What is the best tube amp for under $400

Happyorange27 · September 15, 2010, 07:59:02 AM

I want to get a quality tube amp on a budget. Please point me in the right direction. I'm pretty much looking at Fender tube amps on ebay or craigslist.

Please yay or nay the Hot Rod series, Blues, Deluxe Reverb (hard to find), Champ, etc.

Should I avoid reissues?
Should I save up for a higher dollar amp because I'm limiting myself with $400?

I don't need big watts, I just want quality tone. Any thoughts are very much appreciated.

patrickstefanski · September 15, 2010, 08:35:09 AM

check out guitar center "used gear"
you can do a custom search within the used stuff, and they always have a revolving inventory.

i currently play a fender deluxe reverb reissue, and have zero plans to play anything else...ever

Happyorange27 · September 15, 2010, 08:42:36 AM

Wow I would not have thought of this avenue. Thanks for your feedback. Glad you have an amp you love.

jadirusso · September 15, 2010, 08:53:52 AM

Yeah I play a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue as well and while I know the reissue's have a bad rap mine's working out pretty good for me. You may want to do some mods on it at some point tho if you do decide to get a DRRI. The DR's will likely cost you more than $400 tho.

patrickstefanski · September 15, 2010, 08:57:29 AM

Quote from: jadirusso on September 15, 2010, 08:53:52 AM
Yeah I play a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue as well and while I know the reissue's have a bad rap mine's working out pretty good for me. You may want to do some mods on it at some point tho if you do decide to get a DRRI. The DR's will likely cost you more than $400 tho.

what kind of mods? I've lately been thinking about putting a little money into my amp.
I know there is the big 'alcino" vs. celestion debate with trey's speaker.
also i think he replaces the lead tube with a whole different one.

what else have you done to yours?

ColForbin · September 15, 2010, 09:21:52 AM

Happy Orange - If you are looking to only spend about $400, I am a fan of those Fender Pro Jr's, it only has 1 - 10" speaker but in terms of bang for your buck, it's pretty sweet. You could also plug it into an 8 ohm speaker cabinet. But they are quite rugged and if $400 is your budget it's pretty hard to beat, especially if you are playing mostly at home. I also play a Fender 65 DRRI and am a pretty big fan of it. I also have an 8 ohm Hard Truckers cab that I can plug into that amp, which makes it sound quite deadly.

In terms of mods, I had a little work done on the circuit board to convert the reverb circuit so it works with both channels. It's a pretty easy mod to do, but as you guys know, the stock DRRI only has the vibrato and reverb on the second channel and not the first. I have also changed out the tubes, and I think it sounds deadly. If I were changing out the speaker, I would be very tempted to get a 12" tone tubby, the same as I have in my HT cab. They just sound so incredible. But I can't see me spending anymore money until I acquire my guitar from AO, it's all designed, just got to save up for the deposit funds.

jadirusso · September 15, 2010, 09:40:31 AM

Patrick.. I haven't really mod'd mine yet. I have thought about some stuff that I'd like to do tho. For a while I was getting that high end fizz so I was frantically looking for mod's to get rid of it but that seems to have mellowed quite drastically with more and more usage and I'm much happier with the sound I'm getting now so I'm not in a huge rush to mod.
Poster suggested a push/pull mid boost mod which I would love to get done and I definitely intend to try some different preamp tubes very soon. I'd also like to try some of the different speakers that people have suggested.

patrickstefanski · September 15, 2010, 09:58:37 AM

Quote from: ColForbin on September 15, 2010, 09:21:52 AM
In terms of mods, I had a little work done on the circuit board to convert the reverb circuit so it works with both channels. It's a pretty easy mod to do, but as you guys know, the stock DRRI only has the vibrato and reverb on the second channel and not the first. I have also changed out the tubes, and I think it sounds deadly. If I were changing out the speaker, I would be very tempted to get a 12" tone tubby, the same as I have in my HT cab. They just sound so incredible. But I can't see me spending anymore money until I acquire my guitar from AO, it's all designed, just got to save up for the deposit funds.

Quote from: jadirusso on September 15, 2010, 09:40:31 AM
Patrick.. I haven't really mod'd mine yet. I have thought about some stuff that I'd like to do tho. For a while I was getting that high end fizz so I was frantically looking for mod's to get rid of it but that seems to have mellowed quite drastically with more and more usage and I'm much happier with the sound I'm getting now so I'm not in a huge rush to mod.
Poster suggested a push/pull mid boost mod which I would love to get done and I definitely intend to try some different preamp tubes very soon. I'd also like to try some of the different speakers that people have suggested.

Thanks guys. Yeah, my only quam with DRRI is the mids. At least I think it's the DRRI, might be the rest of my gear, but a mid range boost anywhere would probably help me.

jadirusso--god damn that is a fine piece of koa, you must be buzzing.

Walker done done · September 15, 2010, 01:15:34 PM

I'd reco the HotRod Delux. I currently use this as my main amp and have not only no complaints but friggin' love the overdrive channel on here. The only mods I've done are a Tone Tubby speaker and swapped some tubes (most notably a NOS RCA 12AX7 from the 60's)

Happyorange27 · September 15, 2010, 01:30:37 PM

Quote from: Walker done done on September 15, 2010, 01:15:34 PM
I'd reco the HotRod Delux. I currently use this as my main amp and have not only no complaints but friggin' love the overdrive channel on here. The only mods I've done are a Tone Tubby speaker and swapped some tubes (most notably a NOS RCA 12AX7 from the 60's)

Thanks Walker, that makes me feel a little better because I dig these too, but was afraid that it wouldn't allow me to get Trey tones (since everyone is bowing down to the DR). But I'm sure it can be dialed in to get just the amount of clean/dirt/bounce/dynamics that will indeed make it worthy.

jadirusso · September 15, 2010, 01:36:22 PM

Orange.. I had a HotRod Deville 2x12 that I used for a long time and it is definitely a nice choice for the price so don't fear that the HotRod's won't get you a nice sound that you'll like because it likely will.

Walker done done · September 15, 2010, 01:45:30 PM

Quote from: jadirusso on September 15, 2010, 01:36:22 PM
Orange.. I had a HotRod Deville 2x12 that I used for a long time and it is definitely a nice choice for the price so don't fear that the HotRod's won't get you a nice sound that you'll like because it likely will.

Hey Russo - what's your profile pic anyways? Is that new? If so who's building it? That's one fucking sexy piece of Koa. I'd do it.

jadirusso · September 15, 2010, 01:54:31 PM

Hey Walker.. my name is Joe. AO is building my guitar.. the pic is the layout that I think I like the best out of the 4 that Andrew sent me for my Koa top. And yes kudos to Andrew's Koa guy for finding a really nice piece. And I know you are close to Andrew's place so just don't go making a mess on my Koa

strato · September 15, 2010, 03:46:12 PM

Yo dog..
hope you like the pics.

Check out a Carvin Vintage 16...killer tone. Also, Fender blues Jr...similar..compare the 2 side by side.

sour d · September 15, 2010, 04:30:34 PM

I have a hot rod deluxe for sale. It's one of the earlier made in the usa ones. $325. Sounds great.