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Post subject: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:24 am
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I've been playing in various bands for years as either a bass player or a drummer. Finally starting to try and get serious about guitar and build up the skills I should have focused on in high school. I currently have an old Princeton '65 Solid State that a friend bought in the late 90's and promptly gave up on. I've been lugging around every time I moved for over a decade and have always thought it sounds pretty decent, but nothing to brag about. I feel it's easier to get motivated to play if your equipment sounds really good so I've been looking at getting a tube amp to really make things sound better (and by that I mean, really showcase my mistakes).

I like both the Blues Jr. and the Princeton '65 Reissue, but I'm not sure if it's worth the extra money to Invest in the Princeton if I'm really only going to be playing in my basement until I feel confident enough to actually attempt to play guitar in a band, if that ever happens. So now that you have all the back story, my question to all of you is this, If you were in my situation, would you:

a) Just stick with the current amp that is decent, but costs nothing, and just wait to see how the whole guitar playing experiment pans out. If things go well I can always buy a new amp later.

b) Go with the middle of the road Blues Jr. option which sounds pretty damn good to me, but not quite amazing, and is much more affordable.

c) Go with the Princeton '65 reissue which gives me the tones I like, but is completely overkill with regards to volume for my current situation and of course has the biggest price tag of all.

Not sure if it sways your opinions at all, but I play a MIM Fender tele and a Ric 360 and I love the really bright cleans I get from the Fender amps I've used in the past.


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:30 am
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Option "a" is the most economical and practical. If your dalliance with the guitar wanes, you'll be out nothing. OTOH if your enthusiasm continues to grow you can always implement option "b" or "c" at a later date. And perhaps by then you'll have more money available for option "d"......a real Fender amp.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:58 am
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Option "a" makes the most sense, unless you have cash to burn. If so, get one of the best Fenders available if playing in the basement allows you to play it at its sweet spot volume-wise.

Which is the best? Style, genre, and other factors will dictate and test driving will tell you. There is no absolute right answer.

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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:22 am
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I learned many moons ago, on a Pignose 7-100. Truly portable. My first Fender was a AA764 Princeton Reverb. Still have the amp. Check out YT WRT setting up a Pignose for range of tones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4f76ng49wA

Good luck, on your choice!


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:28 am
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Option a.

M'y first amp was Princeton Stereo Chorus 15 years ago. I still have it and always work.

Nos I own close to 12 tubes amps


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:41 am
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Let's face it, Stratele......you're an amp hog!

:wink:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:42 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
I learned many moons ago, on a Pignose 7-100. Truly portable. My first Fender was a AA764 Princeton Reverb. Still have the amp. Check out YT WRT setting up a Pignose for range of tones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4f76ng49wA

Good luck, on your choice!


+1 I've had the same Pignose since 1972 or 73 can't remember exactly, which year, but it's been a long time and I still love that little amp.

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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:18 pm
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Although not a real Fender amp, the SCX2's are a hobbyists friend. Amazing, searing crunch tones and classic Fender cleans. A speaker that suits your tastes. Changing the few tubes it has also effects the tone. Once one starts done the tube road, one is hooked in most cases, IMO.It is a fine gateway amp to real Fender amps.

It is Princeton-ish. :D

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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 2:37 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Let's face it, Stratele......you're an amp hog!

:wink:

Arjay


.......you're an amp hog! :?: :

Google translate ; Avouons-le, Stratele ...... vous êtes un porc de l'ampli! :roll:


:lol:


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 3:15 pm
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Who, me?!?!?!?

:lol:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:47 am
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Try this
Turn everything to 9- 10, on the the amp
Keeping fender guitar at less than that weakens the tone


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:36 pm
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modwiz wrote:
Although not a real Fender amp, the SCX2's are a hobbyists friend. Amazing, searing crunch tones and classic Fender cleans. A speaker that suits your tastes. Changing the few tubes it has also effects the tone. Once one starts done the tube road, one is hooked in most cases, IMO.It is a fine gateway amp to real Fender amps.

It is Princeton-ish. :D


I've actually been looking into the SCX2's since your post and I'm kind of tempted. I've been discussing it with the guitar player from one of my former bands who is kind of a hardware obsessive and he seems to dismiss it from the start since its not a "pure tube" amp, but then again he's one of those snobs who feels that anyone who doesn't do things exactly like he does is an idiot. The local Guitar Center didn't have one on the floor so I haven't been able to actually go hear it, but how would you rate/describe the sound you get out of the clean channel? I'm not really interested too much in the effects channel (and really that is kind of a negative in my opinion), I'm just wanting to have a good clean sound and maybe throwing an OD pedal in front of it for when I want to give it just a little dirt.


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 2:51 pm
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unmerrymelodies wrote:
I've actually been looking into the SCX2's since your post and I'm kind of tempted. I've been discussing it with the guitar player from one of my former bands who is kind of a hardware obsessive and he seems to dismiss it from the start since its not a "pure tube" amp, but then again he's one of those snobs who feels that anyone who doesn't do things exactly like he does is an idiot. The local Guitar Center didn't have one on the floor so I haven't been able to actually go hear it, but how would you rate/describe the sound you get out of the clean channel? I'm not really interested too much in the effects channel (and really that is kind of a negative in my opinion), I'm just wanting to have a good clean sound and maybe throwing an OD pedal in front of it for when I want to give it just a little dirt.

In that case, the SCX2 is not a good choice for you.

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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:17 pm
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unmerrymelodies wrote:
modwiz wrote:
Although not a real Fender amp, the SCX2's are a hobbyists friend. Amazing, searing crunch tones and classic Fender cleans. A speaker that suits your tastes. Changing the few tubes it has also effects the tone. Once one starts done the tube road, one is hooked in most cases, IMO.It is a fine gateway amp to real Fender amps.

It is Princeton-ish. :D


I've actually been looking into the SCX2's since your post and I'm kind of tempted. I've been discussing it with the guitar player from one of my former bands who is kind of a hardware obsessive and he seems to dismiss it from the start since its not a "pure tube" amp, but then again he's one of those snobs who feels that anyone who doesn't do things exactly like he does is an idiot. The local Guitar Center didn't have one on the floor so I haven't been able to actually go hear it, but how would you rate/describe the sound you get out of the clean channel? I'm not really interested too much in the effects channel (and really that is kind of a negative in my opinion), I'm just wanting to have a good clean sound and maybe throwing an OD pedal in front of it for when I want to give it just a little dirt.


I like the clean channel a lot. Desertbluesman has one as well and lives in the clean channel, using effects from pedals. For the price, it is an outstanding amp. Changing the speaker and finding better power tubes and a preamp tube all improved the sound. Preamp tube and speaker made the most changes. Groove tubes are getting to be decent tubes. For very moderate volume the stock speaker works.

The effects channel is fun to play with. Really. :D

The line out offers an excellent recording out or feed for another power source. I have done recording with it and the sound was what I was hearing in the room from the speaker.

With all this said, playing through one would be the best test.

Do remember, no bragging rights come with the amp. Expect derision. :shock: None of that matters to me. I really like the amp. It has its own niche. One that I use.

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: Amp suggestion for a beginner
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:39 pm
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Slap a new speaker in that Princeton 65 and prepare for :D .


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