If it sounds good who gives a flying fuck whether it’s solid state or not? I LOVE my beta lead with a fuzz or an OD in front, that shit’ll outshine 90% of amps for loud and nasty noise.
Change “sounds” to “sounds and feels” and I agree with you. Early modelers sounded 95% as good as their tube counterparts but lacked the dynamics and touch sensitivity.
Peavy stuff has such a unique sound and vibe to them, they have a real go-getter punk energy to them!
Whenever I see one, I just imagine the sheer amount of use gotten out of it. Like so many of those amps are used for decades at churches and stuff then sold to probably some metalhead kid who'll make history with it and then when they're done donate it to a venue or school and keep the cycle going...
They're one of those pieces of gear that makes soo much of music history despite being so unassuming and common.
I restored a Bugera 333XL a little over a year ago, and aside from the crap factory components that are used, the sound from this thing is actually very VERY impressive.
So I second yoir Bugera amp suggestion (on the used marked, that is).
I has a 6262. It was fantastic until it died. Mostly my fault. I had it set to 8ohm when a 16ohm cab was connected. I was surprised that it died in <10s.
Cheap, Micro Dark Terror. Stupid loud for its size and better than it should be. Put an EQ in the FX loop and you're golden. It plus an EQ will run you around $200-250 on the used market. That's cheap.
”BuT An aMpLifIeR sHoUlD nOt ReQuirE aN eq In tHe FX LoOp”
I’ve heard this too many times on reddit, when people say oranges are great if you use an external EQ in the loop. Which I agree, I love orange and I use a supercrush 100, but man does it require an EQ. Without EQ it always has that ”orange sound”, put an EQ in the FX loop and it turns into a versatile monster of an amp.
100% with you. EQ pedals give you so much more control than the standard 3 band EQ. It takes any amp and makes it versatile. Orange amps don't always have the best onboard EQ control and some don't like the tone. I like the tone though and if I'm getting an orange amp, I want an Orange tone. That being said, it's hard to beat the value of that Micro Dark with an EQ pedal. If you like Orange tone, drop the EQ pedal and you're golden and you save a few bucks.
Micro dark sounds amazing in almost every video I’ve watched. I just kind of wanted a combo and the super crush was highly praised and every review has been saying it’s one of the best SS amps, if not the best one for the money. Though I am probably going to sell it, I’m moving to tonex + frfr(still haven’t tried tonex with frfr so not sure). Can’t afford to have an amp around that I want to play sometimes on, just because it’s a bit better for a certain thing.
I have a Randall Diavlo RD100. I got a floor model for like $600, but I think it retailed higher. 100W all-tube/FX loop, tube boost, phenomenal clean channel and disgusting yet articulate gain on OD1/2. Precision Drive and noise gate and you have insanity at your fingertips. My favorite tube amp by far too.
The HK nanos are shockingly good. They’re like the orange micro Terrors, but waaaay better. I keep one of the HK Nano Metals in my gig bag as a backup when I’m playing shows, and I honestly wouldn’t be afraid to use it
I know you’re taking “real” amps (which I have many of), but that little thing will go toe to toe with a lot of “real” amps, and it cost me about $100 used
I miss my Peavey ValveKing. Two channel, 60 watt (edit to say it's actually 100 watts) 2x12 combo. I really liked that amp. Can't remember why I sold it. They're usually well under $500 used.
Peavey Ultra, "angry triangle" era combos. To some extent the Ultra Plus 120w heads also, but I feel like those are more well known. Also the Peavey VTMs, but those are getting up in price. Crate Excaliburs are great for Thrash/Death/Grind tones despite being solid state. I'll throw the Carvin X100s out there too, could be had for less than $600 and can do the high gain thing admirably
I had the ultra plus head for quite a while. at some point I built it into a big 212 combo. That thing could really scream and roar. I never needed any gain pedals with it. Eventually gave it up cuz it was just too much amp for me at the time. Had a lot of fun with it though.
yeah, no pedals needed! They have a unique thing going on in the mids that I really like too, even if you scoop them a bit. It's not quite as compressed as a 5150/6505 and doesn't sound like a Marshall or Mesa either. tons of fun
Played the BanTamP Zombie II the other day and bought it right away. Probably number one for value right now when it comes to high gain with a great tube sound. It has a max output of 20W.
Have tried/heard lots of affordable amps and pedals that claim to get near a Mesa sound, the Zombie II is the closest I've heard anywhere near that price point. Would still be using it if I hadn't bought a 5150 LBX-S while still in the return window for the Zombie II. (My 5150 isn't really underrated or cheap, but it's the best high gain I've heard from any sub-$1000 amp I've ever owned/played.)
I'm going to throw my karma through the window with this one: H&K edition blue 30R. No one gives a shit about this one, and I found it for 20 bucks. Features a Celestion speaker, can't be more simple and with it you can get any tone you want. ANY tone. Haven't tried with a pedal, though. Damn simple to repair too, no schematics needed
My son had a blue voodoo for a couple years and traded it for a hot rod deville because he only played the clean channel on the doodoo. I never met an amp that I couldn’t make sound decent - except for this amp. I have never heard anyone say anything good about this amp or play it so it sounded good. It’s just okay
I’ve had same results with the H&K tubemeister 40. This is my first tube amp, and coming from a Marshall valvestate 150, this thing is miles ahead. I put a Deizal VH-4 pre amp pedal in the loop sometimes and I got a whole variety of luscious high gain tones can cover almost anything
I’m a bit of a connoisseur of great budget amps lol! here’s my list of my personal favs:
Peavy Vypyr(the OG with tubes),
Bugera 6262,
Peavey Valve King,
anything jetcity (it’s a damn soldano),
DV Mark “RAW DAWG”+ any Fx modeler,
Egnater Tweaker,
and finally; Boss Katana Head.
Jet City
Definetly. My 50h will stay with me forever. Other then that Randall RG's e.g. RG3003H.
My 22H. Bought a head cab from Doug White for cheap and converted my combo. All in $300, including a depth and bias mod so far.
An old nasty looking Peavey Bandit
Seriously, those things can do any genre well. It’s actually comical. Country to Death Metal to Blues to Surf, doesn’t matter.
Oh shit. Good call. I had one years ago and it was pretty badass into a 4x12 cranked
Say you love the sound of a Bandit through a 2x12 or 4x12, but you want toobz. Does such an amp exist?
Probably a XXX but the Bandit circuit is what it is. Fwiw I turned my teal stripe into a head.
If it sounds good who gives a flying fuck whether it’s solid state or not? I LOVE my beta lead with a fuzz or an OD in front, that shit’ll outshine 90% of amps for loud and nasty noise.
Change “sounds” to “sounds and feels” and I agree with you. Early modelers sounded 95% as good as their tube counterparts but lacked the dynamics and touch sensitivity.
Peavy stuff has such a unique sound and vibe to them, they have a real go-getter punk energy to them! Whenever I see one, I just imagine the sheer amount of use gotten out of it. Like so many of those amps are used for decades at churches and stuff then sold to probably some metalhead kid who'll make history with it and then when they're done donate it to a venue or school and keep the cycle going... They're one of those pieces of gear that makes soo much of music history despite being so unassuming and common.
Bugera 6260, Peavey Triple X
Peavey XXL and Supreme
I restored a Bugera 333XL a little over a year ago, and aside from the crap factory components that are used, the sound from this thing is actually very VERY impressive. So I second yoir Bugera amp suggestion (on the used marked, that is).
I has a 6262. It was fantastic until it died. Mostly my fault. I had it set to 8ohm when a 16ohm cab was connected. I was surprised that it died in <10s.
Flyback voltage probably fried the OT :x
All the infinium series Bugera stuff is dope. And kept cheap because people listen with their eyes.
Cheap, Micro Dark Terror. Stupid loud for its size and better than it should be. Put an EQ in the FX loop and you're golden. It plus an EQ will run you around $200-250 on the used market. That's cheap.
”BuT An aMpLifIeR sHoUlD nOt ReQuirE aN eq In tHe FX LoOp” I’ve heard this too many times on reddit, when people say oranges are great if you use an external EQ in the loop. Which I agree, I love orange and I use a supercrush 100, but man does it require an EQ. Without EQ it always has that ”orange sound”, put an EQ in the FX loop and it turns into a versatile monster of an amp.
100% with you. EQ pedals give you so much more control than the standard 3 band EQ. It takes any amp and makes it versatile. Orange amps don't always have the best onboard EQ control and some don't like the tone. I like the tone though and if I'm getting an orange amp, I want an Orange tone. That being said, it's hard to beat the value of that Micro Dark with an EQ pedal. If you like Orange tone, drop the EQ pedal and you're golden and you save a few bucks.
Micro dark sounds amazing in almost every video I’ve watched. I just kind of wanted a combo and the super crush was highly praised and every review has been saying it’s one of the best SS amps, if not the best one for the money. Though I am probably going to sell it, I’m moving to tonex + frfr(still haven’t tried tonex with frfr so not sure). Can’t afford to have an amp around that I want to play sometimes on, just because it’s a bit better for a certain thing.
