In the market for a new amp, but...

BillClay · Post by **BillClay** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:20 am

Haze wrote:i've always thought that deluxe's don't take pedals that well, twins as well.

I think this is true, but twins are so fucking awesome that it's worth the extra effort to find pedals that fit them.

Mrfil · Post by **Mrfil** » Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:59 pm

SurfGreenGibby wrote:I ended up buying the Deluxe Reverb.

It's quite good, if a bit trebly. I have a feeling that the somewhat ice-picky accents on my pick attack will fade as I get better at controlling them/the speaker cone breaks in. I'm not used to using something this loud, so my ears have to adjust to the volume before I can really start dialing in the tones I want.

Strangely enough, I couldn't get it to distort, even with the volume all the way up. I imagine it did break up a little, but my ears were overcome (I WAS sitting about two feet away from it) so I didn't pick it up.

I didn't buy this amp so I could distort it, anyways. It really seems to like pedals; my normally mucky and indistinct Big Muff sounds like it should now. I imagine my brand-spanking new Empress Multidrive (taking wayyyyy too long to come through the mail) will sound totally boss, too.

I'd like to thank everyone for their advice!

I think with this one post you've helped me make my own decision on what amp I want

Thanks!

P.s Hello I'm a newbie to the forum!

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:53 pm

Mrfil wrote:
SurfGreenGibby wrote:I ended up buying the Deluxe Reverb.

It's quite good, if a bit trebly. I have a feeling that the somewhat ice-picky accents on my pick attack will fade as I get better at controlling them/the speaker cone breaks in. I'm not used to using something this loud, so my ears have to adjust to the volume before I can really start dialing in the tones I want.

Strangely enough, I couldn't get it to distort, even with the volume all the way up. I imagine it did break up a little, but my ears were overcome (I WAS sitting about two feet away from it) so I didn't pick it up.

I didn't buy this amp so I could distort it, anyways. It really seems to like pedals; my normally mucky and indistinct Big Muff sounds like it should now. I imagine my brand-spanking new Empress Multidrive (taking wayyyyy too long to come through the mail) will sound totally boss, too.

I'd like to thank everyone for their advice!
I think with this one post you've helped me make my own decision on what amp I want Thanks!

P.s Hello I'm a newbie to the forum!

Welcome!

Beware that since I last posted, I did some experiments and did manage to get the amp to distort with the volume around 8, which is far too loud for my basement. If you're looking for something really really loud but still clean, another amp might be best for you.

As for the ice-pick thing, where you sit really makes a difference. There seems to be a sort of "danger zone" where you get a really sharp pop on your note attack. I now sit off to the side of the amp and boom, no more nasty pops. Should I ever play this thing in public, placing something in front of this danger zone or taping up the speaker grill itself might be necessary.

Mrfil · Post by **Mrfil** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:24 am

I'm after a tubed amp that can handle analog pedals and has a special clean tone. And no matter how much I look around I always come back to a Fender of some sort.

For distortion I have an array of stomp box options (will load a photo into that thread soon) So all I want is rather special powerful clean tone so I can play with it from there

It will only ever be for live performance so being too close etc shouldn't be an issue (as long as the stage isn't postage stamp sized...its happened)

I shall continue to investigate my options though. Thanks!

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:16 am

Mrfil wrote:I'm after a tubed amp that can handle analog pedals

I have no idea what you mean by this?

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:56 pm

Mike wrote:
Mrfil wrote:I'm after a tubed amp that can handle analog pedals
I have no idea what you mean by this?

I think he means he wants a tube amp that takes (non-digital) pedals well. In which case a Deluxe Reverb or a Twin would probably be best.

Not every pedal works well with every amp, though. Lots of experimentation is in order.

Mrfil · Post by **Mrfil** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:13 pm

SurfGreenGibby wrote:
Mike wrote:
Mrfil wrote:I'm after a tubed amp that can handle analog pedals
I have no idea what you mean by this?
I think he means he wants a tube amp that takes (non-digital) pedals well. In which case a Deluxe Reverb or a Twin would probably be best.

Not every pedal works well with every amp, though. Lots of experimentation is in order.

That's exactly what I mean. I'm currently running a Line 6 Flexton III. My normal amp is a Laney Tubefusion which blew it's speaker 3 days before a gig,luckily the Line 6 was going really cheap. The amp is ok for now but not the sound I'm after even with the countless amp models built in. I don't use any of the on board effects as I have a pedalboard of stomp boxes.

I want to sell the Line 6 and eventually fix the Laney but decided I might as well upgrade in the process. Hence looking at Fenders.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:14 pm

I'd also be keeping my eyes open for a Musicman Sixty-Five or something of that nature. There's a lot of bargains to be had in the way of a non-fender vintage cleanish tube amp.

I'm thinking of selling my Twin and Hilgen soon and exploring my options. I'd love something as light or close to my Hilgen, but with just a little more clean headroom (the hilgen only does loud cleans with low output pickups, play it with humbuckers and it's instant breakup.)

Mrfil · Post by **Mrfil** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 3:58 pm

Nick wrote:I'd also be keeping my eyes open for a Musicman Sixty-Five or something of that nature. There's a lot of bargains to be had in the way of a non-fender vintage cleanish tube amp.

I'm thinking of selling my Twin and Hilgen soon and exploring my options. I'd love something as light or close to my Hilgen, but with just a little more clean headroom (the hilgen only does loud cleans with low output pickups, play it with humbuckers and it's instant breakup.)

Just googled Musicman Sixty-Five...very pretty amps! I think all I want is to go tube but I'm lost in the world of decent tube amps that don't cost an arm and a leg. I just know I love the sound of Fenders.

Sorry SurfGreenGibby for hijacking your thread!

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:43 pm

You can find one of these for under a grand. The nicest clean ive ever heard. You can get some very nice drive out of it as well. Channel 1 of the Mark V replicates this pretty well.

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:58 pm

Mrfil wrote:
Nick wrote:I'd also be keeping my eyes open for a Musicman Sixty-Five or something of that nature. There's a lot of bargains to be had in the way of a non-fender vintage cleanish tube amp.

I'm thinking of selling my Twin and Hilgen soon and exploring my options. I'd love something as light or close to my Hilgen, but with just a little more clean headroom (the hilgen only does loud cleans with low output pickups, play it with humbuckers and it's instant breakup.)
Just googled Musicman Sixty-Five...very pretty amps! I think all I want is to go tube but I'm lost in the world of decent tube amps that don't cost an arm and a leg. I just know I love the sound of Fenders.

Sorry SurfGreenGibby for hijacking your thread!

Don't worry about it, might as well use it to help somebody with the same question.

Used DRRIs are not terribly expensive. What's your price limit?

Mrfil · Post by **Mrfil** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:34 pm

My price limit at a max is about Â£600. I can't justify spending any more than that at the moment. Not that I have the money but at least if i decide what I want I can begin to put the money a side. I've seen a few old Twins on ebay and the like for about Â£500,I just want to make sure it's definitely what I want!

Forgive my ignorance but what's a DRRI?

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:06 pm

Mrfil wrote:My price limit at a max is about Â£600. I can't justify spending any more than that at the moment. Not that I have the money but at least if i decide what I want I can begin to put the money a side. I've seen a few old Twins on ebay and the like for about Â£500,I just want to make sure it's definitely what I want!

Forgive my ignorance but what's a DRRI?

Deluxe Reverb Reissue, which Fender refers to as a '65 Deluxe Reverb, as it is a re-creation of a the 1965 "Blackface" model.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0217400000

It would be best if you went to a shop near you (bring your main guitar) and test out all the Fenders they have. Bring a few of your favourite pedals, too, the shop people shouldn't have a problem with this. Once you find an amp you like, get a used one, though be aware that amp circuits have changed over time, so a so-called "Silverface" Twin will not sound the same as a reissue or "Blackface" Twin.

Twins, from my limited experience with them, are very loud and stay pretty clean at those loud volumes, while smaller-wattage amps (like the DRRI) distort earlier. If you're just gonna use it in your house, a Twin might be a bit big.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:21 pm

Twins get a bit growl-y at around half way up, when played with humbuckers, but they don't ever out-and-out distort the way a Marshall does. It also depends on how old the power tubes are, I find that as my power tubes get older they start to overdrive easier. All in all, a Twin is LOUD. It does LOUD very, very well. That LOUD is also very very clean relative to almost all other amps. It does not break up like a '59 Bassman or anything by Marshall or Orange or such. It's made to be LOUD, and clean.

I'd like to try out a Deluxe just to see how it sounds.

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:31 pm

Pens wrote:Twins get a bit growl-y at around half way up, when played with humbuckers, but they don't ever out-and-out distort the way a Marshall does. It also depends on how old the power tubes are, I find that as my power tubes get older they start to overdrive easier. All in all, a Twin is LOUD. It does LOUD very, very well. That LOUD is also very very clean relative to almost all other amps. It does not break up like a '59 Bassman or anything by Marshall or Orange or such. It's made to be LOUD, and clean.

I'd like to try out a Deluxe just to see how it sounds.

They're pretty spanky, and also get growly around 5 or 6, depending on the pickups. Think a quieter Twin with more honk. They're fun to play, for sure, I love mine.

Mrfil · Post by **Mrfil** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:38 pm

The main use for the amp would be for live performance. I have a battered Marshall MG series 30DFX for emergency strumming if needed. And if I eventually get round to fixing the Laney TF120 then another amp too lol.

That DRRI is very pretty! I've also come across a Fender Concert Pro Valve amp fairly cheap too,one advert insists is very similar to a Twin just lighter...hmmm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Concer ... 878wt_1185

I think you're right about going to a few guitar shops. I'll have to hunt them out as round here I just have a Dawsons and one independent that only seems to sell Vox amps

What I might do in the mean time is fix my Laney and gig that again with a new speaker and see how I feel,if I'm still not happy then I'll sell both Line 6 and Laney with a bit of savings and go get myself something pretty!

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:45 pm

SurfGreenGibby wrote:
Pens wrote:Twins get a bit growl-y at around half way up, when played with humbuckers, but they don't ever out-and-out distort the way a Marshall does. It also depends on how old the power tubes are, I find that as my power tubes get older they start to overdrive easier. All in all, a Twin is LOUD. It does LOUD very, very well. That LOUD is also very very clean relative to almost all other amps. It does not break up like a '59 Bassman or anything by Marshall or Orange or such. It's made to be LOUD, and clean.

I'd like to try out a Deluxe just to see how it sounds.
They're pretty spanky, and also get growly around 5 or 6, depending on the pickups. Think a quieter Twin with more honk. They're fun to play, for sure, I love mine.

Hmm. Maybe I'll pick one up at some point then. I need to sell my Vox Cambridge and get a more Twin-like bedroom amp anyway.