I'd say you'll be looking at 15-20 watts.

Fender Blues Jr (my amp, love it) 15w
Peavey Windsor 20w
Blackheart Handsome Devil 15w
Epiphone Valve Senior 18w
Crate VC2112RB 15 watt 1x12 (if you can find one, not sure if they are still made)
Vox AC15
Orange AD15 15w

All combos with 1x12 speaker - some great amps there!

Then there's the  Laney LC15R which is 1x10


Dr Z or Mesa Boogie do 15w amps that I've only seen as heads rather than combos, and I'd guess they'd be in a whole different price bracket


Yes, I did some research on this recently

All tube, I was thinking about 15-20 watts, so I could still drive the power tubes. I suppose the valve senior looks the obvious one, but I've got to look at all options. The Bugera V22 seems popular, as does the fender blues junior. Is the fender a very clean amp?, will it give a fat overdrive?
Of course I could still mike up my valve junior, but its a lot of messing about, and I had to use another amp at a recent audition, which unsurprisingly didn't go too well!

Most valve amps with a 12" speaker are loud enough to gig in pubs and clubs. I can recommend the amp I gigged for years with total reliability.
The LANEY LC 30, which I sold when I stopped gigging,only because I could only have the volume between 1 & 2 in the house. Above that everyone on the street ( only 9 houses!!) could hear it. Laney also sell an awesome LC50. I've only ever seen the Blues Jnr. used as a Harp amp in a Blues band in the uk.

I've heard of Zakk Wylde, but haven't heard him, ... if you know what I mean?
Zakk is the wifes horse. Gotta keep her sweet, or no new amp!
Guitar wise I play a Vintage SG copy, thats a cracking guitar for the price. The Peter Green one is also on the wish list.
I've had a Laney Linebacker for years, so I know there good reliable amps, might try out their valve combos.
I did try a 2x12 cab, but the crunch didn't seem to be there.

I've never been to keen on Vox, as you said the tone is bright and sparkly, not quiet my cup of tea. Something that goes from Peter Green to Angus Young would be ideal (and not too expensive, I know, there's the rub!)

Just come across the Harley Benton GA15 which looks like a 15 watt version of the epi valve junior, and only around£100!
Is this too good to be true? Gotta be a catch, should I hold out for the handsome devil and pay the extra £200?

Cheers Zakk

zakk64 wrote:

I've never been to keen on Vox, as you said the tone is bright and sparkly, not quiet my cup of tea. Something that goes from Peter Green to Angus Young would be ideal (and not too expensive, I know, there's the rub!)

The point I was trying to get across was that the Vox can play anything. I play it with the gain all they way up to 7-8 and volume max cause I love Peter Green bluesbreakers tone (its perfect for The Super Natural). Whether or not you get it, if you see one at your local shop, try it out.

VikingBlues wrote:

Bluesmole wrote:

I would say NO to the valvetronix, having just exchanged my 50 watt version. Yes it has an attenuator and lots of things to play about with, BUT, I found all the sounds MUDDY at all volumes. There is only one valve. My main guitar is a 52 RI tele and it never sounded right through the valvetronix. I now use a Champ 600 with a Boss Blues Driver and the sound is superb, even at bedroom level. I suspect that the Champ would sound good through a cab. Interesting thread!!

FWIW I've got the impression from using a Valvetronix myself and hearing of others experience that the Valvetronix suits humbucker guitars more than single coil pickups. I've tried two different Teles and a strat style through mine and they didn't really work.   But both my regular 'bucker guitars all sound good through it.   HBLs Tokai "strat" doesn't bring out the quality of his playing if it's through a Valvetronix. Ahh - its all horses for courses again which is why the advice is always you have to try out as many guitars / amps / etc as you can to find what's right for you. Good luck with your quest Zakk64.

Yeah i noticed that too about the humbuckers through the vox. When I play my Epi Dot through it, pure gold in my eyes, but when i play my squier strat, it always sounds like i have flanger or phaser on. But then again most fenders sound best through fender amps .

Just a thought! If money is no object, the Cornford Harlequin is a superb beast, although rated at around 5 watts. I've tried one at a small dealer, with  PRS Mira , a tele and a Gibson SG. It is LOUD as well as tonally gifted!!!

Well I've sold the valvestate and ordered the Blackheart! I would never normally buy an amp without trial, but they're not stocked locally. They do sound good on you tube though. Watch this space for a review. (Ihope its gonna be positive!)

Cheers, Zakk

Just got my Blackheart and must say am chuffed to bits with it. We rehersed yesterday, and its well loud, in fact our drummer asked me to turn it down. So thats criteria No. 1 sorted.
Tone wise I love it, it does great cleans at volume, and can be really driven like a blues breaker. Heavy little beast though!