Amps Under $1000 | A Tech's Perspective | Part 2 of a Series

[@PsionicAudio]

There are a very few points where the voiceover momentarily drops in level. Sorry about that, forgot to remove the previous automation in Logic. I had two days to learn the program, and I forgot that when you delete a region the automation for that region stays behind. I’ll get it.

[@SooBahkJoel]

Oh my god... unsubscribed. Kidding, of course. I recently stumbled upon your channel when shopping for a new amp. Even though I know absolutely dick about the nuts and bolts of amplification and electronics I find your videos absolutely fascinating. Even for a laymen like myself your wealth of knowledge and experience is indispensable for making smart, informed decisions on purchases that can sometimes be a real strain on the wallet. Thanks.

[@nicolasnicolas3889]

Wow, I used to play, not been paying attention much to guitar tech but I found this video and how really interesting to get an informed insight on all these amps, great job! I sometimes simulate voice drop outs by putting a pillow over my head, your way is much simpler!!! ;D

[@mattb4rd]

My Fender '68 DRRI came with a Celestion G12 70 V type installed and I've been pleased with it. Am I missing out by not swapping it for a WGS? Also, Do you happen to know a tech in the Jacksonville, FL area that can do the work described at ~ 9:00 on a Fender DRRI?

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Gods. What a loser. You’re giving me free knowledge, information and wisdom gathered over time and you’re not a Logic Pro genius?

[@ryangunwitch-black]

(That’s humor, y’all.)

[@matheuspachalski]

Nice to have Mike Ehrmantraut explaining good amps for you

[@SneedyKetler]

I can picture him putting a pistol back together as he talks about how much it sucks to work on Mesa/Boogies

[@moonguitarclub]

I was thinking just the same 😂

[@charlodius]

😂😂😂

[@Ben-bt6oc]

Knew I'd heard that voice somewhere 😂

[@CreepyCat.]

lol love it

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

This is you directly saving people money. This is you saving other tech's time & sanity. You're also exposing companies who seem to hold their customers in contempt, year after year, decade after decade. I can forward this to my customers who ask this question regularly. Thank you again for such a carefully considered video, mate!

[@brendanjames8818]

Well said Brad!

[@frogger-5meo152]

Definitely! I agreed with everything he said and I realized all guitar amplifiers are made wrong, so even though I used to play metal I just started playing acoustic instead. Man, I'm so glad I saw this video and I'm totally surprised that one of these many amplifier companies haven't scooped this dude up to design their amps. I'm sure he would definitely want to do that and I bet he would definitely have the time being in his fifties and living in his parents basement and everything. THIS DUDE IS THE MAN BECAUSE HE DEFINITELY KNOWS EVERYTHING!

[@JohnShalamskas]

@@frogger-5meo152 Tell me you did not watch the video, without saying that you did not watch the video.

[@anthonystrickland9870]

As an industrial electronics engineer of 35 years, I can say that this video was nothing short of excellent !

[@riffalini]

Man, your 2 amp videos are amazing. I watched the $500 and $1k video more than once. When I do finally get another amp I know what to avoid now as far as long term quality. Your honesty is a blessing in a world full of people hyping up gear even if it sucks, just because they get something for doing it. Aside from you being so honest, I also found the videos taught me things i had no idea about as someone who knows very little about the inner workings of electronics. Keep it up brother.

[@tjminasi1442]

Cannot WAIT for the review of amps under $1500. Love this series.

[@jjclem8759]

Never came, alas

[@pkdude5334]

at this point the $1000 video is now the $1500 video

[@MikeDBZ]

@@pkdude5334 HAHA YES, this video is a few years old now. But also, this is USD. in canada these amps will be 2k no doubt.. ouch

[@bludworm1]

I was one of the few that asked for this video. From my whole heart, thank you, thank you, thank you! These videos are extremely time consuming to make and produce. I appreciate and applaud the efforts of your free time in doing this vid!

[@bludworm1]

Well, like I said in my comment above, I was one who asked for this video. Because it's just time to get a good amp. I spent a year trying all the amps on your recommendation list. I ended up pulling the trigger on the Marshall DSL.

[@andresvillacis7769]

I just bought a brand new AC15C1X after watching this video and cannot be happier. Thanks for your effort!

[@louismadeira3160]

Great video. I learned a lot and have made a purchase according to your recommendations in this video. Couldn't be happier.

[@bocabenkolstad]

Thanks for the excellent research and perspective. Just last week (after watching the previous installment), I traded in my Blues Junior for a DSL40CR. My playing hasn't improved, but my tone sure has. Glad to see the Marshall holds its own in this price tier as well.

[@Updog89]

What a gem of a channel! I really appreciate your down-to-earth perspective, years of experience and matter-of-fact delivery.

[@TheBlinkisback09]

I got my first tube amp this year, Vox AC15C1, secondhand for $300. Definitely worth it and I can't wait to start building a collection towards the finer things!

