Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Make it loud here.
User avatar
panoramic
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 16926
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:09 pm
Location: baltimore, md.

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by panoramic » Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:22 am

don't forget about musicman amps, some of their stuff is really nice and cheap from the 70's
I used to be cool, now I just complain about prices.

User avatar
Larsongs
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2414
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:39 pm

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Larsongs » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:09 am

Scout wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:31 pm
It sounds like you want a Deluxe Reverb with point to point wiring. Are you in the states?
Yes. Southern California..

I've been looking for a while.. Mostly Deluxe Reverbs & Princetons. I don't want a Twin, too big.. It would great to have Reverb & Tremelo...

The Amps I'm seeing in my target Price range have been thrashed, modded, incorrect replacement Parts & Speakers & for the most part POS.

I'm pretty much focused on Fender or Vox for the Music I play.

Carr's, Tone King & other desirable new Amp choices are well above my target Price..

User avatar
wproffitt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1263
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:48 pm
Location: Ellicott City, MD, USA

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by wproffitt » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:33 am

Maybe I missed it, but I feel like a 60s Ampeg Reverberocket R 12-R would get you where you want to be for less than a thousand for sure. They’re 18 watts and sound great!

User avatar
Embenny
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 10363
Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 5:07 am

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Embenny » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:27 am

Wow, are vintage amp prices that much higher in California than in Canada? $1500 USD can get you really far here. They don't have any of the smaller combos at the moment, but my local used gear shop has a fully-serviced 1965 blackface bandmaster with matching vintage Fender 2x12" for $950 USD.

Also, at least up here, vintage Traynors can be had for a pittance. The same store has a 70's original 1x15" YBA-4 (40W) combo as well as a modded YGM-3 (25w, loaded into a new modern cab with a Cannabis Rex speaker, bright switch and mid contour added) for the equivalent of $440 USD each. Traynors keep pace with all the other vintage tube amps in my experience, they just don't have the mystique and giant price tag attached.

Edit: just saw this post.
adamrobertt wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:25 am
Traynor YGM-3 is still pretty cheap and frequently overlooked. Pristine vintage examples are like $1200. You can score a slightly more beat up one for under a grand. Basically a Canadian made, single channel Deluxe Reverb. Their only downfall is that they came with shitty speakers and they're closed back. But they're easy to convert to open back and the speaker thing is kind of your call.
Do they normally cost that much? If so, you might want to see if my local shop will ship this YGM-3 to the States. It's the one I mentioned above - new cab (Leyland is a local guy, makes great solid pine cabs), Cannabis Rex, mid contour and bright switch added, for $600 CAD/$440 USD. Fixes the cabinet and speaker situation and the price is certainly right.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

User avatar
adamrobertt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2408
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:28 am
Contact:

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by adamrobertt » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:41 am

mbene085 wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:27 am
Wow, are vintage amp prices that much higher in California than in Canada? $1500 USD can get you really far here. They don't have any of the smaller combos at the moment, but my local used gear shop has a fully-serviced 1965 blackface bandmaster with matching vintage Fender 2x12" for $950 USD.

Also, at least up here, vintage Traynors can be had for a pittance. The same store has a 70's original 1x15" YBA-4 (40W) combo as well as a modded YGM-3 (25w, loaded into a new modern cab with a Cannabis Rex speaker, bright switch and mid contour added) for the equivalent of $440 USD each. Traynors keep pace with all the other vintage tube amps in my experience, they just don't have the mystique and giant price tag attached.

Edit: just saw this post.
adamrobertt wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:25 am
Traynor YGM-3 is still pretty cheap and frequently overlooked. Pristine vintage examples are like $1200. You can score a slightly more beat up one for under a grand. Basically a Canadian made, single channel Deluxe Reverb. Their only downfall is that they came with shitty speakers and they're closed back. But they're easy to convert to open back and the speaker thing is kind of your call.
Do they normally cost that much? If so, you might want to see if my local shop will ship this YGM-3 to the States. It's the one I mentioned above - new cab (Leyland is a local guy, makes great solid pine cabs), Cannabis Rex, mid contour and bright switch added, for $600 CAD/$440 USD. Fixes the cabinet and speaker situation and the price is certainly right.
No. Like I said - one in pristine condition could go for $1200. I'm talking about a 40 year old amp that looks almost new. You can get a more beat up one for like $500-600 easily.

