T
theodie
Guest
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
Aint that the truth!ratherdashing said:
A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
- Thread starter Pink Unicorn Horsey
- Start date
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
This is definitely a relic'd Blues Jr., and I trust the guy at this shop. For those in the area, this is Boston Guitar Works. I use the term "salesman" very loosely for this guy. He was super-cool, just helping guys plug in guitars and amps.
Stratman said:
This is definitely a relic'd Blues Jr., and I trust the guy at this shop. For those in the area, this is Boston Guitar Works. I use the term "salesman" very loosely for this guy. He was super-cool, just helping guys plug in guitars and amps.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
It was pretty convincing. I just assumed immediately that it was a vintage Fender tweed. (Duh!) I don't think the look of the amp swayed me into thinking it sounded better, because even under the impression that it was a vintage Fender, I wanted to like the Victoria more. Maybe it's because I knew -- or thought I knew -- the Victoria was brand new and therefore would have a better warranty and less fixer-upper work.
- Keith
Scott_F said:
It was pretty convincing. I just assumed immediately that it was a vintage Fender tweed. (Duh!) I don't think the look of the amp swayed me into thinking it sounded better, because even under the impression that it was a vintage Fender, I wanted to like the Victoria more. Maybe it's because I knew -- or thought I knew -- the Victoria was brand new and therefore would have a better warranty and less fixer-upper work.
- Keith
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
i love my blues jr but its a much different tone than my tweed amps. another thing that ive come to understand is that part of the cost of building a boutique (for lack of a better term) amp is the better componants and ptp wiring, i knew that part but what i didnt get really was how that was going to translate into reliability in the long run and life expectancy.
my poor little blues jr has seen a rough life. its a '95 and since about 2000 its been having problems off and on. it is a cheaply made amp that i think can sound great when setup properly but after years of being run on 12 the cheap consumer grade electronics started to crap out, the amp wasnt designed to live forever. in 40 years i doubt there will be many old blues jr's that still work floating around. mines only 11 years old and ive spent more fixing it than i did to puchase it in the first place not to mention the $100 for a good speaker and whatever the set of tubes cost to make the thing a better tone machine. a victoria (for example) is built like an old fender amp with good quality parts and should still be kicking in 40 years just like old fenders are today.
the relic bjr is cool since it comes with an alnico jensen (not the one i would choose but no one asked me) and looks pretty sweet, except i never got why the put the cigarette burn in the place they did, but like most things today it was meant to be disposable. use it up till its gone and then buy another one, which is part of the reason why it has more features and costs significantly less. if you get 15 years from each blues jr and 45 from the one victoria and spent $1500 either way...
having said all that, there is nothing wrong with liking a cheaper amp for its tonal qualitys. people like the sound of those old supro amps and they were crap when the came out but they have a certain sound that people really love. not my bag but thats a fun thing about the quest for tone, your final destination is different than anyone elses
i love my blues jr but its a much different tone than my tweed amps. another thing that ive come to understand is that part of the cost of building a boutique (for lack of a better term) amp is the better componants and ptp wiring, i knew that part but what i didnt get really was how that was going to translate into reliability in the long run and life expectancy.
my poor little blues jr has seen a rough life. its a '95 and since about 2000 its been having problems off and on. it is a cheaply made amp that i think can sound great when setup properly but after years of being run on 12 the cheap consumer grade electronics started to crap out, the amp wasnt designed to live forever. in 40 years i doubt there will be many old blues jr's that still work floating around. mines only 11 years old and ive spent more fixing it than i did to puchase it in the first place not to mention the $100 for a good speaker and whatever the set of tubes cost to make the thing a better tone machine. a victoria (for example) is built like an old fender amp with good quality parts and should still be kicking in 40 years just like old fenders are today.
the relic bjr is cool since it comes with an alnico jensen (not the one i would choose but no one asked me) and looks pretty sweet, except i never got why the put the cigarette burn in the place they did, but like most things today it was meant to be disposable. use it up till its gone and then buy another one, which is part of the reason why it has more features and costs significantly less. if you get 15 years from each blues jr and 45 from the one victoria and spent $1500 either way...
having said all that, there is nothing wrong with liking a cheaper amp for its tonal qualitys. people like the sound of those old supro amps and they were crap when the came out but they have a certain sound that people really love. not my bag but thats a fun thing about the quest for tone, your final destination is different than anyone elses
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
TRUST ME THERE IS A RELIC BLUES JUNIOR - or I was imagining the amp I played thru for 2 years.
