culturejam wrote:
Are you looking for a clean pedal platform primarily, or do you want something with really good drive built in?
And Master Volume or no?
My 3 favorite low watters, all of which can be had in that budget, all or none of which may meet the OPs needs-
- Gibson Goldtone, either the 5W single ended job or the 15RV. (Vintage Gibson, especially tweed era, are nice too)
- Marshall JTM-1. Pricey, but damn cool. Probably the 'best' amp out there for low volume non-MV toanz
- Fender VibroChamp. Love em. Run them through a bigger cab and go wild, make a great clean platform for lower volume stuff. The Champ600 also fits the bill for mucho less.
Of course pedals are always in play. But something that dirties up nice on its own would help me when I jam with the old heads around here.
Great suggestions here, I want to check out the Hot Rod Pro Jr, the Blackheart, the VHT... GC has Memorial day coupons so I might do some spending this weekend. Thanks.
The Blackhearts aren't made anymore, but I got my Handsome Devil head for $150 from Guitar Center (used). The combos can be found for about $200-$225 used, and they have a very good OEM Eminence-made speaker. It's a great pedal platform, I can get anything from great garage rock tones with a boost and fuzz face or tonebender, all the way up to total funeral sludge doom with muff stacking or a Megalith, or grind goodness with a HM2. Likes my crazy Sepukku Octave Drone for noise punk, and I've used them to do electronic noise shows.
yo I want to get one of the new Tubescreamer combo amps Ibanez is putting out, but replace the TS circuit with a fucking Super Fuzz or something. gnarlston chew.
+Andy played the Stooges, Thin Lizzy and Guided By Voices in the demo which makes me want to buy things.
The Blackheart amps were designed by the same engineer that designed the Epiphone Valve Jr. The Little Giant is like an upgraded V Jr. I found the Handsome Devil to be more useful, but I'll get another Little Giant when I have some dollahs. I have the Killer Ant too, great-cheap fractional wattage amp.
