I Think I'd like Another Vintage Fender

[LedZep77]

The question is which one? I love my '71 Deluxe Reverb and don't plan on parting ways with it. That said, I'd like my next Fender to have a little more clean headroom and a tighter low end. Also must take pedals well.

I'm looking at the following:

Super Reverb - I've never played one. Wondering if it may be a bit too much amp for most situations, however it seems like these are the least expensive out of the ones I'm looking at.

Vibrolux - played an early 70's silverface numerous times. Thought it was nice. Had a nice crunch with my LP.

'59 Bassman - originals are rare and way out of my price range. I know Fender has the RI and there's the Victoria model which is fairly pricey. Haven't played either. Anyone have input on either of these or have suggestions on other?


Spending limit is probably $1,500. I'm not in any rush to make a purchase but would like to have some knowledge should the right deal come about. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[yngzaklynch]

I'm no Fender amp expert but I remember playing a Vibroluxe a long time ago that sounded incredible for clean bluesy stuff.

 

[blackba]

I think a Vibrolux reverb would be a great choice. The low end should be tighter than a Deluxe reverb and you should get a little more clean head room.

A super reverb is a cool amp, it has a large output transformer and those 4 10" speakers are great, but its also hard to lug around due to its shape.

One thing to think about as well is that you already have a Fender SF, don't overlook the tweed or brown/blonde era. A fender tweed will have the most mids and be the most crunchy. A Brown/Blonde will be in between a SF/BF and the tweed. A Blonde Bandmaster, Blonde Bassman (both heads), or Brown Concert should be in your price range.

http://www.ampwares.com/fender.asp

 

[glassjaw7]

I know you're in Chicago, not the Twin Cities but check out what this shop has in stock. Cool place. I used to buy stuff from them all the time when I lived there. Talk to Nick and he'll ship anything to ya.
http://williesguitars.com/index.cfm/vintage_used_amplifiers/12/inventory/10

 

[CaseyCor]

I say Silverface Vibrolux, although a blackface will be just as great. I want a silverface Fender and a Vox AC15 reeaallly bad.

 

[LedZep77]

I think a Vibrolux reverb would be a great choice. The low end should be tighter than a Deluxe reverb and you should get a little more clean head room.

A super reverb is a cool amp, it has a large output transformer and those 4 10" speakers are great, but its also hard to lug around due to its shape.

One thing to think about as well is that you already have a Fender SF, don't overlook the tweed or brown/blonde era. A fender tweed will have the most mids and be the most crunchy. A Brown/Blonde will be in between a SF/BF and the tweed. A Blonde Bandmaster, Blonde Bassman (both heads), or Brown Concert should be in your price range.

http://www.ampwares.com/fender.asp

I can honestly say I've never even thought about anything out of the Brown/Blonde era. I don't know why. Looks like they are in my price range according to the Fender Amp Field Guide. They seem to be fairly rare, but like I said, I'm not in a rush. Really I just want to find the right amp at the right price. It would be nice to run across one of the Browns/Blondes one day and give it a whirl.

 

[LedZep77]

I know you're in Chicago, not the Twin Cities but check out what this shop has in stock. Cool place. I used to buy stuff from them all the time when I lived there. Talk to Nick and he'll ship anything to ya.
http://williesguitars.com/index.cfm/vintage_used_amplifiers/12/inventory/10

Damn those are some pretty interesting amps. I bookmarked that page and will definitely be checking it out on a regular basis. Thanks

 

[LedZep77]

I say Silverface Vibrolux, although a blackface will be just as great. I want a silverface Fender and a Vox AC15 reeaallly bad.

My DR has been blackfaced. I played it stock for a while and it sounded great but decided to blackface it and I don't regret it. Not a night and day difference by any means, but I feel like it sweetened up the highs a bit and gave it a more pleasant overdriven tone when pushed. It really is a great amp SF or BF. I traded my DSL for it straight up. When I met the guy it was working fine so I didn't look it over too hard, but I got home and looked in back - all RCA's

I know I can't go wrong with a Vibrolux, but something about having those 4-10's in a Super or a Tweed Bassman style amp is very intriguing. I am also very interested in a Vox - the new Vox handwired specifically, but they just came out so I'm waiting to see some reviews/feedback before I give them too much thought.

 

[LedZep77]

A few vids that have peaked my interest:

 

[gibson08]

Not sure which tone you are going for, but if you are not in a hurry keep your eyes open for a Fender Bass-Breaker, I bought one a while back and its a great amp, kinda Fenders version of a BluesBreaker I guess, its like a hopped up Bassman, 4 input and 2x12 instead of 4x10, so its a little lighter, thick clean tones and breaks up quicker, play one if you get the chance, not many of them out there I guess. Good Luck, cant go wrong with any of them!!!

 

[CaseyCor]

Here's an idea. Why not spend a little bit of money on a 4x10 cab for your DR? I assume you've got the 2x12 model. The 4x10 might give you the sound you're looking for, and if not will give you some great new tones out of all of your amps.

