Bust amp under 500?

Im looking to get a tube amp, nothing huge, but something that can at least cut through drums or something. I was wonder what the best tube amp would be. I never had a tube, but I love the 60s sound of them and figured id go get one. Its either get a cheap tele and a tube/amp or an expensive tele alone. If theirs a non tube that you think i should check out let me know.

My first advice at that price range is GO USED. A little more info on your style, influences and desired tonal quality's and we can narrow it down. Want super clean or low volume breakup? Need reverb and or trem? Where will you be using it...bedroom/garage or Stage...

Used: Peavey Classic 50, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

New: Nady

Non-tube: Roland Cube 60, Vox AD60

I'm sure others will chime in with more suggestions

I'd run from Nady's and Behringers. Unless you plan on the amp falling to pieces within a year or two.

I personally dislike the Fender Hot Rod series amps, but a lot of folks like them... perhaps even love them.

I really loved the Peavey Classics when I owned them (I owned three!).

The best I can say is find a local shop and try out as many as you can within your budget. Bring your Tele and see what works best for you... asking guitar players what amp to buy is like asking 100 strangers who the best baseball team is - you'll get as many "likes/hates" as responders.

Let us all know how it works out.

haha. Very good points from all. I should have listed more info, or just tried them out myself. Sadly I dont have a Tele yet :( I used to be a big acoustic guy and still am but have lived off a squire strat for 2 years.


More often than not I play in my room, though I have been playing with a band lately, and plan on getting one of my own together. So power to cut through another guitar and drums is needed without sacrificing the clean sound,


I love the bob dylan electric sound, and most classic rock stuff ( who, stones, Zepp) I play more clean than distorted but ill probably be getting into the dirt a bit more ( Neil young faze right now) Used is perfectly fine with me, and probably the most realistic option if I go full out on a Tele.

I'm with Johnny on this one. A Peavey Classic 30 or 50 will get you close enough. I prefer the C50, myself.

Do check out the Vox AC15, though. It's kind of a one trick pony, but it's a really good trick.

I'm with Johnny on this one. A Peavey Classic 30 or 50 will get you close enough. I prefer the C50, myself.

Do check out the Vox AC15, though. It's kind of a one trick pony, but it's a really good trick.

these are great suggestions. also the peavey delta blues.

Ill recommend the Classic 30 as well...great tone..loud enough to cut through drums..small enough for a bedroom...Nice cleans and breaks up a little sooner than a twin..but a little later than say a Deluxe reverb. Go try one out!

another vote for Peavey, DB or Classic 30. You should be able to find a good used one in the $250 to $350 range

"Bust amp under 500?"

Woo hoo! A $500 bust amp! ( Y )

I love my peavey valveking 50 112. I once owned a peavey classic 50 4x10 which I miss something horrible but yeah go for the valveking...Granted I don't use the gain channel but really who does?

Read my review of the Kustom Defender a couple of psots down on this page!

Champ for playing in the bedroom
12-25watt 5E3 for a little more volume if you build yourself can be done for 500.00

Might find a used DRRI for 500.

As for newer, or off the shelf, the C30 or Delta Blues.

My suggestion would be to get one of VOX Valvetronix ones, see what you like, return it and get that. I assume you would like more British tones like me.
I had VOX AD15VT, Peavey Classic 50, Fender Vibro Champ XD, and now I have H&K Edition tube and I think I found what I was looking for. Musiciansfriend has 45 days return period, Guitar Center 30 days, good old capitalism.

I do like the Fender hot rod Deluxe clean channel a lot, but my personal favorite is an American made Crate Palomino V32, which is the same amp as their V33. I needed an amp in a hurry with little cash, and picked an American model up from a Guitar Center that was clearing them out. They had a Peavey Classic 30 for the same price which I almost grabbed and left right there, but I decided I had a little time to waste before picking up my wife, and tried the Palomino out. I couldn't believe how good it sounded to me, and the drive channel was pretty darn good too! I hate the drive channel on the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and can't remember what the drive channel is like on the Peaveys, but this amp really blew me away. That was with the one exception of the lack luster reverb, but I'm going to try a larger reverb pan when I get around to picking one up. That might be what it needs. I've been suprised at the tone I get and complements I get at almost every gig I play on it. Granted it's not no Dr. Z, but it's a Crate that actually sounds realy good!

