Small 112 combo valve combo amps

timmysoft

recommendations please!

criteria:

small package (not fussed on weight!)
30w-100w
capable of rock through to metal (don't mind using a pedal to get that though)
budget £300 - £1300 (used or new)
must be valve!!

drwiddly

I bought a Wharfedale TCT35 when they blew them out about 5 years ago. It was a bit bland with the stock speaker so I put a CL80 in and it sings. Been dead reliable too.

Picked mine up for £135 (they were £799 new) and you do see the odd one come up on e-Bay well within your budget. I use mine in my back up Rig for small venues with my old Axe Ultra into the fx return. Sounds massive and it's loud enough for any pub gig and more.

shaunm

Marshall JCM800 4010. 

Does rock and with a OCD does metal no problem. 

Way under top budget

1x12 and not even that weighty

50 watt but very loud.

sweepy

A plus 1 for the JCM800, it'll cove that territory very nicely 

Telejester

OP is the amp for indoor use or playing out ?

If indoors the jcm800 will be far too loud unless you can attenuate it. Unattenuated you won't get it over a thin and weedy sounding 1 on the master volume, a jcm opened up around 6 on the master is a thing of beauty ( and bloody loud )

Cabicular

Boogie Mk IV?
Two Rock Gainmaster 22 (under 30W but don't be fooled...)
Badcat Hotcat 30
Buddah SuperDrive

Cabiculars picks.

timmysoft

I thought I might get a lot of jcm800 suggestions! It'll be both for home and rehearsal/live stuff, home volume is not an issue for me.

shaunm

timmysoft said:

I thought I might get a lot of jcm800 suggestions! It'll be both for home and rehearsal/live stuff, home volume is not an issue for me.

With good reason. They are the sound of rock and 80's metal. 

In all honesty, I just got one and I think it's brilliant. I'm not a metal player admittedly but it does do rock really rather well.

Gassage

Boogie MkIV.

hubobulous

Suhr Badger 30 or 35

Richardj

Look out a Rivera Pubster/Clubster/Chubster. I'm really happy with my Pubster 45 once I swapped out the Celestion 70/80 for something a bit better.  Loud and really dynamic.

mrleon83

Must surely be a boogie of some description ...  express/mark 4 or 5 .. loud proud and awesome ! 

sorefinga

Boogie Studio 22+ 

SquireJapan

Boogie Mark I re issue - I'm in the honeymoon period though.
Pros:
Takes pedals well, sounds good "au natural" - tricky to dial in at first
Has an effects loop
Simple - single channel
Good built in reverb (but not switchable)
Loud with lots of headroom
Can be picked up quite cheap (Saw one on here for £700)

Cons:
Needs something to tighten up the the bass if you want a modern drive (works well with my Suhr Riot) 
Not very forgiving
Really needs an EQ in the loop to get something really tight
Heavy as hell.
Like, really really heavy.
Heavy

siraxeman

timmysoft said:

I thought I might get a lot of jcm800 suggestions! It'll be both for home and rehearsal/live stuff, home volume is not an issue for me.

JVM combo....whichever you prefer! This demo below is a 215 (2x12 50w 2channel JVM) and what you hear is the direct emulated output. Live they sound even more betterer.

NelsonP

Saw this....

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_amps_detail.asp?stock=PX170205307293004

nick79

My money would go on a Mesa Boogie (in fact it did).
Mark series are excellent but not everyone - Tricky to dial in, but will do pretty much anything if you put the time in to get it. 
F series - Excellent cleans (the best i've heard), nice drive channel but it's different so might not work for you. Takes pedals like a boss though. 
Express series - Haven't played one but have heard good things. 
Rectoverb 25 combo - (I know, a shade under 30w but it's loud..) Will easily do rock/metal/jazz/country/whatever. 

My money went on a Mini Rectifier, and i'm glad i bought it. Does everything i need it to.
Mesa's do seem to divide opinion though, they aren't for everyone. 

SquireJapan

Biggest issue with the mesa's I've found is that the tone controls don't work how you'd expect. 

That scares off most people. Took me an age to still not really understand my Mark V. 

Great tones in there though, just that there's a lot of terrible ones too ...

siraxeman

Mesa....Marshall hmm. Just sold my express 5:50 2x12 combo. Great amp but personally I definitely prefer the more classic voicing of my DSL.  The mesa had a more fendery clean channel which I liked a lot. But the dirt channel had a more modern voicing which I like but not as much as the DSL's....taste!

SquireJapan

NelsonP said:

Saw this....

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_amps_detail.asp?stock=PX170205307293004

@timmysoft buy this now!

Ticks all the boxes.

nick79

SquireJapan said:

Biggest issue with the mesa's I've found is that the tone controls don't work how you'd expect. 

That scares off most people. Took me an age to still not really understand my Mark V. 

Great tones in there though, just that there's a lot of terrible ones too ...

That was the issue i had with my F50. I only really figured it out properly just before i sold it, and i only sold because i had talked myself into going for a Mini Rec. And to be fair the Mini is a lot easier to dial in. 

I would also say that all the Mesa's i have tried out need to be turned up loud to sound at their best, usually far higher than 'quiet home practice' levels. My F50 sounded like a totally amp once it was cranked up!