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Post subject: Graduating from starter amp! Suggestions?
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 5:09 pm
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Roadie
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Location: Illinois
Hey, thanks for reading.

Basically, here is my amp now--

http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0231500000


It is a pretty fun amp. Really loud, screeches when everything is at 10 on the amp, but I have fun with it..
Any suggestions on what the next step in amplifiers would be? If you could provide a link, and your reasoning behind why, it would be most appreciated. Take note, I am not really looking for some $3,000 amp as the next step. If we call my current amp a level 1 amp, what would the level 2 amp be, in quality and sound?


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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 5:59 pm
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Hey KRAD

You should just get yourself to a Fender shop and have a test drive..
There are tons of "your next amps" Just take your Guitar and go drive them all, Im sure one will come to light for you.
Good Luck and let us know how it turned out

Bill


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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:02 pm
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I just went through this process (of moving up from a Vox 15W solid-state amp) and settled on the Blues Jr. I am getting a Texas Red model for Christmas. If you don't need serious channel switching, the BJ is a great little amp (and surprisingly loud)! If you want better channel switching, the Blues Deluxe and Hot Rod Deluxe sounded good to me.


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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:06 pm
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Good advice, and yeah, I will tell you how it goes!

But what exactly do you look for in a good amp? What are some key things that a good amp should have? Lots of knobs? A certain hum?


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:59 pm
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congrats man. I think the next step up from a little solid state practice amp would be to go to a tube amp. the sound difference will make you melt.
What you should look for is that tone you love. I like warm and dark tone, so I use the neck pickup on my jazzmaster through a tube amp. and it sounds amazing. but maybe you like cold and bright.
like hoopshot said, the blues jr. is a REALLY good idea. I had one for 7-8 months. good at practice volumes, yet when you want to jam out you can crank it good. its really versatitle and even has its own little reverb tank. I just traded mine in the other day because my local shop gave me a deal on a vibrolux.. I traded in the blues jr. and got the vibrolux brand new for $600. I couldn't pass that up.. but, sometimes I miss it. haha, got attachted to it a little.


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:29 pm
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If I were you I'd go with the Blues Jr. NOS as a next step up .It is a great little amp and like the other poster said it is loud! A lot depends on the type of music you prefer to play. Good luck! 8)


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:32 pm
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Hello KRAD,

I in agreement with many, for about
$450 get a Blues Jr. They are nice amps
that do it for me and many.

One sidenote is this is a tube amplifier.
Some are turned off by them. You may
also like the Frontman 65 which is a
solid state amp. coming in around $260.

Try and play both and buy what you like.

Cheers.


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:46 pm
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I'm selling my 1959 watkins to finance a blues jr. Their a great amp that will serve for a multitude of styles. Just dont expect it to do a megadeth tone.


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:55 pm
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I seriously wouldn't sell the Watkins for a Blues Jr. Your selling a serious PTP tone monster for a PCB amp. I would try to save up for the blues jr. The blues jr. won't last 50 yrs.


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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:00 pm
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as others have said go and play some amps and see which ones you like...

if i was you i would get the best amp that you can afford...if you are staying with fender i would recomend a blues jr. nos or a deluxe reverb reissue...

and i know you said you didn't want to spend $3000.00 but if you want to spend $2500.00 you could get a fender 64 vibroverb reissue...it is incredible.

good luck


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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:15 pm
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I started with a Fender 25R Frontman (which I still have and use). When I decided to move up to a bigger amp, I was unsure if I wanted to stay solid state or go with a tube amp. I was leaning towards a solid state amp, just because it seemed to be less maintenance (tube replacement, biasing, etc), and less cost. I went to my local Guitar Center, and played both solid state and tube, and was very surprised on how tube amps sounded so much better (at least to my ear). So I decided not to worry about the tube maintenance and go for the sound. I ended up buying a Hot Rod Deluxe.

Now everyone has a different ear, and has their own preferences, when it comes to sound. I guess what I'm saying, is keep an open mind (solid state VS tube), give them all a try, and then decide which one makes the best sound for YOU. After all........YOU'RE paying for it and YOU have to live with it.

_________________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne


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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:36 am
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You also might want to consider the Super Champ XD. A little cheaper than the Blues Jr, with built-in effects and amp models. It's a tube/SS hybrid.

Do you play out, or just at home? That might determine if you want to go for more wattage, although people (including me) play gigs with Blues Jr's and similar sized amps - it depends on where you're playing, if you mic the amp, how loud bandmates are, etc.

As mentioned by others, the DRRI and also the PRRI (Princeton Reverb Reissue) are great amps, though a good bit more money.

Best of luck in your search.


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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:45 pm
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If you gig, I would go with something reliable and a more professional quality like the Deluxe Reverb Reissue. My HRDlx had let me down on more than one occasion.


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