what amps do you think are "under the radar" bargains?

[Stike]

On 2/8/2024 at 3:16 PM, tbonesullivan said:

I remember like 10 years ago, older 80s and 90s peavey rack gear was the "entry level rack" gear. The Peavey Rockmaster was / is well regarded, and they made a variety of rack power amps as well. I went the Carvin route during my short lived failed "rack phase".

I ran a Rockmaster with a TC G System into a Classic 60/60 for awhile and really liked it- except for the weight.

[tbonesullivan]

29 minutes ago, Stike said:

I ran a Rockmaster with a TC G System into a Classic 60/60 for awhile and really liked it- except for the weight.

Yeaaaap. The weight was definitely never fun, or the bulky rack case, I also had stereo vertical 2x12s, so it was pretty much a set up nightmare, and I barely used effects anyway. Most of my guitar heroes are not big effects guys, so I just never got into the whole huge pedalboard thing. I'm still mystified by my Plethora x 5...

[santellavision]

Tech 21 Trademark 60 amps are really nice and usually cheap. I had one at my bands practice space for a long time and it always sounded nice (Especially with a 2x12 cab)



My other sleeper amp choice would be a Quilter OD200 head. Love that tiny amp. Kicks butt and very tube-like. Always had one in the car as a backup.

 

[bubs_42]

Probably one of the most underrated builders, and underrated amps of all time. 

Dr Z Carmen Ghia. Birthed from Hammond Reverb Unit in 1989 and still in production today. Now in 2024 it finally has a MV that is amazing and makes this amp usable at home and on stage.  Not to forget that the Carmen Ghia is a long time house amp at the 4321 Club. 

The one below is one of the very first ones, no serial number, Hammond Chassis, transformers ect. 

[Hamer_SS_guy]

I just bought two new amps. Nothing special. A Fender Super Sonic and a Marshall SV20H. But man, they really come close to the sound I always wanted. I have always been a guy who likes a good amount of treble in my sound. But somehow, when it came to amps, I chose something that was more midrangey. The Marshall 6100 was nice, but the JCM 900 1960A cab loaded with Celestion G12T-75 fell out of favor after years. The Prosonic was my next amp of choice. I wanted it because reviews said back then it was Fender's best two-channel amp. But I never warmed up with the distortion channel. Then I got a Mesa Mark V:35. My first low-watts amp. While I think it is a nice amp, it is very midrangey. Then I became kind of obsessed with the Plexi sound. Also, the Super Sonic has been a favorite of mine for quite some time (though I was thinking about a Deluxe Reverb as an amp for use with a pedalboard I was planning). Now I got the Super Sonic and the SV20H, and I also started buying some pedals for a board. So far, Dunlop GCB95 Wah, Boss TU-2 tuner, NEO Ventilator 2, Source Audio Spectrum Filter, MXR Carbon Copy Mini, a Boss RV-5 reverb (for use with the Marshall). Still missing is the board itself, the power supply, a Xotic Super Sweet, a Foxrox Octron 4 and maybe an MXR Phase 90. I rediscovered the fun with pedals. And I really like my new amps. But hey, GAS never dies.

[Jimbilly]

anybody near Seattle? This should have a 12, not a 10 like the ad says, mine are late 60s and have 12s, but maybe the earlier ones did have 10s? If I didn't already have two of these...

 

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/msg/d/lynnwood-1964-univox-45-1x10-tube-amp/7773511281.html

[Rich_S]

+1 to Santellavision’s Quilter suggestion.   I just replaced by 1-12” 18 Watter clone with a Superblock UK.  The Quilter sounds great and only cost $300.  It let me cut the weight of my rig nearly in half (back trouble).

My backup is a Vox MV50 Rock, another SS class D mini amp that sounds great and weighs an costs next to nothing.