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.....

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.