What's a good combo amp

[jimilee]

Oh wow, those look great!

[Leevibe]

If you don't go too crazy on the iron, you could probably build a head for that much, anyway.  I think I spent about $200-ish on my 18watt build. 

I used THIS circuit board.

Wouldn't be much good without a cab, I guess, so I'm not much help 

Wow, slimtriggers, I didn't realize that I made the same recommendation and posted the same link as you. DOH!! Sorry.

[brucer]

Hey Jimilee.

Here's another option: http://www.boothillamps.com/5F1_Kits.php.  I heard a lot of good things about this kit supplier when I was researching a first amp build (no affiliation whatsoever).  He was good at Q&A during my research and was even one of the guys that helped me troubleshoot the start-up of my Weber Maggie kit when I posted to the TDPRI Shock Bros. forum http://www.tdpri.com/forum/shock-brothers-diy-amps/.  You'd still need a cab, speaker and tubes, but if you find a donor unit, then you may be set.  If not, then he can supply those too.

Good luck, enjoy.  Bruce.

[miter53]

Just to muddy the waters a little, I would lean towards a hand wired, i.e. turret or stripboard construction rather than pcb for an amp, if for no other reason than the ease of repair and/or modification. I think most amp techs would agree. Plus, I found it a lot of fun building my 5E3 Tweed Deluxe based amp. Boot Hill Amps http://www.boothillamps.com/5F1_Kits.phpputs together a nice kit at very reasonable cost. There are many others to choose from. I used Triode Electronics. It's nice to get away from stuffing boards for a change. In fact, I'm convincing myself I need to build one of these http://www.allenamps.com/brownsugar.php. Arggh!

[gjcamann]

I have a Valve Jr that i'm very happy with, no modes yet,  - play it every day but a little dark compared to a Fender. I'd recommend the head - easier to mod and has 4,8,16 Ohm taps to run any cab you can get your hands on.

I'm also a fan of the little giant:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/blackheart-bh5h-little-giant-5w-120v-tube-guitar-amp-head

But I'd recommend you save up and keep an eye on CL for a Fender Blues Jr. They usually go for $350, but can be gotten for $250-300 if you get a good deal. Well worth the money - loud (but not too loud) and clean so your pedals really come through.

[pryde]

Hey Jimilee.

Here's another option: http://www.boothillamps.com/5F1_Kits.php.  I heard a lot of good things about this kit supplier when I was researching a first amp build (no affiliation whatsoever).  He was good at Q&A during my research and was even one of the guys that helped me troubleshoot the start-up of my Weber Maggie kit when I posted to the TDPRI Shock Bros. forum http://www.tdpri.com/forum/shock-brothers-diy-amps/.  You'd still need a cab, speaker and tubes, but if you find a donor unit, then you may be set.  If not, then he can supply those too.

Good luck, enjoy.  Bruce.

Yes Dave at Boothill Amps is a good guy to do business with. Give him a call and he will get you rolling if you want to do an F51.

[Clayford]

Just to muddy the waters a little, I would lean towards a hand wired, i.e. turret or stripboard construction rather than pcb for an amp, if for no other reason than the ease of repair and/or modification. I think most amp techs would agree. Plus, I found it a lot of fun building my 5E3 Tweed Deluxe based amp. Boot Hill Amps http://www.boothillamps.com/5F1_Kits.phpputs together a nice kit at very reasonable cost. There are many others to choose from. I used Triode Electronics. It's nice to get away from stuffing boards for a change. In fact, I'm convincing myself I need to build one of these http://www.allenamps.com/brownsugar.php. Arggh!

Dave(allenamps.com) is about 20 min and has had his hands in 3 of my amps. He's a tad on the expensive side, but overall worth every penny.

*edit - update which Dave.

[electrosonic]

You used to be able to by old Harmony amps for cheap. I found one with the 5e3 tube set (5y3, 12ax7 2 6V6) and rebuilt it to the 5e3 schematic.

Great amp now, light weight, loud and it sings with its original Jensen speaker.

Andrew.

[billstein]

I have a Valve Jr that i'm very happy with, no modes yet,  - play it every day but a little dark compared to a Fender. I'd recommend the head - easier to mod and has 4,8,16 Ohm taps to run any cab you can get your hands on.

I'm also a fan of the little giant:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/blackheart-bh5h-little-giant-5w-120v-tube-guitar-amp-head

But I'd recommend you save up and keep an eye on CL for a Fender Blues Jr. They usually go for $350, but can be gotten for $250-300 if you get a good deal. Well worth the money - loud (but not too loud) and clean so your pedals really come through.

I love my Blues Jr. Toanz for dayz and I haven't found a pedal yet it doesn't sound great with.

[GermanCdn]

+1 on the Blackheart stuff if you don't go the DIY route.  You can typically pick them up used very cheap.  I picked up the Handsome Devil (the 15/7 W unit with 3 band tonestack, presence control, fx loop, and 4/8/16 Ohm outputs) head for $99 used.  Stock tubes are crap and fizzy, but retubed with a set of JJs and it sounds pretty sweet.

If you're willing to splurge a bit more, you can pick up a new H&K Tubemeister 5W head for something like $250 now.

[jkokura]

I have an Egnater I love.

My biggest suggestion is not to go with an 8" speaker if you play live ever. It just isn't big enough to create enough of the proper frequencies. Go with a 12" if you can.

That said, my Vibro Champ with an 8" speaker is my favourite thing to record with in the whole world.

Jacob

[Clayford]

Didn't I read something about reboxing a Pro Jr with a 12" from Mojotone? For just that reason? Gearmandude maybe?

[jimilee]

I just picked up amp egnater tweaker for 265, too good of a deal to pass up.

[Clayford]

That is an awesome head for the price.
What ever you do... don't match it with a 2x12 cabinet

[jimilee]

Hey hey hey, I see what you're doing....I already been looking at them.  I have a 1x10 right now I can use, if I don't like the way it sounds, that will be next. Did you get your wah running? Sounds awesome with a terrible torroid inductor from how Gagan. I change q1 to stock though, it has more wah