I played that thing everywhere til my band got on my case. I LOVED IT! I walked into clubs wheeling it in on a luggage dolly. I would put it on stage and NOT REMOVE IT FROM THE DOLLY. The other guitarist had issue with that - he was right, it was lame. I had this thing of never taking more than 5 mins (usually 3) to set up. I would plug in, put a FD2 thru it and go. I played some small rooms with that thing cranked. Otherwise I would mic it. Played it against full bands - not loud loud bands, but bands all the same.
I would even play acoustic shows with this thing clean with a Tele a la Jeff Buckley-style. Never got one club complaint. It looks so cool!
All of them are Relic'd the same - they all have the same stains, and this huge coffee mug ring on the top. The Jensen speaker is sweet and throaty, and I wish more Fenders came with them.
I almost bought one recently, and skipped it - I regret it. It was $200. DAMN!
I have considered the Mesa Subway Blues and Ampeg Jet, but damn this amp has cool factor down along with great tone.
TRUST ME THERE IS A RELIC BLUES JUNIOR - or I was imagining the amp I played thru for 2 years.
I played that thing everywhere til my band got on my case. I LOVED IT! I walked into clubs wheeling it in on a luggage dolly. I would put it on stage and NOT REMOVE IT FROM THE DOLLY. The other guitarist had issue with that - he was right, it was lame. I had this thing of never taking more than 5 mins (usually 3) to set up. I would plug in, put a FD2 thru it and go. I played some small rooms with that thing cranked. Otherwise I would mic it. Played it against full bands - not loud loud bands, but bands all the same.
I would even play acoustic shows with this thing clean with a Tele a la Jeff Buckley-style. Never got one club complaint. It looks so cool!
All of them are Relic'd the same - they all have the same stains, and this huge coffee mug ring on the top. The Jensen speaker is sweet and throaty, and I wish more Fenders came with them.
I almost bought one recently, and skipped it - I regret it. It was $200. DAMN!
I have considered the Mesa Subway Blues and Ampeg Jet, but damn this amp has cool factor down along with great tone.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
Bingo. Remember, amps are just generators of a guitar sound. When you pay big money, you're paying for high quality components and handwork.....and usually great tone, but there's thousands of tones out there. I agree. I'd choose an EL-84 reverb amp over a 6V6 amp, because I prefer those tubes.
The best amp for the lowest money I've ever scored is my Gibson Goldtone 2-12 combo...4 EL-84's with reverb that's equal to any Blackface Fender. $540!
Scott_F said:No one has pointed out that these are two completely different amps. The BJ uses EL84 tubes and has a reverb circuit. The Vicky uses 6V6 power tubes. The only thing in common is tweed, size and some black chicken head knobs.
Your ears might just prefer the EL84's over 6V6's.
Bingo. Remember, amps are just generators of a guitar sound. When you pay big money, you're paying for high quality components and handwork.....and usually great tone, but there's thousands of tones out there. I agree. I'd choose an EL-84 reverb amp over a 6V6 amp, because I prefer those tubes.
The best amp for the lowest money I've ever scored is my Gibson Goldtone 2-12 combo...4 EL-84's with reverb that's equal to any Blackface Fender. $540!
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
It's more economical if you haven't heard of Victoria Amps.
esandes said:
It's more economical if you haven't heard of Victoria Amps.
Diego
New member
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
I think this is even more embarrasing...
I've only played through one tube amplifier in my life. Only once. At a store. :smack: It was a Marshall TSL100 going to a 1960A, and it sounded like crap because it was at a very low volume. All the rest has been hybrids (A Marshall Valvestate 8040 that IMO sounded like crap) and solid state.
In other words, I've never experienced (with my own ears+fingers at least) the power-amp saturation mojo I've read about here so many times. Talk about humbling. :blackeye:
I think this is even more embarrasing...
I've only played through one tube amplifier in my life. Only once. At a store. :smack: It was a Marshall TSL100 going to a 1960A, and it sounded like crap because it was at a very low volume. All the rest has been hybrids (A Marshall Valvestate 8040 that IMO sounded like crap) and solid state.
In other words, I've never experienced (with my own ears+fingers at least) the power-amp saturation mojo I've read about here so many times. Talk about humbling. :blackeye:
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
As to the original poster KGM, I think you shouldn't feel anything except relief! It's probably a better thing that you think the Blues Jr. at $500 sounds better than the Vic at $1500, because right away you're saving yourself $1000 bucks. Reliability may be an issue, but for that much less, don't feel ashamed.
