and completely not sure what I want/need.

I was thinking of finally going all tube. Although Im not sure if this
is the best way to go. I dont gig and really I play at home and I
record at home. I like the fact that I can run my Marshall through its
emulated line out and into my mixer and record without bothering anyone. I
cant really do this with a tube amp. Im afraid that if I go tube that I
will end up with way too much amp that I wont be able get the best
tones out of because I cant turn up the volume and saturate the tubes. Here are the tube amps Ive been looking at.


Carvin MTS 100watt - 2 channel. Very impressive sounding hi gain amp.


Carvin V3 100 watt - 3 channels. Higher gain amp than the MTS. This is much on the lines of a mesa.



Bugera 333 120 watt - Much like the V3 but a few hundred smackers cheaper.



Peavey Valveking 100 watt - A good sounding amp but I think it has a darker tone from what I have heard.

Now my next choice would be to go with one of those hybrid amps. These two really jump out at me.



Vox AD50V2-XL 50watt combo - 11 amp models and a good portion of effects. The power stage is driven with a 12AX7 tube which gives it more tubelike tone than a solid state amp. The XL series is the higain series of the Valvetronix series.


Kustom HV100 watt combo - Much like the Vox above really. This one is loaded with Celestion speakers. I think the Vox might have Eminence speakers but I may be wrong.

All of these have line out abilities but only the Vox and Kustom will allow me to play "silently" and truely "family friendly" amps as far as I can tell.

I like the combos and all the tube amps come in 2X12 combos which is cool because I really dont need a half stack anymore. I guess I need some info about tube amps more than anything. I know many of you play through tube amps so any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

I would go with the Vox for what you are doing. Although if you get into a band then I would go for the amp at the top. ;D

The Valveking is apparently VERY hit or miss.....a good one is golden, but the average one is "meh". They also have another lower cot tube amp in their family, the Windsor. Again, hit or miss, but the good ones sound like the GOOD classic Marshall JCM 800s


I also understand that the Bugera 333 is in essence a reverse engineered Peavey XXX (which is Peavey's take on the Boogie recto tone...). They also make a 5150 clone, and it is VERY close in terms of tone. I've actually heard a recording that was the Bugera panned hard one side, and the 5150 panned hard to the other. VERY close in terms of tone.

The other thing to think about, with those combos......they tend to be open backed, which will give a different tone than what you' get from those same amps played thru a 4x12.........

I'm a fan of the Vox Valvetronix myself.

I saw a demo from a guitar player on youtube and I am pretty convinced I am going to go after the Valvetronix but not the XL series but the lower gain series. I am going to try one out first but the lower gain Valvetronix can get some good metal sounds but it also has more vintage settings which is something I really would like to have.

I too had heard hit and miss about the Valveking.

Jon.....yeah if and when I get into another band.....an all tube Carvin is what I really want!

I have had a Vox too, but traded it for a Roland Cube.

Well if you want the best of both worlds Id go for the Line 6 Spider Valve

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-Valve-212-40W-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=483067

This is the Solidstate/Tube amp developed by Line 6 and Bogner. Both very solid companies and most of you all know about line 6's great Amp modeling applications and thier effects and Bogner's awesome Valve sounds. I actually may get this amp just to have Ive played both the Combo and the Head and thier both stellar! Also if you get the floor controller you have endless capabilities at your toes.

You can record with it straight into your computer and you can gig at 40 watts for the combo which I thought was under rated it sounded way louder than that. and the Head is at 100 watts. The bestpart is that it actually sounds like a tube amp because it is and its a modeling amp as well. Thats would be my choice if I were you.

man if i could buy a new tube amp, i would get an Engl i think...
what i have now is a Marshall JCM 900 SL-X and I love it...

I would love all tube but for what Im doing something like the Vox or the Line 6 is what I need.