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Post subject: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:02 pm
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Ok, some thoughts about the Pawn Shop amps...with the disclaimer that I'm not criticizing anyone who owns or loves these instruments, and pointing out that I'm not supporting he Haters of these instruments.

They aren't bad amps.
They have funky visual style, a cool vibe, some pretty decent tones and a really reasonable price. Reliability may become an issue at some point, but I don't think anybody is buying one of these as their touring amp or a "desert island" amp.

For the money, and if you just want a nice, fun little toy to jam with, it's not a bad amp.

However, it's not what we expect from Fender...and I'm not just talking about the dyed-in-the-wool-60's-Blackface-traditionalists; they don't "do" what a guitarist expects a Fender amp to "do."

I think if they weren't associated with the Fender name--if they were a new Danelectro or Kustom offering of some sort--many of us would give these amps a bit more slack.

Tonally, the amps are pretty decent, if you come in without preconceived notions and have not listened to a traditional Fender, Marshall or Vox very recently...

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:14 pm
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Case in point: I went to Hades' Guitar Shop, erm...Guitar Center recently, and they had an Excelsior amp set up beside a Blues, Jr., a '68 Custom Princeton, a '65RI Deluxe Reverb and a '65RI Twin Reverb.

I plugged into the Excelsior, and was pleasantly surprised...it had a cool, funky tone with a sweet tremolo/vibrato/whatever. I really like the Tremolo circuit--it's a bit swampy and funky, reminiscent of the old Kustoms of the late 1960's/early 70's.

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:52 pm
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I like what Fender is doing. Get a little weird with things, turn some designers loose and back them up whether they fail or succeed. There is definitely a niche for products like these.

Maybe you would feel better if they had slapped the Squier name on them instead? Or maybe Gretsch? Personally, I'm ok with them using the Fender name.


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:34 pm
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I don't know about the amps, but I've played a couple of the instruments. While they weren't my cup of tea. They seemed pretty solid for the money. I think the Pawn Shop series is one of the coolest things Fender has come up with in awhile. Frankenstein style Fenders? Pretty damn cool if you ask me. Take a gamble on something a little out there that might be a nice back up, or specialty axe? Not tough to swallow at Fender Mexico or China prices. US prices? I don't think they'd be selling as many.

I think it's a nifty little idea that probably won't last long enough because all people do is want to complain. The same people who complain that Fender never gives them anything outside the box are the first to complain when they do. Want top shelf quality on a Pawn Shop style Fender? Call the CS. I'm sure they'll hook you up. I'm just glad they're being creative.

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 7:28 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
I think it's a nifty little idea that probably won't last long enough because all people do is want to complain. The same people who complain that Fender never gives them anything outside the box are the first to complain when they do.

I was really interested in the Ramparte, but my issue with it was that it wasn't outside the box at all. It sounded just plain unexciting.
That they're made in China is another problem. I'd happily pay twice as much for something made where workers get paid decent wages, and which doesn't contribute to the trade deficit, but I'm probably an exception. Most people want cheap, and don't really care about who gets the money.

As for the name, well, they don't identify themselves as Fenders, just their given name. You have to inspect it closely to find the Fender brand, so that shouldn't be a problem for die-hard Fender fanatics.


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:04 pm
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arth1 wrote:
That they're made in China is another problem. I'd happily pay twice as much for something made where workers get paid decent wages, and which doesn't contribute to the trade deficit, but I'm probably an exception. Most people want cheap, and don't really care about who gets the money.

::::BEGIN RANT::::

I'm going to have to chime in on the Made in China deal. It's more of a philosophical discussion than anything. I heard that the US has lost 3 million jobs to China since we've been sending all our work over there. But that isn't the worst of it. Look at all of our own money that China is spending on building up their military.

Who are they preparing to fight if push comes to shove in Taiwan or on some of the many islands they're claiming for their own so far from their shores?

MIM is fine. MIC, not so much.

::::END::::


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:07 pm
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Highline wrote:
arth1 wrote:
That they're made in China is another problem. I'd happily pay twice as much for something made where workers get paid decent wages, and which doesn't contribute to the trade deficit, but I'm probably an exception. Most people want cheap, and don't really care about who gets the money.

::::BEGIN RANT::::

I'm going to have to chime in on the Made in China deal. It's more of a philosophical discussion than anything. I heard that the US has lost 3 million jobs to China since we've been sending all our work over there. But that isn't the worst of it. Look at all of our own money that China is spending on building up their military.

Who are they preparing to fight if push comes to shove in Taiwan or on some of the many islands they're claiming for their own so far from their shores?

MIM is fine. MIC, not so much.

::::END::::


Then we'll find out Obama is a reptilian overlord in the evil underworld!

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:28 pm
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Buxom wrote:
Then we'll find out Obama is a reptilian overlord in the evil underworld!

Not sure where you got that from but I assure you that was a purely bipartisan rant...


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:28 am
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Highline wrote:
Buxom wrote:
Then we'll find out Obama is a reptilian overlord in the evil underworld!

Not sure where you got that from but I assure you that was a purely bipartisan rant...



Blame the Goddamn Federal Reserve. Decent wages? We work for debt notes. This entire economy is based on fraud. (as are the vast majority in this world) Every single problem with the way people trade can be traced back to the use of the violence of the state to corrupt the market. Unfortunately the world is full of economically illiterate people who don't understand the true nature of either government or markets.

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:54 am
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Highline wrote:
arth1 wrote:
That they're made in China is another problem. I'd happily pay twice as much for something made where workers get paid decent wages, and which doesn't contribute to the trade deficit, but I'm probably an exception. Most people want cheap, and don't really care about who gets the money.

::::BEGIN RANT::::

I'm going to have to chime in on the Made in China deal. It's more of a philosophical discussion than anything. I heard that the US has lost 3 million jobs to China since we've been sending all our work over there. But that isn't the worst of it. Look at all of our own money that China is spending on building up their military.

Who are they preparing to fight if push comes to shove in Taiwan or on some of the many islands they're claiming for their own so far from their shores?

MIM is fine. MIC, not so much.

::::END::::


There is a rule about socio/eco/political discussions here...
But do sit down, have a cup of tea by the window whilst peering out into the world, eventually you will see that it is a global economy, has been that way for multiple decades....

Screaming Armadillo is discussing the merits of the Pawn Shop Amps....
Please All.... Let's stay on the topic...... :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:27 am
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Buxom wrote:
Then we'll find out Obama is a reptilian overlord in the evil underworld!

The underworld has an overlord??

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:32 am
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01GT eibach wrote:
Buxom wrote:
Then we'll find out Obama is a reptilian overlord in the evil underworld!

The underworld has an overlord??



The real question is, Does the underworld overlord wear underwear?

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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:33 am
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Sorry for the divergence. I think they're pretty cool looking amps. If I could convince my wife that they look cool enough to leave one in the living room ready to play at any time, I'd say we have a winner!


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:55 am
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Call me an optimist, but I think things are going to work out fine with China. The Chinese I've met and talked to don't really dislike the United States, though they still pretty much hate Japan. They remember WWII and how we were allies. Besides, the median age in China is rising rapidly and I doubt there is much appetite for sending their only children off to fight over some godforsaken rocks in the middle of the ocean.

It is better for us to have fun designing and building amps together, playing them and being happy. It is a golden age in human history. 8) :D


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Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:59 am
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Only the Ramparte looks interesting to me. The others look ugly in my opinion and I like the idea of a 9 watt class A 6L6. The made-in-China aspect gives me pause, though.

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