I have a VT-60 head. I stopped playing it not long after I bought it.
It always sound almost good, but never made it that far.
When played overdriven, it sound murky like Greg Sage does, but the overdrive is pretty grating.

I would avoid a VT-60.

I would 2nd that Fender Twin recommendation if you need a really loud combo. You should be able to find a nice '70s silverface one for $700-$1000, but the old pre-cbs blackface ones cost more.

My new favorite combo is a '68 Ampeg SB-12 fliptop. I got it for $425 a few months back, but I think they usually go for more than that. It's not all that loud, but it sounds so good.That's my favorite amp right now.

I can recommend the H/H IC100L combo...

rashiedgarrison wrote:I can recommend the H/H IC100L combo...

So can I, but's it's significantly bigger than a 1x12.

A 50w 1x12 version exists, but is rare.

Just to make a sweeping generalization...

If you want something loud and clean and lightweight, that is likely gonna be a solid state amp. If you want all three of those qualities, I think you have to go solid state. But if you are willing to take any two of those three qualities, you can get into a tube amp.

In general, tube amps sound better than solid state amps, to my ears. There are some solid state amps that sound exceptionally good, like the old Traynor TS series. But in general, distortion sounds are better coming from tube amps. Something about odd versus even order harmonics etc.

fender super 60
red knob open back 1x12 60W all tube
nice clean sound, you have to like the distortion channel
pretty heavy for such a small amp

yamaha g100-112

i forgot
marshall jcm800 1x12 combos

What about an AC 30 or AC 15? They have a great sound of their own and are they're loud enough to be heard in a rock band context.
I second the suggestion about getting a blackface Fender head. Something like a bassman or a bandmaster and a small open back 1x12" or even a 2x12" cab.
That's what I do at the moment for gigging. 2x12" Cabinet in my right hand, bandmaster head in the left, guitar in a gigbag on my back.

Okay, throwing down the gauntlet a little here... to the folks who are all "blackface is better than silverface", can you quantify the difference betweeen the two? In terms of specific components or schematic changes? "Blackface sounds better" is not an acceptable answer.



And the old AC30's sound great, for sure. But don't they weigh a lot? And they're definitely extremely expensive!!

Zenarchist wrote: Fender Hot Rod stuff seems to be a love hate thing, I like them.

I agree, and I like em too. Loads of people totally diss them, mainly cos of the 'distortion' channel sound not being to many people's taste. I like it though. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe amongst other things, which is only 40 watts, but seems to have shit loads of head room - in fact by the time you get any break up out of the clean channel its way way too loud. In fact I have never played a club where the sound guy doesn't go crazy if I turn it up above 4 (out of 12). But generally for the money, I think they're really good amps.
I'm sure the more tech minded people on this thread could tell you about biasing and how different tubes will get you more break up or headroom, but I couldn't.

Orange making some outstanding (and very expensive) smallish valve combo's in the region of 30 watts, and these things really do rule, as do Vox AC30 especially the Top Boosts.
And has many people seem to say, Fender Twins seem to be the real workhorse of the decent sized combo world.