Best budget tube amp???

the video -- (I think was 300 ish and under?>?)
Noticed many mini heads we have all discussed here in 1 shootout and thought I would post--

Agreed "budget" is selective and individual---considering tube amps can run into - well the 10's of THOUSANDS--
the ones presented fit the "budget" (cheap) moniker --
I have no amp "budget" ----- as you know ---- I have a MESA--- amp needs "covered" BUWAHAHAHAHAH
 
For me, the smallest amp is the LARGEST amp that I can lay on its side in my Mustang's trunk. That's the DSL40C. I have (4) foam blocks that keep the amp in.place during transport.

I wont buy or play anything smaller. I think I paid $599.99 for it at the peak of DSL40C hysteria...add $169.00 for the custom 50 watt WGS Reaper 55Hz speaker and another $150.00 in spare tubes.

I tried s few 15 and 20 watt amps (borrowed for testing) with zero success at stage volumes without mikng through a PA or adding cabinets.

For me I believe that 40 watts tube is the absolute bare minimum.

The DSL40C is what I consider a "practice amp."

I cannot "practice" through a tiny amp with a tiny speaker because - for me - "practice" is 90% perfecting the tone and presence that the listener is going to hear during a live performance.

I have two personal live performance benchmarks:

1. Don Felder Capitol Centre 1977
2. Gary Moore Cold Day In Hell Live 1992

When I am "practicing" here at home, those are my standards for tone and articulation.
 
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I always mic my amplifier unless it's a no PA thing like a house concert.
This enables me to do things like play an arena with a Peavey classic 30
or a medium sized venue with a Micro Cube or a THR 10.

I learned early on to trust your sound engineer.
He can't make you play good but he can make you sound good,
The rest is up to you.
 
Tony M. said:
I always mic my amplifier unless it's a no PA thing like a house concert.
This enables me to do things like play an arena with a Peavey classic 30
or a medium sized venue with a Micro Cube or a THR 10.

I learned early on to trust your sound engineer.
He can't make you play good but he can make you sound good,
The rest is up to you.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%.

It's rare for us to have a soundman/FOH or PA in most of the venues we play.
 
I gig with a EF86 Vox type 2/EL84 amp volume 1 and a Tweed Deluxe back up I built both amps small and light. Both single 12" speaker combos

 
yes and Marshall and Black Heart and KUSTOM and Peavey and Bugera......the VOX MV series....and....and .....odds are they didnt pay him ----like the cable company he did the promo for----;)
 
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