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Chop2 · November 27th, 2007, 03:26 PM

I really am sorry for another one of these ..... but here it goes. I recently bought a Roland Cube 30x which I like ok for my Hwy 1. Tele, however, it really is not what I'm after and will be returning it tomorrow. Basically I'm looking for a small Fender that sounds great clean and at low volumes. I really do love the sound of a tube amp, but would like something reliable and sounds decent at low volume. The amp will only be used at home. Any reccomendations would really be appreciated, I'm looking to spend between 300 to 500 dollars.
Cheers, Terry Mac

kmcrae · November 27th, 2007, 03:30 PM

I too was looking for an amp like you describe to use with my Hwy 1. After trying a few I settled on a Fender Frontman 25R, which I play low and as clean as I can make it. I'm very satisfied with it.

Wally · November 27th, 2007, 03:37 PM

Take a look at the small Fender and Peavey tube amps. They are in your range and sound good at low volumes, imo. Better bet...find a vintage Fender Champ or VibroChamp.

voided3 · November 27th, 2007, 03:44 PM

I just got a Fender Champion 600 and I think it's great for playing at home. It has the classic Fender cleans at low volume and has a pretty nice break up when pushed. I swapped the preamp tube on mine with a Groove Tubes replacement and it sounded even better. The upside is if you want it to get louder, just get a 4 ohm extension cab like a 2x10 or something and it definitely will get MUCH louder, but the stock 6" speaker works great for low volume stuff. Honestly though, if you're playing at a low volume, there are plenty of amps that are going to work well, solid state or tube. A guitar student of mine had a Marshall Lead 12 solid state combo that sounded pretty dang nice and they are WAY under your budget. If you are willing to spend $300 to $500 though, why not get a vintage Champ or a modern clone? That kind of a budget can score you a pretty high end small tube combo if you know where to look (and i'm sure others will have good suggestions for such offerings). Good luck!

old_picker · November 27th, 2007, 07:00 PM

fender blues junior or pro junior
replace the speaker in either on for best tone

a lot look down their nose at these amps but they do work very well and sound great - there have been reports of of loose pots etc with late models so make sure the controls are in solid - also at least they are not made in china

garytelecastor · November 27th, 2007, 07:05 PM

One of the things you might look into is the new epiphone low watt tube amps. They rock and they are pretty inexpensive. Around the same price as the roland.
They have a Valve std. 15W a DSP section, pre-amp, and reverb. Pretty cool for the bucks.

endzone · November 27th, 2007, 07:56 PM

find a silver face Champ and you'll never regret it....or never get rid of it either.

maestrovert · November 27th, 2007, 08:14 PM

+1 for finding a Champ !
i don't think there's a more useful amp....

kludge · November 27th, 2007, 08:17 PM

The other day, I saw a guy play a new Fender Champion 600 versus several nice vintage amps, including some vintage tweed Champs. He bought the Champion. You're NOT going to find a better low-power Fender sound than that for low cost.

TomD · November 27th, 2007, 08:29 PM

A guy I work with has a 70's silver face VibroChamp for sale. If you're interested in going that way let me know, I'll ask him to contact you.

Chop2 · November 27th, 2007, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the advice, this is a friendly place. Iwill try to check out the amps above. I am not getting a refund, but a credit at 12Fret here in Toronto, I think they only carry Fender / Koch amps. Thanks Again!
TMAC

strat64 · November 27th, 2007, 09:36 PM

Blues Jr or Pro Jr. I really like the Pro Jr stock, but definitely change the speaker in the Blues Jr (tend to be boxey sounding).

Chris

studio1087 · November 27th, 2007, 11:23 PM

Pro Junior, Champ on an Epi Valve Junior Combo (great budget amp).

teletard · November 27th, 2007, 11:48 PM

the new blackheart amp mini stack availble at musicians friend for 259 for all tube head and 1 x 12 cabinet. i want one bad

Tele Fan · November 28th, 2007, 08:50 AM

I have a 5 watt epiphone valve jr and I love that thing. $150 bucks out the door.

Ben Harmless · November 29th, 2007, 01:20 AM

For low volume clean playing, I turn on my $80 Vox Pathfinder 15R every time. Chime, punch, and clarity. Couldn't ask for more.

91xlntS-3 · November 29th, 2007, 08:14 PM

+1 on the Blues Jr, I really like mine and have started using it to gig with also. I don't experience any "boxy" type of sound from mine. I use a Bad Monkey O.D. pedal in front of mine, sounds great!

Doc · November 29th, 2007, 09:54 PM

Oddly, I would say a tweed deluxe if is nice low volume clean. The low headroom has the tubes working early for a nice ringing low volume clean tone.

beep.click · November 30th, 2007, 05:14 AM

Fender is supposed to be coming out with 2 new low-watt tube amps: the Vibro Champ XD (5 watts; $250) and Super Champ XD (15 watts; $300). The Guitar Center webpage says "in stock online," so they might be hitting the stores soon -- my friend and I actually saw one in a music shop last weekend (sorry, don't know which model).

Like people have said, the Champion 600 and Blues Junior are fine amps. With the Blues, you get reverb... and tone controls!

