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Post subject: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:50 pm
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Location: seminole,ok
I'm looking at two options: A Blues Jr + BillM mods or Both Greta & an Excelsior. The pair of new amps would be $500 w/free shipping. Blues Jr: $350-$450 + $200+ in mods..
Pro/Con?
I drive a semi and am on the road 10-12 days at at a time. Greta looks perfect for the truck and then have both to play with at home.


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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:20 am
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IMO, The Greta and Excelsior option would be your best bet. I plan on trying out the Excelsior myself. No matter how much you mod the Blues Jr, It'll sound boxy especially at higher volumes due to its small cabinet. Changing the speaker will only help slightly. The biggest improvement would be an extension cabinet. Why Fender doesn't make a head out of the Blues Jr is beyond me.
I didn't like the sound samples for either the Greta or Excelsior, but I usually try them out myself and draw my on conclusions. Worst case, I bet you could build a hand wired 5e3 Tweed in there.

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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:02 am
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Well put, Supro. I had been thinking 5E3 for quite a while. That's a spendier route, since I'd likely have to buy a used build. Greta seems like the best option to travel with.


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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:25 am
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I use a Pignose amp in hotel rooms. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:32 pm
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Back in the late 90s, I was nutty enough to carry a Crate 50w 2x12 tube combo in the truck. I had an inverter, but I had to leave the truck running due to the electrical load... :lol:


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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:30 pm
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the Greta sounded mighty good at NAMM, both by itself, and then in front of a 2x12 cab. For $199 retail, pretty good. Just wish they had a handle.

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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:45 pm
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I lucked out and ended up with both a Greta and an Excelsior. In-store, I tried the Greta through a couple of cabinets. I think one was a 1-12 Orange, I think. Probably a Celestion speaker. The other was a 4-12 Marshall cabinet. That was pretty interesting. It sounded great through both. I took it home an tried it with the Excelsior Fender 15", and it KICKS $@!. The Excelsior cabinet is a great match for the Greta amp. I will probably still be getting the matching Greta cab, just because I think it's more collectible that way, but I'm guessing that I'll be using it with the Excelsior more often than with the matching cab. I'm sure part of the reason it sounds so good with the Excelsior speaker is that it's rated at 30 watts, so you might start to get some speaker distortion at low volumes. A 4-12 Marshall stack is rated at 120 watts. The matching SC112 cabinet is rated at 80 watts. You're not going to get close to speaker distortion with those. Also, the 15" speaker gives it a fuller sound.


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Post subject: Re: New Amp Choices?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:35 am
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gvelasco wrote:
I lucked out and ended up with both a Greta and an Excelsior. The Excelsior cabinet is a great match for the Greta amp. I will probably still be getting the matching Greta cab, just because I think it's more collectible that way, but I'm guessing that I'll be using it with the Excelsior more often than with the matching cab....Also, the 15" speaker gives it a fuller sound.

+1, the Greta is what it is. If you can understand that it's not going to be the absolute holy grail sonically and that it's made to be a fun little practice amp, you're good to go. That cab is a real looker, too! :wink:


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