[@Tankerbell21]

I just wanted to say thank you for this perspective. I was friends with a tech for a long time and it was a breath of fresh air given the lack of objectivity and prone to bias the market is. I know this took time to make and I really hope more videos come out. It reminds me of mechanic videos who say “consider this” due to years of experience with models that have their problems. It always helped me make an informed decision. ❤

[@yanicklajoie6237]

Wow! As a 50 old guy. I learned a lot and got confirmation about years of observation. Thanks for taking time and sharing such expertise. Merci Beaucoup !!

[@ibnzboy2009]

Best amp advice on KZbin with a lovely radio voice to boot!

[@alexholz2510]

This series is the single best Consumer Reports style analysis of guitar amps. Thank you for it! Can't wait to see the rest.

[@notplaying2379]

Excellent work. I had an Orange dual terror, it’s probably the most disappointing amp I have owned. I swapped it for a Blues Junior, which led to me getting a Princeton reverb with a cannabis Rex speaker. In my amp journey, I’ve gone back to where I started, a clean Fender with a decent speaker and dirt pedals (my first valve amp was a Silverface bassman into greenbacks). I’ve been chasing real valve distortion for years and realised that the best sounds have all involved dirt pedals and boosters into clean or driven valve amps.

[@Cam_B]

I’m surprised you didn’t like the DT. I love mine. It’s a super simple rock amp. Only downside is no fx loop. I can see if you need good clean, it wouldn’t be for you and understand why you would go the fender route.

[@notplaying2379]

@@Cam_B I liked my Tiny Terror so much, I was hoping that the Dual Terror would have a bit more clean headroom, and felt a bit disappointed. If the DT had been manufactured the same as Ade Emsley’s prototype (there was a choke to increase “perceived” headroom) I may still have it.

[@hog7203]

​@@notplaying2379 I broke my back a few years ago and had to switch to any amp that I could pick up. Got a good deal on a used tiny terror head. I didn't like it because of no clean headroom so I switched out the preamp tube to a 12at7. Now it's one of the best sounding amps I own. I was gonna use a 5751 tube but didn't have one available at the time. That would probably be a better choice cause it's a little hotter but I'm happy with the results, so I'm gonna leave well enough alone.

[@robthebear2850]

I've had a number of amps in this list (AC15, Deluxe Reverb reissue, Orange OR15, Marshall DSL, Marshall JCM900 4100, Mesa Boogie, Traynor, EVH 5150iii) and have seen many of the things you note - especially the Mesa channel pop, the JCM900 eating tubes because the bias components kept going south, the cheap components on an EVH where the knobs would crack in half and fall off (apparently an issue on the early ones). I think you have convinced me to buy a Friedman.

[@gearoftones8585]

A few amp owners whole world just fell apart after watching this video

[@PsionicAudio]

Oh, I doubt it. World views are hard to shift. And that’s OK. I make a lot of money off fixing Blues Juniors and HRDs and Mesas and 5150s. Disagree with me, fine. I’ll be seeing you. ;)

[@gearoftones8585]

@@PsionicAudio 😂😂 Might be more in your interest to push the crap amps. Keep that bench regularly occupied! Seriously though, it's great info to have. Nobody ever considers service and repair and clearly they should.

[@paulallyngoff7472]

I have a Fender Supersonic that was completely submerged in water during a flood in 2016. After it dried out, I turned it on and it worked perfectly. 6 years later, only problem I have is corrosion around the tubes and no reverb.

[@waitin4winter]

Question, so the notion that these fender modern reissues will become problematic in the first few years, do you mean like the majority of them will fail? Or do you mean more like, for example, 20% which is not a majority but still significant?

[@caseywilson7768]

Haha yup....I have a EVH 5150 aaaannnd a Peavey 6505 plus lol glowing reviews for sure 😄

[@BarqB]

Thanks for making me feel good about choosing the DSL 40CRC I like the IR output that simulates a 1962 cab. I run it through a headrush speaker in addition to the vintage 30 in the cabinet and it really fills up the tone.

[@TheDankCat127]

I ran across this channel recently and I’m really glad I did. I don’t know jack from shit about electronics but it’s good to hear objective opinions from someone who knows what they’re taking about and not just another paid sponsorship KZbin guitarist singing praises about the latest gear release (not knocking those guys). I also enjoy your ramblings. Subbed 🤘

[@march4652]

I'm not even in the market for a *good* gigging amp at the moment (a bit too amateur for that, still) but this is an invaluable perspective to supplement research and casual interest. Thank you for taking the time to put this series together!

[@fossilmatic]

Definitely worth waiting for. Lol, I’m left thinking I have four amps that will be toast inside ten years, while the 72 Twin Reverb I keep under the stairs will survive like a cockroach. But considering I don’t expect my mid range coffee machine to last more than five years of daily use, I guess I should abandon the romantic mojo and adopt more reasonable expectations.

[@ikestoddard2458]

Does your Twin have a Master Volume?

[@tombryan1]

How often do you have to re-cap that coffee machine?