If you got a cab like this, you could also save a lot of money by looking into Fender heads, which go for cheap and can be great. The Bandmaster is a hell of an amp, and can be had for cheap on the used market. Pair it up with a set of 10's, and you'll be in Fender tone heaven

 

[LedZep77]

Here's an idea. Why not spend a little bit of money on a 4x10 cab for your DR? I assume you've got the 2x12 model. The 4x10 might give you the sound you're looking for, and if not will give you some great new tones out of all of your amps.

If you got a cab like this, you could also save a lot of money by looking into Fender heads, which go for cheap and can be great. The Bandmaster is a hell of an amp, and can be had for cheap on the used market. Pair it up with a set of 10's, and you'll be in Fender tone heaven

The DR's are actually 1x12's . I've contemplated the 4x10 cab idea, but my thinking was that if I grabbed say a Super (just as an example) I would get the bump up in headroom I'm looking for, plus I could use it as a 4x10 cab if I wanted to experiment with my other amps. Also, it would help cure some GAS

 

[LedZep77]

Not sure which tone you are going for, but if you are not in a hurry keep your eyes open for a Fender Bass-Breaker, I bought one a while back and its a great amp, kinda Fenders version of a BluesBreaker I guess, its like a hopped up Bassman, 4 input and 2x12 instead of 4x10, so its a little lighter, thick clean tones and breaks up quicker, play one if you get the chance, not many of them out there I guess. Good Luck, cant go wrong with any of them!!!

I didn't even know these amps existed. I honestly have never heard if them, but people certainly seem to like them based on the quick research I did. What are the chances I will ever run across one?

 

[CaseyCor]

Those Bass-Breakers are pretty rare, as far as I know. I've never seen one in person, and very rarely online as well.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

For what you're looking for I would say a blackface Super Reverb all the way. Just killer amps and they are a total slut for pedals. Look for a "drip edge" model. They were a transitional model between the BF and SF but the circuitry is all blackface super, you may not save too much because folks do know about them but they don't bring as much as the true blackface amps.

 

[gibson08]

Not sure which tone you are going for, but if you are not in a hurry keep your eyes open for a Fender Bass-Breaker, I bought one a while back and its a great amp, kinda Fenders version of a BluesBreaker I guess, its like a hopped up Bassman, 4 input and 2x12 instead of 4x10, so its a little lighter, thick clean tones and breaks up quicker, play one if you get the chance, not many of them out there I guess. Good Luck, cant go wrong with any of them!!!

I didn't even know these amps existed. I honestly have never heard if them, but people certainly seem to like them based on the quick research I did. What are the chances I will ever run across one?

I found mine at the local GC, believe it or not. Just not exactly sure what you are looking for, there are lots of modern amps geared towards vintage tones, without the age and reliability issues, I am sure the vintage nuts will bash me for that, but I know nothing about repairing amps, so I buy newer stuff to recreate the vintage tones. I am sure I dont have the only one left on the planet, so another will pop up somewhere, just be ready when it does, you will not regret it.

 

[gibson08]

A few vids that have peaked my interest:

If you liked the tones in that first video, try out a Victoria Gloden Melody, a little pricey, but worth the money, Great build quality, great looks, 2x12, so not as big and bulky, still a little heavy though, excellent reverb, and they would def crunch up when cranked, to a great heavy blues tone, and that amp worked well with all guitars, but seemed to favor single coils, flat out awesome Tele amp. Seemed to be a great compromise for the Vibrolux-Super area.

 

[LedZep77]

A few vids that have peaked my interest:

If you liked the tones in that first video, try out a Victoria Gloden Melody, a little pricey, but worth the money, Great build quality, great looks, 2x12, so not as big and bulky, still a little heavy though, excellent reverb, and they would def crunch up when cranked, to a great heavy blues tone, and that amp worked well with all guitars, but seemed to favor single coils, flat out awesome Tele amp. Seemed to be a great compromise for the Vibrolux-Super area.

That amp does look awesome. I'm also interested in their Tweed Bassman. My only issue is that they are about double my price limit.

 

[gibson08]

A few vids that have peaked my interest:

If you liked the tones in that first video, try out a Victoria Gloden Melody, a little pricey, but worth the money, Great build quality, great looks, 2x12, so not as big and bulky, still a little heavy though, excellent reverb, and they would def crunch up when cranked, to a great heavy blues tone, and that amp worked well with all guitars, but seemed to favor single coils, flat out awesome Tele amp. Seemed to be a great compromise for the Vibrolux-Super area.

That amp does look awesome. I'm also interested in their Tweed Bassman. My only issue is that they are about double my price limit.

Def look for used, Victoria builds some solid stuff. I traded in my Golden Melody to a local guitar store, same store from which I originally bougt it from actually, they def like to trade there. I have never played their Bassman, I am sure it sounds good though! I played thru a couple of the newer Fender Bassman LTDs and they sounded great, might be a good option for that route as well.

 

[CaseyCor]

How about this? Look around for a Groove Tubes Soul-O 45 combo. Small and portable, plenty of clean headroom and volume. It's really a Super Reverb in a cheaper smaller package. Build quality is top notch, and it's the best amp for pedals out of all of them IMO. It's perfect for you, unless you really want a vintage Fender for the collectors value. Awesome amp!