Need help about amps.

[Kodiak3D]

I'm planning sometime in the hopefully-not-too-distant-future to get a new tube amp. My current amp is a Zoom amp that sounds good, but I want to get the full tube sound.

Problem is...I know nothing about amps. I always like to make a very informed decision before I buy anything so that's where TheFret forum comes in so wonderfully.

I know that the kind of amp you want to get depends greatly on what sound you want. I enjoy music ranging from Zeppelin and Deep Purple to Eric Clapton to Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and right up to some European symphonic metal (Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, Nightwish, etc. if any of you are a fan). In other words, a pretty broad range of rock/metal.

Any suggestions of some amps that I should consider? Price is also an important factor (as always).

[Spudman***]

Bugera V22 is in your future. Based on the reviews and the type of music you like this sounds like a great amph for little $ that performs very well. Less than $300 at Music 123 right now.

http://www.bugera-amps.com/EN/products/V22.aspx

[Kodiak3D]

Very interesting amp, Spud. I like the the description, and it really IS rather affordable on Musician's Friend at $349.

[peachhead***]

Music123 has it for 15% off.

I like the looks of the v5 too, mostly because I don't need all the volume. What reviews I can dig up seem positive, and the price is right on both of 'em.

[Tig***]

Bugera V22 is in your future. Based on the reviews and the type of music you like this sounds like a great amph for little $ that performs very well. Less than $300 at Music 123 right now.
http://www.bugera-amps.com/EN/products/V22.aspx

Wow, I'm glad you brought this amp up, Spudman. It has a lot going for it without a big price tag. :yes

I bet I could gets screamin' solos with this amph!

[Tibernius]

(Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, Nightwish, etc. if any of you are a fan).

If you're after something that'll handle that kind of music at a reasonable price you're probably looking at a Bugera.
Personally I'd say the 333xl (Mesa Dual/Triple Rectifier copy), though it is 120 watts so it might be a bit much.

Another to consider would be the Blackstar HT-5, sounds good and can get all of those tones but a lot less watts. Probably cheaper too.

If you don't mind buying second hand keep an eye out for an Ashdown Fallen Angel. Very good for symphonic metal with the gain maxed, a sort of Mesa with a smoother distortion, it loves drop tunings and 7-strings as well. With the gain turned down a bit it'll handle Aerosmith/Zeppelin tones fairly easily.

[checkedgoldtop]

You might wanna try a used marshall dsl401. To be honest though, it's hard to beat a 60+watt solid state Crate for living room playing, I wish I still had mine.

[kiteman]

You might like a Blackheart Handsome Devil because it's 7/15 watts with a presense knob included. I have the head/1x12 cab version and it's solid. It comes with Chinese made tubes and I didn't like it. I retubed it with Mullard Reissues and it's so much better. It's my baby now.

By the way, there's nothing onboard but the tones and volumes and when you want effects there's pedals.

[tunghaichuan***]

Kiteman's suggestion was a good one. I have a Blackheart Little Giant head and I think it sounds great. It is a very simple circuit so you have to use pedals if you want a lot of high-gain dirt, which is what I do. The BH does overdrive, but you have to turn it up all the way to get it to give up the goods.

I can see wanting a tube amp for classic rock/blues sounds, but IIRC, many of the modern "chick-fronted metal bands" use 7 string guitars and Line6 amps. Do you have to have tubes?

I think a good choice for you might be one of the Roland Cube Series, either the 30, 60, or 80. They are not tubes, but they sound reasonably good. They also can cop the Dual Rectifier and other high gain tones.

Having said that, I second what Kiteman said. If you need more power than 5W and you really want tubes, you might want to step up to the BH Handsome Devil head. It is a 15W push pull circuit. You'd still have to use pedals for the modern high gain sounds, though.

[R.B. Huckleberry]

I'll second (or third, whichever) Kiteman's suggestion re: the Blackheart.

A buddy of mine on another forum is a Bugera dealer and has seen a lot of failure in them. The Blackhearts have a reputation of being solid & dependable.

[kiteman]

I'll second (or third, whichever) Kiteman's suggestion re: the Blackheart.

A buddy of mine on another forum is a Bugera dealer and has seen a lot of failure in them. The Blackhearts have a reputation of being solid & dependable.

If you go to his (Blackheart) site the man himself will show you why the Blackhearts are solid. They are overbuilt.

[Kodiak3D]

Gotta say, those Blackhearts sound pretty attractive as well. Probably make a purchase sometime around or slightly after Xmas, so I have to time to check them out.

[wingsdad]

Kodiak,

Bugera is Behringer in Sheep's clothing. Not necessarily a bad thing; I've got and had Behringer amps and gear, and it's great bang for the buck. But Berhinger gear has a rep for being less than durable if subjected to the rigors of the road. IMHO, it's fine for the confines of home/studio use. But it is what it is.

Tube purists will scoff at the suggestion, but if you want tube sound without the hassles, for the sounds/styles you've listed, then consider this for just over $300 -- check out the sound samples:

Tech21 Trademark30

T21 Dealers are tough to come by to check them out, but I'll recommend this online store. They add a year to the warranty, free shipping, no tax, and if you use a credit card, you can divide that into 3 monthly whacks to your card:

Tech21 TM30 at AmericanMusicalSupply
AMS doesn't stock it, but if you think you need more Oommph, I have the bigger brother, TM60. Fellow Fretter MarkB has one, too, and maybe he'll chime in here... Twice the power, 2-channel (switchable) with a whole different approach to sound shaping than the TM30, a bigger Accutronics spring reverb tank, a 12" Celestion Seventy 80, it's in the mid-$500 price range (new). Check it out, and the sound clips:

Tech21 TM60

I owned and played Fender tubes as a pup in the 60's(Geez...my long-gone '65 Deluxe Reverb for $169... ...Bandmaster, Tremolux, Super Reverb ) and Peavey tubes (Mace 2x12 ) into the 80's. I swear the T21 gets everything I could get out of any of those. Without the aggravation.

If you score the TM30 from AMS and you find that it doesn't make you cream your jeans like 'real tubes' can, you can send it back to AMS...they carry Bugera, too, but apparently not the smaller combo amps.

[markb]

<SNIP>

Tech21 TM60

I owned and played Fender tubes as a pup in the 60's(Geez...my long-gone '65 Deluxe Reverb for $169... ...Bandmaster, Tremolux, Super Reverb ) and Peavey tubes (Mace 2x12 ) into the 80's. I swear the T21 gets everything I could get out of any of those. Without the aggravation.

<SNIP>

My TM60 was originally supposed to be a backup for a silver face Vibrolux. It just sort of took over due to the convenience and sheer quality of sound. Fendery cleans, a range of "on the edge" tones and Marshally drive. It likes pedals too. I've had it for nearly 15 years now. I had to have a repair done to the power supply earlier this year. Smoothing caps fail in solid state amps too.