283 replies to this topic

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

CygnusX-1Bk2, on 03 June 2016 - 03:06 AM, said:

Never heard of slo-blo. A fuse is there to make sure other things don't blow out. I would think any 2A/250V fuse should work. Think of a fuse as a safety wire encased in glass that will burn out before damaging current can reach critical parts of a circuit. That's it's function. On wikipedia it is stated as "a sacrificial device to provide overcurrent protection." Translation: It breaks so your amp won't.

I remember a wall poster with a bunch of Murphy's Law sayings, and my favorite entry was:

A $500 television picture tube will protect a $0.29 cent fuse by blowing first.

[CygnusX-1Bk2]

Ah, but that is a Cathode Ray Tube, not a power/gain stage tube.

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

CygnusX-1Bk2, on 03 June 2016 - 01:15 PM, said:

Ah, but that is a Cathode Ray Tube, not a power/gain stage tube.

Tubes are tubes. My amp has cathode ray tubes. Sounds awesome and I can watch reruns of Gilligan's Island on it.

[PW_Guitarist]

toymaker, on 02 June 2016 - 08:45 PM, said:

Can anyone answer a question about fuses:  I blew the fuse in my tube amp and it calls for a 2A slo-blo 250V fuse.  Will I potentially hurt the tubes if I don't use a slo-blo?

Appreciate any answers you can give...

Ideally, you should replace the fuse with the exact specs it calls for. Slow Blow fuses are designed to withstand excess current for short periods of time and are generally used in circuits that need to tolerate current surges at transient states, like turning on an electric motor. However, there's no risk to your equipment replacing a slow blow with a fast blow, but you might blow fuses more often when turning on the amp or really cranking it. The opposite is not true - replacing a fast blow with a slow blow could damage your components while waiting for the fuse to open up the circuit in over current.

[toymaker]

PW_Guitarist, on 05 June 2016 - 09:17 PM, said:

toymaker, on 02 June 2016 - 08:45 PM, said:

Can anyone answer a question about fuses:  I blew the fuse in my tube amp and it calls for a 2A slo-blo 250V fuse.  Will I potentially hurt the tubes if I don't use a slo-blo?

Appreciate any answers you can give...

Ideally, you should replace the fuse with the exact specs it calls for. Slow Blow fuses are designed to withstand excess current for short periods of time and are generally used in circuits that need to tolerate current surges at transient states, like turning on an electric motor. However, there's no risk to your equipment replacing a slow blow with a fast blow, but you might blow fuses more often when turning on the amp or really cranking it. The opposite is not true - replacing a fast blow with a slow blow could damage your components while waiting for the fuse to open up the circuit in over current.

Thanks for the answers.  I'm going to hold off until I get the right fuse.

[404-ed!!!]

So I've been looking into getting a decent-to-good amp at some point in the near future, and I think I've settled on one but would like other thoughts.  Looking between $400 and $600.  I don't play often enough (or well enough) to get a decent tube amp.  I feel like the upkeep and care is more than I want given where I am in my playing (2 young kids make it hard to plug in much), although I was eyeing up the Peavey classic 50.  I generally look for nice cleans and use pedals for effects and was looking into the Hughes & Kettner edition blue 60R.  Then I stumbled across the H&K Zentera.  Never thought of a modeling amp, but this one intrigues me.  I've seen plenty of praise for this amp here, but has anyone played the combo?  Seems like a good bedroom amp that could potentially gig down the road if I ever do that again.  Any other suggestions?  Looking to replace my mid 80's Fender Stage Lead, so I would guess most anything would be an improvement.  I play blues, classic rock, and metal and use a Gibson Midtown with P90s and a BC Rich Warlock

[thirteen]

Quote

I don't play often enough (or well enough) to get a decent tube amp.
I feel like the upkeep and care is more than I want given where I am in my playing
I generally look for nice cleans and use pedals for effects

Nice cleans + no maintenance + indestructible + takes pedals great + loud enough to gig with = Peavey Bandit 65 solo series 1X12
I'm serious. I have one it does all those things you mention. But it won't cost you $400 - $600. It might cost $100 - $150.00

It has real nice spring reverb. Don't bother with the 'Lead' channel. Just use the 'clean' channel.
If you find one that doesn't include the footswitch, you can find one on Fleabay.

Edited by thirteen, 19 September 2016 - 07:33 PM.

[Lucas]

404-ed!!!, on 19 September 2016 - 12:11 PM, said:

So I've been looking into getting a decent-to-good amp at some point in the near future, and I think I've settled on one but would like other thoughts.  Looking between $400 and $600.  I don't play often enough (or well enough) to get a decent tube amp.  I feel like the upkeep and care is more than I want given where I am in my playing (2 young kids make it hard to plug in much), although I was eyeing up the Peavey classic 50.  I generally look for nice cleans and use pedals for effects and was looking into the Hughes & Kettner edition blue 60R.  Then I stumbled across the H&K Zentera.  Never thought of a modeling amp, but this one intrigues me.  I've seen plenty of praise for this amp here, but has anyone played the combo?  Seems like a good bedroom amp that could potentially gig down the road if I ever do that again.  Any other suggestions?  Looking to replace my mid 80's Fender Stage Lead, so I would guess most anything would be an improvement.  I play blues, classic rock, and metal and use a Gibson Midtown with P90s and a BC Rich Warlock

Pound for pound, one of the best amps ever made

1980s Laney AOR Pro Tube Lead 30 watt combo ( all tube )

They pop up on eBay from time to time .. Realistically, they usually go for $300-$400 although some sellers start them higher

For hard rock, metal and blues, this amp cannot be beat

[thirteen]

Quote

1980s Laney AOR Pro Tube Lead 30 watt combo ( all tube )

Hi Lucas, not sure that 404-Ed wants a tube amp? I think he is concerned about maintenance.

