Cheap head suggestions..

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:54 pm

Hey guys, Ive been considering a head to go with a Peavey 4X12 cab with Sheffields im getting from a local pawn shop. I dont want to spend a bunch on one. Ive been looking at maybe a Peavey Valveking head...?
So my question is: what is a good sounding head that wont cost a fortune??
Thanks for any help!

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:14 pm

What sounds good to me mightn't sound good to everybody else. What sort of sound are you looking for?

Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 820

Bugera is about as cheep as i would go... or find a 6505

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

I am extremely happy with my Jet City gear.

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4252 Location: Derry, N Ireland

Bugera 6262, 1990 or 333xl. Look on YouTube for 'Bugera 333xl Lead Tone' Wink

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:24 pm

Wasnt it you that said 6505s are 'entry level junk'? Laughing

but yea, I love the sound of a 6505, but it would take forever to save up for one. Is there anything that has good metal tone at a lower price?

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:31 pm

bazzabalboa wrote:

Bugera 6262, 1990 or 333xl. Look on YouTube for 'Bugera 333xl Lead Tone' Wink

Will do when I get to an actual computer!!
Ill check out Jet City too Graunke!
Thanks guys, keep the suggestions comin. Smile

Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 820

DrShredder97 wrote:

Wasnt it you that said 6505s are 'entry level junk'? Laughing

but yea, I love the sound of a 6505, but it would take forever to save up for one. Is there anything that has good metal tone at a lower price?

Well you said cheep .. Laughing

Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 976 Location: Rock Hill,SC

A good amp for a lil cheaper than the 6505 is the Peavey 3120. I had one of these things & it was awesome. Great clean channel. Rhythm channel is good but the lead channel is sexy. Usually run about 1k new. I always used the clean & lead channels & boosted for solos with the effects loop.

Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 820

jd267 wrote:

DrShredder97 wrote:

Wasnt it you that said 6505s are 'entry level junk'? Laughing

but yea, I love the sound of a 6505, but it would take forever to save up for one. Is there anything that has good metal tone at a lower price?

Well you said cheep .. Laughing

But for real the bugera amps used are great deals!

Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1370 Location: Lutz, Fl.

I would agree with everyone on checking out the Bulgera. Something I have seen in the pawn shops for a decent price is the B-52 ATX-100. I haven't had a chance to play one, but there are a lot of reviews on the net. It's something to think about. Good luck in your hunt.

Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 1242 Location: New York, NY

You should also check out the Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister series. I've the the 36; it's also available in 18 and 5 watt versions. Don't let the low wattage fool you, these things rip. The 36 was just under a thousand dollars. I think the 18 goes for around 500.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14462

Graunke wrote:

I am extremely happy with my Jet City gear.

check

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 5:23 am

I've heard the Egnater Mod or the Randall MTS are pretty cool because you can change input modules for different sounds.

Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 349 Location: South-West Ohio

Jet city for Marshall JCM800/soldano type tones
Tubemeister 36 for higher gain metal or extreme stuff
I love my Blackstar and theya re actually pretty reasonable

Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 2045 Location: Wallingford, CT

tommytoolz wrote:

You should also check out the Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister series. I've the the 36; it's also available in 18 and 5 watt versions. Don't let the low wattage fool you, these things rip. The 36 was just under a thousand dollars. I think the 18 goes for around 500.

I second this. I have the 18 and it's a great amp.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 1:43 pm

It's getting a bit tiring to hear the 6505 is cheap junk. It's a USA made amp, basically bulletproof and reliable. Put that bitch up on 5 and tell me it's cheap junk

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:23 pm

Im also open to suggestions of a good solid state head. I dont want my tone to be too warm, and tube heads are genuinely warm right? Some of my favorite tones are newer Testament, and Machine Heads' tone (which i believe are 6505s). I like the guy from Kill Devil Hill's tone too. Just some ideas for my tone preferences.
I just want a good head, that I can get for less than like $500 used.
Ive been checkin out:
Peavey Valveking (anyone have experience with this?)
Bugera 333xl
both seem good...
Sorry guys... Im a newb to tube amps, and stacks.

Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 121 Location: Chesterfield, IN

By the sounds you just described, go find a used 5150/6505. I don't know what they go for used as I've never really looked. But the tone you said you want, that's the amp you need.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 10:10 pm

thatoneguy12986 wrote:

By the sounds you just described, go find a used 5150/6505. I don't know what they go for used as I've never really looked. But the tone you said you want, that's the amp you need.

They look to be going for around $600-800 used I think. Maybe it will be worth it to just save my money for a 6505 head..

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4252 Location: Derry, N Ireland

Tube heads with EL34 tubes will sound warmer that heads with 6L6 tubes.

By the sounds of things as thatoneguy said, a 6505 or 5150 would be right up your street dude. And if you can't afford them, the Bugera 6262 is the alternative. I was very interested in valvekings when I was buying. But they really need an overdrive pedal in front of them, but overall they are a good reliable little head!

You like these tones?:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja30w9mYnFM

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:48 pm

Nice!! Bugera's been impressing me so far. But, the 6505 still sounded better IMO.
I think ive decided to get either the Valveking or save for a 6505. That way, itll match my cab. Plus, ive never tried OD, so if I go the Valveking route, ill sell my distortion pedal for an OD.
Ive always liked Peavey, but I think a couple of my other friends might dig Bugera. Ill recommend it to them.
Thanks alot for the help guys!!! Smile

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5603 Location: phoenix az.

Randall 1503 i believe they sound sweet!

Joined: 22 Jan 2013 Posts: 10

I just got a xxx on guitar centers used website for 437 shipped and with pro coverage.(got the pro coverage because it was getting shipped and i didn't want to eat any repair costs if anything were to get broken.)

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 5:25 am

screwedandtattooed wrote:

I just got a xxx on guitar centers used website for 437 shipped and with pro coverage.(got the pro coverage because it was getting shipped and i didn't want to eat any repair costs if anything were to get broken.)

Awesome!! Let us know how it sounds!!

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

Cant go wrong with Jet City. Plenty of tone. Plenty of gain. Great build quality.