List your favorite sleeper amps.

[IPlayHamers]

They don't have to be expensive, just tube amps that we don't see often, but sound great.

Here's my list.

Ampeg V-50H: Super clean and very loud for a 50 watt head. Not much break up, even at full bore. Takes pedals extremely well. Stellar amp for the guitarist on a budget. Prices seem to be about $150 to $300 depending on condition. Would suit a studio or rehearsal space very well.

Peavey Ultra 60 & Plus: The Ultra 60 is one of my favorite amps. It can sound very good with good eq or a Xotic RC in the loop to give it a little more sparkle and presence. Can get down right brutal as well. The Plus model was an attempt to compete with Mesa Rectifiers, but to me they have their own voice. Still, I feel the 60 sound the best out of the 2 and would not hesitate to buy another one. Expect to pay about $200-250 for one of these. Add and EQ or RC Booster and you have a killer sounding rig for under $400, excluding the cab of your choice.

Laney GH50L/100L & VH100R: I see these amps all the time selling used for great prices. I got my GH50L for $275 used and it came with a fresh set of JJ E34L's and JJ 12AX7's. Smokin amp for all out crunch. Modded JCM800 like with the E34L's. I haven't tried it with 6L6's, but it would probably be more American sounding and I prefer a British tone. Not much to be said for clean, but thats where the VH100R comes in. Honestly that amp has one of the best clean channels I've heard in a channel switcher. Very Fendery. The gain channel was very good on the amp I heard as well, but it had 6L6's and I know I'd prefer 34's. Anywoo. Used GH50L/100L's go for $300-500 these days. VH100R's fetch $400 to $650, although I just say one sell on Ebay for less that $350!!!!

Well, those are 3 of my favorite sleeper amps. Hope to hear from some of you soon.

Thanks,

Paul

[nek]

OK, this amp is not exactly a secret. It is usually overlooked, overshadowed by the D/C30: my vote is for the Matchless S/C30.

[IPlayHamers]

Originally posted by nek
OK, this amp is not exactly a secret. It is usually overlooked, overshadowed by the D/C30: my vote is for the Matchless S/C30.

Good choice, and alot lighter than the D/C30.....:D

[ghost]

I'm digging the Sominex 100
The Sleeptrainwreck 33 comes in at a close second just cause they deliver before 2 pm

[neastguy]

I'll say it again Randall rg100es, not tubes though... it rocks though....

[davebc]

Here's one for ya,guaranteed to kill any thread,the seldom discussed,thinly owned but not thinly toned,now discontinued,get em while you can,Fender Custom shops best kept secret,The Dual- Professional.

[enharmonic]

Some of you might think that I'm on the crack, but I have heard some Sovtek mig's that sounded pretty damned sweet. a buddy of mine just picked one up at a yard sale for 50 bucks...can't wait to see how that one sounds :)

Another one that I really dig...though it's very unconventional for my tastes, is that Vox Brian May amp. The last one that needed some tranny love to get happy was a Trace Elliott Velocette. I picked one of them up on clearance for 200 bucks, and put about 350 bucks into making it sound crazy good. Jeff Bober of Budda Amps must have replaced damned near every component in that thing...but once it was "right"...WOW! Sorry I sold that one actually.

[mad dog]

I'm always amazed I don't see more Ampegs out there. The pre-reverb era Mercury is a real sleeper, hot and fat, sort of in the tweed deluxe zone but with it's own sound. The Gemini series are a little quiet for modern stages, but have beautiful clean sounds, excellent reverb too. But heavy!

I'm not as impressed with the reissue stuff.

[enharmonic]

Originally posted by mad dog
I'm always amazed I don't see more Ampegs out there. The pre-reverb era Mercury is a real sleeper, hot and fat, sort of in the tweed deluxe zone but with it's own sound. The Gemini series are a little quiet for modern stages, but have beautiful clean sounds, excellent reverb too. But heavy!

I'm not as impressed with the reissue stuff.

Josh Homme uses old Ampeg amps...big, thick, sick tone right there :)

[loudboy]

It's well-known in recording circles, but the Fender Pro Jr. is an amazing amp.

Loudboy

[AshlandBump]

They're far from high end but a great bang-for-the-buck amp is the Pignose G60RV. Very much like a Hellhound, but can be picked up for less money. I use one as a backup and for home use and it's never let me down -- decent tone too but I have a Celestion G12H80 in it.