[@jeday76]

My first amp was a Fender Princeton Chorus, red knob solid state in 1991. To my regret I sold it in 2020. I gigged with it, dropped it a couple times, had it get slammed around in the back of a truck, that amp was beat up over almost 30 years and it never had any issues, not even a scratchy pot! Speaker cloth was wasted and tolex was a little beat up, but functioned perfectly! I did nothing to service it. I wish I had never sold it. Every amp I have had since has had problems.

[@Danaction87]

Thank you for the time you put into this, and all the honest information. It really shows what kind of person you are when you are including all these details to save people from having to take their amp to find someone like you and hand them money. Would love more videos on lesser known amps, if you have the time.

[@insurrectusresistus]

This hits all of my geek buttons. Musician first, computer nerd second. I have to say that amps are a pain in the ass as far as build quality. Motherboards, even the cheapest, work forever, in my experience. Great videos. Subbed!!!

[@FYMASMD]

I’ve had a Tech21 trademark 60 for over 15 years. Great effects loop. Good reverb. Versatile,Dependable and it weighs @35 lbs. Excellent line direct options. I play most genres of music and this little amp with my 4 pedal board is great. Bought new and I think it might have been @600-50$$. All that time I’ve had a 100watt Marshall JCM900 combo and a Fender Prosonic combo. They stay home. 😎

[@regisrithgin2268]

Just want to say I can tell how much work you put into the video and it was very informative. I appreciate what you do a lot. It seems like people want to withhold the kind of knowledge you share, so thanks for doing what you do.

[@guitarmike6757]

I bought the new Marshall dsl 40cr exactly because of your last video amps under 500 bucks and I’m glad too hear you still recommend the new version I did put in a 65 creamback sounds killer thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience 🙂🙂

[@markseitz1810]

Thank you for your Mesa Boogie input. I’ve owned 3 of them and NEVER AGAIN !!! One of them (.50 Cal) almost burned my house down.

[@soloflightwest]

I’m a tube amp user %100, thats why I use a modeler pedal on my board. I gig constantly with a 1959 Magnatone 213A Troubadour, and absolutely love it but it’s inevitable to avoid a tube amp malfunction forever and having DI amp solution ready to go on board like the HX stomp or new UAFX Dream that can also serve as effect you need anyway should be the new standard for professionals. You might find yourself in a situation where amps aren’t even allowed and or sound engineer needs your amp volume so low it becomes pointless to even use one.

[@Ninjametal]

Any venue that doesn't allow amps doesn't deserve guitar music, but otherwise I agree with you about any pro having some kind of direct to front of house, modern modeler in their kit.

[@axelmurphy2397]

gotta agree there. if anyone told me i can't have my amp over a certain volume i'd tell them to go fuck themselves and leave lol but i'm not likely to play at those kind of venues i guess. either way, none of us should be allowing that kind of nonsense

[@sparkyguitar0058]

In my worship music situation most of the time I don't even use an amp. And when I do it's a small S S practice amp used as a monitor to hear myself. I can live with this cause I got to play every week during the pandemic. Now I got 3 kinda gigs every week. 2 on Sundays, outside st a homeless temporary church then at another church where they pay me a small amount. But the guys in this 1 are putting together a original worship music album. In the area I live in there is no original music anywhere. So I appreciate what I got cause it could be nothing. And hopefully when we do record our album I'll get to use my real equipment.

[@onewiththings]

I had that same Gorilla. It was a huge upgrade to the .5 watt with a 4 inch speaker, free plastic amp that I got with my Kramer.

[@oldguy5381]

This was a well made video Lyle. Lot’s of good information from a tech’s point of view. And if your giging for a living a good tech is your best friend. The good the bad and the ugly laid out in a matter of fact way, Bravo.

[@rskirk22]

Thanks for making this content freely available and helping us avoiding more headaches! This reassures of me that amps that I want and keeps me away from amps that I had reservations about.

[@zoomzoom3950]

My choice for digital modeler today: Boss GT-1000 and SY-1000. My first modeler was the Vox Tonelab tabletop when new; I've owned Fractal and Helix. I also use a Line 6 HX Effects with my tube amps, but for direct modeling with FRFR I prefer Boss. IMO

[@pb12661]

the new boss GX-100 is good too. great for the price.

[@robinstokes5179]

Absolutely loving this & your dry humour. Most of us are flying in the dark trying to sort the wheat from the chaff & can't try every amp out there. Great solid advice, thanks. So glad I hung onto my 70's Pro Rev. despite its weight & loudness. I took out 1 speaker, fitted & run an Eminence Maverick as a single speaker for breakup at lower vol. Not quite the same as just turning the amp up used to be but pretty good tone wise. My ears / band members & neighbours thank me. Prob need to think about caps now since it was fully serviced over 20 years ago although it did go to a tech for a minor repair a few years back.

[@TheDankCat127]

Also I appreciate your comments on 5150s and Mesas. I had considered the EVHs for a while but your video has made me consider waiting for something nicer. I’ve heard of the issues with the EVHs failing…

[@Kanthon]

Because of this video, I picked up a Vox AC30C2X. I had two Marshall 2466 heads so I traded one for it. I’ve always been a Marshall guy but this Vox has me questioning that. It’s so tasty. Thanks Lyle.

