It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:09 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:02 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
Well, this took a turn for the worse (I didn't expect a political rant). Back to the review:

I tried the Excelsior out with an American '53RI Telecaster (or whatever it's called nowadays), playing both straight/finger style and with a slide in Open G tuning.

I liked the amp, and briefly considered whether I had the money and/or needed the amp (yes, I actually consider "need" when I buy gear! Scary, isn't it?)...but then I plugged into the '68 Custom (Silverface) Princeton...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:03 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
No comparison.
If this had been a boxing match, it would have been an eight year old girl fighting Mike Tyson in his prime...the Princeton ate the Excelsior's lunch and then made it clean the table afterward. The Princeton was richer, sweeter and (after some tweaking of tone knobs) every bit as funky as the Excelsior...



This got me thinking: what would the (even higher-end) 65RI Deluxe Reverb sound like?
It was comparable to the Princeton, with a bit more oomph (probably speaker difference) and of course, the classic DR sound...a bit better still!

Having said that, I didn't start hating the Excelsior. I think that particular amp has it's (sonic) place in the universe, just like many other "Lesser" amps that I've owned and/or loved.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:04 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
A good example of that is my first amp--a 1970's solid-state Gibson G20. I bought it for $25 and three beers back in 1989, and jammed on it constantly for several months until I bought a 1971 Fender Bassman Ten, which became my new #1, until (three years later) when I bought a '63 reissue Vibroverb. I kept the Gibson over the years, partially for sentimental value and partially because it sounds good for what it is...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:05 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
A few years ago, I was traveling back and forth between Fort Worth and Durant, Oklahoma (for work). I would take my little Gibson amp with me instead of my '63RI Vibroverb, because of the weight difference and (lesser) monetary value (in case it got damaged).

After playing exclusively through the little G20 for several weeks, I began wondering why I ever quit playing it regularly--it sounded good, accepted effects pedals well, and has an AWESOME tremolo/vibrato/whatever circuit...plus, it weighs nothing!

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:06 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
Then, when we moved up to Durant permanently, I plugged into my Vibroverb...I suddenly remembered why I keep the Gibson as a backup piece.

The Vibroverb is richer, sweeter, bigger and better in every way...not that the Gibson is bad, but it sure isn't equal in any way.

So would I buy a Pawn Shop Amp?
Maybe, if I found one super-cheap and I wanted another little lightweight "fun" instrument...but when I'm going to SERIOUSLY play, I'm taking my Vibroverb.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:11 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
I'm sorry I had to break up this narrative into multiple posts--for some reason, if I wrote more than three or four sentences, I would get a message that the site was down for maintenance...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 4:06 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:52 am
Posts: 3840
Location: Colorado Springs
Screamin' Armadillo wrote:
I'm sorry I had to break up this narrative into multiple posts ... if I wrote more than three or four sentences, I would get a message that the site was down for maintenance...

Thanks for the explanation. I thought you were just going for some extra "dramatic impact" ...

:D

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pawn Shop Amp Reflections...
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 5:20 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Screamin' Armadillo wrote:
Having said that, I didn't start hating the Excelsior. I think that particular amp has it's (sonic) place in the universe, just like many other "Lesser" amps that I've owned and/or loved.

It's by far my favourite of the three Pawn Shop amps.
I find the Vaporizer to be too ugly to even try - it screams *FAKE* retro even more than a Danalectro HoneyTone.
I found the Ramparte to be too bland. Nothing exciting whatsoever.
But the Excelsior is actually something I wouldn't be averse to using.
I wouldn't buy it, because of where it's made, but I'd use it over many other amps.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: