Suggestions for a small combo

[hippietim]

Those of you that read my post about my Pro Jr. are aware that I am very likely in the market for a new little combo. I really like the sound of the 15 watt EL84 config like the Pro Jr. so I'm looking for recommendations along those lines. Has anyone tried a Laney? The LC15 and TT20 look promising.

[BrianF]

I've never tried one but they look interesting...
http://www.carvin.com/cgi-bin/Isearc...TAGE16&P1=VINT

[Tom P.]

If you have the skills and $250, from Allen Amps, buy the kit without the cab and speaker and put it in the PJ....

NEW! All the parts you need to build a working tweed-era single-ended guitar amp. Larger cabinet and 10" speaker for improved bottom end performance. Oversized power and output transformers, chrome chassis and top quality parts. Parts list, CAD layout drawing, schematic and 5 page simplified assembly instructions. Due to the low price, NO tech support is provided for this kit. You should be able to solder well, use simple handtools and a multimeter to put this kit together. The finger-jointed pine cabinet comes unfinished (uncovered) but the speaker baffle is covered with oxblood grill cloth. Allen C1045 ceramic speaker and tubes included. Tone control mod (replaces 2nd input jack) available upon request.
Complete 5F1 style 1x10 amp kit with unfinished cabinet . $399 + shipping.
Complete 5F1 style 1x10 amp kit with tweed cabinet. $599 + shipping.
5F1 style amp kit without cabinet or speaker. $249 + shipping.

http://www.allenamps.com/parts.html

[Big Tony]

Then there's Orange AD1512: 15W, EL84s, 12" speaker, great reviews. Never tried one myself, but worth checking out.

[Mike Better]

The Dr.Z Carmen Ghia is pretty killer.

Mike

[marshallmelloman]

I've said it a hundred times. This amp is one of the coolest, best sounding double el-84 amp's you will come by for any price, though it is only 7-800 bucks depending on head or combo. I got mine with a double power option (4 el84s with the option to turn two off). Hand wired by one person who is concerned with your satisfaction. Cathode biased amp-plug and play. Got mine last November and haven't used any of my other amps since (and there is a lot of them).

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by Big Tony

Then there's Orange AD1512: 15W, EL84s, 12" speaker, great reviews. Never tried one myself, but worth checking out.

Too expensive.

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by Mike Better

The Dr.Z Carmen Ghia is pretty killer.

Mike

I just sold mine on Friday. It's too big for the purposes I want it for. I want a small single speaker combo.

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by marshallmelloman

I've said it a hundred times. This amp is one of the coolest, best sounding double el-84 amp's you will come by for any price, though it is only 7-800 bucks depending on head or combo. I got mine with a double power option (4 el84s with the option to turn two off). Hand wired by one person who is concerned with your satisfaction. Cathode biased amp-plug and play. Got mine last November and haven't used any of my other amps since (and there is a lot of them).

Too expensive - I'm looking for something in the $200-400 range.

[TexGoneNW]

The tube amps that Peavey makes are EL84-based, and you know Peavey and price/performance. I've owned Carvin amps, and I've been pretty happy with them, and the little tweed tube amp they make is powered by EL84's, and they're very inexpensive (you buy direct, so hope you like it - not much on the resale value).

There are many used amps like this on the market. Check the pawn stores in the places where pawn stores have a bunch o' stuff.

[TexGoneNW]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tegory=38 076

[Wayne Alexander]

The Vox AC15, no longer sold in the US new but available used in the $600-800 range, depending on speaker (get the Celestion Blue, it's worth the extra money) is one of the holy grail EL84 1x12 combos. It's got decent reverb and a master volume and tremolo, and it sounds really great. It's got a tube rectifier and really sings.

[Mike Better]

If the range is 200-400, I'd just get another Pro Jr. A speaker change can make it a whole new amp.. Also, tube experimentation can do some good as well.. I believe there's someone making a PTP kit for the Pro Jr. you might want to look into that..

Mike

[hippietim]

What about the Crate V1512? I just spoke to a guy at GC and he said he'd let it go for $299. They're going for $425+ elsewhere.

I think I'm going to take a quick run up there. If that doesn't work out they have a Blues Jr in stock for $369 and I know those sound good.

[Mike Better]

The Pro Jr. sounds much better than the Blues Jr., if you ask me.. but if I were you, I'd jump on this one here right now..

http://www.harmony-central.com/cgi-b...0837&buyerzip=

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by Mike Better

The Pro Jr. sounds much better than the Blues Jr., if you ask me.. but if I were you, I'd jump on this one here right now..

http://www.harmony-central.com/cgi-b...0837&buyerzip=

Thanks for the tip Mike - just sent off an email.

[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by hippietim

What about the Crate V1512? I just spoke to a guy at GC and he said he'd let it go for $299. They're going for $425+ elsewhere.

Did you play it? I've been using one for the past few months for jazz gigs, and it worked great. But then just recently I've taken it out on a (small-room) TELECASTER gig or two, and it just killed. YMMV and all that, but I would seriously try one out before you buy anything. And that $299 is a good price -- I got mine for $325 and was very pleased with the deal.