[@nachom1971]

VHT surprisingly has a couple under 1000$ handwired (in China) amps. I'll definitely never get rid of my ac15, jcm900 4100, twin 65 reissue or even my early blues junior (recapped, upgraded tube pcb and biased) .

[@jackdpearce]

They're actually quite decent amps, I've heard some mixed reviews of the Dumble style ones, but I have a standard 18 (1987x clone iirc) head and V30 loaded 2x12 cab that was ~$600 used. It's an excellent clean/pedal platform amp.

[@zawakers7554]

i hope he continues this series. would like to see the next options for a higher price range

[@stevelark9840]

I've serviced many Traynor amps, and you're right, they're the best bang for your buck for an actual vintage, serviceable amp. I will say that the YGM-3 is up there as one of the better choices though, so I was surprised that you isolated that model as one to avoid. The earlier, late 60s models were best , and, like all other brands, quality went to hell by the late 70s, but still... YGM-3 is a killer choice and one of Traynor smaller offerings. 2 el84 in PP, with true tube driven reverb, solid cab and hammond iron, 1-12" speaker, and fiber board hand wired construction. Some even say its even a deluxe reverb killer

[@dontthroworanges]

Came here to say exactly this. The Traynor YGM-3 is a fantastic amp for modern players. Low wattage, robustly built, relatively light compared to other combos. Not to mention its great sound and easy mod-able to suit the player. You can typically find these amps around $500.

[@PsionicAudio]

My experience of the YGM-3 was that it had so many design flaws that by the time everything was corrected the repair cost more than the amp. Wrong tapers on all the pots, terrible tone circuit, bad grounds everywhere, stupid circuit breaker, etc. Crappy car-radio quality speaker. Maybe it was a later production version. It went out the door as a great sounding 5E3. But then the owner refused to pay for the work he’d agreed to and approved before I did anything. Maybe that experience colored my view of the model.

[@harrisfrankou2368]

I've got a YCV 80 I love it but the Loop was parallel and sucked the tone out of the tape echo. I had it gutted into series and the guy... he left the pots, which seem powered, it still blows out DSP delays, and verbs with low headroom.

[@harrisfrankou2368]

@@PsionicAudio I've got a YCV 80 I love it... but the Effects Loop was parallel and sucked the tone out of the tape echo. I had it gutted into a Series Loop and the guy... he left the loop trim pots, which seem powered? It still blows out DSP delays into the red especially my Space Echo RE20, and any digital verbs with low headroom. It's blown out atm what would you recommend on the service? I gotta get it going, get the loop like my 20 watt with no pots... But would value your opinion on how far to go? In listening to you and learning bit... it might seem wise to go "all the way"... I love this amp and just gets the best dirty boost tone I've ever had. It gave me 4 years of trouble free awesome tone. Great channel btw.

[@denisroy7276]

I actually have quite a collection of Traynor Amps - Basically every tube model they made from several YBA's four different YGM-3's.. And, they are all great amps.. In fact, the ONLY one with such a circuit breaker design was a 1977 YGM-3 where quality had begun to fade as Steve Lark mentioned above.. But, yes, like almost every amplifier sold in Canada and England at the time whether Fender or anything else, certain post WW2 trade barriers existed and good speakers were very hard to come by. Otherwise, log tapers on the volume pots were just one of Peter Traynor's ways of getting around certain pre-existing design rights - Kinda like labeling "Midrange" and "Presence" pots typically found on a Plexi as "Range Expanders" so as not being too overly obvious

[@williamnichols6253]

Dude, at 19:34 when you play those ghost notes in the background I was sitting in my hot tub with the jets running and my headphones on, and I thought that I was hearing an excavator approaching my house to tear it down and outside or something like that. You got me.

[@SirLoinMagroin]

Great job Lyle. I see the DSL-40 and Vox advanced through both the $500 and $1000 tech perspective. I'm a die-hard tube amp guy, mostly Marshall's but if I am to be truly honest, I've got to say I also love my Katana 100 and my Super Crush 100 just as much. They are my "new school" and "old school" solid state favorites, respectively. Only time will tell about longevity as they are both relatively newcomers to the market. I'll let you know if they are "Chuck tested tough".

[@AudaciousAce1989]

I snapped. I spent $1100 on a runt 20 and $400 on a 2x12 cab with V30s. I LOVE IT!!! The chase for 80’s tones is finally over!! The Runt 20 is unreasonably versatile and sounds great for a wide variety of genres. Its a solid workhorse with all the features you NEED, without being overladen with gimmicks. Im surprised he didnt talk more about how awesome these amps are at $1000. For me, its absolute perfection.

[@BenState]

Awesome!! I just bought the Orange Tremlord 30. I would love to see your opinion on that, but I guess that depends on your exposure to what is a fairly new amp model. 1 channel, 30W, clean, all tube reverb and trem and fx loop. Seems sweet to me for a pedal board. Also has solid state rectifier, which i prefer anyway.