That's ok man, you aren't the only one! I think I've only had the chance to crank two tube amps... ever. And one of them was a 5150, talk about sweet. Still I wish there was more chance to crank more tubes... I can't wait til my bloody Ear Candy cab comes in and I can play through my XXX at home.ChileanGuy said:
As to the original poster KGM, I think you shouldn't feel anything except relief! It's probably a better thing that you think the Blues Jr. at $500 sounds better than the Vic at $1500, because right away you're saving yourself $1000 bucks. Reliability may be an issue, but for that much less, don't feel ashamed.
Dave
New member
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
That's the best part of music-
My mutt strat w/dimarzio body and mim neck has really great sustain and playability.
My little blues jr is getting a little more love from me now that I'm playing it more, but still has some things to prove.
Amp websites are tempting and I've looked at Victoria's for a long time. I get a bit delusional about how awesome that victoriette would sound or a cranked Matchless DC-30. I played a vox ac-30CC and loved it-1000 bucks, the dsl was great for 700, but everyone in the shop was on the HD-147. It's all about preference.
I've spent about 4000 on guitar stuff, and I always say to myself: for 1500 I could have a MIM strat, tele, DRRI and a FD2 with cash left over for a 12-pack.
So...it's good to be honest with yourself and better to buy used and what works.
I am saving for that DC-30, just so I can leave the glowing faceplate on at night.
That's the best part of music-
My mutt strat w/dimarzio body and mim neck has really great sustain and playability.
My little blues jr is getting a little more love from me now that I'm playing it more, but still has some things to prove.
Amp websites are tempting and I've looked at Victoria's for a long time. I get a bit delusional about how awesome that victoriette would sound or a cranked Matchless DC-30. I played a vox ac-30CC and loved it-1000 bucks, the dsl was great for 700, but everyone in the shop was on the HD-147. It's all about preference.
I've spent about 4000 on guitar stuff, and I always say to myself: for 1500 I could have a MIM strat, tele, DRRI and a FD2 with cash left over for a 12-pack.
So...it's good to be honest with yourself and better to buy used and what works.
I am saving for that DC-30, just so I can leave the glowing faceplate on at night.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
I haven't played the Victoria, but I have played the Fender Blues Jr. and it's a fine little amp for the money. It breaks up in that nice Fender way and at low volumes it gets great cleans.
I haven't played the Victoria, but I have played the Fender Blues Jr. and it's a fine little amp for the money. It breaks up in that nice Fender way and at low volumes it gets great cleans.
Falstaff
New member
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
What shop was it in? (I live in the area) Is it the Brockton place?
While forums and guitar mags are great, I think the fact that you are second guessing yourself shows that sometimes they are a drag. I have already made the mistake of listening to people I'll never meet regarding what's good and what isn't, and it's cost me money and been a pain in the butt. As we speak, all around the country there are guys playing music in front of people using rigs that the internet bench racers and cubicle jockeys would sneer at. Buy what you like and make yourself happy by making some music.
On the other hand, if you go back and realize that you really like the Victoria, then buy it (if you can) and don't let the people who criticize those who buy expensive gear bother you. Their opinion of what you like is none of your business.
What shop was it in? (I live in the area) Is it the Brockton place?
While forums and guitar mags are great, I think the fact that you are second guessing yourself shows that sometimes they are a drag. I have already made the mistake of listening to people I'll never meet regarding what's good and what isn't, and it's cost me money and been a pain in the butt. As we speak, all around the country there are guys playing music in front of people using rigs that the internet bench racers and cubicle jockeys would sneer at. Buy what you like and make yourself happy by making some music.
On the other hand, if you go back and realize that you really like the Victoria, then buy it (if you can) and don't let the people who criticize those who buy expensive gear bother you. Their opinion of what you like is none of your business.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
Yup, it's the place in Brockton: Boston Guitar Works. I walk in there and it's like Christmas in the Fifth Circle of Hell: all kinds of droolable goodies I can't have unless I take out a second mortgage.
Falstaff said:
Yup, it's the place in Brockton: Boston Guitar Works. I walk in there and it's like Christmas in the Fifth Circle of Hell: all kinds of droolable goodies I can't have unless I take out a second mortgage.
wixedmords
New member
Re: A Humbling Experience w/ Amps
It's not about what you "should" hear or "should" feel.
Break away from what people are telling you to like KG. Make your own choices.
Trust your own ears and taste. It is really all that matters.
It's not about what you "should" hear or "should" feel.
Break away from what people are telling you to like KG. Make your own choices.
Trust your own ears and taste. It is really all that matters.
