Tube Amp for Worship Players

After reading post after post I have come to the conclusion there is a pretty big market for a low-wattage tube amp for use in many churches for P & W.
Here's what I suggest:
10 watts and 4 watt amp with attenuator switch to change output.
10 inch speaker with breakup capabilities in the four watt position with volume levels set at 5-6.
Fender or Vox cleans with reverb and tremolo and takes pedals well.
Cost: $300.00

Don't bring up the SuperChamp XD. This would be a non-modeling amp.

Any thoughts? Agree? Disagree?

I'm sure it's out there Rokdog. Likely you could build it or get someone on this forum to build it for you. It won't be cheap though.

I would tend to disagree. Most churches are pretty good size rooms. I am going to want more power, which gives you the option of more clean...or distortion. Going to go with at least a Princeton, probably even something larger. Most of the time, I play bass (100 watt amp) but sometimes guitar, that usually through a 60 watt 1-12 amp. I would rather have a larger amp with some type of distortion box. The little boxes cranked just don't suit me.

I use an Orange Tiny Terror into a 1x12 cab in an iso box. The other guitar player recently switched from an AC15 to a Matchless Spitfire clone. Neither of is have ever been lacking in the power department, and we play at a pretty rocking big church.

Hope that gives you a couple of ideas. Good luck!

Hmmm. Generally, I tend to agree. There are a few of key factors that should be considered:
1) is the amp is mic'd or not (conversely is your amp the only way the guitar is heard by the congregation)
2) "quiet" stage or amps on-stage
3) room size

In my case, we have a "quiet" stage, put the amps in iso-cabs off-stage and use in-ear monitors. Because of this set-up, I can use either my very loud 20-watter or my 4-watt Vox AC4. I also realize that this is a very nice arrangement, unless you are someone who needs to feel your amp on-stage.

A $300 price tag for the amp you specified, might be a bit on the low side...at least for anything of decent quality. I'm curious to hear what others think.

I play a Bugera V22 and can run it around half power via a switch in the back. When talking about wattage on a tube amp, your mostly talking about headroom and not volume. It is true that some styles of tube amps tend to have louder perceived volumes compared to others at similar wattages. I would go for something that has a master volume and/or buy a head and run a cab offstage to keep stage noise down if that is an issue in your church. Don't put a combo in an isolation box because the tubes will overheat.

By the way, I do recommend the Bugera V22 if you are looking for an affordable low-mid wattage el84-based amp that can keep up with a full band very well.

I dislike having my amp mic'd and I need to have lots of clean headroom so that probably wouldn't be enough power for me. Right now I am running 60 watts through two 10" speakers and I don't think I would do it any differently.

Also, If this hypothetical amp is built to take pedals well, I don't see the need for the variable voltage, as a good overdrive/distortion pedal can provide all the necessary crunch.

I would say all the features you've asked for would go for a base price of at least 3 times that much... Check out Joe Morgan's Amps, sound the closest to what you want...

I think if you buy a used amp then the budget could be met. However the attenuator alone will likely add about $250 or more. That's about the cost of a used Air Brake from Dr. Z.

Thanks for all the responses. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough about my situation. Both churches I play in do not allow "rock" type P&W music.
Both are old style inverted boat shaped and you don't need a lot of volume to be heard. One church has an electric drum set so that's not an issue. The other has acoustic drums but the drummer has to play very subdued. I bought a Vox Pathfinder 15r to do what I need and it will probably end up being miked.
Apparently there aren't enough situations like mine to warrant someone developing a low-wattage tube amp of the type I describe. Don't bring up the small amps with 6-8" speakers or amps like a Fender Champ XD with all the bells and whistles. What I would like is a tube amp, plain and simple as I described in my original post. I guess there's no demand for such an animal..
Oh by the way I have a DRRI I can use and have used until I heard "You're too loud!"

A used vox ac15 would be my choice. You can do what you want with a pedal or two. You could own 4 of those for the price of a Joe Morgan.

What you're describing is pretty much a Princeton Reverb (15 watts, tremolo and reverb, 10" speaker) or an Allen Chihuahua (10 watts, 10" speaker, reverb but no tremolo) with additional features (power scaling).

Those amps cost $900-$1000 new.

I'd be all over an amp with your desired features at a $300 price point, but I don't think it's feasable. That's why people are bringing up smaller amps or the SCXD.

Funny thing Acoustic Rob. When I was looking for an amp it came down to the Princeton 'verb and the DRRI. I opted for the DRRI. Wanted the 12 inch speaker. The problem was also the price. I am forever at a loss as to how Fender can justify the $1000.00 price tag.
I do like the Pathfinder and it only weighs 18 pounds...it sounds great, just not a tube amp.

Used Blues Jr.?

Used Blues Jr.?

Probably a pro junior for what he described...

Yep. A used amp. Why the want for a strictly tube amp has me puzzled tho, since you can't crank it up. I play thru the PA with a small pedal board that has a Digitech modeler RP300 at it's heart...but my signal is split and also runs to a Bugera V5 that doubles as my monitor but also adds some backround grit to the overall sound. It's only 5 watts but can be attenuated down to 1 or .1 watts. We also have the classic vaulted roof, seat about 300. I can fill the sanctuary with sound IF I wanted. The Bugera was cheap only $125, it's a tube hybrid, but only has an 8" speaker( Which I may swap out, it looks like a 10" will fit) Our other guitarist uses an Epiphone Valve Jr... those go cheap and can be modded to your hearts content.

74 Deluxe as I said earlier I opted for a Pathfinder 15R. Used it at last night for the first time. Mic'd it through the PA and it works great. Plenty loud and I like the Vox tones. Our other guitar guy also uses a SS amp and it works well for him. I guess I just wanted something with tubes since I'm old school. When I get some extra$$ I am going on the hunt for a Princeton Reverb. As it stands now, I would be willing to swap it out to somebody who has a re-issue they don't like for my DRRI.

