what do you think of this amplifier? I am trying to electrify my harp and am looking for an all tube amp around 15 watts, but don't know much about tubes, brands etc. Looking for some input on what i should look for and what i should stay away from. Anything would help. Flaming is welcome as well.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/633663150.html

Thanks all! (this thread can be moved to where ever)

Ill be back in an hour to check up on

4/8/2008 4:55:19 PM

THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LYRICS

"Toob Amplifier"

I got myself a brand new tube amplifier
It's large and lovely to behold
La, La, La, La, La
I got myself a new tube amplifier
Now I'm gonna blow a big one

I got myself a little tube amplifier
It's large and lovely and it smells just like a dream
I got myself a tube amplifier
Now I'm gonna blow a big one

I got myself a brand new big bertha driver
Gonna take it to the range (take it to the range)
I got myself a new big bertha driver
Now I'm gonna hit a big one

I got myself a brand new cymbal supplier
They're really good they're Sabian
They're great they're Sabian
I got myself a new cymbal supplier
Now I'm gonna crash
Now I'm gonna hit
Now I'm gonna blow a big one

4/8/2008 4:58:00 PM

I've actually heard some pretty good things about this amp, but you are going to get a lot of Peavey haters. Check out musicians friend or harmony central for reviews. Prety much any tube amp and a nice microphone is gonna sound better than solid state imo.

[Edited on April 8, 2008 at 4:58 PM. Reason : a]

4/8/2008 4:58:22 PM

Quote :

"I am trying to electrify my harp"

4/8/2008 5:13:33 PM

A peavey classic is a good amp in that price range.


Check these out:


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Pro-Junior-Combo-Amp?sku=480511


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Palomino-v16-Class-A-Tube-Combo-Amp?sku=487826


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Valve-Jr-HalfStack?sku=481475&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=60968511

I know some outstanding players who swear by these things after a few mods.

http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/specials/ValveJrPjt/EVJ-01.htm


You should also look into some old fender champs.

4/8/2008 5:20:12 PM

Aha!

I own one of that very model of amp. Had it for almost 10 years now, though I admittedly don't play much anymore. It's got a great clean sound, with nice reverb. I don't get into the drive too much; works ok I suppose but I'm not a connoisseur of that sort of thing. It can get pretty loud when you want it to also.

Summary: I like it. Has served me well. Worth your time to check out, at least IMO.

4/8/2008 5:27:01 PM

Wait, I'm curious. How many people on TWW actually qualify as 'tube amp aficionados'?
Raise your hand now, please.

4/8/2008 5:33:57 PM

Move to entertainment perhaps? That is where the cool guitar kids tend to loiter.

4/8/2008 8:30:19 PM

yeah all the guitar nerds hang out in Entertainment

4/8/2008 8:48:10 PM

it depends on what style of music you play. Are you looking for the clean tone of blues/country? or distorted sounds of hard rock? It'd be good for the clean tone.

4/8/2008 8:51:57 PM

*hand raised*

'cept only hi-fi stuff, not commercial equipment.

4/8/2008 8:59:07 PM

get it

4/8/2008 9:16:56 PM

vacuum tubes have no turn-on voltage, so technically, they are more sensitive to certain types of tones than a typical tube based circuit. But, there are some fairly easy ways to workaround this aspect of transistors that would give the same output as a typical transistor based circuit. Whether or not these workarounds are normally employed, I don't know, but it could account for the supposed differences people hear in the 2 types of amps.

[Edited on April 8, 2008 at 9:30 PM. Reason : ]

4/8/2008 9:30:31 PM

A peavey classic 30 is a GREAT amp for its class and size. I dont know much about its pricing though. But it is definitely solid.

4/8/2008 9:45:46 PM

Looking for real gritty chicago blues sound...

example

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LydD3tAzzFQ&feature=related

So ya think i should find out more about the tubes?^^

[Edited on April 8, 2008 at 10:23 PM. Reason : Preciate the input guys]

4/8/2008 10:21:49 PM

I have played and owned the delta blues version of the Peavey classic it was pretty good. I just acquired a Epiphne valve Jr head and it is by far the most fun little amp I have ever had (this is all for guitar however but a blues harpist friend of mine swears by the valve jrs)

4/8/2008 10:28:41 PM

low ball him $250, he might sell it to you for that. I think the fair price is probably $300.

4/9/2008 1:35:59 AM

Hey, I've got a Peavey Delta Blues (30watts, 15" speaker) with JJ's and I've played a classic 30 and I love them both. I was looking at downsizing at one point but I can't get away from how much I love my delta blues. Great amp, and I agree with ^ $300 would be an acceptable offer for this amp.

[Edited on April 9, 2008 at 2:08 AM. Reason : .]

4/9/2008 2:07:10 AM

If you have the money to spend, I don't think it's a bad idea to try out a tube.

According to this: http://www.milbert.com/tstxt.htm they definitely have a different sound than solid states, but it's not necessarily more "accurate" or "better" just different. Also, there are several computer programs that are programmed to reproduce the characteristics of tube amps (and probably solid state amps designed to do the same). I'm pretty sure even Garageband that comes with any Mac can do this.

4/9/2008 2:07:24 AM