5W Tube / Valve Practice Amps
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:17 pm
Having gone half way to the tube / valve amp with my "hybrid" vox vt, I'm wondering about going for tube / valve at both pre and power amp stage.
Given the circumstances of where I live and the home use only that it will get 5W is more than enough. Really more than enough - I would only be able to use a 5W tube / valve at very limited times if I was wanting to drive the tubes. I therefore think an amp with a built in attenuator is essential (if it can be used without too much of a damaging effect on the sound / tone). I know you can get an attenuator as an add on but it looks like that would blow my budget.
Two amps with attenuators that have come to my attention so far are the Vox AC4TV and the Bugera 5V. I would tend to be drawn to the Vox as I do like the Vox sound. I have heard though that the AC4TV is a bit limited in it's clean range, and I do tend to play at the clean end of guitar sounds.
Both have EL84 and 12AX7 tubes. The Bugera is 5W, 1W 0.1W and the Vox 4W, 1W, 0.25W. Both have external speaker sockets. The Vox has the bigger speaker at 10" v the Bugera's 8".
The Bugera has Reverb and also a Headphone Socket. As it is only around 70% of the price of the Vox I can't help but wonder where the quality falls short to have less price but more features and if it does is teh quality shortfall major? The Bugera I believe is Behringer - I remember from when I had pedals I had a few Behringers - very budget and usually good value, but they were mostly the first to go when I had a clear out.
I know a lot of the members of this forum have much more experience of better amps than me so I would value any advice. Anyone had any experience of these amps or known anyone who used them - anyone know any other amps with attenuators?
Given the circumstances of where I live and the home use only that it will get 5W is more than enough. Really more than enough - I would only be able to use a 5W tube / valve at very limited times if I was wanting to drive the tubes. I therefore think an amp with a built in attenuator is essential (if it can be used without too much of a damaging effect on the sound / tone). I know you can get an attenuator as an add on but it looks like that would blow my budget.
Two amps with attenuators that have come to my attention so far are the Vox AC4TV and the Bugera 5V. I would tend to be drawn to the Vox as I do like the Vox sound. I have heard though that the AC4TV is a bit limited in it's clean range, and I do tend to play at the clean end of guitar sounds.
Both have EL84 and 12AX7 tubes. The Bugera is 5W, 1W 0.1W and the Vox 4W, 1W, 0.25W. Both have external speaker sockets. The Vox has the bigger speaker at 10" v the Bugera's 8".
The Bugera has Reverb and also a Headphone Socket. As it is only around 70% of the price of the Vox I can't help but wonder where the quality falls short to have less price but more features and if it does is teh quality shortfall major? The Bugera I believe is Behringer - I remember from when I had pedals I had a few Behringers - very budget and usually good value, but they were mostly the first to go when I had a clear out.
I know a lot of the members of this forum have much more experience of better amps than me so I would value any advice. Anyone had any experience of these amps or known anyone who used them - anyone know any other amps with attenuators?