So I'm looking at buying my first valve amp once some of my other gear on the marketplace here sells (shameless plug).
Just was looking for some advice. I pretty much solely play in the house, with the exception being when I go 300 yards down the road to my cousins for a guitar lesson and jam session. So it doesn't need to be uber loud, as the most it ever will have to do it one other amp and an electric drumkit, and even that's a once a month thing. I find my Peavey Bandit just too much volume for what I currently need and also too big for the bedroom.
In terms of tones I'm not really looking for anything too gainy, I prefer the sound of Fender cleans with pedals running into them or Voxy type crunch tones, but not such a big fan of dimed metal tones.
I'm currently looking at used Fender Superchamps, Vox AC4s, AC10s and Orange Tiny Terror combos, but am open to suggestions.
I suppose my budget all in would be £200-£250. I know this is asking a lot so will be looking at second hand gear, which is why I can't really test loads of amps in person.
Just so people are aware. I have no idea what any of these words mean.
Comments
Sparkling cleans
Gain when you need it
Reverb
In budget
Great reputation
Light enough to carry - and with an unusually comfortable handle for an amp this size - quiet enough for the house and loud enough to jam with, and should be within your budget second hand.
The Jensen speaker version tips it more towards the Fender/Vox sounds than the Marshall ones and the digital reverb is better than the spring, if you have a choice.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I like the sound of the H&K stuff from the clips I've seen, but I can't find any for sale anywhere for less than £350. Pretty much same story with the Bassbreaker.
Also, the Vox AC10 I was looking at has gone, so that's not an option any more.
Bonus is they can be got for under £150-200 used, so I have some budget left for some pedals should I want it.
Any more suggestions?
No, seriously that isn't a real problem. In fact I have an H&K Tubemeister in for repair just now - one of the ones with fewer valves - and I have a nasty suspicion that the fancy 'tube monitoring system' may be playing up. There's nothing wrong with a simple old-school valve amp no matter how many it has, although it has to be said that individual valves are less reliable than solid-state devices.
You may want to use some of that for a better speaker. The stock one is garbage if it's the HH.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
well done for saying valve amp, not 'tube'
Is it difficult and do I need a soldering iron?
I honestly think the VC15 with the Jensen is a better fit for your description though.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
My only issue thus far with what I've seen of the VC15 is it doesnt have the low-wattage built-in attenuator/input does it?
You can just turn the volume down on the VC15. Don't get hooked in by the 'low power' thing - you don't need low power for low volume (even if it's genuine), you just need a volume control.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
It's usually the MOSFET in the cathode.
https://jpfamps.com/hughes-kettner-tubemeister-18-repair/
To be honest I don't like lifting the cathode as a means of switching valves off as if there is an internal short the HT is still on the valve can can cause further damage.