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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:01 pm
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I will let you guys know tomarrow how it goes tonight at my gig! I will take pics and see how it is in a live setting.

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:41 pm
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Nice! You've got balls taking the field with PCB-mounted tube sockets and spade connectors. :twisted: :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:45 pm
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Oh I am gonna put it through the paces!

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:48 pm
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I,...in fact,...sent Fender Consumer Relations an email and asked them to forward it to R&D,...about these pawn shop special series amps. One of the things I told them was I am not one who wants these things in the first place,and from what I can tell here on the site,no one else really wants them,either. What I would like to see myself is R&D using that money they're wasting on these stupid pawn shop toys be better used on bringing back the quality and durability Fender is known for,and give us amps we can depend on. Granted,there are some here who don't like the Hot Rod series amps,....fine,that's your choice,...but I do like them and my HRD III has been giving me reliable service thus far. I tried one of the Pawn Shop amps,and to be honest,didn't care much for them. I would love to have a '57 Bandmaster or '59 Bassman,...but my budget won't allow those,...not even a good used one as they are very pricey. I told Fender Consumer Relations that what I would rather see are improvements and/or upgrades made to amps such as the BDRI like a speaker upgrade,...Lord knows that amp is overdue for some upgrades. R&D could also use that money to upgrade amps like the Blues Jr. even further with a Jensen speaker instead of using Eminence speakers,and put in 6V6 tubes in place of the EL84s in the power section. I would rather spend a few extra dollars on a nice Pro Jr. or Blues Jr.as a small tube amp for practice than buy the pawn shop toys.

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:56 pm
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I have a Fender Hot rod deville 4x10, fender blues jr, that I put in a bassman cab with 4x10 speakers, a excelsior pro surf green, and the vaporizer in surf green and never have had problems with any of them! I think fender is not trying to cater to old guys who like the old amp, but new players who don't want their grandfathers amp!

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:17 pm
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Okay I'll wade into this controversy...

From what I have seen on YouTube, Fender.com propaganda, and other such sources, I like the looks and sound of the Vaporizer amp. However, I have not actually seen one with my own eyes or heard one with my own ears so my final judgment will be based upon that experience.

No, it is not a classic Fender amplifier design. It has that crazy, slightly tacky "Googie" aesthetic (an actual art and architectural style of the late 50's/early 60's) that people either love or hate. I personally like a lot of Googie-style stuff, but I never said I had good taste. :lol:

Now, comparing it to a vintage Fender amp, I would much rather have a vintage style Vibroverb, Deluxe Reverb, Champ, or other model of amp such as those...they defined the "Fender Sound" and were well-built, with the intention of lasting for decades (and so they have, as Arjay's collection attests).

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:18 pm
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If the world were perfect (or closer to perfect), all amps associated with the Fender name would be at least as well-built as those icons of the past...but they aren't and they haven't been for a long long time.

But think honestly--what is as well built and reliable as was built yesteryear? My iPhone will one day disastrously die...but that old flip phone that I keep in the drawer will still work. I have a twenty year old lawnmower that has outlasted my neighbors three newer ones.

But new isn't bad--there's a lot of really good cheap guitars that I like (and would play if I could afford/were given the instrument), and my 2008 SUV is faster, safer,more reliable and more comfy than my other (earlier) cars...

I personally play a 1992 '62 reissue Vibroverb (brown Tolex 2x10 combo) as my main amp...and while it looks the same as a vintage amp, I know it has a PCB and a solid state rectifier (verses PTP and a tube rectifier) which are just two of the differences from the original...however, I have used and abused that amp for 22 years, and it's never let me down, so I really can't complain...also, the amp has a tone I like (classic Fender clean) and works equally well for guitar and harmonica, so I'm satisfied.

Some purists would say I'm a fool, because it isn't as good as an original or a Vibroclone built to the exact specs...those purists can either (1) buy me an original, (2) buy me a clone, or (3) Kiss My Butt, because I'm happy with what I have and WHAT I CAN AFFORD.

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:19 pm
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Back to the Vaporizer; is it worthy of the Fender mantle?
Well, maybe or maybe not...

Arjay mentioned the (disastrously crappy) early solid state Fenders (with whom they ridiculously tarnished the venerated names of Super Reverb, Twin Reverb and etc.) as well as the "What Were They Thinking" Zodiac line. I would add the Bantam Bass Amp ("Hey, let's put a trapezoidal-shaped speaker in this amp--and make the cone out of Styrofoam!!"), the old 80's carpet-covered R.A.D. and H.O.T. pieces of crap to that bonfire, too.

