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What’s new at Zystrix? Read on… November 24, 2025 The Best Affordable Tube Amps for Metal (part one) In the last issue we went over the best attenuators for tube amps (click here for a refresher). This time we’re checking out the best affordable tube amps for metal. We’ll also hear the latest piano solo from Dangerous Neighbors -- Fear, Horror, Loss. And their second full-length solo piano album will be here in early 2026. So sit back and relax. Welcome to Zystrix, the heartbeat of the universe. Where creativity and free-thinking have more value than conformity. Background Artwork The colorful artwork that surrounds the edges of this website is invisible to many cell phone users. It’s included here (with others) for your enjoyment. Multiple copies are tiled together for a cohesive and seamless background seen all around this page. Enjoy. Introduction -- Affordable Tube Amps for Metal There are many tube (valve) guitar amps available, hybrid or not, that are brand new (or not) and also affordable (or so). We’re not looking at digital modeling amps this time. Separate new tube pre-amps are cool and tube power amps are cool too. Both of them working together is even better. But sometimes the price is prohibitive. Another way to get a great tube tone on a budget is to buy a used tube combo or head with an effects loop (unless you own a great attenuator like the Boss Tube Amp Expander or the Core version – see the attenuator issue). If you have a tube pre- amp sound you like then a hybrid amp with a tube power amp section would be ideal because you also get the warmth and the volume of the output tubes by using the effects loop. Hybrid amps with a solid state power section can give a great sound, and so can the reverse, but tubes (at least somewhere in the circuit) are what we’re looking for here. And there are several ways to get a genuine tube sound without purchasing a $3000 USA (or more) amplifier. And we’re going to examine a few ways. Remember that tube amps can be noisier than analog or digital circuit amps, so a noise gate may be necessary or even mandatory (see the issue on Metal Guitar Essentials). Let’s move on... Affordable Tube Amp Work-Arounds If you feel that a solid state output (or power) amplifier sounds good with a tube circuit in front of it then you may enjoy the pre-amp suggestions listed below. And it’s possible to put together your own 30 watt hybrid tube amp “head” for less than $200. So let’s start with some kind of power section so people can hear your new rippin’ guitar sound. The mini pedal 30 watt Mooer Baby Bomb ($75- $82 used from Ebay and Reverb, and $84 and free shipping from Amazon) is a way to go because it’s super light and two of them gets you 60 watts in stereo. Not bad. The Electro Harmonix Magnum 44 (typical pedal size) is another contender at 44 watts mono and $110-$130 used and free shipping from Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, and Ebay. It’s $178 with free shipping brand new from most big box music stores. And it’s LOUD. The Lichtlaerm Pandora power amp pedal is also a cool one at 60 watts (into 8 ohms) using a 12- 24 volt power supply. And they have great pedal graphix. These are generally direct sales at $200 plus shipping but I did see one used on Reverb for $180. For a new one the only problem is the wait time (2-3 weeks) because they are made to order in Berlin, Germany. I’ve also heard that Harley Benton has a small power amp pedal called the GPA-100. I’ve also heard about the Thunder 99 pedal. It’s 100 watts mono and less than $100 USA and free shipping. But I haven’t seen any for sale any where. Come out, come out where ever you are. If you find one let me know. Topping Hynotone Cabscreamer 60 is another cool 60 watt small amp. It’s light and comes with resonance and presence controls, and it can run on a USBC 100 watt power brick for real portability. I found one on Amazon for $129 USA and free shipping. Of course, the Seymour Duncan Power Stage 100 watt x2 stereo power amp is great, but it’s a little pricey at $599 and free shipping, and it’s available from most big box music stores. It is also possible to buy a used stereo power amp that’s got absolutely killer decibel levels that rattle the walls (if needed). I found many used stereo power amps on Facebook Marketplace (and you don’t even need to belong to Facebook to see them) with 50 watts mono up to 2400 watts stereo for under $200. This might be a great option for a short road trip. Some of them are extremely loud so beware; they can be guitar cabinet killers if turned up too loud. And some of the used power amps can be quite heavy to lug around. These power amps include brands like Crown, Peavey, Alesis, and Yamaha. But let’s get back to the tube pre-amp section I was talking about at the beginning of this paragraph. The following guitar pre-amp pedals use tubes to help you get that type of tone. So here we go... Tube Amp In a Box Pedals Behringer Vintage Tube Monster $65 to about $140 USA used. This one is easy to find at Ebay and Reverb, and to my ear it could use some kind of pedal in front of it to goose the front end. It even has a noise gate built in. Some people say it’s a clone of the Ibanez Tube King pedal. Seymour Duncan Twin Tube These are about $270 new with free shipping at many big box music stores, and used they’re about $110- $150 on Ebay and Reverb. This is another one that sounds like it could use a pedal in front of it to make the sound more brutal. BK Butler Tube Driver These pedals are relatively easy to find used for about $230-$330 USA. It has a sound close to the Behringer pedal above. Once again, to my ear this pedal needs some kind of pedal to goose the front end. Radial Tubebone Classic These can be easily found used for about $120-$150 USA. This has a slightly better tube tone (at least to my ear) compared to the previous examples, and the price is right for the features. Friedman IR-X I found one used for $390 USA, but why bother paying that when new ones can be found on Reverb for $362- $425 USA. They sound very powerful and have a hot- rodded Marshall type of tone, but some guitarists may not prefer that style of voicing. Synergy modules Almost all the big box music stores sell the various new Synergy modules for about $400 each with free shipping. Although they are quite difficult to find used, I did find one on Ebay for about $325 USA. The problem with purchasing one of these right now is that the many varieties or voicings are not available used yet because these modules are just too new. One of these and a tube power amp (or an emulation like the Joyo Cab Tone and a power amp) and a screamin’ metal amp voice is just a matter of dialing it in. Synergy tube modules sound very realistic -- excellent. Conclusion to Part One Affordable Tube Amps for Metal That’s as far as we’re going with this tube sound adventure today. It is quite possible to get a genuine tube sound on a budget – when I say budget I mean roughly $200 to $300 USA – and to have enough volume to easily compete on a stage that’s probably too loud to begin with. However, the more expensive tube pedals like the Friedman IR-X or the many Synergy module options including the Boogie or the Bogner are remarkably realistic sounding. One of those and a power amp pedal and you’ve got a pint- sized firebrand. And that kind of setup is light enough to conserve back and spine health. There really isn’t much need for a deaf musician with a bad back, persistent leg tingling and numbness, and constant sciatica. Don’t touch that dial… Stay tuned next time… In part two of The Best Affordable Tube Amps for Metal we’re going to continue the adventure. We’ll consider some great sounding inexpensive hybrid tube amps, some budget all- tube amps, great used amps, and later for fun we may even consider some more expensive amplifiers that sound as massive as they are heavy to lift. Maybe I’ll see you then. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving USA holiday weekend November 27-30, 2025. Fear, Horror, Loss solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors Just as things can’t seem to get any worse, suddenly they are, and there’s nothing more that can be done. Click here for the MP3 version of Fear, Horror, Loss. Click here for the video version. Enjoy. I feel sorry for batteries that are not included.

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ZYSTRIX POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS The Best Free Synthesizers of 2024 It’s another epic issue, and there’s lots of FREE downloads here. And the Honorable Mention Synthesizer List might surprise you. This list is long, so prepare yourself. And if it seems like too much to take in, I warned you. Click here for the official list of The Best Free Synthesizers of 2024. The Best Free Mastering Plugins Your DAW (digital audio workstation) will be so happy. And so will you. Here are the best of the best for EQ, compression, limiting, tube and tape emulation, reverb, delay, and honorable mentions. This list is a must have with lots of downloads. Check out The Best FREE Plugins for Mastering 2024. Here’s a free download of almost one and a half hours of original neo-classical solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors. This full length album called Piano Top to Bottom consists of 18 original piano pieces with the final piece in two movements. There is a bonus track making 20 files total. 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There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world. The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free download. The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control over these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete paperback or complete audio books here. And for some reason most book sales go to Japan. Who would have thunk it? Click here for free audio books, book reading samples, music samples, etc. Take me back to the top of the page. Zystrix Privacy Policy THE FINE PRINT: Zystrix is a world leader in personal privacy and we take your privacy very seriously. We do not store, sell, give away, or barter with any of your personal or private information including your email, IP address, links clicked, location, habits, tastes, online activities and behaviors, or anything else considered personal or private information. 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