November 27th, 2007, 03:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chop2 TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Whitby, Ontario Age: 48 Posts: 5	Amp Advice please & Sorry. I really am sorry for another one of these ..... but here it goes. I recently bought a Roland Cube 30x which I like ok for my Hwy 1. Tele, however, it really is not what I'm after and will be returning it tomorrow. Basically I'm looking for a small Fender that sounds great clean and at low volumes. I really do love the sound of a tube amp, but would like something reliable and sounds decent at low volume. The amp will only be used at home. Any reccomendations would really be appreciated, I'm looking to spend between 300 to 500 dollars. Cheers, Terry Mac

November 27th, 2007, 07:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
old_picker Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Age: 62 Posts: 909	fender blues junior or pro junior replace the speaker in either on for best tone a lot look down their nose at these amps but they do work very well and sound great - there have been reports of of loose pots etc with late models so make sure the controls are in solid - also at least they are not made in china __________________ ray

November 27th, 2007, 07:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
garytelecastor Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: On the Bayou in da Tundra Posts: 7,753 27 Photos	One of the things you might look into is the new epiphone low watt tube amps. They rock and they are pretty inexpensive. Around the same price as the roland. They have a Valve std. 15W a DSP section, pre-amp, and reverb. Pretty cool for the bucks. __________________ “Don’t stop believing, unless your dream is stupid. Then you should get a better dream.”-Kid President Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

November 27th, 2007, 07:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
endzone Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Louisiana Age: 57 Posts: 2,137 47 Photos	find a silver face Champ and you'll never regret it....or never get rid of it either. __________________ *I'm Makin Progress*

November 27th, 2007, 08:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
kludge Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneapolis Age: 48 Posts: 1,110	The other day, I saw a guy play a new Fender Champion 600 versus several nice vintage amps, including some vintage tweed Champs. He bought the Champion. You're NOT going to find a better low-power Fender sound than that for low cost. __________________ Oz: Well, other bands know more than three chords. Your professional bands can play up to six, sometimes seven completely different chords. Devon: That's just, like, fruity jazz bands. -from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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November 27th, 2007, 03:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
kmcrae TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sparks, Nevada Posts: 7	I too was looking for an amp like you describe to use with my Hwy 1. After trying a few I settled on a Fender Frontman 25R, which I play low and as clean as I can make it. I'm very satisfied with it.

November 27th, 2007, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wally Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 13,749	Take a look at the small Fender and Peavey tube amps. They are in your range and sound good at low volumes, imo. Better bet...find a vintage Fender Champ or VibroChamp.

November 27th, 2007, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,707	I just got a Fender Champion 600 and I think it's great for playing at home. It has the classic Fender cleans at low volume and has a pretty nice break up when pushed. I swapped the preamp tube on mine with a Groove Tubes replacement and it sounded even better. The upside is if you want it to get louder, just get a 4 ohm extension cab like a 2x10 or something and it definitely will get MUCH louder, but the stock 6" speaker works great for low volume stuff. Honestly though, if you're playing at a low volume, there are plenty of amps that are going to work well, solid state or tube. A guitar student of mine had a Marshall Lead 12 solid state combo that sounded pretty dang nice and they are WAY under your budget. If you are willing to spend $300 to $500 though, why not get a vintage Champ or a modern clone? That kind of a budget can score you a pretty high end small tube combo if you know where to look (and i'm sure others will have good suggestions for such offerings). Good luck!

November 27th, 2007, 08:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 8,023	+1 for finding a Champ ! i don't think there's a more useful amp....

November 27th, 2007, 08:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
TomD TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Defiance Ohio Posts: 35	A guy I work with has a 70's silver face VibroChamp for sale. If you're interested in going that way let me know, I'll ask him to contact you.

November 27th, 2007, 08:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chop2 TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Whitby, Ontario Age: 48 Posts: 5	Thanks for the advice, this is a friendly place. Iwill try to check out the amps above. I am not getting a refund, but a credit at 12Fret here in Toronto, I think they only carry Fender / Koch amps. Thanks Again! TMAC

November 27th, 2007, 09:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
strat64 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 48 Posts: 135	Blues Jr or Pro Jr. I really like the Pro Jr stock, but definitely change the speaker in the Blues Jr (tend to be boxey sounding). Chris Last edited by strat64; November 27th, 2007 at 11:35 PM.

November 27th, 2007, 11:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
studio1087 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 48 Posts: 13,786 37 Photos	Pro Junior, Champ on an Epi Valve Junior Combo (great budget amp). __________________ John "The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Frank Zappa

November 27th, 2007, 11:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
teletard Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: hollywood california Age: 39 Posts: 244 11 Photos	the new blackheart amp mini stack availble at musicians friend for 259 for all tube head and 1 x 12 cabinet. i want one bad

November 28th, 2007, 08:50 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tele Fan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 34 Posts: 3,630	I have a 5 watt epiphone valve jr and I love that thing. $150 bucks out the door. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

November 29th, 2007, 01:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Allston, Mass Posts: 4,936 24 Photos	For low volume clean playing, I turn on my $80 Vox Pathfinder 15R every time. Chime, punch, and clarity. Couldn't ask for more. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson "...Because we all expect the truth, we must be the best of fools." - Stiff Little Fingers

November 29th, 2007, 08:14 PM	#17 (permalink)
91xlntS-3 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Richmond, Indiana Posts: 1,807	+1 on the Blues Jr, I really like mine and have started using it to gig with also. I don't experience any "boxy" type of sound from mine. I use a Bad Monkey O.D. pedal in front of mine, sounds great!

November 29th, 2007, 09:54 PM	#18 (permalink)
Doc Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,221	Oddly, I would say a tweed deluxe if is nice low volume clean. The low headroom has the tubes working early for a nice ringing low volume clean tone. __________________ ---------------- Anderson Lake Blue Project http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=666357

November 30th, 2007, 05:14 AM	#19 (permalink)
beep.click Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 54 Posts: 5,310	Fender is supposed to be coming out with 2 new low-watt tube amps: the Vibro Champ XD (5 watts; $250) and Super Champ XD (15 watts; $300). The Guitar Center webpage says "in stock online," so they might be hitting the stores soon -- my friend and I actually saw one in a music shop last weekend (sorry, don't know which model). Like people have said, the Champion 600 and Blues Junior are fine amps. With the Blues, you get reverb... and tone controls! __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

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