Bobthedog Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I am picking up a Glockenklang Blue Rock on Saturday which has got me thinking. I have only ever played through Class D heads. Is there a "cheap" valve amp that is worth looking at? I don't care about power as it will only be a valve intro for me. It will have to played through one or two RS 212s for the time being, however. What do you recommend as a starter for 10? Budgewise, I would like to keep it down to a few hundred pounds, if possible, or even less. The important thing for me, is that I get a reasonable facsimile of what a decent valve amp could sound like. I am not worried about music genres etc, it is purely a plaything to get me hooked or otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 In that price range your best bet may be to find a 70s British valve amp; Carlsbro, Selmer, Sound City and quite a few more. If it hasn't already been serviced and re-capped, you should budget a bit extra for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) You can pick up a new small Matamp for 359 - worth more than a passing glance............ VVVVV If you want something to gig at Glasto, these ain't gonna do it, but (imo) they make a great first step intro to valves..... Edited March 9, 2016 by taunton-hobbit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Ampeg do a 20w one for 500ish I think which I reckon would be great for recording. Bugera/Behringer do a full tube amp though I have no idea about the quality. Other than that used would be the way I'd go. ^ Aren't those mini-mat's guitar amps? Do they still sound good for bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) Ashdown Little Bastard - all tube 30 Watt - you won't be disappointed Edit for video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8eOPVi2Vvk Edited March 9, 2016 by KiOgon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magee Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 You could try this one I have for sale, as a valve starter amp: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/268722-price-drop-100w-all-valve-hand-built-bass-amp/ On a slightly less self-interested note: I had a Little Bastard once and it sounded beautiful. I had to get rid because it didn't have enough volume for gigging and rehearsal, but the sound was fabulous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Can't help you with a valve amp at that price, but welcome to the Blue Rock Club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colgraff Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 [quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1457542576' post='2999542'] Is there a "cheap" valve amp that is worth looking at? [/quote] No. Nor an expensive one either. In my opinion they are best consigned to the past, but each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Ashdown Little Bastard or CTM30 (they're the same amp but the LB is the cool teenager and the CTM wears the grown up clothes) is what I'd look at, superb little beasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1457548272' post='2999600'] Can't help you with a valve amp at that price, but welcome to the Blue Rock Club! [/quote] Many thanks. Very much looking forward to picking it up on Saturday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Many thanks people. I will look out for all of the suggestions, although the Ashdown LB does standout as a good option. Colgraff, you may be right but there are enough out there to suggest they may have something over the Class D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pow_22 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Our very own Mr.Foxen is flogging a Little Bastard for a good price, maybe worth hitting him up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I'll add support for the LB30/CTM30. Fantastic little amps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Many thanks for the tip off. I may follow up on that when I get back to Blighty this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 [quote name='Merton' timestamp='1457558686' post='2999722'] Ashdown Little Bastard or CTM30 (they're the same amp but the LB is the cool teenager and the CTM wears the grown up clothes) is what I'd look at, superb little beasts. [/quote] Yep, another vote here. I believe the CTM30 has now replaced the LB30 in their production line - which is a bit of a shame as the LB30 is definitely the best-looking amp I've ever owned! But if the CTM30 sounds even half as good, you'll be laughing. (LB30 review if anyone's interested: https://thecrowfrombelow.wordpress.com/2015/08/03/gear-review-6-ashdown-little-bastard-30/ ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I notice that Mr Foxen is listing the amp as sold.... there is some love out there still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 [quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1457600861' post='2999942'] Yep, another vote here. I believe the CTM30 has now replaced the LB30 in their production line - which is a bit of a shame as the LB30 is definitely the best-looking amp I've ever owned! But if the CTM30 sounds even half as good, you'll be laughing. (LB30 review if anyone's interested: https://thecrowfrombelow.wordpress.com/2015/08/03/gear-review-6-ashdown-little-bastard-30/ ) [/quote] They're identical under the hood. I prefer the look and form factor of the LB30 I had (it's slightly narrower), but the CTM30 I have now came up at a killer price so I jumped on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 I am sure I have seen a recent thread on here or TB where the OP complained that the CTM had a much brighter sound than the LB. If they have the same innards, this surely would not make sense? I have found an LB30 on Facebook that is a great price, however, it was a Jan 16 sale so ,at have gone. Until I get back to the UK, I am not going to chase anything, however. I cannot see the one on BC referred to earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pow_22 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 What FB page is it on? If its Ampstack then that's Oli's page (Mr.Foxen on here). Think he was looking for about £300 for his Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 [quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1457614299' post='3000104'] I am sure I have seen a recent thread on here or TB where the OP complained that the CTM had a much brighter sound than the LB. If they have the same innards, this surely would not make sense? I have found an LB30 on Facebook that is a great price, however, it was a Jan 16 sale so ,at have gone. Until I get back to the UK, I am not going to chase anything, however. I cannot see the one on BC referred to earlier. [/quote] I can only speak from personal experience, but they sound identical to me (I'll caveat that by saying it's been a few years since I owned the LB30). I read on here somewhere I think that they were the same amp reinvented - apparently the whole "B**tard" thing didn't go down that well in some circles... They both sound excellent so I wouldn't take one person's negative comment as gospel. Try one for yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Pow_22' timestamp='1457614788' post='3000111'] What FB page is it on? If its Ampstack then that's Oli's page (Mr.Foxen on here). Think he was looking for about £300 for his [/quote] Bass Gear UK [quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1457615410' post='3000125'] I can only speak from personal experience, but they sound identical to me. They both sound excellent so I wouldn't take one person's negative comment as gospel. Try one for yourself! [/quote] If I can get one cheap enough I will buy it anyway and resell if needed. Edited March 10, 2016 by Bobthedog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 [quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1457612199' post='3000081'] They're identical under the hood. I prefer the look and form factor of the LB30 I had (it's slightly narrower), but the CTM30 I have now came up at a killer price so I jumped on it. [/quote] Do they have the same controls then? I know the main difference on the front panels of my LB30 and CTM100 is that the former has no input gain control. I seem to remember the CTM15 I owned for all of 24 hours had one, so I wonder whether they've put one on the CTM30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 [quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1457616263' post='3000150'] Do they have the same controls then? I know the main difference on the front panels of my LB30 and CTM100 is that the former has no input gain control. I seem to remember the CTM15 I owned for all of 24 hours had one, so I wonder whether they've put one on the CTM30. [/quote] Yup, the CTM is the same as the LB, no input gain. Mark Gooday has said many a time that they are identical but they basically rereleased it as the CTM to fall in line with that range, rather than confuse people and have another valve amp name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 The words cheap" and" valve amp" don't naturally go together. Valve power stages need proper transformers - not cheap. A valve pre plus SS power may be the best way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 [quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1457629812' post='3000420'] The words cheap" and" valve amp" don't naturally go together. Valve power stages need proper transformers - not cheap. A valve pre plus SS power may be the best way to go. [/quote] To me cheap is a relative term, if I can get an Ashdown LB30/CTM30 second hand for a couple of hundred that is cheap relative to a new one at £800 or the full power valve amps from £1,300 upwards. This is just an experiment and not necessarily a move to valves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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