It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:06 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: If Fender Built an Amp Like This.......
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 5:46 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:06 am
Posts: 292
Location: SoCal
at the Price that you can get these for (SUB-$900), with the reliable Fender chime, they wouldn't be able to keep them in stock for years. Note: Made in the USA! C'mon Fender, where's the love?

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/G ... n/GA40RVT/


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:40 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:05 pm
Posts: 2333
Gibson. Yuck. Get if off

In all seriousness though that does look pretty sweet. I like the whole vintage look. Wonder how she sounds...?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 4:02 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:57 pm
Posts: 210
Location: UK
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/G ... n/GA42RVT/

Twin speaker version. They do look nice. Anyone actually played through one?

Looks like Gibson are trying to corner a bit of the Fender market with this. Who knows ...!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 6:35 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:25 pm
Posts: 36
They have been around for a long time. For some reason they have had a very limited availability. You may be able to order them and wait for it to be made...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 10:40 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 3:07 pm
Posts: 28
Read some of the reviews and they seem to have alot of problems though are sweet looking. One guy said that PTP didn't make up for bad parts and build quality. The sound seema to be ok but there are reliability issues.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 11:07 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Sounds familiar doesn't it? Gibson's not the only one using cheap parts.This is why the boutique amp market is growing. Cheap components. Ever notice that the caps are getting smaller and smaller and noise and failures are becoming more frequent? Also amps don't weigh as much as they used to? The cabinets are being made out of cheap materials too. It's sad. Most high production lower end and even higher end amps are made with cheap components and materials.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 1:27 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
63supro wrote:
Sounds familiar doesn't it? Gibson's not the only one using cheap parts.This is why the boutique amp market is growing. Cheap components. Ever notice that the caps are getting smaller and smaller and noise and failures are becoming more frequent? Also amps don't weigh as much as they used to? The cabinets are being made out of cheap materials too. It's sad. Most high production lower end and even higher end amps are made with cheap components and materials.


63supro, I'm no expert when it comes to guitar amplifiers; in fact, I've only recently purchased my first tube amp -- a Fender Pro Junior. That said, I understand your frustration with amps using poor components and inferior construction techniques. You obviously have a ton of experience, know what you like, and are dissatisfied with anything less than a top-quality amplifier. While this is a commendable attitude that is, in my opinion, partially responsible for corporations continuing to manufacture top quality products, I think it's fair to say that there are many players out there with limited budgets or no capacity to own a huge, top-quality tube amp.

This is why, I think, Fender has come out with the Hot Rod series, among others. I own one, and I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've read a couple of posts in which you expressed frustration with your Hot Rod Deluxe -- I believe you said that you enjoyed the sound, but were unwilling to gig with it due to its temperamental nature. This is fair. No one wants to have an amp that's going to let them down. I understand that my Hot Rod is not a hand-wired, point-to-point amp, but I'm satisfied with its performance. The HR series is perfect for a player like myself who occasionally plays a gig, but does most of his playing in the basement. There is no doubt that the HR series are affordable tone machines. Even if I started to gig more, or even had the opportunity to tour, I don't know if I'd be able to afford a top notch amplifier. This is a sad reality for many musicians: money. That's why I'm perfectly content with my little PJ even though I could have saved for another year and bought a Princeton or similar amp.

I was in the local guitar store the other day and saw a Victoria amp in the style of a '59 Fender Deluxe -- the three knob variant. Cool amp, and I'm sure it sounds great and was constructed to exacting standards. Unfortunately, it cost 2,200 CAD. That is a lot of money. I'm not sure if the tone improvement would justify the extra $1,800 over my PJ. I just think that guitar amplifiers are inherently complex, expensive things, and to put them in the hands of those who may not be able to afford a Victoria, or even a top quality Fender, is commendable. That's why I'm OK with the Hot Rod and other similar amps.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:24 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Nothing wrong with the Pro Jr. at all. It's a sweet little reliable amp. You can mic it and use it in any situation. The key point is reliability. If you look on this and other forums, you'll see a big problem with the Hot Rod amps that has been refused to be addressed. It's not just my amp. The HRDlx is no longer an inexpensive amp. At roughly 850 bucks it's no longer a bargain. I do not own any boutique amps. I still have a few old 70's Fender amps a couple of Danos and an Ampeg. They were production line amps not boutique that were made here in the US by American workers.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:53 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Posts: 733
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
I totally agree with regard to the PJ: it's a great amp and has never let me down. I'm not particularly familiar with the HRDx, but I tend to agree that $850 is not exactly cheap. That said, it is still relatively inexpensive when compared to similar amps made by Fender or other companies. I think it is a sad reality that tube amps will continue to get more and more expensive. Consequently, corporations will be obliged to, if they wish to sell amps, cut corners. I don't think it's right or wrong -- it's just an unfortunate result of business.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: