Looking for small portable combo amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter blackba
  • Start date Start date
blackba

blackba

Well-known member
I thinking of picking up a small combo to take to jams and use around the house.
Here are the features I am looking for:
5-30Watts
2 channels
40lbs or less
$500 used or less
Effects loop
Easy to control at low volume

These features would be nice:
Reverb
Low power switch if 20 or 30Watts
12" speaker or 2 10" speakers

The Mesa Express 5:25 seems like the ideal choice, but it is out of my price range. I am also thinking about a peavey classic 30, Peavey Vypyr, Crate V33 (only comes in head and 212 though), Marshall DSL201, Laney LC30, Fender Vibro or super champ XD.

I recently played a peavey classic 30 again and really liked it. About that amount of gain would be fine for channel 2.
 
You already have some good amps listed, but IMO, the Rivera R55-12 or R30-12 is the closest competitor to the Express series. The build quality is just as good as Mesa as well. Not only is the clean channel excellent, but the tube reverb is one of the best I've ever heard. On the dirty side it goes from broken clean to Plexi and up through JCM 800. You should be able to find one in the $500-600 range in good condition.
 
I was in the same boat....bought a MIA Crate V3112....best amp purchase I've made in years. I think there's a guy on ebay selling NOS MIA V3112s for $375 shipped. The clean channel is fantastic and the od channel can easily get into 80s cock rock territory. I've used it with two different bands, so far, at gig volumes....fantastic. A definite sleeper....probably because of the name plate.
 
hal9000":3lw4elhl said:
You already have some good amps listed, but IMO, the Rivera R55-12 or R30-12 is the closest competitor to the Express series. The build quality is just as good as Mesa as well. Not only is the clean channel excellent, but the tube reverb is one of the best I've ever heard. On the dirty side it goes from broken clean to Plexi and up through JCM 800. You should be able to find one in the $500-600 range in good condition.
Click to expand...

The R30-112 looks right up my alley. Always wanted to try a Rivera, maybe now is the time. It looks like the R30 has the same power tubes and number 2 EL34's as the R55, but runs at a lower plate voltage and probably has a different transformer.
 
blackba":1kxmgcdt said:
hal9000":1kxmgcdt said:
You already have some good amps listed, but IMO, the Rivera R55-12 or R30-12 is the closest competitor to the Express series. The build quality is just as good as Mesa as well. Not only is the clean channel excellent, but the tube reverb is one of the best I've ever heard. On the dirty side it goes from broken clean to Plexi and up through JCM 800. You should be able to find one in the $500-600 range in good condition.
Click to expand...

The R30-112 looks right up my alley. Always wanted to try a Rivera, maybe now is the time. It looks like the R30 has the same power tubes and number 2 EL34's as the R55, but runs at a lower plate voltage and probably has a different transformer.
Click to expand...
I just saw this: Rivera R30-12 $575 shipped, insured and paypalled

Picture007.jpg
 
I'm a big Mesa fan, but I really don't care for those new Mesa Express amps. The combo I was most surprised with was actually the Roland Cube series, but I have a feeling you're looking for a tube combo.
 
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