Btw, I've got one of the Peavey Classic 20s sitting right here, and while it's a nice little amp for rehearsals or playing around the house, it's not a "giggable" amp -- at least not for me. I've had it listed in the classifieds before; if you're really interested in something like that shoot me an email, otherwise I'd recommend you go with something at least as big as the Classic 30. The 12" speaker and extra wattage make a BIG difference. All IMO, of course. Best of luck, CS

[Silverface]

The Crates sound good, but I'd be worried about reliability. The VC series is notorious for breaking down.

The Pro Junior and Blues Junior are about the only half-decent amps in that price range IMO. That's a budget that really only hits the upper end of practice-amp territory.

[dean]

. . . I still don't think you can beat a silverface Princeton. There's one on eBay right now with an hour to go on the auction - it's at $330. Others have sold for under $400. The thing about the SF Princetons is that what you pay will probably be the lowest price they'll ever be - they will keep rising in value long after all the newer amps have depreciated.

What more could you ask for? Great price, great tone, great value, GREAT AMP!

Have fun choosing your new amp!

Dean

[Dacious]

Plus real tube reverb (not chip driven like the small Fender, PVs etc) and the nice bias-vary tremolo. Built in overdrive - dial the amp to breakup with your guitar on 3/4, and wind it up the rest of the way for singing tones.

It is a 'forever' amp - even if it loses a transfomer they are still commonly and readily available new - $30 for an output tranny, $70 or so for a PT which is the same as a Champ. Everything hot and heavy is chassis-mounted. Even a Harley mechanic with his factory hammer and chisel could maintain one (well, maybe not).

Built like a 'real' Fender with proper 1/2 watt spec pots, 1/2 watt resistors, a fibre tagboard. Do the phase inverter mods and bias circuit change (simple rewiring) and plunk a 12" speaker in and get 15+watts of 6V6 power, one of the best tones (especially for a Tele) on earth. As noted, these are only going to go up in price....

[stantheman]

The Fender 6V6 Princeton is a world champion and it's made for the "long march"....Best small amp over 10 watts and under 22 watts. If it's good enough for Larry
Carlton and Smokey Smothers ....and it's under 475 Rubles what are you waiting for?

[Randy]

Why has no one mentioned a Velocette? or is that not considered a combo?

I have a 10" non reverb. It just kills AND sounds great with a tele. I play out
with it all the time when I don't need to bring my Deluxe Reverb. Perfect for open mics or sitting in. Turn it up, tilt it back and it'll hang right in there.

It's in your price range and a great little amp. Check one out if you get the
chance, you'll be surprised. Also I like the Princeton idea as well, another
great little amp. Funny, I got this Velocette a few years ago to replace a
Princeton I GAVE someone. I wish I had the nerve to ask for that Princeton back.

[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by Silverface

The Crates sound good, but I'd be worried about reliability. The VC series is notorious for breaking down.

Hey Jim, the V-series is new, they just came out with it this year, and it doesn't appear to be anything like the old VC amps at all. I had a VC-30 for a while, and while it was fun to play through, I wouldn't have relied on it for a gig. It just didn't look or feel well-made.

The V-series amp is a whole different story, though. While still using a printed circuit board, it appears to be very well put together. In fact, Crate seems to be going out of their way to distinguish these amps from their regular lines. They've set up a separate Web site (www.v-seriesamps.com) and removed any trace of the Crate name except for a small plate on the back. This could be all marketing tactics, of course -- Crate doesn't have much of a reputation, as your post demonstrates -- but from what I can see, it looks like they're genuinely trying to do something right, and capture market share by putting out a quality product at low price. (What a concept! Wonder if it'll catch on...) ;-)

The Pro Junior and Blues Junior are about the only half-decent amps in that price range IMO.

I'd have to disagree. I'm familiar with those, and I'd take the V1512 over either one. I'd also have to mention the Peavey Classic 30 and Delta Blues as worthwhile, and while I haven't seen the Traynor stuff (YCV40 and YCV20) most everything I've read about them has been positive.

Anyway, I mainly wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the "V-series" and the old Crate "VC" line -- go play one, and you'll see that they are definitely not the same amps. -- CS

P.S. I like Princetons, too. :-) And I've got a TE Velocette 1x10 as well, but it suffers from the same problem as the Peavey C20 -- not enough "oomph" to keep up with an energetic drummer. As always, YMMV.

[Silverface]

Thanks Chris - it'll be interesting to see whether this Crate line holds up better than their past offerings, or whether it's just a marketing campaign to deflect criticism about the VC's. I guess only time will tell.

As far as amps in the the price range - I did say the Fender amps were the only ones worth mentioning "IMO". I don't care for the Peaveys at all - I realize they get a lot of use, but I've found them to be dead sounding, flat-toned amps. Certainly OK for stage use but nothing to write home about tonewise as far as I'm concerned. I actually liked their old hybrids (Were they the so-called "vintage" line? I don't remember.) over the Classics and the Delta Blues. Tried several DB's and never gotten anything approaching the warm, smooth tone with a little edge that I like to get. I didn't mention the Traynors as I've never seen...or heard...one around here.

Actually, for $400 I'd look for a SF Princeton (non-reverb), throw in some good tubes and speaker and be happy as a clam.

[tweedman]

A clone of a tweed Fender 5E3 Deluxe.Most tone for the bucks.