Fender experts (Super jr?)

[JB_From_Hell]

I went to my dad's house today to try out some pedals with his Super Reverb. Unfortunately, it had been awhile since I used a "real" amp, especially anything as cool as a Super.

So, now the problem is that I want one. Why don't I just swipe his? Usually, that would work, but a Super is too big and too loud for me at the moment. Does anybody have a suggestion for a smaller amp, maybe something with an 8", 10", or 12" speaker that will sound *similar*? Emphasis on the similar, as I'm not looking for anything exact.

Would a Blues Jr do the trick? I forgot to mention, it's an old silver face.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

All of the SF anf BF Fender amps have pretty similar pre amp sections and drivers except the champ and Princetons so anything from a Deluxe Reverb on up will have a similar tone...not exact. If you're wanting a combo a Deluxe reverb us a great place to start and will be much close than a Blues Jr. Even a SF Bandmaster Reverb and a 1x12 or even better a 2x10 cab would be killer. A Vibrolux is VERY similar but in a 2x10 combo but those are still loud amps. A Deluxe reverb is about the smallest thing Fender makes thats gonna get close to that tone and again , it's not exact...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Can I play a Deluxe quietly? All my stuff is in the living room, so I have to play at a very low volume. Affording an amp will be a small miracle, so I won't be able to afford any of the Hot Plates or that stuff.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Can I play a Deluxe quietly? All my stuff is in the living room, so I have to play at a very low volume. Affording an amp will be a small miracle, so I won't be able to afford any of the Hot Plates or that stuff.

it's a 20 ish watter with a single 12...it's for sure loud enough to gig with so living room jamming might be out of the question...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I should probably just shut up and get a Blues Jr

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I should probably just shut up and get a Blues Jr

If I were in a situation where I needed VERY LITTLE power but still wanted a cool tone I'd hunt down a nice SF Vibro Champ and drop in the meanest 8 inch speaker I coudl find and be done with it!

It ain't a Super but it ain't bad

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

How much would a Vibro Champ run, and what's the deal with them? 5watts, 10watts? Volume/Tone knobs?

I need some Fender knowledge dropped on me

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

How much would a Vibro Champ run, and what's the deal with them? 5watts, 10watts? Volume/Tone knobs?

I need some Fender knowledge dropped on me

Well, for example here is a late 60's/early 70's (Fender dropped the tail on the Fender logo in 1974 so it's no later than a 74...) for BIN $350 looks pretty clean too!

http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-VIBRO-CH...ryZ38074QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Specs...4-6 watts single 6V6 power tube, 5Y3 rect and 12AX7 pres, volume bass and treble controls and the Vibro models have speed and intensity as well, single 8 inch speaker, not real loud but great for jamming at home and with a "better" speaker can actually be too loud for some home settings...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

FWIW, I got curious and looked, here is a BLues Jr for a BIN of $375...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-USA-Blue...ryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For $25 LESS the Vibro Champ is IMO the one to get!

I know that a Champ only as a 8 inch speaker but with a killer Weber that can sound bigger and fuller than with the stock speaker and if you open up the baffle you can drop a 10 in a Champ/Vibrochamp as well...and thats a nic upgrade!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Wow, for around $300, I could probably get one sooner rather than later.....

Thanks Now I have to start learning about speakers. Which Weber would you recommend?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Wow, for around $300, I could probably get one sooner rather than later.....
Thanks Now I have to start learning about speakers. Which Weber would you recommend?

I would say aorund $300 is onthe low end, in all fairness that BIN of $350 is a deal but they usally don't go too much more than that.

In the speaker department remember one thing...ALL Champs need a 4 ohm speaker so you WILL have to order it or buy it used form somebody that ordered it! Jensen makes a 4 ohm 8 inch Champ replacement but Im not too big on it to be hoenst, Kendrick did (and still might) one as well but again I wasn't crazy about it, the Weber is where it's at for me...if you end up with a SF Champ most any Weber 8 will fit just fine and if it were me I'd get the 8F150 or the 8F125 for ceramic speakers...the 8F125 is brighter than the 8F150 so thats personal prefrence, if you wanted to go alnico Ted makes those too...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I've never replaced speakers.... are the differences between alnico & ceramic similar to the differences in pickups?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I've never replaced speakers.... are the differences between alnico & ceramic similar to the differences in pickups?

sort of...

Alnico speakers have more mids going on and they are not as solid sounding as a good ceramic speaker they also break up sooner...a ceramic speaker will have stronger bass and a clearer top end, be cleaner longer and hold together better under distortion....

Being in something like a champ I'd more than likely go ceramic...maybe!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

NO matter what you decide to do it will be a VAST improvement over the stock speaker which is a joke...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Awesome, thanks for the info

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Awesome, thanks for the info

Anytime...

If you get luck enough to score a VERY late 60's SF the baffle board will be removeable by way of 4 screws and nuts and if so you can order another baffle from Mojo tone cut out for a 10 and then you can drop a 10 inch speaker in there for an even bigger sound but it will also get a little louder which might not be something you want...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I have a jigsaw, so I could actually make my own baffle.

How much louder do you think it would get? I've been playing through a tiny practice amp at home for years, so it's not like I need a cranked tube amp at all times. Would the 10" improve things tonally?

I suppose that since I can make my own baffle, I should just try them both.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I have a jigsaw, so I could actually make my own baffle.
How much louder do you think it would get? I've been playing through a tiny practice amp at home for years, so it's not like I need a cranked tube amp at all times. Would the 10" improve things tonally?
I suppose that since I can make my own baffle, I should just try them both.

The catch is this...sometime around 1971 or so Fender started gluing the baffle boards in so chaning one of those is a pain in the neck...and nearly impossible I might add...

I think a (vibro) champ with a 10 is more useable but in a playing with other type setting...in your home an 8 might be fine and to be hoenst even the stock speaker might be ok...you'll just have to get one and see.

 

[firebirdV]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

I want one of these, they look like they would be fun to have around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1968-Fender-Vib...ryZ38074QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender experts (Super jr?)

Thats what we're talkin about...that one is a VERY EARLY 68, note the black line on the face...also have the removeable baffle...nice little amp.