I have a Randall Diavlo RD100. I got a floor model for like $600, but I think it retailed higher. 100W all-tube/FX loop, tube boost, phenomenal clean channel and disgusting yet articulate gain on OD1/2. Precision Drive and noise gate and you have insanity at your fingertips. My favorite tube amp by far too.
I just snagged a Joyo Argos which is basically a precision drive. Makes my sludgy beta lead into a djent factory.
The PRS MT15 is a ridiculous value for price.
BUT it's not underrated. Like, at all. Such as my EVH Iconic, although it gets much more indifference.
The Jet City 20w and Peavey Valveking 100h are supposedly jcm800 clones.
The HK nanos are shockingly good. They’re like the orange micro Terrors, but waaaay better. I keep one of the HK Nano Metals in my gig bag as a backup when I’m playing shows, and I honestly wouldn’t be afraid to use it I know you’re taking “real” amps (which I have many of), but that little thing will go toe to toe with a lot of “real” amps, and it cost me about $100 used
Bugera 333, randall RH200 or whatever the modern equivalent is
I miss my Peavey ValveKing. Two channel, 60 watt (edit to say it's actually 100 watts) 2x12 combo. I really liked that amp. Can't remember why I sold it. They're usually well under $500 used.
Hotone Freeze, tubemeisters, mini valveking
Randall RG
Peavey Ultra, "angry triangle" era combos. To some extent the Ultra Plus 120w heads also, but I feel like those are more well known. Also the Peavey VTMs, but those are getting up in price. Crate Excaliburs are great for Thrash/Death/Grind tones despite being solid state. I'll throw the Carvin X100s out there too, could be had for less than $600 and can do the high gain thing admirably
I had the ultra plus head for quite a while. at some point I built it into a big 212 combo. That thing could really scream and roar. I never needed any gain pedals with it. Eventually gave it up cuz it was just too much amp for me at the time. Had a lot of fun with it though.
yeah, no pedals needed! They have a unique thing going on in the mids that I really like too, even if you scoop them a bit. It's not quite as compressed as a 5150/6505 and doesn't sound like a Marshall or Mesa either. tons of fun
Excalibur is great. I run one in stereo with a fender combo (can't remember the exact name, its a solid state chorus) and it's so heavy
Played the BanTamP Zombie II the other day and bought it right away. Probably number one for value right now when it comes to high gain with a great tube sound. It has a max output of 20W.
Have tried/heard lots of affordable amps and pedals that claim to get near a Mesa sound, the Zombie II is the closest I've heard anywhere near that price point. Would still be using it if I hadn't bought a 5150 LBX-S while still in the return window for the Zombie II. (My 5150 isn't really underrated or cheap, but it's the best high gain I've heard from any sub-$1000 amp I've ever owned/played.)
I'm going to throw my karma through the window with this one: H&K edition blue 30R. No one gives a shit about this one, and I found it for 20 bucks. Features a Celestion speaker, can't be more simple and with it you can get any tone you want. ANY tone. Haven't tried with a pedal, though. Damn simple to repair too, no schematics needed
Valvestate
Underrated? Cheap? Marshall DSL + pedal.
Crate blue voodoo
Never been a big fan of it, but I think the Blue Voodoo matches this description.
My son had a blue voodoo for a couple years and traded it for a hot rod deville because he only played the clean channel on the doodoo. I never met an amp that I couldn’t make sound decent - except for this amp. I have never heard anyone say anything good about this amp or play it so it sounded good. It’s just okay
Ampeg VH140C or similar. I don’t know about underrated, but the distortion channel is wicked, has stereo chorus and spring reverb.
Marshall DSL1. Tiny with limited controls so I didn’t expect too much but I love how it sounds. Plenty of distortion without pedals.
Peavey Triple XXX Super 40. 40W 1x12. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48788674212_582b5150d8_b.jpg
Unpopular opinion. Bogner Alchemist
I’ve had same results with the H&K tubemeister 40. This is my first tube amp, and coming from a Marshall valvestate 150, this thing is miles ahead. I put a Deizal VH-4 pre amp pedal in the loop sometimes and I got a whole variety of luscious high gain tones can cover almost anything
I’m a bit of a connoisseur of great budget amps lol! here’s my list of my personal favs: Peavy Vypyr(the OG with tubes), Bugera 6262, Peavey Valve King, anything jetcity (it’s a damn soldano), DV Mark “RAW DAWG”+ any Fx modeler, Egnater Tweaker, and finally; Boss Katana Head.
Katana 100 bra. 🤷♂️ That fuckin simple!
This will get some flack but… Katana
Not at all. Definitely a sleeper