Some people would add the master volume Silverface amps to that group (I personally wouldn't, I had a Bassman Ten I absolutely loved and regret selling to this day)...some folks don't like the Rivera-designed amps of the early 80's. What about the much-maligned Super Six (which I personally like, just for the sheer face-ripping volume)...

Time will tell whether these amps are worth a crap or not...but I will give Fender credit for this: at least they're TRYING SOMETHING NEW. I don't think of a Fender amp when I think of EL84 tubes...that's for the designs that floated to us from across the pond...but, I like the sound of some of those Fender amps with the EL84's, so where's the harm?

If Fender were smart, they'd figure out a way to make an affordable hand-wired Champ, Princeton or Deluxe Reverb...and they may well do that at some point...

...but not everybody wants the "typical" Fender look, the "typical" Fender sound or the "typical" Fender amp...and that's what the Vaporizer is trying to address.

Think of the Vaporizer as the old Danelectro, Silvertone, and Coral amps--they weren't great, they weren't as well built as a Fender, but they had their "thing" and it was what a lot of guys learned on.

You don't have to like it--but you don't have to slam it, either...at least it's not a Roland JC120! (I hate those amps)

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:27 pm
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Fender is re-introducing the 68 line up or amps, the Princeton, twin and deluxe? there is no way they are built like the old original ones, so I don't think they will sound like the originals! although I guarantee you guys are already to wip out the credit cards and buy them on name bassis alone with out trying one?

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:46 pm
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Not this guy. There's not an amp made on this earth that I would but without trying it out first. Even the silver face repros I've been wanting to try one, just haven't seen one around.


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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:16 pm
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gregbluesjr. wrote:
I think fender is not trying to cater to old guys who like the old amp, but new players who don't want their grandfathers amp!


With the tacit acknowledgement that grandfather's amp still works.

Anyone who thinks the current line of miserable fizz boxes will still be playing ten years from now should be thankful that Obama-scare will cover pre-existing psychiatric disorders.

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:39 pm
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zontar wrote:
Fender has always tried to cater to a wider customer base--even in Leo's day.

Some of those attempts succeeded quite well, some were complete & utter failures, and most were somewhere in between.

I'll leave it up to you to decide which was which--but all three happened in Leo's day and all three have happened since.


Name one, I dare you.

I, myself, can't wait to get my hands on one of those cute little amps! :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:45 pm
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gregbluesjr. wrote:
I have a Fender Hot rod deville 4x10, fender blues jr, that I put in a bassman cab with 4x10 speakers, a excelsior pro surf green, and the vaporizer in surf green and never have had problems with any of them! I think fender is not trying to cater to old guys who like the old amp, but new players who don't want their grandfathers amp!


I didn't realize I was old :? cause I like amps that are older than me, that work, sound better than anything being made today... I'll take "old" over having unreliable crappy sounding amps any day! Now where's my walking cane...

You mentioned 3 amps, DeVille 4X10, BJ, and that new whatever you call it... have you ever owned a real Fender amp?


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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:47 pm
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You mentioned 3 amps, DeVille 4X10, BJ, and that new whatever you call it... have you ever owned a real Fender amp?

I have also owned a prosonic which I thought was very nice but way to heavy and loud!

Well its funny you mentioned that, I have played through many a vintage amps and guess what they all without exception needed the work of a amp tech! A early 70's fender twin that did nothing but get real scratchy when turned up, a Princeton that couldn't be heard over a bong player, and old fender bassmans that were so farty sounding I just cringed at them.

I just did a whole night even let other players jam through the vaporizer and it sounded great no problems and everyone liked it a lot! and wanted to know where to get one. I am not trying to tell you you have to buy one I am just saying how pleased I am with it. very happy with it!

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Post subject: Re: Vaporizer?
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:11 pm
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gregbluesjr. wrote:
Well its funny you mentioned that, I have played through many a vintage amps and guess what they all without exception needed the work of a amp tech! A early 70's fender twin that did nothing but get real scratchy when turned up, a Princeton that couldn't be heard over a bong player, and old fender bassmans that were so farty sounding I just cringed at them.


So you lambaste these three problematic amps instead of blaming their neglectful owners who never thought to have them serviced at routine intervals?

All amps will eventually require some maintenance to keep them operating to spec just as the human body's longevity is extended with preventative medical care.

But with amps, they last only as long as parts are available. Virtually every component in a vintage model remains available while replacement parts for most contemporary models are discontinued in as little as five years.

So there you have it, the dirty little secret......

PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

Arjay

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