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Post subject: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:50 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I have a birthday coming up first week of December and I am looking at getting my first real tube amp (except for a VOX I have that I truly hate) and would like some advice on the purchase. I like the Fender amp sound and I have made the following short list for me to choose from:

Fender Blues Junior - $499
Fender Blues Junior NOS - $579
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe - $699
Fender 65 Princeton Reverb - $899
Fender Vintage Reissue 65 Deluxe Reverb - $999

I still consider myself a very novice guitar player (still plugging away at the Learn and Master Guitar Course) so I don't really have a set playing style. I enjoy various styles of music like Folk, Blues, Rock (actually, anything but country). My current gear includes a Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus, a Fender MIM Stratocaster (single coil), a Fender G-Dec3 30 watt amp, a VOX AD50VT amp, a Fender 25R amp and a Marshall Solid State half stack. Most of the time I play the Strat through the G-Dec without distortion but I do like playing with reverb and chorus.

The amp I buy will only be played at home in my music room which is 15' by 15'. I have no aspirations of playing in public. I am leaning heavily towards the Blues Junior. The Hot Rod is VERY tempting too but at 40 watts may be a waste of the extra $200 in such a confined space. Although I could spring for any of these, I don't want waste my money like I did on the VOX. I am basically looking for a warm, clean tone.

I have tried several of these amps out at Guitar Center and I do plan on checking them out some more before purchasing. This decision is a lot harder than I would have thought it would be!

I would appreciate any advice other members could provide on helping me make my choice.


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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:37 pm
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Princeton Reverb re-issue.

Without a doubt.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:36 am
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Location: Switzerland, Europe
Princeton Reissue ... your amp.

Cheers

David

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:36 am
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Hey Trueblue, I have a similar situation. I have a small cube shaped studio. I have a Gibby LP & Fender Strat. Been using solid state amps for some years. When I decided to go for a tube amp, I also considered most of the amps on your list. I also like the Fender tone. I also considered other brands, i.e. Peavey, Egnater + others. I ended up getting the DRRi. It's a bit loud for my little studio, but not too loud. As far as the other amps on your list, I would choose the Egnater Tweeker above them. My main point though is I think the DRRi is fine for your situation, & it's the real Queen of the amps on your list.


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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:47 am
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+1 on the Princeton reverb

followed in order of preference by the
  • Deluxe reverb
  • other brands (there are many to look at like the TransAtlantic 15 or egnaters)
  • Blues Junior

IMHO a Hot-Rod deluxe or Blues Deluxe for a small room is not a good mix if you want to crank it to distortion.

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:23 pm
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Ditto mojjett. Don't buy anything til you at least try an Egnater Tweaker combo. It's a crusher at a wallet friendly price.

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Gravity Music - www.gravitymusic.com
Composer, producer, Egnater Artist


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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:22 pm
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EgFryer wrote:
Ditto mojjett. Don't buy anything til you at least try an Egnater Tweaker combo. It's a crusher at a wallet friendly price.



+1

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:26 pm
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Thanks for the responses, I will be heading to Guitar Center to try them out again soon!


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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:03 pm
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Boy, I hope your GC is better than the one or two I've been to (Hollywood is the worst). I could NEVER hear myself playing, unless I was hooked to a 5150 or something even bigger. All I could hear are kids doing Death Metal super CRUNCH on their Peavey guitars plugged into a Laney 100 watt amp cranked to "11." With Super D pedals.

A 15 watt amp is like having "ED" in such a setting. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:01 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
A 15 watt amp is like having "ED" in such a setting. :lol:


+1

Tucson's GC is a regular three-ring circus!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:22 am
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Visit GC on a weekday, about 10 minutes after they open or mid afternoon. I always seem to have the place to myself then. Never visit on evenings or weekends. :)

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Gravity Music - www.gravitymusic.com
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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:14 am
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Princeton Reverb Reissue is the one I use at home and small gigs.


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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 4:31 am
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In that confined space, and with your needs, have you overlooked the Fender Pro Junior? 15watts, 10" speaker. Assuming you do still want a Fender amp.

I'm slightly irritated by the Egnator evangelists who seem to think that anyone that doesn't buy an Egnator is in sore need of a damn good patronising and some extensive lecturing. However, it has to be said that they are absolutely superb ampfiers ( that speak for themselves..) and really should be auditioned too.

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:02 am
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Better to have low power in house, then Princeton or Junior. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Choosing my first Tube Amp
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:53 am
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I saw a Princeton Reverb on CL for $500 OBO. Here is the link if you want to call. Only thing is that you have to have it sent without playing it. I would not but at least it gives you an idea of what price they are selling for used. Good luck!
http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/msg/2647945989.html


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