Guitarist Guild: A Musical Community Beyond Strings

Gear Discussion => Amplifiers => Topic started by: Scarebear on April 30, 2014, 12:53:21 PM

Title: The quest for my first tube amplifier head
Post by: Scarebear on April 30, 2014, 12:53:21 PM
Apologies if I've mentioned this already on this forum, but I thought I'd share the article series I'm working on this year as I attempt to find what could be my first ever tube amplifier head (I'm currently a solid-state man). I've just written my 18th article in the series (a nice looking little amplifier by Mooer (http://www.scarebear.org/2014/04/52-amplifier-heads-week-18%E2%80%94mooer-little-monster-bm)). That's 18 different heads to date by 18 different amplifier manufacturers. If all goes to plan, by the end of the year I'd have located and written about 52 different amplifier manufacturers (with an entry level model for the likes of me).

You'll always see the entire article list here (http://www.scarebear.org/tags/52-amplifiers). Enjoy!
Title: Re: The quest for my first tube amplifier head
Post by: AtrumKithara on May 01, 2014, 04:11:43 AM
I would like a tube amp, partly just because they are easier to fix.  I have three solid state amps currently: A keyboard amp for my keyboard which works ok for that purpose, a Rocktron 50 watt model from the nineties, very heavy gain and lots of volume when it worked normally.  Now it only works when it is open and I poke the pc board with a chopstick (amp repair guy said it probably costs more to fix it than I paid for it), and a Fender Starfire amp someone (who had good intentions, but no clue about guitars) gave me as a gift which worked twice before starting to cut out.

Plus I like the way you can overdrive the tubes and the way a tube amp sounds.  Of course it does mean having to replace the tubes every so often when they burn out, but people say you have to replace guitar strings too... we shall see.

I would like to get a nice entry level tube amp and I will be looking forward to seeing your reviews throughout the year.
Title: Re: The quest for my first tube amplifier head
Post by: Scarebear on May 01, 2014, 01:01:39 PM
Quote from: AtrumKithara on May 01, 2014, 04:11:43 AM
but people say you have to replace guitar strings too... we shall see.

That's gold :)

I hope you enjoy the series. I came close to purchasing a Blackstar not long after writing my article about that amp. I was outbid on eBay in the dying seconds. Maybe that's a good thing though. Who knows what I'll discover later this year.
Title: Re: The quest for my first tube amplifier head
Post by: Scarebear on May 07, 2014, 12:21:23 PM
I've just written the week 19 article. Dr. J Pedal Lover 3.5 watt head (http://www.scarebear.org/2014/05/52-amplifier-heads-week-19%E2%80%94drj-pedal-lover). Dr. J is a sub-brand of JOYO. I'm not sure if anybody here has a JOYO pedal, but they're pretty sturdy for the prices you can get them on eBay. I wonder if they make good budget amps as well ...
Title: Re: The quest for my first tube amplifier head
Post by: Scarebear on July 16, 2014, 10:21:24 AM
I had to share this week's article because I want this amp so bad! The Peavey ValveKing Micro-head (http://www.scarebear.org/2014/07/52-amplifier-heads-week-29%E2%80%94peavey-valveking-micro-head). This looks and sounds like it's a sexy amplifier. I don't suppose anybody here has one or knows someone who has one? I'd love to hear an unbiased opinion on this amplifier from someone who knows.