Best Cheap Amp Head Out there?

[Aceman]

Used or New, Digital, Solid State, Hybrid, or Tube, Full Size or Mini, current or classic.

What, in your opinion, is the best value in an amp head for playing rock to heavy metal?

What's it cost? Why is it a great amp and a great value?

[the guy who invented fire]

It's gonna be real hard to beat a Peavy Windsor for rock with maybe a Boss SD-1 in front for heavier tones...

I don't know I I'd try to do a world tour without a backup but those things sell for less than 3 bills all the time and for a 100 watt tube head thats a deal...

[kevlar3000]

It's gonna be real hard to beat a Peavy Windsor for rock with maybe a Boss SD-1 in front for heavier tones...

I don't know I I'd try to do a world tour without a backup but those things sell for less than 3 bills all the time and for a 100 watt tube head thats a deal...

I have seen many under 200.00 on Craigslist, cool heads, much like their VTM and Butcher heritage..

[guitfiddle]

I have seen many under 200.00 on Craigslist, cool heads, much like their VTM and Butcher heritage..

I was skeptical about the Butcher, from the name and the fact that Peavey made it. Well, when I got to play an old one, I tried to get a bad sound out of it, and couldn't. Totally changed my view of them.

[STRATDELUXER97]

I was skeptical about the Butcher, from the name and the fact that Peavey made it. Well, when I got to play an old one, I tried to get a bad sound out of it, and couldn't. Totally changed my view of them.

The first version Butcher was modeled after the JCM 800 I thought?

[MetalManiac]

Okay, this thread is all over the map. Define "cheap".
The Peavey Windsor as has been suggested, but Those things are throwaway amps..not that they are too terribly cheaply made, although hardly Mil-Spec, but just that fixing them just isnt usually an option becasue they are so circuitboard intensive and difficult to service.Not sure their service life, but I'm thinking its a limited one. "Cheap" and "Build quality" aint two synonymous terms.

[kevlar3000]

Okay, this thread is all over the map. Define "cheap".
The Peavey Windsor as has been suggested, but Those things are throwaway amps..not that they are too terribly cheaply made, although hardly Mil-Spec, but just that fixing them just isnt usually an option becasue they are so circuitboard intensive and difficult to service.Not sure their service life, but I'm thinking its a limited one. "Cheap" and "Build quality" aint two synonymous terms.

That is why I love Traynors so much... Cheap and indestructible, talking the old Traynor's only...

[MetalManiac]

That is why I love Traynors so much... Cheap and indestructible, talking the old Traynor's only...

Ha! Traynes are built to survive the next Ice Age. The problem..the cheaper Marshall Transformers as opposed to the massive Hammond Traynor transformers are better to saturate. Sunn took off as opposed to Traynor casue Stoners/ Doom/ Drone guys arent into the Traynors cause the EQ grunt of a Sunn is more bass/mid heavy.
The Traynor can be modified ( especially the Bassmaster) to approximate the old Marshall Plexis, but you can only get so far due to the transformers.
They sound great as is, but the Traynor knockoffs (YGL-3A twin reverb copy and YBA-1/A bassman copy) justs never had the attention to layout detail , nor the tone of the Twin or Plexi.

[TwilightOdyssey]

By 'cheap' I am assuming you mean 'inexpensive', not 'shoddily built'.

Bumbox Lead 1! Made right here in the US by a boutique builder, practical for everything save gigging; great tone; incredible value.

[IanBallard]

I wouldn't discount the Fender Mustang for value and good tones. The Mustang V sounds great through the Celestion 4x12 cab. The whole deal goes for less than $500 new. Plus, it's going to be more reliable for gigging, than tube heads.

[TwilightOdyssey]

it's going to be more reliable for gigging, than tube heads.

[IanBallard]

Yeah, kinda wondering about that too.

Ian - what are you basing that on ?

Well... solid state/digital doesn't blow fuses, blow caps, tubes or other things. Even as a drummer, I used to carry hoards of fuses and other amp stuff, because it was routine in a heavy-gigging band, for tube amps to crap out from time to time. Are we seriously going to deny that tube amps are less reliable than solid state? I'm not saying I am against tubes... I love them but those idea that tube amps, no matter what the brand are going to be reliable night after night during hardcore nightly gigging playing loud rock, without having an amp tech touring with you is itself pure

You're going to have to spend some money to find a really well-engineered and designed tube amp that has the reliability necessary.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Well... solid state/digital doesn't blow fuses, blow caps, tubes or other things. Even as a drummer, I used to carry hoards of fuses and other amp stuff, because it was routine in a heavy-gigging band, for tube amps to crap out from time to time. Are we seriously going to deny that tube amps are less reliable than solid state? I'm not saying I am against tubes... I love them but those idea that tube amps, no matter what the brand are going to be reliable night after night during hardcore nightly gigging playing loud rock, without having an amp tech touring with you is itself pure

You're going to have to spend some money to find a really well-engineered and designed tube amp that has the reliability necessary.

Solid state amps usually just blow! ;o)

[IanBallard]

Solid state amps usually just blow! ;o)

Well, I was referring to modelling amps, not old fashioned SS amps. That's certainly your opinion and we all have them, but when somebody suggests "cheap amp heads", I simply suggested a very versatile amp head that is fairly inexpensive, provides you with tons of tonal possibilities and won't blow up when you crank it night after night. You aren't going to find a "reliable and cheap" tube head, very easily. Maybe a Jet City. That would be my second choice.

[crguti]

look no further

[Phantasmagoria]

All of $156 new in the box...






Clean:





Drive:



15 watt all tube 2 channel head...

Great value for $156...

I just ordered one with an empty 2x12 cab (additional $50) + $220 shipping from China...


...can't wait to check it out

[TheLivingDead]

All of $156 new in the box...






Clean:





Drive:



15 watt all tube 2 channel head...

Great value for $156...

I just ordered one with an empty 2x12 cab (additional $50) + $220 shipping from China...


...can't wait to check it out

Dude, please review it when you put it through it's paces.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Dude, please review it when you put it through it's paces.

A big +1 to that. I have no interest in the amp, but am sooo curious!

[Aceman]

Dude, please review it when you put it through it's paces.

A big +1 to that. I have no interest in the amp, but am sooo curious!

indeed - please!

[Phantasmagoria]

Dude, please review it when you put it through it's paces.

A big +1 to that. I have no interest in the amp, but am sooo curious!

indeed - please!

Sure guys..I'll do that

I'm very curious about it too, being that it costs about as much as a decent pedal..

...and an empty 2x12 cab for $50 (or $100, loaded with Chinese celestions) ....wtf!?

Though tbh, price apart, I would pick it over any other 15-30 watt head out there ..based on the way it sounds in those demo's alone.