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Orange: great amps .Ike Turner had a supercool Orange stack check it out.also Eric Burdon and War's guitar player had a badass Orange setup not familar with their newer mods but Orange has alwys rocked

[@JHKNVY02]

These are absolutely phenomenal. What an amazing resource. I remember asking my mechanic what car to buy and have never stopped since. These mechanical and electrical geniuses are key to a happy guitar life. I wish the OEMs were tracking the feedback to make better products!

[@rjw7032]

I just really love my Traynor YBA 1’s. I would also add the early 70’s YGL3 Mark 3 head and combo. I like the heads. Lighter to carry. Attenuators for both are a must as they are brutally loud. Just four bolts, pop off the lid and everything is right there to service. Even have the schematic on the lid. Up here in Canada still well under $1K CDN.

[@harrisfrankou2368]

I got a YCV80 phenomenal dirt channel has a master as well as gain... Phenomenal gain at and volume.

[@johnnathancordy]

What a treasure trove this channel is!!! (Sweeps Mesas under the rug)

[@elwrongo]

A new contender in the digital modelling sphere that looks very interesting (at least to me) is the Universal Audio Dream 65 (also the Ruby and Woodrow). Like to hear more about the Vox NightTrain - got one that blew a power transformer and have never been able to get it fixed.

[@SDPickups]

This is one of the most excellent videos on amps I've ever seen. Your bottom line of 70's Fenders and Traynors is dead ON true. I have a '65 Signature logo Traynor Bassmate, that was a nightmare of never having been serviced, but once it WAS, its a GOD among tube amps. I own 3 Fender 1973 Silverface amps, and every one of them are gems, bought before Silverface prices escalated. Even now in 2022, they are the best buy for a hand wired vintage amp EVER. You don't need a bunch of modeling crap and pedal inputs to make them stellar technology. I did easy mods on mine, a vibrato disconnect switch and negative feedback switch to add some gain a lower volumes, mods so simple even an idiot could do them. I have a Blues Junior and two lunchbox Peaveys and Orange, and they are just AWFUL wiith zero headroom and aren't very loud at all. I'll check out your uner $500 after watching this. You have a great voice and experience and I just subscribed too. Thanks for the great presentation.

[@jasondorsey7110]

I have a 71 super bassman, a 74 champ, and a blues junior III. At first my experience was like everyone else, something was lacking in the bj. I upgraded it with an eminence red white & blues speaker, a vintage accutronics reverb tank, and a new set of tubes. It's now way better than stock, and though it's not a silverface, it's like apples and oranges anyway as it has its own unique flavor

[@DavidGarcia-kw4sf]

I got my Silverface Twin in 77. Recently serviced with new tubes and caps, it sounds great. Yeah, it's heavy, but you can't beat the sound quality.

[@aaronroberts3848]

This is why I just build my own amps . He is spot on as far as repairs and brands . I have seen many across my bench . As far a modeling I'm sick of everyone comparing the sound . It's not just about the sound ! I play tube amps bc the respond in a very open way ! No modeling amp will do that . Touch sensitivity, pick attack, note definition changes due to all of the above . Sorry modeling amps just can't do it . Ya the tones are getting closer and anyone who dosent play instruments will most likely not hear the difference but most who play proper tube amps will FEEL the difference and hence it's not just about the way it sounds . When a musician/ artist is hindered bc thier equipment just isn't cutting it the master piece will not be as great as I could have been and the over all experience of the listener/viewers will notice . Save old tube amps they have lasted this long for a reason !

[@averagegearreviews4109]

I can't get a new amp, I've got fire extinguishers to buy! Ok Ok, I'll get a VOX. This vid will stand the test of time. I didn't even skip the MB's. You Rock

[@adamwatson6916]

I really like my DSl 5CR and 40Cr . I have had both for the last 4 years and so far I have had no issues. Not saying I will not have issues but so far I have had no issues and I love the sound and I actually refer them to other more expensive amps I have owned and no longer own. I have had a mini Jubilee and and a JVM 1 by 12 and I newer bonded with either and actually preferred the tone of the DSL amps and I no longer own either amp . The jubilee and JVM did sound great but neither amp had the tone that I prefer. The DSL get me closer to that tone I hear in my head . I think if u had changed the speaker in the JVM it might have been a keeper and would have got me the tone I like but I also found the amp to be very noisy so I moved on from it

[@Minter_Music]

Same. My DSL15C has held up very well and sounds excellent clean, dirty, or with pedals.

[@brioncommon5701]

I pulled the trigger on an AC15. Sweetwater $599 brand new w/warranty. Thank you for your objective opinion.

[@Papergami45]

I'm very curious to see info in the coming months/years on the build quality of those 5150 Iconics. I know the circuit is rather different to the OGs, despite the name, and it seems some care was put in (in general), so I'm hoping they turn out to be well built. If they are, the versatility of those seem off the charts.

