Amp suggestions for modern/90s alternative rock?

[FFTT]

It's tough for me to recommend any amp in that price range.

For small clubs, I'd go for a Gries 12 or Allan Amps Sweet Spot.

which are both Princeton/DR voiced.

For more British gain, I'd go for a Reeves Custom 18 or a used Reinhardt 18
or similar Germino, DR Z

In the cheap seats, the Black Hearts are very popular as is the Tiny Terror.

[kuasalogam]

Orange Tiny Terror or Dual Terror should serve you well, I personally prefer Vox Night Train

[verve92]

Originally Posted by kuasalogam

Orange Tiny Terror or Dual Terror should serve you well, I personally prefer Vox Night Train

Huh? ADR the Orange is the last one I would think of; more metal sound. You will NOT get a head/ cab for that price range. Most heads I would even look at are $1500.
Definitely you need a tube combo amp.
If you watch many "alternative" bands (Radiohead, Deerhunter, Flaming Lips) you see lots of Fender's. Though tough in your price range, the Fender Blues Junior fits. Great little tube amp the baby brother to the Hot Rod Deluxe. Also the Peavey Delta Blues are great amps. Consider that Fender's are expensive due partly to it's name. You can get more amp for the money elsewhere.
Bare in mind effects are VERY important in this type of sound.
Also, just go to the local music shoppe and try some out. For the love of god, don't settle for a solid state (non tube) amp with cheesy DSP effects built in and don't get suckered into LOUD amps. Most bands like this keep volume low and mic it.
One more thing. If you make good music, you don't need an expensive amp. I learned on a $100 Hohner guitar and a 10 watt solid state.
Best of luck

[texasguitar903]

You might wanna give up on the half stack and look for a tube combo. Peavey 5150 combo's have a very nice clean channel that can go from sterile to crunchy/punchy....the distortion is bRutAl also.
I have used this amp with heavy hitting drummers and it is always sufficiently LOUD!
I bought it at a pawn shop for 600, add another 150 for some fresh tubes and you got a mean tonebox that'll deliver jazzy cleans or nasty pick squealing leads that rival any 3000 dollar mesa booger.

I also have a JSX head and carvin 4x12 cabinet, but that'll run you about 1000 dollars.....trust me, don't short change your tone...I did at first and it took years to realize/admit it.

[verve92]

Originally Posted by texasguitar903

You might wanna give up on the half stack and look for a tube combo. Peavey 5150 combo's have a very nice clean channel that can go from sterile to crunchy/punchy....the distortion is bRutAl also.
I have used this amp with heavy hitting drummers and it is always sufficiently LOUD!
I bought it at a pawn shop for 600, add another 150 for some fresh tubes and you got a mean tonebox that'll deliver jazzy cleans or nasty pick squealing leads that rival any 3000 dollar mesa booger.

I also have a JSX head and carvin 4x12 cabinet, but that'll run you about 1000 dollars.....trust me, don't short change your tone...I did at first and it took years to realize/admit it.

Good option as well, but the OP looking to spend $300-500. Your recommending $750 total with the new tubes? More a loud hard rock/metal amp, no? Plus the Fender clean blows away the 5150, whose strong point is its overdrive. Just my experience.
Just try out amps and don't make snap decisions. If you get the wrong one return it or sell it, they don't depreciate much at all esp Fenders.

[i_got_screwed]

Used is always the way to go on a budget. An old Mesa combo can be had used for $500 and would be nicer than most things mentioned.

[DerekJ]

You won't get this amp for $300 to $500, but the amps you list won't sound as good, either:

Gibson Lucille OCD "woman tone" - YouTube

TOPHAT KING ROYALE DEMO - YouTube

TopHat Club Royale & G&L Legacy - YouTube

Top Hat Club Royale (2000) w/ Duo Jet (1990) - YouTube

Save your money, the amps you list are crap.

[Joe Porto]

You could probably find a used Peavey Windsor half stack in your price range. Kind of a poor man's JCM 800, but still decent quality and tone.

[git45]

Originally Posted by kuasalogam

Orange Tiny Terror or Dual Terror should serve you well, I personally prefer Vox Night Train

For a Metal sound I would go with a DARK TERROR

[Silent Sound]

A cheap half-stack to do pop-punk? I'm thinking Marshall JCM 900. Not the best Marshall out there, but can usually be found pretty cheap and it thrives on the pop-punk sound! It's probably a bit out of budget though.

For something closer to in budget, maybe look at the Bugera V22. A great little vox-ish amp for right in your price range. It's just a 1x12 combo, but it's plenty loud and sounds amazing for the money! It's got great cleans with a strong mid-range push and takes pedals well. It call also do a pretty decent distortion and the way the volume knobs are set up, getting the right gain and right volume on both channels is easy! Don't let other people scare you off, I'm not a Behringer fan by any stretch of the imagination, but they got it right on this one!

A Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is also another good option. The distortion isn't great, but he clean channels not bad, and they're fairly easy to find with your budget. With a good OD pedal, you can find the sound you're looking for. Again, it's a combo amp, but I don't think you'll have much luck finding a separate head and cabinet for that kind of money. At least not one that's worth owning. Check around local pawn shops, garage sales, and craig'slist. You might find a half-stack there in your price range that works for you. Just make sure you try before you buy! Good luck!

[tomdarude]

500 might buy you an old Fender Bassman or Bandmaster...

then look for a cheap old cab and good booster/distortion pedal

[FFTT]

Looks like the OP didn't get the answers he was hoping for, with 1 post showing. Might as well wrap up another Best/Cheapest thread.