[Reeek]

I always go on about my Sanos but I confess that I've been digging me recently acquired Custom Kraft Power Sonic dual 6V6 1x12 since I got it. I loaded her up with some special tubes from KCA, stuck a Weber cermic Blue Dog in her and she's smokin these day! $152.00 before tubes and speaker ;)

[martins3325]

A Gorilla 10w!!! JOKING Seriously though this ones IMO a no-brainer for me.. a mid 60's blackface Bassman head ..they can be had between $350-500. I had one --dead stock-- was so good guys prefered to use it instead of their P2P early 70's Marshalls. It sounds alot like a Marshall just not quite as mid-high end crack ...but a bit fuller sound.

[Souled Out]

Randall MTS 100 with 12 different amp Modules developed by Bruce Egnator. Thru the Randell 4X12 cab it delivers serious quality tones to equal some best amps I've heard. Great MV as well. I think most don't take this amp serious or know about it. Randall doesn't seem to market it much. Sleeper status?

[Scott Peterson]

Originally posted by splatt
still a sleeper, i think:
vht pittbull 45.
dt / spltrcl

+1

And I'll add my VHT Pittbull 50/ST to the mix for fun.

But let's keep it sleeping and not tell anymore folks. Lest we be accused of trying to run up the market value. :D

[guitarcrazy2004]

sleeper amp---gibson masonette.....ok i need to wake the sleeping beauty(9/15)....:D :D

[59burst]

Originally posted by davebc
Here's one for ya,guaranteed to kill any thread,the seldom discussed,thinly owned but not thinly toned,now discontinued,get em while you can,Fender Custom shops best kept secret,The Dual- Professional.

+1

[Norjef]

Ampeg VL503
Sundown Artist
Egnater TOL/MICA 50 & 100 watters
Yamaha/Soldano T100
All can be "stolen". Jeff

[Jon Silberman]

Any vintage Traynor.

Not sleepers here among this erudite and most intelligent crew ;) but are elsewhere.

[hemlock]

Peavey VTM and Classic 50.
A bunch of Silvertones.

[shallbe]

Jamison.

Ditto on the Dual Professional.

[scottcw]

Originally posted by nek
OK, this amp is not exactly a secret. It is usually overlooked, overshadowed by the D/C30: my vote is for the Matchless S/C30.

+1.

Add the 60s Ampeg Jet.

[DerekMinnich]

Denis Cornell 45/50 is still a sleeper around these parts IMHO in comparison to the press that the Germino's and other Marshall types get. I love mine.

[Maction]

Originally posted by enharmonic
Some of you might think that I'm on the crack, but I have heard some Sovtek mig's that sounded pretty damned sweet.

+1

I just played a Sovetk MIG 50 yesterday. It pretty much nails the Marshall 2204 tone.

I amazed they're not more sought after, especially considering how much the 2203 reissues are going for.

[erksin]

Early/mid '60s Gibson/Epiphone/Maestro 'Crestline' amps (the brown ones) - killer tones from nearly every model in the series and you'll never pay more than $600 for the most expensive models. PTP, Jensen/CTS/JBL speakers, Mullard and RCA tubes, amazing reverb and tremolo, very pedal-friendly. One model even has an onboard Tel-Ray oilcan delay...

They're sleepers 'cause they're ugly - until you plug in!

[BigPapiFan]

Blue-checked Ampegs especially those with reverb. They do use some strange tubes (7591, 7199, 7868, 6CG7/6FQ7, 6U10...) but they sound sweet.

[gravy]

old ampex film sound projectors - check the church rummage sales

[Jarrett]

Holy old threads Batman, four years?

I've come to realize that a decent player can get a good sound out of almost any amp. And that there's not really a vast difference between the lowliest tube amp and the most regarded.

[Mcclassic]

Mesa boogie Maverick 4x10...

[therhodeo]

Mesa boogie Maverick 4x10...

Mine would by my Mesa Maverick Head or my Groove Tubes Soul-O 45 head. Glad they're not the flavor of the week or I wouldn't have been able to afford such good tone.

[rybass]

Fender Musicmaster Bass with a good 12au7.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g163/ratmix/Gits/gow33MM.jpg

[CocoTone]

Any vintage Traynor.

