What is the best home amp you ever owned or have., Best amp for home use. Options

[koula901]

I have a Hughes & Kettner Tube 20, pretty much the same amp as the 20th edition Mikenov has, Tube 20 is it's predecessor. That amp has a built in attenuator, and yes, it does great tones in both channels at low volumes. I stuck all vintage tubes in mine, as well as an ancient alnico speaker with a huge horse shoe magnet, forgot what brand the 137 EIA code was for, think maybe Eminence? The original Celestion rockdriver sounded well, less than wonderful. Amp has adjustable bias, used a dual el84 socket bias tool to set mine up. Excellent small room amp with fat tones. Great sustain on the lead channel as set up, very creamy and smooth.

Hmm . . your H&K sounds very intriquing - does it sound anything like a Bassman?

[212Mavguy]

Hmm . . your H&K sounds very intriquing - does it sound anything like a Bassman?

No, I would not categorize its sound as a Bassman, it is meant to sound more british (think Marshall 18 watt) in tone. It uses el84's, bassman was 6l6's. With that said, the way i have set it up speaker and tube wise, it is very fat and warm sounding. There was a problem with it on the dirty channel, my amp tech fixed it, and that improved the sound of the lead channel as a byproduct, more full in low end and lower mids. I do not think that the amp sounded nearly as good with the stock speaker and tubes. I'm running vintage tubes in the preamp, think Raytheon black plate and GE longplate 12ax7, power tubes are well used Sylvania blackplate. The old Eminence is a very well used 40-50 year old speaker. They are uncommon, but can sometimes be found on ebay. I think that a vintage magnavox p232 alnico similar to the Jensen p12n would sound wonderful and noticeably brighter. There is enough leeway in the tone stack to get the tones where I like. The best part about this amp is that unlike a Blues Jr. it can get lots of distortion at low volumes, in contrast the BJ has to be cranked up MUCH louder to give up the goods, and it also sounds thinner overall and nasty bright on top in comparison.

You should be able to find one every now and then on eBay for less than 450 bucks, the newest version of that amp goes for over a grand! Please remember that I changed out tubes and speaker to get the wonderful tones I am getting out of it.

[barrymclark]

H&K is a phenominal amp with regards to quality.

[peteraltongreen]

Ok, I have a great guitar ordered, the 555, so now I need a really good amp recommendation. I will only be using the amp for home use. My favorite music is Jazz, but I like pretty much any instrumental music, and for that matter, most other genres of music as well. I currently have a Vox VT-30 and a Vox DA-5, with no effect pedals.
What foot pedals are essential, if any. I have been told, that it is much better to get a single foot pedal than a multi-effect pedal, but I really do not have a great deal of space for a large array of single petals. I would love to hear what everyone is using amp wise and effect wise at home. As always, thanks for the help.

Hi JWalker,
I love the sound of my '63 Fender Deluxe.This was the model amp that Wes Montgomery used in the Creed Taylor studio.It was their studio amp.Simple volume & tone,1 x 12" speaker,about 18 watts. Great for home,great for studio,great for low volume jazz & lounge gigs. The only addition I use is a Digitech digital reverb,or a spring reverb in bought years ago. If you like the Ventures,then a Strat or Jazzmaster sounds great. Blues ? Turn it up & hear it sing.A superb little amp.Can't afford one ? Don't worry.Fender still do the great sounding Deluxe Reverb.No need for the Digi pedal !

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 Deluxe_2_RS_E.jpg ( 318.67K ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[JWALKER]

Update, I have the HK Edition Tube 25 which I got on E-bay. I had bid on it, and I did not think I would get it, but did. You were right, it is a great amp and seems to be built like a tank. I am still feeling it out, and taking it through it's paces. It came shipped to me from fed-ex, and in excellent condition. In the amp search, I really fell in love with the Fender amp sound, especially the little 65 Princeton Reverb, what a tone! I played around on a Peavey Classic 30, and I liked it, but man, that Princeton just seemed so sweet. I also played on several bigger Fender amps, and I really like these, but they were just too much of an amp for the home use setting I am after.
The HK has everything that the Peavey classic 30 has with the exception of the lower wattage, which I did not need any way. Back to the Fender, I also really like the Blues Jr., very nice for a reasonable price. I really liked the BJ with the upgraded speaker, but even the stock BJ was very nice, to me any way. All of this searching is a gas, but kind of daunting also. So many choices, so little money. But that Princeton!!!
Any way, thanks to everyone for their help.

