TUBE Amp Hunt ( > $600)

I have been on the hunt for a hard-wearing, portable, versatile, warm sounding, low watt, tube combo amplifier, for rehearsals, recordings, studio and stage.
I need a workhorse that responds well to effects, sits well in the mix and won't break the bank.

Styles I play: primarily hard rock, blues, funk-rock, punk, with occasional psychedelic, reggae, jazz or even rockabilly interludes

Some of the tones I would like to aim for:
Hendrix - foxy lady
The Raconteurs - level
The London Souls - i think i like it
The white stripes - no faith in medicine
Band of Skulls - death by diamonds and pearls

Some of the choices on my list:

The Peavey Windsor Studio 20w 1x12 tube combo
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Peavey-Windsor-Studio-20W-1x12-Tube-Combo-Amp-104473640-i1386608.gc

Egnater Tweaker 112 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo
http://www.zzounds.com/item--EGNTWEAKER112

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III 40w 1x12 (if i can find one used it might just be within the budget)
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Hot-Rod-Deluxe-III-40W-1x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=H12889&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=597755105

Though I am open to more suggestions and opinions.

I know the amp for me exists, please help me find it

fender blues jr and buy some pedals. It Rawks.

The 40w one is great but heacy and takes up all the money

THe windsor is a damn good amp, however i dont think it compares to the blues, same with the egnator.

What id do is buy a blues jr. (i think theyre like 300 or 350?)

And buy a good distortion pedal. and build up your pedal collection. I think this is the best way to go, because the 15w blues jr is more then travelproof (it weighs very little and is very small) it has a good speaker in it, and is very loud, easily heard over the loudest drummer. On some studio albums youd be suprised how many people just use a blues jr or sometype of fender.

THis way i can garentee you eventually youll want amnother tube amp, and youll have the pedals and youll already have a good amp. Just the way to go IMO. The others are good, but i know for a fact that both of those sound nothing like a blues jr clean wise, and when you put a pedal in front of it and eq it right the blues jr just sounds tons better then those distortions...

Youll even have 300 left over to spend on pedals! Check out the barber tone pump. I got mine for 100, it acts as a slight boost or can go to that jack white style hardcore rock n roll.

It is a very trebly amp, but you can eq it well, dont be afraid to turn the treble almost all the way down. The best i can say is try all them, however put a pedal in front of the blues jr. (it doesnt really come with distortion...) and compare.

Yeah I think I'd go with the Hotrod, or a blues jr like EMB said, then get some pedals. Jack White uses a big muff so you should probably get one of those, theyre pretty cheap as far as quality distortion pedals go i think

i've seen some fender tubes (hot rod or blues jr. i don't remember if it was one, the other, or both) on my local craigslist for $400-450. that's quite a bit under your budget

sorry guys just went to the store earlier and tried the rebel 30w 1x12 combo and Im in love, tried a couple fenders too but they have such an Americana tone to them, I want to be able to get a little British invasion in there too. The rebel has so many useful features for the studio too....



just found one of the rebel 30w 2x12s used on Musiciansfriend for 700 (savings of $400!!) its over budget but oh soo creamy...

ah funk it

proceed to checkout..

:)

mmmm new gear buzzz

Yeah brotha. Music is your passion. You may leave there with a little buyers remorse for a day or two but you will be happy for many days to come. I almost never buy anything but food and pay bills. But when it comes to something that I love and it involves music, I will get it. You only live once!

They screwed up my order and messed me around for a week before telling me that not only was the amp I selected not yet shipped but it was not even in stock and would be on back-order indefinitely! :(

Unacceptable! :-/

I called and complained to several people.

Thanks to Mary at the musiciansfriend customer care center
I got upgraded to the Renegade 65w 2x12 ! d (^_^) b
More juice no extra charge!
I even got them to bump the shipping up to 2 day air mail
...
so its back to waiting impatiently

Listen..................was that a knock at the door? Quick Harley RUN DUDE!
(hehehehehe I sent the "witnesses" to his house) shhhhhhhhhhh!
Phip

a knock...
....
....
:( not the amp
dam you Phip

i love those pesky witnesses, have a bunch of leaflets printed and waiting next to my door about the scientific method and the beauty of evolutionary theory.
and if those don't work i offer them coffee and get out the old copy of the origin of species
this really ticks them off

after 25 days of waiting and a whole bunch of F**k ups by UPS and Musicians friend my amp arrived today...

arrived completely destroyed in 10 or more pieces today...

it was clearly packed by a blind man with no thumbs + looked like UPS rolled it down a mountainside then opened it up and beat the insides with a hammer (2 of the tubes were smashed and there were a bunch of electrical components stuck to the speaker magnates)...

in the blink of an eye my excitement turned to disappointment and anger...

Wide eyed and red faced i exclaimed, "you must be kidding me!" and told the delivery driver to throw it back on the truck...

dizzy with rage i called up musicians friend... they tried to get me to pay yet more money to get another amp. i tried to get them to place this suggestion into one of their bodily orifices ...

after some deliberation (an hour or so) i now have another (brand spanking new) Egnater renegade 65w 212 on its way to me + $75 store credit.

it only took a total of 25 days of waiting, 3 separate amp orders, 3 phone calls and 2 emails to MF, 2 phone calls and an email to UPS to get to this point...

...damn dude

That blows.

Yep it really does, but ultimately Im the winner.
its been a huge pain in that ass but a pain in the
ass which saved me about $600.
To be honest i kind of relish the opportunity for
a good old fit of righteous indignation too.

And the wait continues...

Hahahaha, yeah, that's the best part. The saga isn't over. I don't want to jynx it but...

that sucks man

Next they'll show up with a 200W Marshall and you'll just be like, "... Fine" haha

finally arrived yesterday
i just wrote a huge detailed review of it and when i went to post it the forum had logged me out. waaa :(
in summery so far its amazing

Glad everything turned out well for you long term Harley.

2 fails = 1 win