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What’s new at Zystrix? Read on… December 22, 2025 The Best Affordable Tube Amps for Metal (part three) In the last issue we went over the best affordable hybrid and all tube (valve) amps for metal part two (click here for a refresher). This third and last time we’re going to continue the adventure by checking out the best affordable new (and used) all tube (valve) amps in an amp head or combo (amp and speaker) form. And the more bottles (tubes/valves, not alcohol) the better. And there’s also a killer brand new 50-watt all-tube amp surprise at the end for $300 USA. We’ll also hear the latest piano solo from Dangerous Neighbors called Three Evils. 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 to Affordable Tube Amps for Metal (Part Three) In this final amp issue we’re going to look for deals on louder new and used all tube amps. We’re looking for amps of at least 50 watts because we need to keep up with the volume of a power drummer. As usual, these lists are not exhaustive as there are many tube amps not included here. If possible try to find one with a effects loop for greater flexibility. And once again, don’t forget to shop for a new-ish amp. What I mean is, many of the big box music stores have open box, blems, mildly damaged, and returned slightly used amps. These are basically new amps at a discount. Unless you are handy avoid amps with a broken housing because, although they can be quite affordable, the amp has taken a major impact and there may be other unseen internal issues. So let’s consider tube guitar amps that are serious bang-for-the-buck. All-Tube Guitar Amps To Look For Try to find one with a tube power amp section separated from the pre- amp via an effects loop because it will give more options in the future. If that isn’t possible the next best thing is to also include the Boss Tube Amp Expander, but now your tube amp setup expense just took a big leap, so we’re trying to avoid that. On the other hand, your options are much greater than is possible with a simple old fashion tube amp. Here are some used amp (or maybe new depending on the discounted price) suggestions to consider… Bugera 333XL This amp is a clone of the Peavey JSX, and it really rocks. I found used ones from Musician’s Friend, Guitar Center, and private owners for $300-450 USA often with free shipping. Bugera 6260 This amp is voiced like the Peavey 5150 and it also weighs in at 100 watts. These combos are a little hard to find but I found a couple for $420- 450 USA but you’ll have to make a road trip instead of any kind of free delivery. Bugera 6262 The voicing of the this amp is a clone of the Peavey 6505+, and it weighs in at 120 watts. I found a few of these used heads for $350-500 USA, but once again, to save money, you’ll have to make a road trip to pick it up. Bugera 1960 This amp has a (surprise) Marshall Plexi voice and has a 100 watt output. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any for sale unless you want to spend a lot of money. So if you want one at a good price you’ll have to keep an eye on Facebook Marketplace or your favorite used-amp- for-sale listing. It easy to find them with free shipping for $1400 USA or more, but that’s out of our budget. If this amp interests you check out the Special Tube Amp Surprise $300 section below. Bugera 1990 This amp head has a Marshall JCM 900 voicing and it’s billed at 120 watts. They’re very easy to find used and new with free shipping in either case. I found blems and gently used ones for $420-480 and free shipping at Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, and Reverb. Bugera Tri-Rec This Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier voicing amp sports 100 watts, and it’s very difficult to find a specimen anywhere at any price. I guess a person either does without, or waits for one to show up on the used market, or buy the new Synergy IICP ($400 and free shipping) and a loud amp (like the Peavey Valveking) to play it through. And the Synergy Boogie version sounds excellent to my ear. Peavey 6505+ These amps used are expensive passing the finish line at about $700-800, and the combo version with 2x12 inch speakers is about $500. And you’ll have to make a road trip to go get it. I think I’d rather have a blem or gently used big-box music store return of the Bugera 333XL or the Bugera 6262 with free shipping, but that’s just me. Peavey Windsor Once upon a time these amps were about $200 USA because they fell out of favor. However, guitarists have re-discovered this Marshall-like tone-beast and now the used price is more like $300-400, and you’ll have to make a road trip to go get it. But for that price it’s still a bargain. Peavey Valveking 50 watt combo or the Valveking 100 watt head These amps are not particularly metal sounding, but they do very well with pedals, that is, if you are that sort of player. And there’s plenty of volume for about any situation. For $250-375 USA and a road trip I’d call it a steal. Heck, buy two and run your rig stereo, and put one on each side of the stage. Peavey 3120 When EVH left Peavey this amp was their answer to a bad business venture. And it sounds great. Some guitarists prefer this to the 5150 or the 6505. Now that I think about it, I really don’t think I’d call this amp a 3120. I think I’d call it the