Used Tube Amps What to Look For?

[RichieJ]

Hey guys I'm sort of a newbie, been using a little fender bullet amp and am looking to upgrade to a used tube amp like a Vibro or Super Champ or maybe something older. The question is what should I be cautious about when purchasing a used tube amp? What should be looking out for to make sure it is in good condition? Sorry this may seem like a simple question to some but I have never owned a tube amp before.

[Hiker]

A good used, Vibro XD or Super Champ XD offer you a couple of choices without spending a bundle. You're playing at home without much need for volume? An outside, visual inspection won't reveal much, and the cost of replacement tubes is considered very reasonable on these two amps. Plug a guitar in and test the amp!

The 5 yr. warranty is transferable if the original receipt goes with the amp, and has been correctly endorsed by the seller! If the warranty is important to you, the amp must be in stock (original configuration with no modifications).

Used amp Considerations? Was it toted around by the seller, or played at home (may translate to it getting knocked around). Does the amp have that 'smoked a pack' of cigarettes smell (inside and out) or come from a non-smoking home. If you smoke, fogetaboudit.

A visual inspection won't reveal much, and the cost of replacement tubes is considered very reasonable on these two amps. If you go used, get the transferable warranty, and make sure it has the information necessary to meet the criteria:

"PLEASE RETAIN YOUR SALES RECEIPT OR LEASE, AS IT IS YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE COVERING YOUR LIMITED WARRANTY. TO TRANSFER THE WARRANTY TO A SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER, YOU MUST ENDORSE THE SALE OF THE PRODUCT TO THE SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER ON THE FRONT OF THE SALES RECEIPT...This limited warranty becomes void if the serial number on any product is defaced or removed, or the product has been damaged by alteration, misuse, accident, or neglect; or the product has been repaired or serviced by persons not authorized by Fender."

You'll find lots of info. on these amps through the search button, or google.com.

Another option is to save awhile and buy 'on sale' or new?

[Mik]

If you are considering an amp with more than one power tube, make sure it has all its power tubes, guess how I know!

Inspect and play as many used tube amps as you can find at retailers. A healthy amp won't idle noisily, will respond quickly, generally will have a clean sound to the point that you're yelled at to turn down, damn loud when turned up. You will be grinning. If it has reverb, especially the BF and SF Fenders, that reverb should be surf city strong, if not the amp has problems, no Fender amp with broken reverb is a healthy amp.

Vibro Champ is a wonderful amp, an affordable classic, once you're familiar with playing tube amps you'll find a good one without stressing about having the expertise to assess one. Not much worry about hacked or modded Champs and I think it would be easy to spot a hacked champ.

There will be maintenance expenses such as a cap job sooner or later but don't sweat it.

Have fun!

[marshman]

Well, if we're talking fundamentals here, and assuming that you and the amp are in the same place (as opposed to an ebay score or some sort of classified deal), fire the amp up and get it to make some noise. Then, while NOT playing, turn the volume up and twist all the knobs all the way around a couple times to see if anything is scratchy and/or cuts out--if so, serious trouble could be around the corner, or it might just be scratchy pots--either way, be ready to adjust your offer.

Set the amp to a volume where you'll be comfortable playing (if you're playing at home versus gigging with Jason Bonham and Zakk Wlyde) and play for a few minutes. Do you smell anything electrical? Hopefully not.

When you're dealing with hardcore vintage stuff, it's tough to discern "all original" from "lightly modified" to "heavily tweaked" and how those things affect value. There are few set rules regarding vintage value aside from doing some reading ahead of time so you know what to ask. Some mods/alterations are quite practical (3-prong cords, new caps) and don't have a huge impact on value, but others can more or less destroy an amps vintage value, so try to have an idea what the amp should've had when new.

Finally, if you're not gigging, even 15 watts can be pretty loud in an apartment/house with kids/wife scenario, so be aware. Some folks say that most master volume arrangements do, to some extent, detract from the tone, but it's gonna boil down to what sounds good to you.

I have an Epiphone Valve Junior combo I use for most in-house practicing, and it's a one-knob wonder, forces me to use my guitar knobs to get different tones, and I really love it, but I'm out in the middle of nowhere iwth a reasonably well insulated basement and no kids. If that doesn't sound like you, I've heard pretty good things about the new Vox AC4s--4 watts with attenuation.

Happy hunting!

[RichieJ]

Great information. I would love to go out and just buy a new Vibro or Super Champ but as you can see I live in Michigan so as you can guess I am unemployed, so cost is an issue. The information about the Fender warranty is good to know. I am only playing at home, I am not entertainer by any means so the lower wattage amps is what I'm looking for and I do like the sound of a tube amp. Would I see much of a difference between the Vibro and the super if I'm just playing at home in my basement? I won't ask Mik how you know about the number of power tubes but I guessing there is a story there. I am guessing that all the tube sockets should have a tube stuck in it but would there be any reason for an amp to have spare sockets? Can you even see with out removing a panel the complete board? If it has scratchy pots should I pass? Sorry for all the questions I just want to make a wise choice. Marshman, I did try a Epi Valve Jr the other day and it did sound good, I was just looking for something with a little more effects.

[Ben Harmless]

You should be aware that the current offerings that are called the "Vibrochamp" and "Super Champ" are very new designs that confusingly and unnecessarily share names with older Fender designs - in the case of the Vibriochamp, a design going back to the 60s.

To my knowledge, neither current amp is an all-tube design. They both feature digital effects, and if I'm correct, a digital preamp. One would refer to them as a hybrid design. I personally wouldn't bother with them if I were looking for a tube amp. Despite the fact that they have more features and knobs, I'd give all that up in a heartbeat for the simplicity and all-tube purity of a Pro Jr. - which can be found used for the price of the Vibrochamp. I see a couple of them in the Guitar Center online inventory for $200 right now - though some are more.

I've got a solid-state amp that I love to practice with (a Vox Pathfinder 15R) but if I were going tube, I'd go all-tube.