User avatar
Embenny
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 10363
Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 5:07 am

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Embenny » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:45 am

adamrobertt wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:41 am
No. Like I said - one in pristine condition could go for $1200. I'm talking about a 40 year old amp that looks almost new. You can get a more beat up one for like $500-600 easily.
If beat up ones go for that price though, it sounds like this one, with the cab and speaker situation sorted, is still a great deal.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

User avatar
peterherman
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1701
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:21 pm
Location: DC...OK, Arlington.
Contact:

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by peterherman » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:45 am

Here's a YGM-3 in ok/fixed up shape, improved speaker, etc. Around $600 shipped.

https://reverb.com/item/33475310-trayno ... nd-tremolo

There are a couple of them on Reverb over a grand, but I'd grab this one for half the money.

User avatar
Scout
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 962
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:26 pm
Location: Phillyish

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Scout » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:55 am

Here’s an option, the local builder here, George Alessandro, takes a DRRI and pulls it apart and point to point wires the circuit using the cabinet transformers and speaker but you end up with a vintage style and sounding amp but brand new. My friend uses one and it’s a great gigging amp. The local music store offers them on ebay, just a thought worth looking into .

User avatar
ElephantDNA
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 244
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 12:14 pm

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by ElephantDNA » Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:44 pm

I will second that old traynor amps are for some reason the only vintage gear that hasn't gone up 300% in the last few years. Those silvertones used to go for nothing but I see them asking 1-2k based on condition now.

User avatar
Professor Bill
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 7:59 pm

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Professor Bill » Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:48 pm

Are you committed to vintage? I picked up handwired Marshall 1958x reissue (18 watt, 2x10, amazing tremolo) for under $1500. It's pretty amazing, really. Not really stereotypical Marshall, either.

EDIT: and I bet you could find a used Carr Rambler, Sportsman, or Vincent for around $1500. Or Headstrong or Vintage Sound.

User avatar
OffYourFace
Mods
Mods
Posts: 13681
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 2:59 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by OffYourFace » Thu Jul 09, 2020 12:29 am

I'd go Ampeg for best value. You can get a really nice old Ampeg Reverberocket or Gemini for half the price of a Fender Princeton or Deluxe Reverb. If you need it to have more headroom, change the speaker to something higher wattage. Great with pedals too.

But since you said you have $1500 to spend, just get a Deluxe Reverb. You can cop some Vox like tones out of a DR for sure.
I personally prefer the mid 70s version with the 5U4GB rectifier tube. They have more headroom and sound better with fuzz pedals.

User avatar
Larsongs
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2414
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:39 pm

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Larsongs » Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:41 am

In addition to my Fender Amps I also have a Marshall Half Stack. All are from the late 80's or newer.. They all sound good.

Once in a while I go to a friends Jam Session who is a Vintage Collector.. He has multiples of every Vintage 50'-60's Fender Guitar & Amp you could ever want. Many Gibson's too. All of which are in amazing good to perfect condition. None of which is for sale.

After I play his Gear I don't hardly want to play mine.. That Vintage Gear sounds so friggin' great!

That's why I'm on the hunt. Seriously, I think about the only Amps I'm interested in are Fender & Vox. Not that there aren't other great Amps it's just personal preference.

I've tried buying from Canada but it's always been too much hassle trying to ship Music Equipment from Canada to USA.. Then if there are problems with your Purchased that's even more complicated....

User avatar
s_mcsleazy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18423
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:30 am
Location: glasgow

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by s_mcsleazy » Thu Jul 09, 2020 9:47 am

i dunno what the market in the US is like but in the UK, redknob twins are always a good price. i've seen them go for as little as £300 here. at one point my friend bought one, used it on a gig and a dude came up to him after and said "i got one of those gathering dust if you want it for £100" so he ended up with 2 for £400
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

User avatar
Larsongs
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2414
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:39 pm

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Larsongs » Fri Jul 10, 2020 5:49 am

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Thu Jul 09, 2020 9:47 am
i dunno what the market in the US is like but in the UK, redknob twins are always a good price. i've seen them go for as little as £300 here. at one point my friend bought one, used it on a gig and a dude came up to him after and said "i got one of those gathering dust if you want it for £100" so he ended up with 2 for £400
I have a late 90's Or early 2000's Fender 100 Watt Pro Tube Twin with Eminence Speakers.. It is quite a good sounding Amp.. About 90 lbs. & Loud. I'm not looking to replace that one. But Thanks..

Looking for Princeton or Deluxe Reverb size Amps.. Or AC15 size Amp... Thanks

User avatar
Scout
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 962
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:26 pm
Location: Phillyish

Re: Best reasonable priced Vintage Tube Amps

Post by Scout » Fri Jul 10, 2020 3:11 pm

Unfortunately with the current normal it’s tough to shop in person, there are so many cool vintage amps in that power and price range but you need to hear them to find the one that suits your ears.

Post Reply