I use a vintage pre cbs fender super reverb bf modded with reverb in both channels, and the 10's were booted by the original owner in favor of a lancing d130 15 inch. And I over drive the heck out of it. But my pastor is Mike Deasy. So I'm blessed in that respect. I love playin at church, More than gigs at times

I just started to put my Blackstar HT20 at relatively clean setting blended in stereo with a vox ac4 on the 4 watt setting at a pretty good volume at the church I usually play at which isn't too big (sounds amazing together)....I also play at a huge church and use either their Dr. Z RX or Badcat they have on stage....I used to use a Tiny Terror and it sounded really good at either venue by itself, I just wanted something different. I am thinking about doing this stereo amps thing at the huge church I play at it sounds so good.

Sounds tough Rockdog. I'd look at a Vox AC15, Princeton etc. Very clean amps. Vox also make a 4 Watt tube amp that is switchable to 1W and even 1/4W. Maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus 77 would suit as well. Not sure on price though. I would have thought the DRRI would be a perfect amp!

FWIW I play an AC15 and almost always mic it with an SM57. This keeps the stage volume down and allows the sound engineer to mix it for the room. Never been anywhere near running out of power.

I play at a number of churches in my area, including the two campuses we have. We mic all of our guitar amps, so they don't overpower the FOH speakers. Or we set them as foldback speakers. My Mesa Express 5:25 is more than loud enough.

After reading post after post I have come to the conclusion there is a pretty big market for a low-wattage tube amp for use in many churches for P & W.

Any thoughts? Agree? Disagree?

I'm not sure of the premise? How many P&W players ONLY play that one room with that one amp? I play in two churches, both very different in set up.

And... One church is having an outdoor harvest festival this Friday.

And... I play in my garage with friends, I play club and outdoor gigs, I play backyard parties.

And... Who knows?

So I don't know that there is a pretty big market for the one amp you describe. It would only fit my needs in part of my playing, but wouldn't even cover all my P&W much less the other playing I do.

I'm not sure of the premise? How many P&W players ONLY play that one room with that one amp? I play in two churches, both very different in set up.

And... One church is having an outdoor harvest festival this Friday.

And... I play in my garage with friends, I play club and outdoor gigs, I play backyard parties.

And... Who knows?

So I don't know that there is a pretty big market for the one amp you describe. It would only fit my needs in part of my playing, but wouldn't even cover all my P&W much less the other playing I do.

Yeah, what you're saying is correct. It depends on what the uses are. If you're only playing it in that one room or small venues, chances are you're going to get away with a small wattage amp.

Then again, you could probably get away with it anywhere, even if it is outdoors or in a larger venue. I haven't run into any issues yet that a mic on my cab won't solve.

Hey, just and idea. Why not put that $300 towards a modification on the DRRI. Change the output transformer for a princeton or add another transformer for a half power switch. Then you have you a 10 watt and 22 watt amp. Or just convert it to a princeton. Just some possibilities. Plus you would regret selling it after awhile.

Then again, you could probably get away with it anywhere, even if it is outdoors or in a larger venue. I haven't run into any issues yet that a mic on my cab won't solve.

I read this statement frequently on TDPRI, and of course it is correct and makes sense, unless.... only the vocals are run through the PA. I often play gigs where there is only a small PA for the vocals, and no sound person even if we wanted to do more. I'm not saying this is the pinnacle of live sound mix, but for me the reality of putting a mic on my amp is there may not be anything at the other end of the cord.

I read this statement frequently on TDPRI, and of course it is correct and makes sense, unless.... only the vocals are run through the PA. I often play gigs where there is only a small PA for the vocals, and no sound person even if we wanted to do more. I'm not saying this is the pinnacle of live sound mix, but for me the reality of putting a mic on my amp is there may not be anything at the other end of the cord.

That's fair. They certainly make the big ones for a reason. I just haven't had any reason to use one...not yet anyway.

I have used the Super Champ XD with good success in our Church. I do like that I have the ability to have a good clean channel, and can dial in some effects for songs that benefit from some electrickery, especially around the Holidays. For big events, I was using my Hot Rod Deluxe, but I have switched to a JMF Spectra 60T. It was a cl find, and $135.00 later, it is my most used amp away from church!
The amp is miked to the sound system thru the house, so I've not really ever encountered any volume issues.

I play at both churches in the NYC Calvary St. George's parish, and they are both large stone and wood structures with tall steeples going back 150+ years. I primarily use a Peavey 158 Blazer or Rage with a mic for the P.A. feed. No problems competing with drums, piano, bass, acoustic guitars, singers and other instruments. Even though they are SS, the cranked Peavey Transtube really sounds good and is very reliable.

I'm itching to try the new Carvin V3M. They may have a rare magic formula going there. And very affordable for what it offers.

I'm itching to try the new Carvin V3M. They may have a rare magic formula going there. And very affordable for what it offers.

I just reviewed the V3M for www.guitargearheads.com if you want to read it:

www.guitargearheads.com

i use an Orange Tiny Terror 12" combo and mic it.
iv known people play in church with great big 4x12s but its not needed,. plus mic'd up its easier for the sound dudes

Vox ACTV4?

I haven't yet, but I am planning to take my AC4 at sme point soon. At the end of the day, my amps get thrown in an iso cab and mic'd anyways.

You can use any amp you want. If you have a large amp that you like, simply buy a power brake. You can still get the high volume output of your tubes at a lower volume.

I play a 76 twin at church sometimes, also a box solid state to model the twin when i don't bring it. Also the Vibro champ xD with a mic