before you buy a 55lb. amp. It can get old, fast, even when you're young.

Strange how the Vox AC15 is slightly larger than the Deluxe and weights almost as much as the Deville...but I also think thats (partly)why it sounded so good.

[Wally]

I can't believe I am saying this, but go play through soem Peaveys...Classic 30 and 50. Mess with the controls. They might surprise you.
Personally, I would look for a used amp...a Rivera-designed master volume Fender from '83-85 or a Rivera fangango type of amp. That will do what you are wanting to do.

[Blues Hurler]

Nothing wrong with PV Classics. Delta Blues are pretty good too.

[maiga]

Originally Posted by Jenix

didnt sabbath play on vox's?

Iommi (I'm a reconstructed kind of guy, but Sabbath were/are the Dog's B*ll*cks \m/ \m/) had amps built by Laney since the year dot. Arguably Vox-inspired though.

Back to upshot of thread: buy something that sounds ace clean- you can always add boxes to make you sound like Eddie or the dude from Accept!

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by ShortBuSX

Strangely enough, that was the amp that I had intended to get...but then talked myself out of it cause its just freaking HUGE, and Id likely never get the volume up high enough for it to be useful.

So now Im curious why you suggested the Deville? You didnt give any kind of reasoning.

Just for the fact that you said you liked playing some metal/hard rock along with the blues.
To my ears, amps that have more than one speaker just "better"...

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Wally

I can't believe I am saying this, but go play through soem Peaveys...Classic 30 and 50. Mess with the controls. They might surprise you.
Personally, I would look for a used amp...a Rivera-designed master volume Fender from '83-85 or a Rivera fangango type of amp. That will do what you are wanting to do.

Rivera type stuff does sound like the ticket, if you're needing to jump back and forth to both sounds you mention.

Of the amps I have, to cover that ground and the ground inbetween, I'd go straight to my Peavey Classic 50 with the post and pre amp controls and master volume.