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Post subject: BEST Fender Tube Amps
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:00 am
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So I'm looking for a tube amp. What is everyone opinions for the best tube amp sound? It's a bit overwhelming looking at all the different amps fender makes.

I want something that will be loud enough to that can cover any bar type sized gig. Anything larger and I can mic it or hopefully at that point upgrade.

I was thinking of something in the 2x12 or 4x10 (Deville Blues?) size. At this point I'm not really wanting to jump into a cab setup, I don't have the need or money right now.

Also, all tube is a must. Sometimes I find it confusing. Someone will advertise "All tube combo amp".

If anyone could include the prices used they would guestimate, that would be good too.

I can pick a Deville Blues 4x10 up for like $500 locally. I don't think it's all tube though. Or maybe a Deluxe Reverb or a Princeton Reverb. Does anyone know how loud the Reverb gets? I'll have to see how many finances are going to be looking, but most likely I'll be getting a reissue, though someone is selling an actual 66 deluxe reverb for $1800.

Thanks all,


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:59 am
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If I were you , and you say you want something to cover most size gigs, I would shy away from the deville.Its 60 watts and is pretty loud,especially if you can mic your amps.Personally I would recommend the deluxe reverb reissue.It gives you that classic fender clean at descent volumes and has really lush tube driven reverb.It isnt the bigger venues that become a problem , but the smaller ones. Having too big of an amp in a small club is just frustrating and at 60 watts ,the deville would have to be turned down so low that your tone would suffer.The deluxe reverb would be great for the smaller clubs , miked or un miked and if you mic it for the larger places, headroom wouldnt be a problem.Besides the Deluxe Reverb will blow the deville away in the tone department, let alone its more reliable.Shop around, there are deals to be had .I picked up a Deluxe Reverb from Musicians Friend for 810 on a price match and they also offer 18 months no interest financing.


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:36 am
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+1 on the Deluxe Reverb. Great amp, classic Fender tone......... 8) Mike

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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:15 am
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+1 DRRI especially if you plan on doing any serious gigging. I'd stick with the any of the Blackface reissues or the Bassman. You pretty much always get what you pay for. Get professional gear if you're going to play professionally. :wink:


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:17 am
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63supro wrote:
+1 DRRI especially if you plan on doing any serious gigging. I'd stick with the any of the Blackface reissues or the Bassman. You pretty much always get what you pay for. Get professional gear if you're going to play professionally. :wink:
I won't get into what I think of the Hot Rod series amps. :evil: A search will reveal what I'm talking about.


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:04 am
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63supro wrote:
63supro wrote:
+1 DRRI especially if you plan on doing any serious gigging. I'd stick with the any of the Blackface reissues or the Bassman. You pretty much always get what you pay for. Get professional gear if you're going to play professionally. :wink:
I won't get into what I think of the Hot Rod series amps. :evil: A search will reveal what I'm talking about.


He is right, ive had a few mates who've recently had their Hot rods go nuts on them. Personally my Deville hasnt bummed out on me yet and ive almost had it a year.

Deluxe Reverb or a Twin reverb (its the same amp except you can crank a deluxe and its alot lighter, Unlike the twin which will cripple both your hearing and your back)

However neither have gain channels so a overdrive/distortion pedal might be needed and neither get good sounding till you push past three or four.

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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:30 am
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I actually have a 20 watt Egnater Rebel with two 112 cabs that keeps up with the big boys just fine and sounds just awesome. It cuts the mix like a knife. IMHO the DRRI will cut a mix better than any HRD amp. 40 watts is not twice as loud as 20 watts and 60 watts is not three times louder either.

The downfall of the HRD series is the PCB mounted tube sockets, the thin single sided PCB's and the 5 watt cement resistors. If the PCB was double sided, the HRD's would be a lot better. The speakers are really inefficient too. It's a shame, I had to get rid of a good sounding amp due to reliability issues. I finally got my HRDlx to a point where I actually liked it with tube changes but it couldn't hold up to a lot of gigging.

All the reissues have the tube sockets chassis mounted and hard wired to the board. The chassis acts a a heat sink keeping some of the heat off the boards.

Go with a Reissue you'll be a lot happier.


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:39 pm
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I had a chance to a/b my DRRI with the Blues Deluxe that I have.Same guitar, same place.The Blues Deluxe sounds like a toy against the DRRI.Supros right , it will cut thru the mix much better than any of the HR series.There is more character and response with the DRRI.I only paid 810 brand new.Right now if you look around, there are deals to be had.


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:43 pm
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The best amp move I ever made was trading a Hot Rod Deluxe that was starting to get flaky for a '65 Twin Custom 15 Reissue. Okay, maybe not for my back. :wink:

That said, here's another vote for the '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue. The tone, the wonderful reverb, the natural tube breakup that starts above 4 on the volume knob, and it takes pedals well, too. Oh, and the lighter weight.

John


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:17 pm
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I love my Deluxe Reverb. Plenty loud too.

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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:51 pm
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well, i do not know much as these cats that have been on the road.....
that's for sure.
but i do know that i turn my Twin-Amp loud enough to match our drummer (rock hands) and have no problem with it not being pushed hard enough. After i replaced tubes, i got the dirty channel even better for me. It has a heavenly clean and nice dirty channel for anything 'cept metal. tube driven reverb & tube driven tremolo too. This amp covers rock and blues great. Throw a TTE in front of it and forget about it.
well, except you must have a strong back. it is heavy but soooo worth every pound.
it does come with casters.
but i found it sounds a lil' better with them off and good solid contact with the floor. Sometimes i place a heavy towel folded under it if i need to for vibrating walls, paintings, etc.

oh well enuff of me rambling on-

a deluxe is easier to gig with and jsut use pedals-
you should really really try both and then pick em' up and walk around the store - haha


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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:36 pm
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Yeah Strat, I'd go along with the Deluxe Reverb consensus, but you'd want to get the amp up off the floor(stand or crate). Then, I'd consider stashing away some of your gig money for a matching 1X12 extension cab and impedance matching device(Weber, etc.) so you can run the amp at 8ohms. That would be a pretty versatile set up for different sized places. Just a question, are you playing lead or rhythm? Art

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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:47 pm
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very subjective....It depends on the application, preference, style etc. For me I like to mic my amps and have gone down to a much smaller rig...from a Marshall JCM900 to a Bandit 65, to the best amp I have ever owned IMO, my Fender SCXD is the "perfect" amp. But as I have said that is for me and my style. :D


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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:01 pm
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Thanks guys,

I went into the music store recently. I'll have to look into the deluxe reverb. I'm kind of interested in the twin reverbs. I want to test the amps, how do people usually do it at a store? Do they bring their own guitar, or use something similar to what they have that the guitar store has. Problem is the store I go to doesn't deal in Gibson, and I'd like hear a Les Paul through the amp before I sink 800 or more dollars in it.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:03 am
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Hey Strat, the Twin is a great amp! Used an older one in a blues band for years as a rhythm player. You'd want to take your guitar and cord to the shop. If you can, take a friend with you. The extra ears and support should help your decision process. Have fun! and maybe try some amps you haven't considered. Art

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