Is the Peavey Bandit still the answer...

relic245

ICBM said:

nholme said:

there is one advertised here for £299.

https://www.ccmusicshop.co.uk/product/peavey-transtube-bandit-112-guitar-combo-amplifier/

I played an old Fender Duo-Sonic through that amp a couple of weeks ago. I’m fairly sure they said it’s technically new, just ex-display - hence with full warranty. If so it’s more of a bargain than it looks. Not that you’re actually likely to need the warranty...

No affiliation!

I've got even more of a bargain. A second hand one of those that I'd let go for £80.

midlifecrisis

I recently picked up an old solid state (single valve in pre amp) marshall valvestate 8080 which does a nice loud clean, these can be picked up +- £100.

Littlejonny

As @ICBM mentioned Laney GC series: we have a GC50 at work and it’s LOUD. The overdrive sound is fab too. I’ve actually always been able to get decent sounds out of Laneys - VC30, Linebacker, LX. 

Fender always delivers as well. Those Champion 100s go for peanuts on Facebook all the time.

ICBM

Littlejonny said:

As @ICBM mentioned Laney GC series: we have a GC50 at work and it’s LOUD. The overdrive sound is fab too.

They are very good amps - I think they would more recognised as being so if they didn’t suffer from the usual Laney problem of dull, uninspiring, cheap appearance. Grey, grey and more grey… with the world’s most unimaginative logo, crappy little rubber knobs, and tolex that looks like it came off a Maplin disco speaker cabinet.

You can easily find any of the series for under £100, often a lot less - they’re hard to even give away. The only problem you’re ever likely to find with one is the usual corroded FX loop jack switch - I can’t remember ever having to fix one with any other fault.

the_jaffa

All sorted. Picked up a Bandit 112 “Cyclops” (apparently that’s what they’re known as) from the gentleman that is @relic245 earlier today. 

Perfect for what I was looking for. 

relic245

the_jaffa said:

All sorted. Picked up a Bandit 112 “Cyclops” (apparently that’s what they’re known as) from the gentleman that is @relic245 earlier today. 

Perfect for what I was looking for. 

Good to meet you Matt and I hope that you and Cyclops have many happy adventures together

BillDL

Why are they called "Cyclops"?

ICBM

BillDL said:

Why are they called "Cyclops"?

Because it’s not as Beavis & Butthead as ‘codpiece’.

english_bob

BillDL said:

Why are they called "Cyclops"?

I'm guessing it's the logo in the centrally placed oval, like a single eye. The fact that it bulges downward over the grille cloth accounts for ICBM's alternative suggestion.

BillDL

Aaah yes, I was thinking about my own older Peavey amps with the lightning bolt logo across the top of the grille cloth and my Windsor Studio combo with the "cyclops" bit has been in the back of a cupboard for quite a while now.  I can see the "cyclops" reference now, and "codpiece" is pretty comical.  I've never heard that said before now.