Fender Quad: Good?

[benjaturner]

What do you reckon? Saw this on Ebay, it's a little over my budget (£500) sure looks cool though!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7341220286&category=10171&rd=1

Thanks,
Benja

 

[benjaturner]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

It's going for £600 ($1100 approx). Is this a good buy? I'd go for the buy it now option just because I'm in a bit of a rush to get aa amp. Would appreciate any input. I know the biggest disadvantage for a lot of folks here would be that 100w is just too much. You can't get any natural break-up. I use a lot of overdrive pedals though. My long-term plan is to get something like a Marshall SLP with a 4x12 and use an A/B box. Fender cleans and Marshall distortion. Would do you think about this plan?

Thanks again,
Benja

 

[flank]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

ive played one, and afterwards i just thought, "why wouldnt someone just get a Twin Reverb instead?".......so thats how i feel about it

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Fender Quad. A whole lotta loud in one place.

 

[benjaturner]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

I know it's wrong, but a 4x12 combo is cool! Shouldn't be an issue, I know. Infact, if anything, the size and weight of this thing should put me off, but I just think it's cool. So I take it this is basically a twin with the extra two speakers?

How does it handle pedals? It's pretty old so I guess it will be fairly noisy. Pedals make up a big part of my set-up so it's pretty crucial for me that the Quad gets on with them.

Thanks,
Benja

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Benja--just looking at it in US dollars (and not considering how much more Fenders cost outside of the USA), it is a lot of money. For $1100, you can get just about any silverface Fender, without master volume (generally thought to be more desirable), and still have a few bucks left over to retube or put new speakers in.

Conventional wisdom says that this amp wasn't close to Fender's best, but rarely do cubicle jockeys or bench racers sound as good as Albert Collins.

Even if it sounds good or can be modded to sound great, I kinda think it's too much money and too much amp. YMMV, of course.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

a twin is too much amp for me. Quad is just fender getting out of control with their gear back then.

 

[benjaturner]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Even if it sounds good or can be modded to sound great, I kinda think it's too much money and too much amp. YMMV, of course.

The U.K. has a significant markup on just about everything. When you consider that a Hot Rod Deluxe costs about £500/£600 minimum (new) then does this still sound as expensive?

I want the amp for crystal clean sounds. No break-up at all, so if it's capable of 100w then it's never going to break up at the volumes I'll be using it at. I've been playing a Marshall 60w for a few years now and have always been frustrated at how I can never get clean sounds when I approach gig volumes. I know 60w to 100w is a big jump but it's going to ensure I'm never short of clean. Like I said before, I'll probably be using my Marshall JTM until I can get enough money saved up to buy a SLP, or maybe even an Orange, for overdriven sounds.

 

[benjaturner]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Hi Jeff, my Marshall is 'kind-of' working. I have to keep a fan on and practically put it inside the amp. Otherwise the same problems come back. This makes everything modulate horribly. Sounds like a really bad tremolo pedal set very fast. I don't notice it so much when distorted, but when clean it's terrible. I think I'm going to get it fixed the best I can by a tech and sell it. What do you think these amps are worth?

Thanks,
Benja

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Quads are cool, but they weight more than a damn Twin (and that's alot...trust me). They are a Twen reverb with 4x12's...if you mod the amp to BF Twin specs they are great...still very heave and very loud, but great.

$1100.00 is a bit much...for that kind of money I'd get a nice clean SF Twin, get it modded and still have a few dollars left over!

 

[benjaturner]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Not relly bothered about the weight. My brother's a drummer, arms like tree trunks. I'll just bribe him with sweets and cigarettes, he'll carry it for me.

 

[stratman1967]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

$1100 for a master volume Fender SF? That kinda steep IMO. I've heard two stock MVSF's and I didn't think either of them sounded good, but then again YMMV. You could get it modified to sound really nice but do you really want to spend that much. Save some more money and go for a non-master volume SF Twin. They are basically the same as the pre CBS Blackface Twins and sound great from the get go. Just my .02.

 

[Amateur]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

My long-term plan is to get something like a Marshall SLP with a 4x12 and use an A/B box. Fender cleans and Marshall distortion. Would do you think about this plan?

I think you should just save you money for the Marshall SLP if that is your long-term goal. You can put your amp through the PA if you want a clean sound that is loud enough during your gig. I do that with my 60 watt Fender amp all the time and it sounds fine. I don't even border to use my 100 watt amps any more.

 

[zak]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Machinehead music in Hitchin had one that was there for a about a year and they couldnt sell it. I think it started at £800, went down to £700, and then £600 where it stayed for months. I think they finally sold it a few months ago.
I guess what i'm saying is, take the risk and dont use buy-it-now. Already nearly a day has gone and nobody has bought it, so the chances are the buy it now wont be used.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Fender Quad: Good?

Take into account a combo like this also probably won't be easy to sell on, if it turns out it doesnt take your pedals well, or is simply too much amp, then i doubt you will be able to shift it quickly.

I do understand how painful amp shopping here in the UK is though, particually for tube amps, it can get very expensive.