[@xpump876]

Great amp vid again! Really lQQking forward to your eventual "over 1k amps.." vid, ..the Marshal, Soldano, Bogner, etc...(too many to mention ) .. I laughed about Mesa's use of tantalum caps for bypass as when they fail they generally short out (vs a electrolytic which fails to and open circuit ... mostly ) - talk about pinching pennies at the cost of the consumer

[@TheCyberMantis]

Wow, I never knew MESA sucked that bad. I heard horror stories, but I still couldn't believe they are that bad, for how much they cost. What a total ripoff. I was hoping the next installment video would include an ENGL Fireball 100. I would also like to know what you think of the Kemper and the AxeFX-III. Different price-points, but I see a lot of pro's using Kemper and AxeFX-III. The Fractal stuff seems to nail that "tube tone" and they have so many features, you can get ANY sound you could ever think of. Huge learning-curve tho. I have a boss Katana head plugged into an old Peavey 412M cab with Celestion G12K-85's in it. It sounds great, and has lots of flexibility. Best $350 I ever spent on an amp head. It's not tube, but it also doesn't have all the problems and expense of a tube amp.

[@PsionicAudio]

Unless I get an ENGL Fireball on the bench, I won’t offer opinions on it. Similarly, unless I had both the Fractal and the Kemmer to use and compare, I would have no opinion of them. There are a lot of “gear review” channels that seemingly get their hands on everything. And then almost everything gets the bestest of best reviews. I only discuss what I know, and I’m not beholden to the companies that send out stuff for review. So I may never do a Kemper or Fractal on here. Unless a client sends one to me. But as I do repair, and they are essentially computers, that’s not very likely.

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@PsionicAudio I understand. Keep up the good work, and thanks for the videos!

[@qbertrtrtg]

@@PsionicAudio all those gear review channels do is play it for a week and say "wow sounds amazing" then send it back to the manufacturer. They don't do any tear downs or longtime ownernship reviews

[@macanoodough]

I'm so upset Bugera didn't make your list :( I do admit that it doesn't beat most of what you picked, it certainly beats a couple. And when blended with a Marshall DSL the tones are amazing. I haven't found one amp that does everything, so I started using two. When I did that I found it's almost impossible to get a bad tone. You can do wet dry or any combo you like to get your tone, but between the two I've spent under $1000. And I've had the Bugera for 2 years and play it often. It's holding up pretty well and after switching out the speaker, I'd compare it to the Marshall DSL. They are super close to each other sound-wise. I don't know about the build though, that's why I'm so very sad you didn't dish the dirt...

[@randolphvanhook5829]

This series has been incredibly helpful and insightful. I truly appreciate the perspective from the man who actually works on and repairs these things. Thank you, sir!

[@MichaelRoxalot]

Just adding a comment to let you know we're still interested in the next installment of the series!! We know you're busy, but we look forward to learning about the $1,500-$2k mark!

[@brendangauntner465]

Traded my Supro Blues King 12 for a DSL40CR and I recently bought an AC15C1X for $700. Pretty happy, just need a silverface Bassman or Bandmaster and I’ll sleep at night. You da man Lyle.

[@charleshuguley9323]

There's nothing wrong with a one trick pony if you like the trick.

[@EricStPierre]

Amazingly detailed as always. Thank you for feeding my passion with more context. Even the new Traynors from a tone perspective are great, though retubing one is a nightmare.

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

FIRST COMMENT YO!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

What are you commenting about? I didn’t read a subject, but I did read your declaration. Thanks and have a wonderful day.

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

@@sgt.grinch3299 Just that I was first to comment. It's a running gag.

[@keysersoze3977]

Not only was this video massively informative it was impressively entertaining.

[@mrshiney2]

So I got really lucky about 12 years ago. I picked up a 83 Fender Princeton Reverb II. Point to point, built like a tank, sounds great . Its more amp than I could ever need.

[@thurstonmurru]

This has become my favourite youtube channel. I learned so much in the past 3 months!

[@mostyles328]

I have been a snob for tube amps for years. I just bought a Katana 50 on a whim... WOW! It's not missing much and It's practically disposalbe at that price! I'll keep my tubes at home for recording.

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

Love your wise insights , as big name companies use their big names and you think it must be the best and some times its not, keep up the good work

[@EasyHeat]

Once had a ‘74 Ampeg VT22 2x12 combo and later a ‘71 Sunn Solarus head. Although super loud, both became insane money pits, and I sold them during Covid. Lately I’ve been using a clean/crunch VOX Nu-tube preamp pedal direct to interface and into various amp sims. It’s been working well and takes front of amp pedals convincingly. Mostly play punk/hardcore/Stoner-Doom

[@catalingoga6002]

Man, I have to say it, this video taught me a lot about guitar amps and helped me understand my Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue better. It really gave me a clearer perspective about the idea of guitar amps these days, what maintenance they need, how to make them sound better and what amps to stay away from. I loved the video because it was so detailed and fun to watch, I liked that it was technical and honest. Keep up this series, I think a lot of people value this kind of videos and would help them make a good decision before buying their first amp, or any amp, I wish I saw this video before buying my first amp!

[@MercurialToys]

I just bought a VoxAC15C2 last week.Just stumbled upon your channel this weekend searching Vox info on the amp. Looks like I accidentally made a good choice.

