Best Amp under $150

Ok I know there is no best but in your opinion, what is the best value for an amp under $150.

I would like something that can get fairly loud, (louder than your typical practice amp) and has good tone. Solid state, tube, hybrid doesn't matter.

Here's some I'm looking at:

Fender frontman 25r

Vox pathfinder 15

epi valve jr 5 watt

I like the Pathfinder 15R. It sounds good and has a full jack field, so that you can use it to drive a bigger speaker, or line out to a more powerfull amp. If you don't have other speakers or amps, I would look for a used Peavey Transtube, like the Bandit or Studio Pro.

the Vox,

I take it out every now and then when I am playing without drums, I get compliments on the tone all the time, crazy. Its also great around the house.

I vote for the Epi.

Most SS amps i have ever heard, sound very 2 dimensional compared to any valve amp.More so on the low powered small speakered jobbies.

If you can scrape up 9 dollars more, I recommend the Roland Cube 20x. Nice selection of Boss overdrives, great clean tone, tuner, effects, and a 'power squeezer' for late-night playing. I love mine--folks get PO'ed at me for saying it, but it sounds better than my Fender Champ ever did...:cool:

Another vote for the Epi.

The Roland mentioned above....

IM buying The Roland Cube 20x right now. Its exactly what Ive been looking for.

Ive been asking here for a low powered amp to use in an apt that has cd inputs headphone and a clean a dirty channel. This one has all that and more.

Im sold it also got real high review ratings everywhere i looked.

Here's some I'm looking at:

Fender frontman 25r

Vox pathfinder 15

epi valve jr 5 watt

I haven't liked any Frontman that I've tried.

I tried the little Vox and liked it.

I bought the Epi VJr. Sure it has tubes but... it's still a toy amp. However it's a blast. The tone is sort of plain but it takes pedals very well. Putting together the cheapest fun set of gear, I chose this:
$80-Squier 51 (or Tele)
$100-Epi VJr
$20-Danelectro BLT
Then add bits from there.

Just got a pathfinder 15r last week .no complaints

I'm thinking either the epi valve jr or the vox pathfinder .

I'm thinking either the epi valve jr or the vox pathfinder .
Have you tried both?

Nope, I've tried neither. I will have to mail order.

I've played many fender frontmans though.

The Vox.

Darn. I was going to suggest testing any pedal of your preference with the Epi. It surprised me how it came to life with a little effect.

I would think that the Vox would be the safe choice. I really like my VJr but they are an odd bird.

Darn. I was going to suggest testing any pedal of your preference with the Epi. It surprised me how it came to life with a little effect.

I would think that the Vox would be the safe choice. I really like my VJr but they are an odd bird.

Yes but do you like the tone without any effects? I've read nothing but good things about that little vox except that the gain sounds really bad. Is that true for you who've owned played the vox pathfinder.

Yes but do you like the tone without any effects?
I like it as is. But when some folks first tried them they complained about the tone for various reasons. The Epi just seemed change character a lot more than other cheap amps, with a simple effect. Of course someone will probably disagree (but that's why we have so many to choose from :grin: ).

As mentioned before, the Vox is probably the safe choice, I've rarely heard a complaint about the Pathfinder.

Go for the Epi Valve Jr head. If you combine it with a decent speaker it sounds fantastic...sort of a cross between a tweed champ and a vox. I don't think you can get anything as touch sensitive and good sounding in a solid state amp of that price range.

Epi Jr or the Crate Powerblock.

Epi Jr or the Crate Powerblock.

I need a combo, I don't have a speaker cab

The frontmans have a really fuzzy gain that you can't get a good gritty tone out of. The clean is pretty sterile. I was actually surprised when I got my Vox, it sounded so bad side-by-side to tube modeling!

The frontman sounded bad or the vox sounded bad?

+1 for the Roland

I'd get a Roland microcube or the Epi valve jr. If you get Valve Jr you can buy this http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/mainframe.htm

Yeow. That's gotta be cool, but I can't imagine spending $300 more to mod my cheap $100 Chinese amp. I have to believe it could be spent better on something else.

Yep, I don't want to put any extra cash in to the amp I'm getting. I just want something that's nice out of the box.

Won't help you because you don't have a cab. I wasn't impressed with the combo Valve Jr I tried, but it must have been one of the early ones because it hummed pretty bad.
I think the head sounds great as is. It can get plenty loud through a 212 for band practice. I have a gig Saturday night, at a small/medium sized venue that mics the amps, and I'm tempted to take it.

Check out the Orange Crush. That thing can growl.
I like the Vox too.

Well folks, I went with the vox. I'll let you know what I think when it gets here.

I know I got here too late, but still. I was a regular here a few years ago and am just trying to get back into the swing of things. .

I'd get a Roland microcube or the Epi valve jr.
Just wanted to comment on one of the features of the Micro Cube. I really like the fact that it'll run on AA batteries when no AC is available. I keep one in my truck for tailgating, etc. Makes incredibly big sound for it's size.


http://www.stevesmusiccenter.com/RolandMicro-CubeControls.jpg

I have a Vox Pathfinder, no reverb...
and Roland Cube 30....

The Vox feels like a little vintage tube amp
when you set it to start breaking up..BUT..
you gotta pump it a little to get excited..
handsome amp...fell off the tailgate once..
no damage but a slight corner ding

The Roland will get you excited at the lowest
volume levels....that why I love it...and could
hold its own at a gig miked...be careful
though bright, beamy speaker....the COSM
modeling is stellar....warm, finely detailed
and brilliant...I am all over the place
with all the models and effects....a guitarist's
playground...and compact...but ugly

I use a peavey Rage 158. I only paid $20.00 for it, sounds alright, it's a practice amp..
I want one of those orange practice amps though, I hear they have great tone.. round and wet.. awesome..

Well folks, I went with the vox. I'll let you know what I think when it gets here.
I will too. I just ordered a Pathfinder 15R a few minutes ago from MF.:wink:

There's so many good reviews on this thing I just gotta try it out. Many stuff 10" speakers inside these little boxes, with a few reporting inserting the guts into 12" cabs. I like playing around with stuff like this.

I checked around the area dealers first. None had them on hand. Even so, for $119 it's a fairly inexpensive experiment.

i have a crush 15-- it's what i bring around if i'm teaching at someone's home. clean sounds fine, if not a little "boxy" (very small cabinet), overdrive is a little fizzy. very loud for a tiny little box, and very cool looking, if that matters.

Just curious as I'm also interested in one of the Roland models. Would you gig with it?

how about the pathfinder 10?.. i can get it pretty cheap here.. just experimenting.. plus it has better looks (brown grill)..

You didn't say what yer gonna primarily use the amp for, so I'll guess it's around the house use and you don't need or want a lotta wattage. Aside from good tone - which most tube amps will have over s/s amps - consider noise as another factor. Too many s/s amps are noisy, hissy - even at lowered volumes. Yer gonna be at a disadvantage if you don't try before you buy - make sure you've got a good return policy.

I've learned over the decades to think long-term when buying an amp, and looking for a cheap amp as yer only amp can be loaded with pitfalls. Better to save up more bucks and make an excellent choice from the get-go, rather than a this-one-will-do-OK-I-guess choice at the beginning.

As far as best amp under $150 that you can actually jam with, my vote is for a used Peavey Bandit. You can find 'em on eBay all day long for under $150.

If you like clean tone chime, the Scorpion-equipped Bandit 75 and Bandit 112 do clean even better than the new ones, IMHO. If you like distortion, check out the mid-90's black box versions with Sheffield speakers.

Of course, the Bandits are notoriously ugly to look at, especially the older ones, but if you actually LISTEN to them, their TONE should make up for any cosmetic short-comings.

Too many s/s amps are noisy, hissy - even at lowered volumes.With all due respect sir, I'm sorry, but that's not true, at least not anymore. It might have been true in '67, but modern solid state circuits are quieter than tubes, at least in the price range we're discussing. Of course, that doesn't mean better, just less noise.

I agree with you about the try-before-you-buy, and that's it's good to get a warranty... But it's rare to find used/vintage gear with a warranty.

I'm a VOX fan, so I always like it when people go VOX (I have a AD60VT Valetronix). That said, I've heard (but not personally played) Hughes & Kettner's line of cheap SS amps and was impressed:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hughes-Kettner-Edition-Blu-15-15W-1x8-Combo?sku=480436&src=3SOSWXXH

For $140, I've come close to getting one myself. They had a 60W model that was on sale cheap at MF ($180) for just a few days. I thought about getting it, but waited too long. When I went back it was over $200 again. Curse my slow fingers!

Good luck!!

...With all due respect sir, I'm sorry, but that's not true, at least not anymore. It might have been true in '67, but modern solid state circuits are quieter than tubes, at least in the price range we're discussing. Of course, that doesn't mean better, just less noise...

Not at all from what I've personally experienced with at least lower priced s/s amps - particularly the ones targeted - and played at moderate volumes. YMMV, as it seems to ...

With all due respect sir, I'm sorry, but that's not true, at least not anymore. It might have been true in '67, but modern solid state circuits are quieter than tubes, at least in the price range we're discussing. Of course, that doesn't mean better, just less noise.




I have two amps in this price range : a Microcube and a Valve jr. The Valve jr is WAY quieter.

I ended up with the Vox pathfiinder. Very impressed with the clean sounds. The amp arrived with to chips in covering and the gold trim has gotten easily messed up. It's still a great value.

I know I'm waaaay late on this, but my fave bedroom amp is the Vox Valvetronix 15 watt model with 8" speaker.

Problem is, it's about 30 bucks more than your budget.

This is easily the most dynamic non-(all)tube amp I've ever owned. As an example, the AC15 patch mildly breaks up at lower volumes. As the volume is increased, so does the overdrive, and it sounds sweet. I haven't heard any other modeler that does this.

Minus most of the gainier amp settings, all the others are great, from the cleans, to the medium breakups, to the JCM800.

And the amp is set up like a standard analog job - just twist a few knobs and you're there.

As a plus, this little beast is quite loud for 15 watts.

It sets beside my plethora of tube amps - it's that good, and gets that much usage. I am endlessly surprised by this amp. My '67 Champ sees less and less usage as a result.

Also - no hiss or hum. It has a variable noise gate on it that makes this a moot (or should I say 'mute') point.

If you have second thoughts on the Pathfinder, give the Valvetronix a try...

I have two amps in this price range : a Microcube and a Valve jr. The Valve jr is WAY quieter.I stand corrected. In my experience, when working with overdrive, my Yamaha digital amps (DG130) are much, much quieter than my tube amps (The Twin). However, with a pure clean tone, it's true, the level of ambient background noise seems to be higher with the solid state amps.

I would recommend the Valve Jr head. I have it and I love it. Sweet amp for $100.

I ended up with the Vox pathfiinder. Very impressed with the clean sounds. The amp arrived with to chips in covering and the gold trim has gotten easily messed up. It's still a great value.

Thanks for the suggestions but I alread got the Vox amp. I'm the one who started the thread.

I know i'm too late , but for future reference try the Kustom 12 Gauge.

This overlooked beauty runs at about $100 has a 12 inch speaker, plywood cab, and a clean channel with sparkle that rivals Vox. 10 watts.

If you dont like the amp you can always use the speaker and cab for something else.

The sister amp to this, the HV 30 recieved an award from one of the magazines. It claimed it to be the warmest hybrid they have tried.
So I did an a/b at the store... The 12 gauge sounds just as good as the HV 30 , my opinion, of course. The HV 30 has a pre-amp tube, the 12 gauge does not. I didn't notice any difference in sound , to be honest.

Check em out!