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Post subject: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 10:56 am
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I need some help. Recently purchased a Fender 60th Anniversary American Vintage 1954 Strat. Love the guitar, but not bonding with it. The '54 pickups just sound awful on every amp I own. The tone is too dark, lacks detail - just plain "uninspired" sounding especially in the middle and neck pups.

I'm asking other AVRI owners (any vintage pickup really) what amp they would recommend, or what amp they think would pair well with the vintage (or '54 specifically) pickups. Somebody out there must be having better luck than me.

I'm currently demo'ing a VOX AC15C1. I'm considering purchasing a Fender '67 Champ RI. If I can't find an amp that I like, I plan on getting rid of the guitar.

Thanks for any (and all) suggestions.


EDIT : For the record, the other stratocaster I own has N3 pickups. I'm happy with these pickups with all my gear. And I don't want to say the '54 pickups are "bad". Only that they don't sound right to me through my current gear. I know a lot of world class recordings were done on these pickups and sounded just right.


Last edited by dpe94 on Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:03 am
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What amp do you currently own and play the guitar through?

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: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:10 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
What amp do you currently own and play the guitar through?


Everything I own is tube based. I have Marshall's, Marshall JTM, Traynor YCV20WR, and an Orange Dark Terror. All cab's have Celestion speakers.


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Post subject: Re: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:10 pm
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Hard to believe you cant get a brighter tone w/ those amps but I don't have any of the equipment your discussing.
Have you adjusted the pickup heights any.
Are you willing to non-permanently mod the guitar's tone stack. Maybe adding a treble bleed or change tone cap values will solve your issue but then it wouldn't sound like a 54'.

Maybe something from the 57' re-issue amps would suit your needs w/o modding the guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 4:23 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
Hard to believe you cant get a brighter tone w/ those amps but I don't have any of the equipment your discussing.


The Celestion speakers may be the culprit. Most are voiced to be mid-heavy a la Tommy Iommi, Jimmy Page, Angus Young, et al.

I've played a few '54 AVRI Strats and virtually all of them sounded heavenly through a *good* Fender amp such as a 5F6-A Bassman, a 6G4-A Super, or an AA165 Pro Reverb.

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: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 1:05 am
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dpe94 wrote:
I know a lot of world class recordings were done on these pickups and sounded just right.

Give us some examples of your favorites, that might help.

Arjay's diagnosis on the mid-heavy Celestions (especially Greenbacks) (and combined with mid-heavy vintage pickups) may be on the right direction, and I agree 100% that the best Fender (especially clean) sounds come from F-guitar + quality F-amp combinations.
That said, I've always loved Vox amps (and Weber speakers, if you want to "upgrade"), so don't drop that AC too quickly. And experiment with pickup heights.


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Post subject: Re: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:31 am
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"......pickups just sound awful on every amp I own..."

Guitar may need a set up ? You may not like these pickups but the sound can't be awfull

I have almost all kind of guitars and amps at home, all sound good, somes are my favorites.


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Post subject: Re: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 11:24 am
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone. The guitar has been set up but I'll double check, and perhaps play around with, pickup height.

I agree with all suggestions that this guitar will most likely respond best with Fender amps. Any recommendations between a '57 Custom Champ or the '65 Deluxe Reverb?


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Post subject: Re: Help With '54 AVRI - Amp Suggestions
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 11:53 am
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Set up already done ? Shouldn't sound awful.
Test drive a Fender amp with this guitar before buying, something I don't understand.

Two different beast.

Deluxe Reverb


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