It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:51 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 46 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Author Message
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:03 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
djv18 wrote:
I had a Tweed BJ for almost a year and there were things that I liked and disliked about it, but as already stated, you can't expect it to be something it's not; it is what it is...

I sold it a few months ago and bought a Supro Sahara, and I certainly have no regrets. :D


Now all you need is a Supro Dual one to go with it. If you already do. sweet.

The other thing I don't get is Tweed wasn't just a look, it was a sound. A certain type of circuit that just happened to be covered in tweed fabric. Now all of a sudden it's just associated with a covering and has nothing to do with the sound at all, and people talk like a Tweed Blues Jr is something special. It isn't. Like it won't break down like any other HRD series amp.Same with the term NOS. It supposed to mean "New Old Stock" not three words to be used as a marketing gimmick to sell stuff to an unsuspecting comsumer. :? :?

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:13 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
You got it, Supro. The vintage tweed Fenders were all characterized by cathode-follower tone stacks, cathodyne-based phase inverters, and relatively low plate voltages on the cascaded gain stages of the preamp.

Looking the BJ's architecture over (in fact, all of the HR-based platforms), I see none of that on the schematics.

Cotton twill fabric does not a tweed amp make.

Arjay


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:30 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:03 pm
Posts: 16
Is there a genuine vintage style Tweed amp in production today? I assume the '57 reissues in the Fender Custom series are. Any others?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:34 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
Mutthound wrote:
Is there a genuine vintage style Tweed amp in production today? I assume the '57 reissues in the Fender Custom series are. Any others?


Those are the ones. The 57 Champ, Deluxe, and Twin-Amp. Even the 59 Bassman is the same circuit as the original.

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:43 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:03 pm
Posts: 16
So the HRDLx and Blues Deluxe, supposedly based on the vintage Bassman circuitry... marketing fluff?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:49 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
Mutthound wrote:
So the HRDLx and Blues Deluxe, supposedly based on the vintage Bassman circuitry... marketing fluff?


Pretty much. "Based on" can mean many things. The new Camaro is based on the 69 Camaro. Don't think there's much the same in those two cars.

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:59 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Powdered Toast Man wrote:
Pretty much. "Based on" can mean many things. The new Camaro is based on the 69 Camaro. Don't think there's much the same in those two cars.


BWAHAHAHAHAHA

I owned a '69 Camaro -- in '69. A drop-top Indy Pace Car, SS350 Rally Sport, Can Am white with orange stripes and interior. I've looked the new "re-issue" Chevy F-body over......it's cute. But it's no '69 Camaro.

Nor will it ever be one.

Period, end of story, nothing follows.

:mrgreen:

Arjay


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 11:24 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Mutthound wrote:
So the HRDLx and Blues Deluxe, supposedly based on the vintage Bassman circuitry... marketing fluff?


No. The HRD series which includes the Blues Deluxe aren't really based on anything but hype. They ARE amplifiers though. They have that in common. The Deluxe was only 12 watts not 40. Both the original Bassman and the Deluxe had tube rectifiers not solid state which may or may not add to their charm depending on whether on not you like the compression, looseness and sag of a tube rectifier. I do. The originals weren't full of cheap Taiwanese components and cheap single sided PCB's and in the case of the HRDlx, a Eminence Legend series speaker the was custom made to keep a low price point. That's why it sounds farty on the low end when you push it. It's a shame, IMO the HRD series amps can be made to sound quite good and really reliable too. Many other manufacturers are doing it including Egnater. Which just received yet another Editors Pick Award in July's Guitar Player Magazine for it's Renegade Amp. It was up against some pretty pricey rigs too.

The thing is boys and girls, save your money a little more because Fender does make some really fine higher end amps. You can afford them. It may take a little longer to get one, but in the end you'll have an amp that will last decades instead on months, days or from reading some of the posts here, only hours. Be a wise consumer.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 11:29 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am
Posts: 9034
Location: Louisiana
Good advice Supro!! :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 11:59 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
The sad thing is a lot of players seem to equate sheer volume to good tone. It just ain't so in many cases with lower end amps. Given enough time, anyone can afford a really nice amp. I knew guys when I was a kid who got nice gear just by cutting lawns or delivering newspapers.

The way you get the drive is to go to your local music store and try an amp you really can't afford right now and then try a lower end amp that you can afford. Hopefully, you'll wait. A good amp can make a lower end guitar sound a lot better, but a cheap amp can make an expensive guitar sound like garbage. Just something to think about. If you think your HRdlx sounds incredible, try a Super Reverb and see if it won't change your mind. No it won't have a drive channel, but most stomp boxes sound a lot better anyway.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. Sorry.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 1:27 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 4:15 pm
Posts: 117
Location: Mill Bay
I think the BJ is a great amp. It is one of the few amps I wish I had back.