Peavey MF (for middle finger or something worse). At any rate, they can be had for about $450-600 USA, but they are a little hard to find. On the other hand, the amp is basically a Peavey 333, so I think I’d look for a used Bugera 333XL or the Bugera 6262 and save some money. Egnator Tourmaster 4100 This amp is difficult to find, but when they show up they range about $450-550 USA. It’s got 4 channels, and the power can be changed from 100 watts down to 10 watts. It’s got nice cleans and metal tones too. And it’s great for bedroom or stage volume. If you need versatility this one’s it. Honorable Mention Tube Amp There’s a 100 watt all tube amp available called a Stage Right SB100 by Monoprice on Ebay and sometimes Amazon. Unfortunately it has no effects return, but the amp is only $650-680 USA and free shipping. And it does offer elementary reverb. Does it sound as good as the Bugera models? No, not for metal. But it does sound pretty good and the price is right for new. And it’s LOUD. It has an old-school type of tube grind or crunch using pre and post volume controls, but to really get it over the top to sound like modern metal you’ll need at least an overdrive pedal. See the pedal examples listed below near the end of the Special Tube Amp Surprise $300 USA. Special Tube Amp Surprise $300 USA Have you ever thought about what it takes in parts to construct a tube amplifier? The problem isn’t the price of hardware, it’s the labor (and profit). And that’s where you come in. There are amps on the market that you can build for relatively little money that sound as good or better than the expensive old school amps from the 1970s and 1980s. And it’s possible to hot-rod them with extra gain stages to surpass the sound of many amps built today. I’m not saying this is a project for the faint of heart – it will take time, consternation, courage, and lots of attention to detail. But if you are willing to put in the effort to learn about soldering and old school electronics it’s possible to own an amp to be proud of. When I studied electronics back in the early 1970s a large part of the time the teacher had us un-soldering old parts from a circuit board and installing new parts in the same place. Sometimes it takes boring repetitive tasks like that to understand soldering. So as a beginner, of course, you’ll need a one-time purchase of the tools of the trade (soldering iron, solder, multi-meter, screwdrivers, small socket set, small wrenches, etc.), and you’ll need an amp kit. If this sounds overwhelming then this either isn’t a project for you, or start small with maybe an all- tube overdrive pedal, amp mod for the amp you hope to build, or a 5-watt guitar amplifier. As your soldering skills improve move on to bigger and better projects. Anyway, the MojoTone British Style 50 Watt kit, based on the Marshall JCM 2204 model, is an excellent master volume type guitar amplifier with two EL34L tubes (valves), three 12AX7 tubes, and USA hand-wound transformers. The thing I really like about this amp is the use of a perf’ board instead of a printed circuit board because it makes for easier amp servicing. And this amp is LOUD. If you are looking for real tube tone at a superior bang-for- the-buck price point consider MojoTone. If you do not build and install a hot-rod kit into this amp, to make it sound a little more modern metal, you may want to consider an OCD pedal. But since Fulltone went out of business there’s the new ODD pedal from Warm Audio. The Mosky Obsessive also sounds great and it’s a more affordable alternative as is the Caline Leon Drive, the Joyo Ultimate Drive, or the Mooer Hustle Drive. One of my favorites is the MI Audio Crunch Box. It sounds like a Marshall-type grind or crunch. Check out the Caline Sand Storm, or the Mosky Crunch Distortion or the Rowin Crunch. Or try stacking the Boss Super Overdrive into the OCD (or above listed alternatives) for rich overtones and a modern metal sound. Or torque the amp’s front end with a ten-band EQ pedal set flat (or to your EQ curve liking) with the level control turned up to drive the front end. And if you decide to purchase from MojoTone tell John Manning (parts manager) that Fred at Zystrix sent you. There are other amp kit manufacturers you may want to consider like Dr. Z Wreck, Modulus Amplification, StewMac, and KLD. Part Three Conclusion Affordable Tube Amps for Metal That’s it for this three-part tube guitar amp sound adventure. It is quite possible to get a genuine tube sound on a budget – when I say budget I mean $200 to $300 USA. The trick is to have enough power to compete with the drummer’s volume, and 40-50 watts minimum will get you there. But speaking strictly about sound quality, most of the amps listed here or in the previous two issues are capable of delivering some great metal tones for recording or the bedroom, and the bedroom volume part is why having an effects send and return (or a Boss Tube Amp Expander) is so important. And if the electronics bug bites you there is always the build-it-yourself option. I hope this three part series on tube guitar amps has given you some food for thought and consideration. Don’t touch that dial… Stay tuned next time… Next year in 2026 we’ll start off with a list of the best affordable guitar overdrive pedals. These overdrive pedals are mostly low to moderate drive and are not considered amp-in-a-box pedals. Have a safe and happy holiday season. Thanks for enjoying this web site in 2025, and here’s to another year. Happy New Year to all. Salute! Maybe I’ll see you then. Three Evils -- solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors Some people say bad things -- especially death or problematic events -- come in threes. There’s no statistical evidence to support this notion, but it hangs on persistently in many cultures. Click here for the MP3 version of Three Evils. Click here for the video version. Enjoy. I ate some Christmas decorations and now I think I have tinsil-itis.

