What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

For all discussions about electric, acoustic and bass guitars, guitar amps, effects, modelers this is the place!!!!!

Moderators: greatmutah, GuitarBilly

Post Reply
User avatar
mortatone
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 7281
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 1:14 pm

What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by mortatone »

Recently and by accident ran into a Kay 703 amp from the 60’s that sounds ridiculously good. It’s just a small, cheap little combo with an 8” speaker but has this beautifully raunchy crunch, kinda Marshally but in a tiny package. I bet it would sound huge in a recording.

Being so amazed by this little Kay, I ordered a Kay 503 from reverb last night. The recording of it sounds pretty similar to the 703, and for a couple hundred bucks it’s a no brainer.

Previously, if I’d have seen one of these in a music store I prolly wouldn’t even try it out. Now I’m wondering what other cool small cheap vintage amps I’ve overlooked along the way :hmm:

So what are some amps that get overlooked that blew you way?
andvari7
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 2586
Joined: Sun Jun 09, 2013 5:04 pm
Location: MSN

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by andvari7 »

I tried a Fender Greta once, and it was a lo-fi, almost broken radio tone. Loved it.
User avatar
Devin
Crystal Lettucer
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:43 am
Location: St. Landry Parish

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by Devin »

I had an old Alamo combo at one point that was pretty rad
Whatnow2012 wrote:try humberck piskup is bettor for metal than singlecpoil for blues


Unstrung wrote:ya it am bast


Rampage wrote:When life hands you distortion, fuck everything else.

_________________
Rigs:
Bauer-Burny-Dark Matter-Hamer-Ibanez-Starfield-Warwick
Fryette PowerStation, Peavey 5150 2x12, Peavey VTM60, Starfield VPA-1, Sound City Master Lead 50, VVT Simo-Plex, Taurus THD450
User avatar
mortatone
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 7281
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2014 1:14 pm

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by mortatone »

Crazy, I was about to mention Alamo. The one I had had the potential to sound like ass, but if you pull back on the picking attack it sounded nice.
User avatar
Riffraff
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 4164
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:48 am
Location: Upper Dutchess County NY

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by Riffraff »

Here's my Nat Daniel collection. I sold the beater 1482 2 weeks ago.

Image

I still have the '65 Silvertone 1482 and the '60s Danelectro DM10.

My 1482 was a closet queen find in it's original shipping box that was found by a local guy cleaning out a dead relatives 's house.

Clips of the 1482's.

https://youtu.be/uKL9Lw0CB1o



Cell phone clip of the Dano cranked & boosted through a CTS alnico loaded 212 cab.

https://youtu.be/Fx1WSmGU65A

My YouTube page containing gear clips & original music
https://www.youtube.com/c/Riffraff12571
User avatar
fretless
Crystal Lettucer
Posts: 26940
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 5:15 am
Location: Why am I here, and for how long…

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by fretless »

The 703 is a widow maker
“Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more”
― Nikola Tesla

“I cannot be arsed with this right now”
― MISTER NOBODY™

"Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone"
― Sophie Scholl
User avatar
macgaj3
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 852
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:00 pm
Location: Best Carolina

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by macgaj3 »

I had an old Gibson GA-15RTV at one point that, looking back, i wish i was smart enough to have understood how to use properly
Dunable | Gibson | Partscasters | Bad Cat | Quilter | Port City | Pedals
Dave
Crystal Lettucer
Posts: 27630
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:28 am
Location: On the spectrum

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by Dave »

The Harmony H410 is pretty sweet. Toss a 10" speaker in and they can rip.
MISTER NOBODY™ wrote:STFU Dave
User avatar
BroSlinger
Crystal Lettucer
Posts: 15809
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:51 pm

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by BroSlinger »

I’ve had old funky big cheap. Acoustic 150. AWESOME.

I’ve had new funky small sorta cheap. Fender champion 600. Awesome as well.
POWERFUL MIDCUT CONTROL
User avatar
Riffraff
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 4164
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:48 am
Location: Upper Dutchess County NY

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by Riffraff »

I have this '47 25w Masco tube PA that is amazing.

Other than the capacitors being changed it's had very little done to it.

All of this is with the guitars plugged straight in. Absolutely no drive pedals were used in any of this.

https://youtu.be/qQ2mJVnyqvg

My YouTube page containing gear clips & original music
https://www.youtube.com/c/Riffraff12571
User avatar
linthat22
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 1761
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:58 am

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by linthat22 »

Old Randall or Peavey combos come to mind.
User avatar
NinjaRaf
Crystal Lettucer
Posts: 16016
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:55 pm
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by NinjaRaf »

Does the Fender Superchamp count? I had one years back and thought it was cool. Not really good for my style of playing, but cheap and cool for something different.

Also...

Image
EVH
Mesa
Bauer

Guiterrorist
Pakistani Right Hand of Doom
Pesobag

Good Deals: http://www.guitargearforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=21#p14231
User avatar
greatmutah
Site Moderator
Posts: 7306
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:57 pm

Re: What type of old funky small cheap amps do you like?

Post by greatmutah »

NinjaRaf wrote:Does the Fender Superchamp count? I had one years back and thought it was cool. Not really good for my style of playing, but cheap and cool for something different.

Also...

Image


:rofl:
"I understand the science behind it. But you know what I trust more than science? Tony Iommi."


GuitarBilly wrote:Anyone who played an 800 "model" in a Kemper/Fractal/Helix and think they know what a raging 2203 sounds like is pretty much the guitar equivalent of a virgin nerd that thinks watching porn counts as sex experience.


NinjaRaf wrote:6505 is 100% balls to the fucking walls low end and aggression. It is FUCKING PISSED. Like an 18 year old angry at the world.
+ is a bit less angry, like maybe a 35 year old man angry.


Metropoulos Metro-Plex
Egnater Seminar Boutikit 50 Watt Head
Orange Rockerverb 50 MK III
Fender '76 Vibrolux Reverb
Metropoulos Slant 2x12 w/ Creamback H75s
Marshall 1960A w/ Greenbacks
https://www.reverbnation.com/zerobelowphoenix
Post Reply