[@Hulkhoagie1]

I recently purchased a new in the box 65 Princeton Reverb 1x12 Limited Edition with Jensen P12Q. I'm assuming it is built similarly to the 1x10. It gets pretty hot but I've read that's normal. Thanks to your videos I know what I need to do in the next few years to maintain it as an amp for life. I Appreciate you.

[@dan_brett_rosenthal]

Glad my Vox AC30 fared well! 😅 but I love how it sounds with the greenbacks! I’ll just have to get an extension cab with one blue and cream back and run it as a 4x12… 👹

[@altcountyemo]

Testify! Thanks for this expose. This is a real service to guitar players and techs(like me) who have to explain why their Mesa repair is going to cost so much. Only in the biz 10 years, I have seen the F RI and Blues Series with all of these problems. Haven't seen the DSL40 but happy to hear it is improved over the JCM 2000. Keep up the great work

[@rstuartcpa]

I didn't know why, but I always had a bad feeling about Mesa Boogie, and now I know why. Thanks!

[@GilgaFrank]

A very interesting and informative video. I've used big Marshalls and Boogies in the past and recently taken to just taking a BOSS GT-1000 to small gigs. The one amp that never failed me was an ancient Sound City 120 LB with six EL34's in the back, all the original Mullards and probably played into the ground. Playing through that thing felt like someone punching you in the chest with every chord. Loud and clean. As for modellers and reliability - yes, there's no tubes to fail, no leaky caps and no big heavy transformers - but if it stops working before a gig, can you fix it with a soldering iron? Or does it just go in the trash? Tube amps can be brought back from the dead but digital modellers are built to be disposable consumer electronics still aimed more at bedroom players rather than people who take them on the road.

[@glennselwitz1377]

How do you even have the time to put together such a amazing production ...have you gone Hollywood...very impressive episode seriously......

[@PsionicAudio]

Thanks Glenn! Bits of time here and there over a month. I wrote the script when I was out of town and my wife was at a conference. I found a place where I could sit outside with the laptop, a cheeseburger, and a few Shiner Bocks. Then edited the draft the next day at a coffee shop. Grabbing all the Reverb listing screenshots took a lot of hours one night. Editing them all in Photoshop and making PNGs took many hours another night. I think the voiceover was recorded in chunks on three different days. You can hear my voice change depending on the time of day it was. Anyway, it was a relatively massive undertaking. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@IdFightMyDad]

I bought a used AC15C1 a few years ago. I'm feeling mighty smug after watching these two videos.

[@RareYogurtMale]

Just bought myself a DSL 40CR and happened to stumble upon this video, makes me feel content with my purchase, especially because I got a great deal on a brand new one from Sam ash.

[@chilloutbroseph]

Got the ‘65 reissue Twin Reverb for 899 plus tax, going to have it gone through and these recommended items addressed by a good tech in the area. Thanks for the video.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

AGREED with Mesa comments, I think Mesa takes great pride in micro-tolerances. Even removing the chassi is always a struggle cause it’s stuck in way too tightly. Thanks so much for this video... really great info \m/

[@70soperator16]

Nice job....here's my take.....I'm an old Vox guy....I have several '60's issue amps and some solid states....a Viscount, a Scorpion, a Cambridge and my prize AC 30 tb....they ALL kick ass....they've cost me maybe $300 over the years in repairs....but the amp I gig with the most, is an old Peavey pro studio 112....paid $129 used, maybe 20 ish or so years ago...never (knock on wood) had a repair...one of the pots makes a lil scratching noise, but I dont change the volume on it....I do that on my Vox tone lab....its lighter, so far dependable, and basically disposable in comparison to the Vox's....heck man...I still have a Thomas organ Cry baby wah....I dont sell anything since I got burned on my Vox Phantom VI guitar....really enjoyed the video, nice to see Vox on both the under $500 and the under $1k videos....thanks, appreciate the knowledge from a tech....

[@gumbyjag]

Absolutely essential viewing, in tandem with the first vid regarding guitar amplification. You could have owned amps twice as expensive or never owned an amp at all and learned something after this. Thanks for doing all the work OUTSIDE of your daily work. I would only ask more of the early Mesas. When did they become unreasonably designed? Is the Mark I truly the most viable choice? Conventional wisdom says at least up until Mark IV is where one would draw a line. That’s if you’re not a modern Mesa man.

[@adonikam1]

Another EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT VIDEO!! THANK YOU!! My opinion, I've had many different amps, I play gutiar for myself, and I am not a musician. But the only Amp I've ever had that I can actually say I Fricking fell in Love with after playing it for the first fifteen minutes literally is my ORANGE SUPER CRUSH 100. I know this is a $1000.00 Amp video you made but considering my own abilities I couldn't go wrong.

[@hock4540]

Amazing. This video is like giving people money. Thanks for taking the time to inform the community.

