How cheap is too cheap?

I'm headed back out to Canada soon for my second year of university, and I'm looking for an amplifier to buy out there to use. I've got a squier strat out there, and I'm taking five or so of my effects pedals with me, but the one thing I'm lacking is an amp. I was using a Marshall micro amp in first year as I didn't really need anything else, but I'm hoping to do some recording and coffee shop gigs with a friend, so I need something on the cheap that's still going to get me a great tone; preferably a tube amp, but I can't afford a great deal so I'm open to suggestions.

Equipboard already have a few articles that have helped me out, but I was wondering about more general opinion before I made my final purchase. At the moment, my preferred choice is the Vox AV15, it seems to tick all of the boxes... does anyone have any other suggestions?

Should probably mention: I always run my amps clean, or just on the edge of breakup, so gain channels and such aren't an issue, and I won't be keen to put the extra money down if all it'll buy me is better on-amp gain when I get all of that out of pedals anyway

I guess it comes down to how many people you are going to play with and what venue you will be playing.

It would just be me and a singer (maybe an acoustic guitar), playing in tiny coffee shops I'd imagine; doesn't need to be particularly loud at all.

Have you looked at the Vox AC4TV? Or is that out of price range? Also I assume the best small tube amp article is the one you alluded to being helpful in this case?

I've had a look at it, but as I come from a small Island with just the one (really quite small) guitar shop, I'm very limited in what I can try out. The AC4 did catch my eye, though it probably would be a little out of my price range, hence the gravitating towards the AV15, which seems like the best option but, as I say, I'm unable to try much out, the shop here can do Vox as a special order but only has Fenders and top-range Marshalls in stock