Not sleepers here among this erudite and most intelligent crew ;) but are elsewhere.

Beat me to it. Specifically, the Ygm-3 are such a great amp with a speaker swap. Folks are starting to wake up since they came out with the reissues tho.

CT.

[steadygarcia]

Blue-checked Ampegs especially those with reverb. They do use some strange tubes (7591, 7199, 7868, 6CG7/6FQ7, 6U10...) but they sound sweet.

:agree Gemini I owner here. Another one I never hear much about is the Ampeg B-25B ... I own one and it's a monster 50w head.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

GDS Marshall 18W clone! :bow

[mark norwine]

Ampeg Reverberocket II GS-12R, especially the oldest version with the 7199 inverter

[franksguitar]

Traynor Custom Valve 20, Marshall Artist4203

[Belmont]

Garnets are unknown outside Canada, but they made some great amps. I've got a Sessionman 2x12 combo from the mid 70's, still has the original tubes. it's true ptp and sounds very JMPesque.

[candid_x]

Laney GH50L/100L & VH100R: I see these amps all the time selling used for great prices. I got my GH50L for $275 used and it came with a fresh set of JJ E34L's and JJ 12AX7's. Smokin amp for all out crunch. Modded JCM800 like with the E34L's. I haven't tried it with 6L6's, but it would probably be more American sounding and I prefer a British tone. Not much to be said for clean, but thats where the VH100R comes in. Honestly that amp has one of the best clean channels I've heard in a channel switcher. Very Fendery.When I saw the title of this thread I was going to say Laney GH50L also. Paul, you stole yours, man! Mine is set up with Svetlana 6L6's. Tried my usual JJ's but they had the usual JJ sound and I wanted something more open sounding. The Svets sound great. With a JAN Phillips 12AX7 in V1, JJ's in 2 and 3, and a balanced triode EH in 4, the cleans are great, and the crunch is seriously nice. It was made for my "brown" and A-man modded Maxon OD9. I had it up for sale for awhile but decided to hold onto it for my more.. um.. aggressive moods. Very underrated amp, imo. Cleans up remarkably well with guitar volume roll off. I've owned several Laney valve amps and liked them all (with decent tubes and speakers), but this one is clearly my favorite. It's an inspiring amp for me, and for not a lot of bucks, usually used in good shape for $5-600.

My kid traded some gear for a GH100L, and he wasn't thrilled with it (he loves his Marshalls), and sold it. He lives far away so I didn't have a chance to get into it.

Oh, I usually push one or two RWB speakers with mine, and they're great together.

[candid_x]

+1

I just played a Sovetk MIG 50 yesterday. It pretty much nails the Marshall 2204 tone.

I amazed they're not more sought after, especially considering how much the 2203 reissues are going for.

I agree. Never had one but the ones I've heard were surprisingly good.

[Telecaster62]

Vote #3 for the Pro Junior. Absolutely wonderful tone if you know what you're doing with it. Recorded four stellar tracks in the studio with an old tweed Pro Jr. just today. The Junior slayed the Orange AD head the other guitarist was using. The Orange did sound very very good, though.

[Rick360]

Howdy,

Fender red knob Super 112/210 combos. My Super 112 has the glassiest, punchiest tone I've heard this side of a pristine BF Twin. Talk about headroom! They're becoming a bargain on the used market.

Rick360

[Gigbag]

Sovetk MIG 50 (great bang for your buck, and great Marshall tone)

US Masters / Masters TVA30 (great bang for your buck, and a great range of tones)

Lexicon Signature 284 (very handy stereo, recording amp, with great recording features -- I wish I bought another one when they were clearing them new for $400)

[teddys]

I love my Speedster Deluxe 25 watter, Superb on all levels:RoCkIn

[mvd18969]

A little Peavey love..........in the hi gain sector, check out the Peavey Ultra Plus 120.

[ozspawn]

Ampeg Reverberocket II GS-12R, especially the oldest version with the 7199 inverter

My '66 RR II is a sleeper.

Amperex 12AX7 in V1 and Philips 6L6GC's in the output
(the circuit has been modified) and a new speaker.

I swear this thing sounds as good (but different) as my
'66 Deluxe Reverb.:hide

[StompBoxBlues]

It's well-known in recording circles, but the Fender Pro Jr. is an amazing amp.