Personally, I think that concerns about tube amp maintenance and fragility are way overblown and think he should ultimately buy a tube amp (such as a Laney AOR Pro Tube Lead 30).

[404-ed!!!]

Peavey Bandit sounds interesting.  I always seem to use the clean channel on my amps, and prefer pedals to the lead channel.  Maybe the tube amp maintenance is overblown, but I'm certainly cautious...or lazy.  Well, I'll have to file away the advice to use later, because homeownership throws unaccounted for expense your way sometimes.  D'oh

[Maverick]

Fender Blues Jr.

[umoveme]

I've always had a special place in my heart for the Lonestar.

[Maverick]

404-ed!!!, on 28 September 2016 - 04:20 PM, said:

Peavey Bandit sounds interesting.  I always seem to use the clean channel on my amps, and prefer pedals to the lead channel.  Maybe the tube amp maintenance is overblown, but I'm certainly cautious...or lazy.  Well, I'll have to file away the advice to use later, because homeownership throws unaccounted for expense your way sometimes.  D'oh

You are definitely making more out of the tube maintenance than you need to.

Check out the Fender Blues Jr.  It is an 18 watt 1x12 combo.  Get the Tweed one, as it has a better speaker than the regular black tolex version.  The amp makes great clean sounds, has a great built-in reverb, and it has a master volume control, which comes in very handy for getting great tone at lower volumes.

[Lucas]

Maverick, on 29 September 2016 - 06:56 PM, said:

404-ed!!!, on 28 September 2016 - 04:20 PM, said:

Peavey Bandit sounds interesting.  I always seem to use the clean channel on my amps, and prefer pedals to the lead channel.  Maybe the tube amp maintenance is overblown, but I'm certainly cautious...or lazy.  Well, I'll have to file away the advice to use later, because homeownership throws unaccounted for expense your way sometimes.  D'oh

You are definitely making more out of the tube maintenance than you need to.

I completely agree with this

I bought my 80s Laney combo in 2007, put new tubes in, and it's been great since - no problems, no maintenance .. And I put 15-20 hr per week on it

[Maverick]

I got this bad boy a couple months ago. I used to have an original '75 edition. I like this one as much/better because the reverb an tremolo are available on both channels, and I can jumper both channels to get a thicker tone. Recently gigged out with it, and everyone thought it sounded great, including me. I just wish my playing had been better.

[boofie]

Lucas, on 19 September 2016 - 11:00 PM, said:

404-ed!!!, on 19 September 2016 - 12:11 PM, said:

So I've been looking into getting a decent-to-good amp at some point in the near future, and I think I've settled on one but would like other thoughts.  Looking between $400 and $600.  I don't play often enough (or well enough) to get a decent tube amp.  I feel like the upkeep and care is more than I want given where I am in my playing (2 young kids make it hard to plug in much), although I was eyeing up the Peavey classic 50.  I generally look for nice cleans and use pedals for effects and was looking into the Hughes & Kettner edition blue 60R.  Then I stumbled across the H&K Zentera.  Never thought of a modeling amp, but this one intrigues me.  I've seen plenty of praise for this amp here, but has anyone played the combo?  Seems like a good bedroom amp that could potentially gig down the road if I ever do that again.  Any other suggestions?  Looking to replace my mid 80's Fender Stage Lead, so I would guess most anything would be an improvement.  I play blues, classic rock, and metal and use a Gibson Midtown with P90s and a BC Rich Warlock

Pound for pound, one of the best amps ever made

1980s Laney AOR Pro Tube Lead 30 watt combo ( all tube )

They pop up on eBay from time to time .. Realistically, they usually go for $300-$400 although some sellers start them higher

For hard rock, metal and blues, this amp cannot be beat

Yes those AORs were the best for metal in the late 80s. I had one and it did metal very well. not much else but fantastic for metal and pretty damn cheap.

[Maverick]

After having a Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic amp for 12 years, I finally acquired it's little brother companion amp, the Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special.  I've loved the Special for quite a while now, but never wanted to pull the trigger on getting one.  Instead, I opted for a Mesa Boogie Mark V, and a Fender Deluxe Reverb (twice.)  But a couple of weeks ago I was in my favorite guitar shop and saw a new Special displayed with the rest of the amps. A week and a half later, I was back in the shop hoping I could work out a trade with the owner.  I was willing to give up the Mark V (it is a brilliant amp, but I found that for years I was only using it to get the sounds that I could already get from my Lonestar Classic.)  I was also willing to give up my John Petrucci Music Man guitar that I've owned as long as I've owned my Lonestar Classic. It is a great guitar, but it is one of five that I own, and it was never getting played.

I paid $1300 for the Mark V new back in 2013 when Guitar Center was dumping all if their Mesa Boogie amps at half price because they had terminated their contract with them.  The shop owner gave me $1200 for the amp.  Not bad for years of ownership. I paid $1700 for the Music Man back in 2007, and the shop owner gave me $1200 for it, which was really a big shock considering I'd been trying to sell him that guitar for several years, and he wasn't even interested.  The Special was $1999, so I got the amp and a check for $401.  I still can't believe it.  

Here's the Lonestar Classic.




And here's the Lonestar Special.

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

Mav, any difference in wattage?

[Maverick]

1-0-0-1-0-0-1, on 10 March 2019 - 12:33 PM, said:

Mav, any difference in wattage?

The Lonestar Classic has four 6L6 tunes in the power section for 100 or 50 watts.

The Lonestar Special has four EL84 tubes in the power section for 30, 15, or 5 watts of power.

[treeduck]