The BJ does very well at what its designed to be... a blues platform. The other thing I find is, there seems to be a definite love/hate relationship with el84s. Those who like them, really like them.

Many believe the way to get great tone is to crank the gain & roll back the guitar volume. I think thats when the BJ shines.

My thought

Craig


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 1:43 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:58 am
Posts: 319
Location: Pacific Northwest
I guess we could always keep saving for the next best thing. Some folks struggle just to afford an amp the price of a Bj and might like to start playing now instead of in 6 or 8 months.

What do you recommend for the $600 price point of the Bj NOS. Or can't a decent amp be found for that $. Tubes, decent reverb, 12" speaker and this size of the Bj. It's perfect. I can carry it on a plane. Just makes the cut on the carryon restriction. Tried a smaller Fender, the Pro Jr., but didn't care for the boxier sound and no reverb, so I sold it.

I use this as my drag around amp. Love the look, the sound, and the Mf screw up that give it to me for a little over 4hundy 2 years ago. Maybe my ears are shot, but I think it's a great little highly portable amp, especially for the $.

I use these DRRI's when I have more time and really want to make some noise. Tweeded one of 'em since I took the group shot. Like the look with some of my guitars.

Image

Image

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:15 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
For $600 you can get a used Deluxe Reverb Reissue. You can get a used Silverface Champ in the $300-350 or sometimes less range. Mine's a 74 and sounds awesome I only paid 150 bucks for it a ways back. An Egnater Tweaker, I tried one last week and fell in love with it. Very cool amp. Lots of tonal variations and great build quality.

Jet City is another one. http://www.jetcityamplification.com/
Mike Soldano has his hand in these amps. Soldano amps are really nice. These amps are pretty inexpensive. They have a 20 watt combo that gets rave reviews and is only 400 bucks.

Don't worry about wattage unless you're seriously gigging. You can easily gig with 20 watts. I do it all the time.

Knotty, I'm just curious what makes you think the Blues Jr is a Blues Platform amp? Because it has the word Blues in it? No disrespect intended, but any amp can be used for the Blues. My 74 Champ is a great Blues amp, my SS 72 Pignose is another great blues amp, My Egnater, Twin are great, and even my 1 watt home made ss amp is a decent Blues amp. My one watter is over 20 years old and hasn't died yet. My Champ and Twin are 30+ years old. My HRDlx I had didn't last 3 months before it started breaking down. I finally sold it.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:19 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
For $600 you can get a used Deluxe Reverb Reissue. You can get a used Silverface Champ in the $300-350 or sometimes less range. Mine's a 74 and sounds awesome I only paid 150 bucks for it a ways back. An Egnater Tweaker, I tried one last week and fell in love with it. Very cool amp. Lots of tonal variations and great build quality.

If you're really handy, you can build your own Champ or real Tweed Deluxe from Mission or Marsh amplification for around $400-750 and have something you can be proud of and hand wired with your own two hands.
Fun stuff. I've been building my own effects for years.

Jet City is another one. http://www.jetcityamplification.com/
Mike Soldano has his hand in these amps. Soldano amps are really nice. These amps are pretty inexpensive. They have a 20 watt combo that gets rave reviews and is only 400 bucks.

Don't worry about wattage unless you're seriously gigging. You can easily gig with 20 watts. I do it all the time.

Knotty, I'm just curious what makes you think the Blues Jr is a Blues Platform amp? Because it has the word Blues in it? No disrespect intended, but any amp can be used for the Blues. My 74 Champ is a great Blues amp, my SS 72 Pignose is another great blues amp, My Egnater, Twin are great, and even my 1 watt home made ss amp is a decent Blues amp. My one watter is over 20 years old and hasn't died yet. My Champ and Twin are 30+ years old. My HRDlx I had didn't last 3 months before it started breaking down. I finally sold it.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:26 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
63supro wrote:
For $600 you can get a used Deluxe Reverb Reissue. You can get a used Silverface Champ in the $300-350 or sometimes less range. Mine's a 74 and sounds awesome I only paid 150 bucks for it a ways back. An Egnater Tweaker, I tried one last week and fell in love with it. Very cool amp. Lots of tonal variations and great build quality.


+1 I just picked up a 1973 SF Champ in excellent condition for $360 shipped to my door. When my band came over to jam this week, you should have seen their faces when I turned it on. Their jaws were on the floor. My singer plays harp through a Blues Jr - he plugged into my Champ and after about 10 seconds he goes, "yep, that's the sound right there."

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 46 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next

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: