What are the best deals out there on used amps ?

[JTurbide]

Hey y'all

I thinking of buying an amp (kinda leaning toward head+cab, I already had a combo before and would like to try a new setup, and I think it looks cooler hehe).
I'm super pissed off because I just missed a 69 Sunn Solarus for $650 CAD.
So yeah do you guys know any great amp (don't need to bee 100W, I'm gonna use it in my appartment with attenuator for at least 1-2 year so.. I'll be looking for a 1x12 or maximum 2x12 cab) that can be found at a good price ?
I think I can go up to $7-800 CAD for the head but would be a better decision to go for around $5-600. I've seen some vintage bassman for around $900... maybe a sound city ? Hiwatt ? (they look freaking expensive but IDK maybe there is some cheaper models ?) , Orange ?
I'm not necessarily looking for something with lots of gain, I'm not into metal, mostly playing psych rock, kraut, stoner, folk... but if the cleans are great I wouldn't mind having the option of more gain. Also, yeah I could go for a micro terror but even if it sound good it kinda looks like a toy and I don't dig that.

TLDR
So yeah, I'm all ears for cool tube amp heads that can be found at reasonable prices suggestions


edit: bought an orange OR15

[ognoy]

You live in Traynor-land, so I'd look for an old Traynor.
I love my YBA-1 to death, just saying.

[Davin]

Dude, you're in Canada, the heart of Traynor country. Old 1970s Traynors can still be had for decent prices although not as low as they were even just a few years ago. The YGL3 Mark 3 is an 80-100W Twin style (2 channel, tube driven reverb and tremolo) with a master volume and some Marshall-esque overdrive on tap, although you've got to crank it. It's a great clean platform though. I see these (either the combos or the heads) for around $500 USD. I scored mine for about $325 from a guy who lives in a trailer outside of Burlington VT ... he was super proud to tell me was used on some Phish album which wasn't exactly a selling point (for me at least).

The YBA line of bass amps are great too from what I've heard, but since they can really easily be modded into an early Marshall/Bassman style head, they usually command a bit of a higher price.

That era of Traynors are all P2P and built like tanks.

[sylnau]

Traynor have some great cleans. Ampeg have some great heads too.

[BetterOffShred]

Any of the late 60's or 70's Fender heads will do what you ask and can be had for that kind of cash. Most are in the 40-50 watt territory, though they are becoming rapidly more expensive the LESS watts they are... ($1400 for a Princeton reverb or more.. really?)

The cleans are amazing of course.. it's a Fender.. and they break up nicely, and power attenuators definitely let you get some grind out of them. ..
Just my 2 cents. I love fenders

[doommeow]

Traynor, all day long. There's always at least a couple Traynor's on MTL Cl - there's a Tube PA head up right now for $400. And that's probably CAD!

I'd tell you to KYEO for old Peavey's and Laney AOR series, but come on - Traynor!

[crochambeau]

I'd also keep "Garnet" on my search list, but join in the Traynor chorus as it's the more probable find.

[JTurbide]

COol thanks guys, I'll look for a YBA-1, don't hesitate to add suggestions or to suggest a good 1x12 cab/speaker to pair with a YBA-YRM.

[repoman]

My favorite readily available inexpensive amp is the Vox AC15C1, its not too hard to find them for 300-350 USD. Really loud for a 15w, not super heavy distortion.
Orange OR15s are supposed to be really great amps too, never played one though. Dunno what kind of headroom it has, they sound more doomy/oldschool Orange than the Terror amps from stuff I've heard.

[Olin]

As above, we have tons of Traynor's and Garnets around for real low prices. A YBA-1 sold for $380CAN just yesterday.

I've noticed a lot more Sunn stuff in Montreal than we get down here and it's usually pretty cheap as well, Sonaro's and the like for $400 are pretty great going and Ampeg V4's often pop up for around $600 too.

[tremolo3]

Love my YBA-1 too I'm using with a Sovtek 2x12 cab but only because it's what I could find. 2 years later I'm still waiting for a matching Traynor cab to pop on my local CL.
Keep in mind YBA1 is 45 Traynor watts, so will be louder than you'd think lol.

[Davin]

Love my YBA-1 too I'm using with a Sovtek 2x12 cab but only because it's what I could find. 2 years later I'm still waiting for a matching Traynor cab to pop on my local CL.
Keep in mind YBA1 is 45 Traynor watts, so will be louder than you'd think lol.

Traynor-watts.

I can vouch that my YGL3 is crazy loud. I usually run it at about 2 on the master volume. One time someone who shares our practice space thought it would be hilarious to turn up all my knobs to ten. It actually knocked me on my ass.

[retinal orbita]

Never owned a Traynor head myself but I've played with some guys that have them and they're great. I see them aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallll the time in Toronto for reasonable prices. Paul's Boutique and Cask Music are always listing them.

[horseblanket]

Just picked up a Traynor YSR-1.
I cannot believe how cool this thing is.
And along with everyone else's comments, super goddamn loud.

[PeterBregman]

My YGM-3 slays. I love it