Loudboy

Nothing to do with this, but....

Something always strikes me strange about the name of that amp. I didn't like it at all (I mean just the name, I've never tried one yet) and if I were in the meeting to decide on a name and veto power...man..

Anyone else think "pro" and "Jr." are kinda at odds...contradictory?

Plus, isn't this the amp with just volume, or just volume and one tone knob? In what way "pro"?? Like "oh yeah...pro's like just having their options limited, and getting just one sound out of it. They begged us even to remove the volume knob so they wouldn't have to set it...pros don't like to waste time twirling knobs you know...they gotta EARN"

Again, not at all knocking the amp itself. I have heard clips of it that sound nice, and haven't tried one because if I liked it I'd just have yet another amp.

[therhodeo]

Nothing to do with this, but....

Something always strikes me strange about the name of that amp. I didn't like it at all (I mean just the name, I've never tried one yet) and if I were in the meeting to decide on a name and veto power...man..

Anyone else think "pro" and "Jr." are kinda at odds...contradictory?

Plus, isn't this the amp with just volume, or just volume and one tone knob? In what way "pro"?? Like "oh yeah...pro's like just having their options limited, and getting just one sound out of it. They begged us even to remove the volume knob so they wouldn't have to set it...pros don't like to waste time twirling knobs you know...they gotta EARN"

Again, not at all knocking the amp itself. I have heard clips of it that sound nice, and haven't tried one because if I liked it I'd just have yet another amp.

I'm pretty sure Haynes used one on High & Mighty. Thats fairly pro-ish.

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Nothing to do with this, but....

Something always strikes me strange about the name of that amp. I didn't like it at all (I mean just the name, I've never tried one yet) and if I were in the meeting to decide on a name and veto power...man..

Anyone else think "pro" and "Jr." are kinda at odds...contradictory?

Plus, isn't this the amp with just volume, or just volume and one tone knob? In what way "pro"?? Like "oh yeah...pro's like just having their options limited, and getting just one sound out of it. They begged us even to remove the volume knob so they wouldn't have to set it...pros don't like to waste time twirling knobs you know...they gotta EARN"

Again, not at all knocking the amp itself. I have heard clips of it that sound nice, and haven't tried one because if I liked it I'd just have yet another amp.

Who gives a crap about a name? The Pro Jr. is a fantastic little amp with
nothing but pure tube tone. You obviously have never tried one.

[CharAznable]

Nothing to do with this, but....

Something always strikes me strange about the name of that amp. I didn't like it at all (I mean just the name, I've never tried one yet) and if I were in the meeting to decide on a name and veto power...man..

Anyone else think "pro" and "Jr." are kinda at odds...contradictory?

Plus, isn't this the amp with just volume, or just volume and one tone knob? In what way "pro"?? Like "oh yeah...pro's like just having their options limited, and getting just one sound out of it. They begged us even to remove the volume knob so they wouldn't have to set it...pros don't like to waste time twirling knobs you know...they gotta EARN"

Again, not at all knocking the amp itself. I have heard clips of it that sound nice, and haven't tried one because if I liked it I'd just have yet another amp.


You are thinking too much about the name. No one gives too much thought to such things. It's more important if the amp sounds good.

As far as the sound.. it's rather good. You plug it in and turn it up and it already sounds good. No need to screw around with it much.

Much more expensive amps have even less knobs.

[bodazoffa]

Music Man RD50

[SnidelyWhiplash]

You are thinking too much about the name. No one gives too much thought to such things. It's more important if the amp sounds good.

As far as the sound.. it's rather good. You plug it in and turn it up and it already sounds good. No need to screw around with it much.

Much more expensive amps have even less knobs.

The older i get i think that most " modern " amps have too many knobs.

[wrxplayer]

I bought an Alessandro Working Dog Doberman a few months ago. Was looking for a mid-powered combo that was very giggable and < 40 lbs. The amp sounds great, has a decent reverb, built in attenuator to set wattage from 20 to 40, PTP wired, is actually <35 lbs. w/ a 12" speaker, has excellent fit and finish, takes pedals well, and costs much less than other boutique amps (about $1150 delivered). I'm surprised they're not more popular around here, so I guess it would have to qualify as a "sleeper."