re: Your favorite all-tube combo amp (bang for the buck)?

Agreed that the Peavey Classic series amps are true sleepers. I had a 4x10 combo that was insanely akin to an old Super Reverb running clean, except the Peavey had a cool second channel to get pushed grit to gain at non-excruciating volumes. It even gave you a hernia trying to carry it, just like a real SR haha.

Similar story with the original Crate Vintage Club series that also hit the market in the mid 90s. I had a VC 1x12 that was surprisingly (and pleasantly) British through its dirty channel. Tube Crate amps are sickly undervalued on the used market thanks to their SS amps.

Keep in mind with something like that VC (blond tolex) or the original Peavey Classics (blond/tweed colored) ... those amps are all 20+ years old now and it would be wise to budget not only a tube overhaul but a bench check which may reveal a need for a filter cap replacement, possibly some other circuit upkeep swaps. That stuff won't break the bank and I'd do it in a heartbeat before I bought a newer Asian-made-chassis amp, but keep that advice in your back pocket. For ANY tube amp you buy that's in the 15, 20, 20-plus age window.

I've seen a lot of stuff online about Bugeras having spotty reliability issues. Not trying to deter you, but if it was me I'd be sure to buy one new so I'd have a warranty to cover any funny business. No way I'd go used trying to save a few bucks. You may not in the end.