Best amp that will show on this whole thread.
http://www.wwbw.com/Fender-Tweed-Hot-Rod-Deluxe-Guitar-Combo-Amp-(New-B-Stock)-i129963.music
http://images.wwbw.com/products/original/Fender/108823.jpg
Hell yes.
Now all ya need is a butterscotch blonde tele, with some years on it.

peavey classic 50 no issues cutting through loud drummers solid clean bottom end good tones nice blues type distortion channel ,el 84 tubes used price should be 300 to 400 can. depending on condition ...........thats about 5 or 6 people that recommend this amp better try one out ...good luck

I agree with the post above that Behringer has had a reputation for reliablity issues, but I spent a month or so with one of their new Bugera amps and found nothing to criticize except for the weight (backbreaking) and power (120 watts). There are lower power models or you can pull two tubes and cut it back. The clean channel was maybe a great and but the crunch mode nailed AC/DC tones and the dirty channel could get you from Van Halen to death metal, not that anyone would want that. Reverb was deep and wet. I was really surprised that they could get an amp that versatile at that price point. Worth looking at.

I have tried one of the tweed hot rod Deluxe amps out at a Guitar Center, and it was a great sounding amp. The clean channel was warm and full sounding and I liked it very much. I didn't try the drive channel out, so I don't know about that. The link went to one with a Jensen speaker which would sound good I'm sure, but the one I tried had a Celestion V30. Of course that model that I tried was marked as $695, so out of the price range. A long time ago, I played a Blules Deluxe amp that I remember liking the drive channel on. The clean was great warm Fender clean, but the drive was usefull. The drive tchannel on the regular Hot Rod Deluxe is not usefull to me at all.

There's some more of my .02 cents. If I keep on, you'll have a whole dime in no time!

by the way, i did gig with a peavey c50 2x12 which i'd run in conjunction with a classic 4x10 extension cab. I got rid of it a few years ago and i've been kicking myself ever since. I bought both new because i wanted a 2x12 and the salesman wanted me to buy a 4x10 so he cut me an incredible deal and got both for around $700 brand new. Don't let anyone tell you the initial discount offer is their final offer.

I'll vote for the Peavey Classics 30 and 50. I've owned several, never had a problem, and always sounded great. I think I preferred the 2x12, but they're both excellent.

I have tried one of the tweed hot rod Deluxe amps out at a Guitar Center, and it was a great sounding amp. The clean channel was warm and full sounding and I liked it very much. I didn't try the drive channel out, so I don't know about that. The link went to one with a Jensen speaker which would sound good I'm sure, but the one I tried had a Celestion V30. Of course that model that I tried was marked as $695, so out of the price range. A long time ago, I played a Blules Deluxe amp that I remember liking the drive channel on. The clean was great warm Fender clean, but the drive was usefull. The drive tchannel on the regular Hot Rod Deluxe is not usefull to me at all.

There's some more of my .02 cents. If I keep on, you'll have a whole dime in no time!

Well a celestion(or eminence) and a tubescreamer are later upgrades.

Hi all! new to TDPRI but I feel I must put in my 2cents. I take it your shopping for your first Tele and Tube amp? I would concentrate on finding your tele first - if your budget allows it try a few American Standards - good solid Guitar that you'll keep forever. Do youself a little favour and try the Tele through a (here come the howls of derision?) Fender Pro Jr! I have to say I really like mine - cheap, simple, easy to carry around, easy to replace tubes and has a great RocknRoll/Blues sweet spot at the 12 O'clock point (5 to 7 on the Amp). Surprisingly LOUD for 15 Watts. I've used mine for rehearsals and gigs for the past year - often derided as "boxy" and "Middy" sounding on its own - but it sits great in our band mix. The suggestions here offer some good choices - I like the Peavey Classic 30 and the Blues Delux - But at 30 & 40 Watts respectivley - they are quite alot of Amp. Just a suggestion - grab a Tele, plug into a Jr. and crank it! Don't be shy! For a "first" tube amp its an excellent "Bang for Buck" - Cheers and good luck!

Another vote the Fender Blues Deluxe... :mrgreen:

Before you upgrade your speakers and tubes, you want to get an $18.00 Omnisonic volume box. Killer. :idea:

Cheers, :mrgreen:
Cowboy

I have a Blues Deluxe Reissue, and it works well with a band. It's loud enough and clean enough, when you need it to be. Also, it sounds really nice at low volumes, so it's a good choice if you only plan to have one amp for live/home use.

I have a Classic 50 4x10, and it will absolutely get the job done. Just depends which tone make you happy, really. The Blues works better in my band, because the treble frequencies on that amp work different, somehow. I can hear myself better, without having to crank the volume so much.