[212Mavguy]

Update, I have the HK Edition Tube 25 which I got on E-bay. I had bid on it, and I did not think I would get it, but did. You were right, it is a great amp and seems to be built like a tank. I am still feeling it out, and taking it through it's paces. It came shipped to me from fed-ex, and in excellent condition. In the amp search, I really fell in love with the Fender amp sound, especially the little 65 Princeton Reverb, what a tone! I played around on a Peavey Classic 30, and I liked it, but man, that Princeton just seemed so sweet. I also played on several bigger Fender amps, and I really like these, but they were just too much of an amp for the home use setting I am after.
The HK has everything that the Peavey classic 30 has with the exception of the lower wattage, which I did not need any way. Back to the Fender, I also really like the Blues Jr., very nice for a reasonable price. I really liked the BJ with the upgraded speaker, but even the stock BJ was very nice, to me any way. All of this searching is a gas, but kind of daunting also. So many choices, so little money. But that Princeton!!!
Any way, thanks to everyone for their help.

Glad you are happy, and yes, the 1965 Fender Princeton Reverb is wonderful sounding! I think I saw your amp, I did a search for completed listings on ebay, it's a 25th anneversary Edition Tube 20 watter with the Celestion 100 watt speaker in a closed back cab, right? That should deliver a very nice, girthy tone at lower volumes for home use, hope I'm right! Great looking amp! Better speaker than the POS Ceslestion rockdriver that came in mine by far! YAY!

This post has been edited by 212Mavguy: Aug 7 2010, 12:05 AM

[JWALKER]

Hi JWalker,
I love the sound of my '63 Fender Deluxe.This was the model amp that Wes Montgomery used in the Creed Taylor studio.It was their studio amp.Simple volume & tone,1 x 12" speaker,about 18 watts. Great for home,great for studio,great for low volume jazz & lounge gigs. The only addition I use is a Digitech digital reverb,or a spring reverb in bought years ago. If you like the Ventures,then a Strat or Jazzmaster sounds great. Blues ? Turn it up & hear it sing.A superb little amp.Can't afford one ? Don't worry.Fender still do the great sounding Deluxe Reverb.No need for the Digi pedal !

Speaking of Wes Montgomery-Incredible Jazz Guitar, what a great record, or for us younger kids, cd. Regarding the amps mentioned, I will be looking intently at the Fender Deluxe Reverb, especially if I can find a great deal on one. I traded back in the little Vox VT-30, when I knew I had the Hughes and Kettner, but I am hooked on the Fender tone. As mentioned, I really like the Princeton Reverb also. I loved the sound, and the smallness of size of this amp, while still being a giant in tone. The Deluxe Reverb will be next on my wish list, as I have a Princeton Reverb on the way to me. I played around on the Fender Deluxe, and it was indeed a great sounding amp, a little big in size also.

[JWALKER]

Glad you are happy, and yes, the 1965 Fender Princeton Reverb is wonderful sounding! I think I saw your amp, I did a search for completed listings on ebay, it's a 25th anneversary Edition Tube 20 watter with the Celestion 100 watt speaker in a closed back cab, right? That should deliver a very nice, girthy tone at lower volumes for home use, hope I'm right! Great looking amp! Better speaker than the POS Ceslestion rockdriver that came in mine by far! YAY!

Exactly right, it is 25 Anniversary Edition with the closed back, except for the small ventilation space on the bottom. Again I have to thank you, as I am really loving this amp. It is very unlikely that I would have found this amp without your recommendation of it, so I salute you. Earlier today, I found a limited edition Princeton Reverb at a good price on Ebay, and I got it also. I have got to stop looking on Ebay, or I could soon be the only homeless guy around with some really killer music gear.

[blues]

1953 fender deluxe
5112 victoria
45410 victoria
lovepedal 2 watt plexi

This post has been edited by blues: Aug 8 2010, 06:06 PM