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Post subject: The Great NAMM '08 Amp Throwdown
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:40 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Really a pretty weak show all told, no blockbusters whatsoever, a lot of evolution and refinement, but no revolution.

But it is interesting what's shaping up out of all this to challenge specific Fender "techno" amps in the coming months.

The new Line 6 Spider Jam amp is a direct challenge to the award-winning G-DEC series--particularly the G-DEC 30. Probably what sets it apart is a completely different approach to jam loops: they use pro-recorded full rhythm sections for each practice loop as opposed to midi driving samples. And they use a hi-fi/2-way speaker system (read: relatively flat response) as opposed to a guitar speaker. At $450, they're about $75 more than the G-DEC 30's.

The new Peavey VYPYR Tube 60. Same concept as the SCXD series, but a classic hybrid with a 2 6L6 power stage making 60 watts with a modeling/DSP front end. About $400 street.

Far as I could tell, the mystery (and infuriating) Peavey Windsor Studio didn't even make an appearance at NAMM. Probably Peavey is so embarassed about it's interminable year-long delay they didn't want to remind anybody. You might say it's direct Fender competitor is the Princeton Recording since they both have built-in power soaks and lo-impedance XLR outs.

But even at the PR's new pre-'65 Princeton Reverb Release blowout price of $799 there's still a $400 price break on the Windsor. And the Windsor lets you swap out all manner of power tubes with no rebiasing. Hellooooooo KT66!

Peavey must still be smarting from the only known recorded performance of the WS by some inept klutz over at Gearwire--it's universally acknowledged as one of the worst-sounding YouTube amp demos EVER! I mean, the dude played awful, but even the amp sounded awful. And for some reason Peavey has never updated this dealkiller vid in the intervening 12 months. Hm...on the other hand, maybe that's what the amp actually sounds like! You'd think Peavey would get their own Shane to present their products in a professional and inspired manner, but as we know, he's one of a kind!

All good news for the consumer: choice is always where it's at. And our first choice is usually Fender.


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Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:57 am
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Hobbyist
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Maruuk where did you see the news about the new Princeton Reverb?


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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:36 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Chuck Levin told me, he runs a big music store ("Washington Music Center")--they're a Fender dealer. They should be announcing it by the Spring. And then they'll be able to ship em quickly. To their credit they just didn't want to do the interminable tease routine like Peavey and Kustom.


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