Tube AMP recommendations (vintage sound)

[Phil RC]

Hello!

Though I've been playing guitar for more than 10 years, I only ever had one amp a solid state Roland Cube.

I would like to invest in a tube amp, and I was wondering if anybody could help me with a recommendation, as I am quite a noob when it comes about it.

What I do know is that I am looking for a warm, vintage voiced amp, that has a nice sweet break up tone, and also if possible analogue spring reverb. I am considering all options, vintage, new, original or clone, anything that would be less than 800 EUR, max 1000. I don't really care about the wattage, I would like to entertain all options.

Does anybody have any ideas?

Thank you very much!

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Wattage is pretty important. If you are playing live with a drummer, you are going to need far more watts than if you want tube breakup at living room volumes.

 

[Phil RC]

I am sorry, I didnt mention this, I will use it at home only. So I guess I would like tube breakup at living room volumes, or maybe even a little louder wouldnt be a problem, as the neighbours havent complained till now lol.

 

[Alex_C]

Laney Studio amp. I have the L5S, they also have a LA studio 3 watt. Great tones at reasonable levels. The Lionheart doesn't sound boxy like many lower watt amps. Two channel, 5/0.5 watt speaker out, XLR out to plug into a PA, USB to plug into a computer, Re-Amp circuit, Headphone jack, built in load box, so a speaker does not need to be connected.

I've not tried the LA, but the Lionheart is phenomenal:

Laney Amplification - Since 1967

Laney is the signature of high quality British guitar and bass amplifiers. When Lyndon Laney needed an amp for his band in 1966, little did he know that the amp he made was the start of a long journey, a journey spanning over 50 years and every continent on the planet.

www.laney.co.uk

Laney Amplification - Since 1967

Laney is the signature of high quality British guitar and bass amplifiers. When Lyndon Laney needed an amp for his band in 1966, little did he know that the amp he made was the start of a long journey, a journey spanning over 50 years and every continent on the planet.

www.laney.co.uk

 

[Peegoo]

@Phil RC

A 1x10 or 1x12 combo format in the 10-20 watt range. A master volume or one that breaks up early is probably going to get you there. Power scaling, e.g., 15 watts to 5 watts, etc., is also a nice feature. Some candidates:

-Supro Delta King 1x10
-Peavey Classic 20 1x10
-Carvin Vintage 16 1x12

Pay close attention to your desired specs (clean to breakup, actual reverb pan, etc.). Some players love an attenuator for low-volume dirt, and some amps are equipped with a onboard attenuator. It's a very personal-preference thing. I've never liked that sound, but many players do.

Remember also that just because an amp has an actual reverb pan does not mean the reverb is going to sound great. Reverb is another very personal thing.

Listen to as many options as you can so you can make the best educated decision for purchase.

 

[telemnemonics]

"Warm vintage voiced sweet breakup" can mean country voiced Fender reverb amps or rock voiced Marshall amps.

Might help to give examples of the music styles or bands music you like the sounds of?

 

[KC]

The two most popular amps for your purposes are probably the Fender Blues Junior and the Vox AC15c1. Both have reverb, both have master volumes so you can get some grind at lower levels, neither is crazy expensive here in the states. I like the Vox better, especially if you don't have to carry it around.

 

[schmee]

For warm and smooth something with 6V6 power tubes is my suggestion. It's just hard to beat a Princeton Reverb for what you are asking. But to tell the truth, for home playing, most amps are too loud to get in the 'tone zone' played quietly, unless you dont have neighbors.
EL84 amps like a Blues Jr, Supro, Laney in the 12-15 watt range is often a good choice

 

[Alex_C]

Wangs has a cool 5 watt:

 

[Dismalhead]

Used modern DRRI. Pretty good catch-all for sparkly cleans, nice vintagey overdrive, solid pedal platform, and has enough volume to gig with should you need it. Should run around $1K US.

 

[Powdog]

Hard to beat a Princeton Reverb. I’d take one over the Blues Jr any day.

 

[Phil RC]

"Warm vintage voiced sweet breakup" can mean country voiced Fender reverb amps or rock voiced Marshall amps.

Might help to give examples of the music styles or bands music you like the sounds of?

Its, true I didnt give specific information, I mostly play jazz, but more in the direction of Bill Frisell, or Julian Lage. I play with a solid body guitar.

 

[Kevin Wolfe]

Vox AC15c1

 

[fretknot]

For modestly priced amps:
1) Supro Delta King 1X10
2) Fender Princeton Reverb, with a few caveats. I find them a bit harsh with the stock tube complement, but swapping the preamp with a lower gain 5751 reels that in, and a 12AU7 in the reverb slot to gives it more control.
3) Vox AC15, if you don't mind a nearly 50lb. amp.

My personal choice:

 

[uriah1]

Sf. Champ. Great for home use.
Champs used early James Gang and some Derek and dominoes stuff

 

[AxemanVR]

.
Although it comes with digital reverb, my 2022 Fender ‘68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb has a surprising amount of gain when pushed, but cleans up nicely as well.

It is a bit pricey and I don’t know if they’re available where you’re at or what they’re going for, but the ‘68 VCR might be worth looking into for you…

…I’m pretty happy with mine…
.

 

[VintageSG]

The Laney Lionheart 5 Watt amp in head format, with whatever cab you prefer, is a wonderful beast. @Alex_C agrees! It's a studio in an amp.
The combo loses the studio side of things, but you get a superbly built 5 Watt combo with a ply cabinet, decent 12" speaker, and a sound that needs to be heard to appreciate it.
It has the sound that's in your head.

 

[tbp0701]

Its, true I didnt give specific information, I mostly play jazz, but more in the direction of Bill Frisell, or Julian Lage. I play with a solid body guitar.

I believe Julian Lage prefers early Fender tweed Champs, so probably something like the 5F1 circuit and derivatives. They break up earlier than amps typically associated with jazz, but Lage has his own sound and style and keeps the volume low.

Bill Frisell uses a lot of different amps and gets many different sounds, so you may have to look at a favorite album for a better idea.

Anyway, I don't sound like Lage nor Frisell, sadly, but mainly use a 5F1 Champ style amp built independently. (The person who built mine hasn't been here for a while, but there are a few independent builders. Resale values for lesser-known builder's amps are poor to nonexistent, though.)

I also have a solid state Vox 15R (discontinued) and, until recently, a Fender Pro Jr. Neither tube amp has reverb, so I use a pedal.

I also play at low volume at home, and typically use another pedal to get breakup. (I'm currently looking for a pedal better suited to that than my Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive, or the Fulltone OCD I just sold.)

 

[Tom Hicks]

A nice sounding, inexpensive tube amp is the Monoprice Stage Right 15; with 12AX7 preamp tubes and a pair of EL84 output tubes. It also has spring reverb.
The European version is badged Harley Benton from Thomann.
There are tons of YouTube videos on this amp that you can check out. It is an off-brand version of the Laney Cub.

 

[Beachbum]

I am sorry, I didnt mention this, I will use it at home only. So I guess I would like tube breakup at living room volumes, or maybe even a little louder wouldnt be a problem, as the neighbours havent complained till now lol.

This ten or twelve inch speaker.