Originally Posted by: AllroyI'm looking for my first tube amp. I would like it to be in the $400-$900 range. I play metal, punk, classic rock, and blues. This amp will be used to play in my apartment. I thought maybe a B-52, but it is 100Watts(head) or 150Watts(2x12 combo). That would be way too loud for an apartment. Any ideas?

EDIT: Could I play the amp at a low volume and use a pedal for distortion? If that is a stupid question it is because I know nothing about tube amps. Also, I loved the sound clips from that Scorpion but I did not love the price. :eek:

In my travels I've found that a 30watt 1x12 combo can only be turned up to about 4 in my house before things fall of shelves. As mentioned in other posts this can be solved with a Marshall Power Brake or a Hot Plate Power Attenuator.

Precisely why I've decided that a 15 or 18 watt will do fine for my basement. I think that out of all the amps I listed in the first post of this thread, the THD Univalve is the one for me. That way I have the ablility to crank it getting the full benefit of a tube amp. The beautiful thing about this amp is that it has a built in Hot Plate Power Attenuator. Hence, I could probably step to a 30 watt. The THD Uni can be found on eBay for around $500 or at online stores for around $950.

In your case you may need to be a little more careful due to the close proximity of your neighbors.