[@FreddyFromage-lk4mp]

I enjoyed your look at the different amp types under 1k, I used a Katana 100w for the very simple reason it gives me confidence as apposed to other brands like BlackStar 20w and Peavey 30w which strip that confidence away. To turn on and amp, and hey its working is the meaning of it all and when it keeps on going and going, well, its great. interesting you mentioned the NightTrain, I bought one, its been in a box in bits for 15 years and is the reason I never bought another Vox to date. Thanks again for probably the best video on amps online. 10/10

[@emaneercsadeeni]

Extremely valuable advice! This guy has the right voice to also do children’s audiobooks!

[@_patrikjay_]

My favorite part of these are "and this is a good option and it won't catch on fire". Priceless and hilarious

[@brucehayes7251]

Many thanks for continuing the series,sadly I have already made my bad purchase decisions. Regards from the great Southern land

[@thomastucker5686]

I so appreciate your deep dive into the problems of certain amps. I had a very positive experience with someone just like yourself when I was a teenager. I had this little amp my mom got me if I remember and it crapped out pretty quickly, though I was diming it for the almost Black Sabbath like distortion(1979ish). After weeks the music store said they lost it. Eventually a repair tech called me and said he had my amp and would drop it off. He told me he rewired the whole thing and created a very different amp. That little amp didn't have that distortion or any noise at all and the output was like double. He made a crap amp into a fantastic little amp for $20 or so. That was quit impressive, so I added a Big Muff after borrowing a friends boss pedal. I really wish I had learned to build amps. Anyway, I was hoping you could comment on Fryette amp quality. I have a 1999 VHT 100 CLX Pitbull. 3 channel, I think I currently have 4 el34s (can do 6L6s), 5 12ax7s, I just replaced. The clean channel lost half or more of the output for a time, so I was hoping for the preamp tubes one which was original. I was surprised the old tech never replaced it(he retired). Anyway, that changed to an awful sound so I switched off that channel. The rhythm and lead channels are unaffected. This amp seems very similar to a Marshall approach with a better clean channel. The amp has never been capped, though serviced. My primary instrument is drums, so this amp didn't see much action. I even got a cheap line 6 spider iii for 50 to practice so I wasn't burning tubes for nothing important. So the amp has very low hours since being new. One power tube replacement and various preamp tubes. I just put tubes in it myself for the very first time. I don't know I have the tools to properly bias the power tubes. The amp sounds fantastic when not on the clean channel. I might just find the courage to open it up.

[@adamgh0]

I used a Marshall MG 250 DFX for for 13 years. It sounds great and is still in use in my home studio. We mic'd it in my previous band but my new band would run it direct through the line out to cut back on excess stage noise. This basically turned a 50lb amp into a 50lb stomp box. Tired of lugging 2 X 12 combo, I ended up getting a Line 6 HX Stomp that sounds great and is a lot easier to bring to gigs.

[@kurtweiand7086]

Thanks for the honest professional advice! I own a couple of these amps, and they have been trouble free for many years!

[@Birkguitars]

Ooh. Feeling just a little big smug with choosing to build my set up around the HX Stomp and the DSL Marshall. To be honest I got the Stomp because I was fed up of lugging a flight case to rehearsal and the Marshall came from the "all my heroes played Marshalls so I have to have one" school of thinking so my success may have been accidental but I will still call it a win.

[@johnsmits2494]

I’m sorry but even though I fully understand the tech’s reasoning, he must be running into players who use the same amp for hrs a day for years, what do you expect …? Also I’ve seen so many bad or mediocre players with $3000 + amps, and the amp is wasted. Get your licks and feel together. The Stomp is very good but as mentioned you need to dial back the heavy layering, the presets are to impress you at the store. Check out the Vox Valvetronix series, wiring mess but many last a while and there is a tube preamp, or even power amp, albeit from a triode 12ax7. Also get the 12’ speaker model, and 80 watts at least.

[@MichaelRoxalot]

Just adding a comment to help you in the algorithm. Thank you so much for making these videos. I really hope your channel explodes because your knowledge is so extraordinarily valuable amongst the sea of 4.5 star amps on the market!

[@Sivertsen17]

Holy fuck, what an amazing channel I've stumbled upon! That's probably not the best, I have so much to do, and now I'll probably be stuck here for a few days looking at waaay to much of your content. Trying to learn more about diagnosing, because tinkering is so much fun. If your content is what I think it is, and it's as informative (probably even more) as I suspect, I will probably buy a broken amp soon aswell, just for the fun of it. Which is also bad with all the preventative maintenance I plan to do on my car with an already shitty bank balance. Thank you, and I guess screw you a little at the same time? Really excited to binge watch your stuff. Seemingly endlessly since you appear to somehow manage to upload every day as well. Incredible. I clicked the subscribe button harder than what's necessary.

[@slimchance7748]

Thank you for this! Grateful to have acquired a 65 Valco (modded, rusty) 1-12, 2x6973 tubes- oddly looks very original inside, newer-quality tubes, sounds awesome, well under $1000

[@Chief1987]

Played both the box ac15c1 and the ac15c1x and theirs no comparison and worth the extra coin. Great video mate

[@yangfamfun7197]

I have to relearn English to understand what you’re saying. Best beating around the bush language I have ever heard.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I have been waiting on this video. School is in session. Thank you Sir.