Guitar amp recommendation?

[rocknrolldork]

The Epiphone Valve Jr. is one of the best low wattage heads ever. You can get an Epiphone Valve Jr. head and cheap 1 x 12" cab for $200 or less. You could even get the little Valve Jr. combo for $200 or less. Def less on craigslist. Other than that, the Line 6 combos are great practice amps. If it is just for home, hook him up with used Line 6 Live XL unit and a good set of headphones. With a good set of cans, the Line 6 stuff sounds great.

[rocknrolldork]

Forgot to add... Ed warms up w/Line 6 gear.

[Etienne]

If it should be an all tube amp, check out the Blackstar HT-1. A good candidate to have the grind.

Maybe you can get one for $200 -> Link.

[Etienne]

[Nitro Express]

The Epiphone Valve Jr. is one of the best low wattage heads ever. You can get an Epiphone Valve Jr. head and cheap 1 x 12" cab for $200 or less. You could even get the little Valve Jr. combo for $200 or less. Def less on craigslist. Other than that, the Line 6 combos are great practice amps. If it is just for home, hook him up with used Line 6 Live XL unit and a good set of headphones. With a good set of cans, the Line 6 stuff sounds great.

I use mine for a bass practice amp. You can mod them into being a real good amp but it requires buying a Mercury transformer and a few other things which adds quite a bit to the price. Not the the most versatile amp.

[jhale667]

I use mine for a bass practice amp. You can mod them into being a real good amp but it requires buying a Mercury transformer and a few other things which adds quite a bit to the price. Not the the most versatile amp.

Yeah, you're basically talking about turning it into a $5-600 amp at that point, and while it's not versatile the ONE sound it gets is glorious...

[Nitro Express]

Yeah, you're basically talking about turning it into a $5-600 amp at that point, and while it's not versatile the ONE sound it gets is glorious...

I have the combo. I upgraded the output transformer but left the speaker stock. Dime it and it sounds like a mini plexi. It really sounds great with a bass too. To be honest, it's the amp I use the most.

[Nitro Express]

Running a SansAmp into the front end. I've done this with my rack mounted SansAmp and you do get that nice tube saturation like an old Marshall. It's a good combination. If you want a classic VAn Halen tone, a Sans Amp from Ebay and one of these should get your there for around $200.

[Hardrock69]

Right on.

bb64, you picked the right buncha peeps to ask, lol.

[bb64]

Right on.

bb64, you picked the right buncha peeps to ask, lol.

Absolutely!! You guys know your stuff!!...Now I just have to go "eenie meenie miney moe" and pick one!!
Very excited about giving him this gift though!!

[crowhue]

Definitely the Blackstar HT1R if you can get one used maybe. Its an ace amp for domestic practice or recording.