Cheap Solid State Little Fender?

[Aceman]

Looking for a new little Bedroom Combo.

Aesthetically, I'd dig a little fender Silverface amp.
- Mostly playing clean jazzy things and blues and such, on a P90 loaded Les Paul.

But then there is the issue of how it would sound?
- Might use a pedal or two as well.

Thoughts?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Not silverface, but I used to have a Frontman 25G that sounded pretty OK, surprisingly.

Cleans are what you'd expect from a Fender. Reverb was solid.

OD tones were surprising. They sounded great on their own, kinda Randall-y, kinda like a lower gain Recto. Took boosts well to take it into tight Metal territory.

Speaker wasn't the best, but so is the speaker and cabinet on all these super low priced smaller combos. Still usable, but I had a 10" Greenback lying around that I dropped in, and it really brought the amp to life.

 

[Mincer]

All Fender SS amps have a 'sound'. You either like it, or not, but they all share it. It isn't something I can use. But for a small bedroom amp, look at the Tone Master Princeton, which sounds glorious.
I know, it is expensive.
But Fender isn't great with their practice amps. Other companies do it so much better.

 

[Aceman]

Yeah...I think I need a 10" speaker minimum.

Tone Master Princeton you say?

 

[Mincer]

Yeah...I think I need a 10" speaker minimum.

Tone Master Princeton you say?

It is fantastic, but outside the budget, really.

Also look at Yamaha's THR series, and Positive Grid's Spark.

 

[Securb]

I know I am going to get blown up for this, but...I would suggest a Marshall MG or Peavey Rage or Solo. They have very good onboard distortion and great cleans. and you are out the door for $50 at your local pawn shop or Mom & Pop used. Fenders are great and you know I am a Fender fanboy but let's be serious you are going to want to grind here and there. Having that grind built in the amp and not needing to go get a pedal is a plus. I have a Peavey 1x8 Micro Bass I bought 15 years ago that still sounds great I got it for $50. You just need something "good" if you need something great get off your butt and go downstairs to play your Mesa.

 

[Chistopher]

Fender Rumble is a pretty good product line. Plus it was designed as a bass amp, so there's no issue if you want to wobble the room a little bit.

 

[hamerfan]

If you like a Tweed covered amp, look for a used Bronco Amp from the 90ies . Great look and good amp. The Tweed is real cloth and can be ambered with shellac or tinted nitro.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...co+amp&_sacat=0&_odkw=fender+bronco&_osacat=0

 

[GuitarStv]

If you're not absolutely married to the Fender name, I used to have a Traynor TRM40 that fit exactly what you're talking about. They're solid state amps with a built in spring reverb and chorus. The 2x8 inch speaker config is weird, but worked great at bedroom volumes. Distortion channel was nothing to write home about. Clean sounded really good for fender-y blues type cleans and jazzy stuff and they take pedals really well. Couldn't handle high volumes with a drummer well enough for my needs so I sold it. They're pretty unknown so you can probably find one kicking around for very cheap these days.

 

[ehdwuld]

Those Monoprice Stage Right 15/1 watt

Throw in a new 12 inch speaker
Or leave the Celestian in

Great little budget bedroom amp

Based on the Laney Cub

 

[jeremy]

i had one of those bronco amps and it was pretty sweet. best thing to do is go play a few and see what ya like. i use a tweed princeton clone for any at home practice i do

 

[Aceman]

It is fantastic, but outside the budget, really.

Also look at Yamaha's THR series, and Positive Grid's Spark.

OK - did the research on this. Wow - what an awesome little package!
- Reverb & Tremolo, so we know I like that!
- .3 watt up to 12? Awesome!
- 10" speaker
- XLR out, cab sims, blah blah blah

except that cheap-used is >$700, yeah that's freaking awesome.

I know the THR's and Sparks are awesome sounding. I was looking for Blackface aesthetics. I mean, it IS the boudoir. :naughty:

 

[Mincer]

OK - did the research on this. Wow - what an awesome little package!
- Reverb & Tremolo, so we know I like that!
- .3 watt up to 12? Awesome!
- 10" speaker
- XLR out, cab sims, blah blah blah

except that cheap-used is >$700, yeah that's freaking awesome.

I know the THR's and Sparks are awesome sounding. I was looking for Blackface aesthetics. I mean, it IS the boudoir. :naughty:

Well, the Princeton is worth it though. The tone is as sexy as the looks.

 

[Aceman]

I know I am going to get blown up for this, but...I would suggest a Marshall MG or Peavey Rage or Solo. They have very good onboard distortion and great cleans. and you are out the door for $50 at your local pawn shop or Mom & Pop used. Fenders are great and you know I am a Fender fanboy but let's be serious you are going to want to grind here and there. Having that grind built in the amp and not needing to go get a pedal is a plus. I have a Peavey 1x8 Micro Bass I bought 15 years ago that still sounds great I got it for $50. You just need something "good" if you need something great get off your butt and go downstairs to play your Mesa.

Not looking for dirt. I have 10 Distortion pedals that can do that into a Fender clean.

I agree - the little Marshall's are pretty sporty. Definitely under-rated and available at nearly every pawn shop within 50 miles.

I guess I'm just want a cheap fender to be as Fender as those little Marshalls. Not gonna happen....

 

[Mincer]

The actual SS transistor Fenders don't sound very good. It wasn't until they started using digital modeling that they started getting close to the tube sounds. I use a Tonemaster Deluxe live, and it is fantastic.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

OK - did the research on this. Wow - what an awesome little package!
- Reverb & Tremolo, so we know I like that!
- .3 watt up to 12? Awesome!
- 10" speaker
- XLR out, cab sims, blah blah blah

except that cheap-used is >$700, yeah that's freaking awesome.

I know the THR's and Sparks are awesome sounding. I was looking for Blackface aesthetics. I mean, it IS the boudoir. :naughty:

I think the old Frontman amps will get you what you want. I don't think Marshall MG's are better than those, neither clean nor distorted, IMO.

 

[Aceman]

I think the old Frontman amps will get you what you want. I don't think Marshall MG's are better than those, neither clean nor distorted, IMO.

Yeah...no. That's the solid state we are all talking about that sucks. Or at least isn't good.

 

[ehdwuld]

Peavey Viper

Flimsy vile little things

Love em for home

 

[Mincer]

The Katana wouldn't look too bad if you took the logo off the front.

 

[Securb]

The Katana wouldn't look too bad if you took the logo off the front.

I would love a 100w 1x12 Katana as a grab-n-go amp.