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Anyone know of any other 2 channal 30 watt el84 amps out there besides the bad cat hot cat? While the bad cat is awesome, I just can't swing that price tag.

I don't know if it helps, pricewise, but the Orange AD30.

Laney makes a pretty good EL-84 dual channel combo too, that's probably closer to the price range you're looking for. Also the Hughes and Kettner Tube 20.

At the lower end, the peavey Delta blues 2x10 is two channel and sounds fantastic. Also the new voxes have twin channels now and sound great.

Mesa DC-3, Bedrock 600 series

peavey

Duh, why didn't I just think of the new chinese made Vox amps! AC-30!!!

The AD30 is up the alley I'm looking for, I want a clean and distorted channel.

These ever go used, without being FUBAR, under a grand?

Get a Laney VC 30, they kick ass. And if your wanting 'more tone' out of her, just replace with tubes with some JJ's, maybe even a celestion speaker.

I hear the VHT Pitbull 45 is really nice. Not 30 watts, but it's a 2-channel EL-84 amp that lots of people seem to be crazy about.

I'm digging the Pitbull and AD30.

I want seperate EQs, so that is why the Laney isn't really grabbing me.


Originally Posted by proxyI'm digging the Pitbull and AD30.

I want seperate EQs, so that is why the Laney isn't really grabbing me.Psst...Proxy...

Looks around to see if anyone is looking.

quot;The LC30 has seperate eq's.quot;

quot;Keep this between you and I.quot;


Originally Posted by wixedmordsPsst...Proxy...

Looks around to see if anyone is looking.

quot;The LC30 has seperate eq's.quot;

quot;Keep this between you and I.quot;

haha, must not have been looking at the right model I guess.

I purchased a 2x10'' Hot Cat 30 combo a while back (it came in this really cool blue sparkle tolex), but it just didn't sound that good to my ears. The cleans were too mid scooped (making any sort of decent volume or cut in a band context impossible) and the overdrive was gritty and raw sounding (I liken it to a Peavey Classic 30 more than a Marshall or Mesa). The overdrive channel also was much louder than the clean channel and it takes a lot of volume to open the sound up (that overdrive channel was LOUD, too bad the cleans weren't as well).

2 amps I use religiously are 2 channel EL-84 equipped. I use a Fargen Epic 30 DC (getting repaired and upgraded as we speak) and a Crate V32 Palomino. Both offer some very nice chimey cleans and classic Marshall overdrive tones. The Fargen is getting the new VOS circuit treatment, so it should sound like the best of Marshall mixed with the best of Dumble (which should be incredible for the lead work I do in my band).

EL-84s aren't for everybody. They won't have a huge lowend or tons of clean headroom, but I think they're very versatile and I like getting that power tube saturation. I find most good EL-84 amps can sing at very reasonable volumes.

Yea, basically I'm looking for good power amp saturation on reasonable volumes. I'm finding even my current 50 watt amp to be more then I need.

I'm hoping in order to fill up the sound of any el84 amp, is to buy a head and run it into a closed back cab.


Originally Posted by ankalarI hear the VHT Pitbull 45 is really nice. Not 30 watts, but it's a 2-channel EL-84 amp that lots of people seem to be crazy about.

Yep, KILLER amp. I love mine to death. Also, when running in Class A mode it is right around 30 watts. It's in the 45 watt area when you have it in Class A/B mode. I traded my Mesa Rectoverb head straight across for this head, and I had it listed for a selling price of $750.