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And I'm truly starting from 'no opinion'.

I've used the same 120W 5150 head/Marshall 4x12 cab forever for guitar, and a Sunn Concert Bass and Marshall 2x10 for my bassings. Those will remain my gigging amps but I need something like a 5-10 watt tube guitar combo just for dragging to smaller jams. I'd like to keep it under 5 bills but am open to suggestions.

What about something like a Fender Pro Junior?

A-wai Custom do a low watt head that I'm pretty sure is based on the 5150. Based in France though, but their prices are super reasonable for what you get. If you're interested pm me and I can dig up some links and email addresses and stuff (bought my amp from them last year).

Mesa boogie studio 22 +, can usually be had around 5 bills, and is what I use as my bedroom brawler, was kinda in the same boat not to long ago, as at times my 6505+ was to damn loud.

Fender Blues Junior

goroth wrote:A-wai Custom do a low watt head that I'm pretty sure is based on the 5150. Based in France though, but their prices are super reasonable for what you get. If you're interested pm me and I can dig up some links and email addresses and stuff (bought my amp from them last year).

I am interested...very interested.

Also checking out the other suggestions. More please.

braaandooon wrote:Mesa boogie studio 22 +, can usually be had around 5 bills, and is what I use as my bedroom brawler, was kinda in the same boat not to long ago, as at times my 6505+ was to damn loud.

I've been seeing a couple of these even go for under $400. Some of the discontinued non-Mark series shit can be had at a reasonable price these days, and are great amps.

I had an Egnater Rebel 20 for a while and it sounded really good. The Tweaker 15 head is also great and very reasonably priced (especially used).

Are you looking for a clean pedal platform primarily, or do you want something with really good drive built in?

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.

I love the Blackheart Handsome Devil. Low amp-gain/ overdrive, fan-freaking-tastic with pedals. Cheap on the used market too. Like 'em so much I have two - one combo and one amp head.

I had a modded Epiphone Valve Junior head and liked that amp a lot too, but the Handsome Devil beat it out that, and a JCM800 combo, as the keepers.

doommeow wrote:- Fender VibroChamp. Love em.

And check for older Fender Broncos as well. VibroChamp circuit but usually much cheaper ($350).

It's a little more wattage than you said, but I use a Marshall JTM30 for bedroom/practice and I fuckin' love it. You could defintely get one under 5 bills.

Not a combo, but I kind of love my THD Univalve. Easily can find one on the cheap used. You can get mellow clean and if you have a big bottle a fairly decent amount of headroom. You can also use the hot plate and get pretty decent tube saturation/distortion at acoustic guitar volumes. I play mine a lot at night after everyone is in bed and no one wakes up. I also play with a band and as long as I have something like a 6L6 or 5150/KT88 I have enough headroom to hand with the drummer. Also, hot swappable tubes so you can hear what each tube sounds like, which is really nice for learning nuances of each one, help you pick out other amps in the future.

VHT special six. Well under $500. I think some can be found under $300 (I got mine for $275). 10" speaker, easily modded, takes pedals pretty good. Perfect to throw around.
Maybe an Excelsior...?

Hyphen Nation wrote:Not a combo, but I kind of love my THD Univalve. Easily can find one on the cheap used. You can get mellow clean and if you have a big bottle a fairly decent amount of headroom. You can also use the hot plate and get pretty decent tube saturation/distortion at acoustic guitar volumes. I play mine a lot at night after everyone is in bed and no one wakes up. I also play with a band and as long as I have something like a 6L6 or 5150/KT88 I have enough headroom to hand with the drummer. Also, hot swappable tubes so you can hear what each tube sounds like, which is really nice for learning nuances of each one, help you pick out other amps in the future.

I've got a Univalve as well. Great cleans that go pretty loud, as you say, with a 6L6 or KT66. The difference between the power tube types isn't as great as I would have thought they would be. Mostly it's a difference in headroom and output volume, but it's still nice to be able to adjust that without dicking around with rebiasing.

I got mine used for $550 a couple years back. You can probably get one now <$500 if you look around.