Posted: 4/9/2026 7:11:03 PM EDT
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So I’ve got the itch and been going back and forth adding and removing items out of my cart. I have a pile of mid grade guitars. Epiphone 60’s LP quilt top, Epiphone 61’ SG with bigsby, ESP KH202, Jackson dinky, Korean Squire strat and a Japanese strat copy. I have an original Peavey classic 30 and extension cab that my grandparents got me for my 16th birthday back in 1996. This amp hasn’t been all that impressive to me and always has feedback issues even when practicing at home, I rarely use it but won’t get rid of it. Last year I bought a Boss Katana and it’s been great, very versatile but I still kind of miss overdriven tube amps. So my dilemma is what to get with about a $1k budget. I’ve been looking at the PRS SE Mcarty, Epiphone Kirk Hammet V and a 70’s reissue squire strat. Today I started thinking that maybe I have all the guitars I “need”, and another amp might be better. I don’t play gigs or anything anymore. Just mess around at the house with the kids. No idea on small valve amps. |
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I say get a new amp. If you do some research, you can usually find good deals on high end amps people are needing the money for worse than the amp. I've snagged a Peavey 5150 combo amp, A Soldano SLO 50 head, and a couple of Marshalls, as well. A good amp will make your mid-grade guitars sound way better than a new guitar will sound thru your budget amp. Oh, American Musical Supply will take payments, too!! |
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
Left to die with only friend,
Alone I clench my gun
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Originally Posted By Czechers: I don't know what "good" tube amp you'd get for $1k. Maybe a tube preamp for the Katana? I'd do a Ceriatone 20-watter... For me, it would be a toss between the 2202HW and Son of Yeti. $870-$880 for a head $960-$970 for a combo minus speaker. Used Friedman 20-watt stuff is about $1000... I'm on a weird kick aquiring 80s and 90s tube oddities... Yamaha/Soldano Kitty Hawk Carvin I'm kind of surprised at the stuff I can find at reasonable prices. Latest acquisition is a carpet-era Carvin Valve Master 100 head. Paid $275. |
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I would push you in the direction of getting the amp that hits the spot for you. Everybody here seems to be big on new guitars to scratch that itch. For me, it has been amps and cabs for quite a while now. I would also advise you to try out a different cabinet with the Classic 30. Those can be pretty nice amps, but 1990s Peavey cabinets are notoriously awful. You can probably resolve the feed back issues with placement of the cab, amp or yourself, or possibly replacing the power tubes or even getting it looked at by a tech. None of that costs much, but there is a good chance that a decent cab might change your mind about that amp. There are some damn nice amps out there for sub $1000, depending on your tastes. For higher gain, some suggestions I can give based on owning them are the PRS MT15, Marshall DSL 20 or 40, the Orange Rocker 15, the Peavey 6505 mini. These are mostly heads, so you may need a cabinet, but there are good ones out there for not much. Just be careful not to pay extra for a name plate. There are others out there that I don't know as well, but people seem to like, such as the EVH 5150s, a few other models by Orange or Peavey. Used, there can be a wide range of amps (and cabinets) depending on your area. Good luck |
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Originally Posted By Hacksaw25: Sell enough of you "mid-grade" guitars and get a Gibson, US made Fender or PRS. Yeah I played all those back in the day and several nice Gibson and Fender vintage guitars. I would consider maybe another nice vintage guitar but most of the new stuff doesn’t seem to impress me for the money besides maybe a PRS. Just to clarify, I have most of these mid and cheaper guitars because I quit playing for around a decade or so and sold most everything off during that time. I just really started playing again about two years ago. |
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I’m leaning towards amp and may drive an hour to the closet music store this week and try a bunch. Not sure what sound I’m going for exactly because I play a bit of everything (poorly). That’s why the Katana appealed to me and it’s not bad just a tube amp.  But Guitar Center got me with a guitarathon deal and I ordered a Squire strat for $185. |
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With the amp on but guitar turned down, tap the preamp tubes gently with a chopstick or pencil, see if it makes noise. Your feedback issue could be a microphonic tube. Also I concur that new speakers can greatly change the character of an amp. |
The plane flew, admit you're wrong and get over it.
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Originally Posted By chocolateisyummy2: How about getting a good amp modeler like the Fractal AM4. It's like having an entire warehouse of amps, cabs and effects pedals. I just took the plunge and I'm impressed with mine. But seriously, even as a total newbie to guitar, I had a "tube amp or nothing...." attitude. This little matchbook size device completely changed my mind on that!! When paired with the phone amp with graphics, it's freaking amazing. It's increased my practice time by several hundred percent. I can also just sit on the patio and practice, without anyone hearing me. I would never have done that with an acoustic because people on the walking paths are just yards away.
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