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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. This download comes in three format options: the first option is a single file MP3 containing all the tunes in one chunk similar to tape recordings. The second download option is a folder with all of the separate MP3 piano pieces named and arranged in album order similar to a CD or MP3 player. The third download option is similar to videos found on “ZooTube” with the names and times on the screen. There is also a fourth surprise version made only for “ZooTube” and it is edited down to less than 15 minutes long because of their telephone number required rule. Basically it just guides the listener here. To download any or all of these options simply click here. Enjoy. Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses Introducing the next generation in guitar cabinet impulse responses. Try the new Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12. All of these cab IR files are based on old, new, and boutique 4x12 cab curves. All are recorded in beautiful 24-bit 48K mono and will work on most free and paid digital convolvers. 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Djammincabs for Guitar Free Guitar Impulse Responses This is the original Djammincabs guitar cabinet impulse response collection that started it all. Click here to download over 200 Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Djammincabs for Bass Guitar Download Free Bass Impulse Responses Click here to download over 200 Free Bass Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Best Free Guitar Impulses. The Top 11 Best Free Guitar and Bass Cabinet Impulse Responses for 2022 (in alphabetical order…) Find, download, and test the best free guitar cabinet impulse responses for 2022. FREE BASS LOOPS SAMPLES DOWNLOAD ROYALTY FREE BASS LOOP SAMPLES FREE BASS LOOPS Over 200 samples are included in the collection Download the complete collection of 24-bit bass loops here. NOTE: This download size is approximately 369 Megs. Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate synth patches/presets Click here to download over 240 Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches) Synapse Audio Dune Synthesizer Download Over 200 Free Synapse Audio Dune 2 and Dune 3 Synthesizer Patches and Presets Click here to download over 200 FREE Synapse Audio Dune 2 or Dune 3 synthesizer patches or presets. NOTE: This synth patch download is slightly over 1 Meg in size. Free Reverb Impulse Responses This is our most popular download page. Choose from hundreds available in 48K 24 bit WAV format including many new original reverbs. CabSpace Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses, and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses. Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses. Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past including oil cans. Click here to download free reverb impulse responses. Free Drum Samples Only Available from Zystrix Free Gong Samples and Sounds Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List Download over 2000 original slammin’ rock bass drums. Download original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells. Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples. Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds. Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds. Dangerous Neighbors The SW Michigan Rock Band Power Trio. Free Rockin’ Music Downloads Download tunes from the 80s to today. Use the special codes on the Embalmed for Life page (see the DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS link below) and get free downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book The Fluid - Embalmed for Life. Click here to download various music from the rock band Dangerous Neighbors. Download Free Synth Samples for Intros, Interludes, and Endings Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample) Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are about 20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer space, or terror then this collection is for you. These range from paranoia to sci-fi, cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy creatures to insane laboratories. Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings. DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS The Fluid, Embalmed for Life There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up). There are also free sample downloads of the book reading. There are free downloads of music samples. There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback. 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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