Guitar amp advice please

How much is it? There are some amazing valve combos out there... I use an Orange and or a Hiwatt. The Hiwatt is expensive, costing more than a VOX AC30 but I managed to get the Orange ADR30 twin 12" for £650 a year or so ago...

quote:

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Originally posted by Neill S:
How much is it?

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It's about 600 of your British pounds.

I forgot to mention, I want something that is capable of doing jazz.

Minky:

Can you give us a few more details about this particular model? Has it got 1x12" speaker etc.?
Most importantly: is this one of the models with a fake tweed covering? Have you seen/played through one? If not then why do you want it?

Mole Man

Minky:

Further to my last post I have now re-read (i.e. read properly!) your question! It sounds great but perhaps a touch expensive at £600. Are you going to be using it with a band at volume or just as a practise amp at home? Do bear in mind that a Peavey is essentially a pcb based factory built amp and will not sound as good as either the Hiwatt/Orange/Vox amps already mentioned. However the differences will not become readily apparent until you are playing the amps side by side. (A bit like hi-fi in fact).

Mole Man

I've owned many (too many) Peavey amps in my time (Pacer, Reknown, Mace, Deuce, Backstage, maybe another one or two). The company is based in Mississippi and I grew up right next door in Arkansas, so they were cheap and plentiful. The one you mentioned (and a couple of other similar "retro-style" models are among the best they've ever offered, which, IMO, only makes them pretty good amps. The majority of their line is just plain un-good (including every one I've ever owned).

The Peavey Classic 30 is, however, a really nice working blues amp. Worth picking up if you run across one, but don't pay more than $300 or so.

Now, the Vox... oh my, there's an amp...

jay

This may be the best amp bargain out there:

Reverend Hellhound 40/60

Reverend sells direct, so you won't find 'em in stores, and the Hellhound is no longer made. But they show up on eBay routinely. There's one on there now for $400 (no bids). You can't buy better tone for even twice the money. It does all the good old Brit sounds, and some fantastic blues as well. Google it and check out the owner comments.

jay

Try to find one of the Ampeg re-issues that look like their old amps (chicken-head knobs, blue-grey vinyl, leather strap, etc.). I have one with 1-12" speaker, tubes, 15 watts; has a great warm, sparkly clean sound; when driven by a good distortion device like a Marshall "Guv'nor", does that Clapton/Beck thing well. Cheap, too.
Sorry I forget the model #...

Tested the Delta with some Fenders. The Delta's a heavy bugger and valves have to be cranked up to get a good sound but it sounded very, very good. I thought the Fender had a better jazz sound,which was what we were after at the time. Try to track down a super champ if you can.I think you might like it. Similar price, too.

Kevin

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll check out the Vox, Fender etc before I jump.

I was in the Music Ground in Leeds only yesterday. They had just got back from Germany where they had bought a whole van load of old and rare guitar amps from a collector. I didn't dare ask prices, but if you have the cash it might be worth giving them a call to see what they have and how much dosh for these genuine articles.

Get it custom built. Then it will be right!

Like I did. Not as expensive as you might think either:

http://www.torresengineering.com/

http://freespace.virgin.net/vyse.co/

Mole Man

£600 will get you a Cornford Harlequin.

Only 6 watts Class A, But it sounds excellent