Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

[mojosman]

Does anyone have a small tube amp recommendation for me that has that old school clean Fender tube tone in the $200 price range? I'm talking a practice amp, maybe in the 5 watt range. I had a tweed Fender Blues Deluxe that I sold. It had great tone but was way too loud for my needs. I have an old silver face Princeton Reverb that needs new caps, and restoration work. It has more snap, crackle, and pop than a bowl of rice crispies. I like the Blues jr's but I think they are overpriced. I may end up just paying the price, unless someone knows of an option that is more fairly priced. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Psykel]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

Have you checked out the Fender Excelsior?

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

Beat me too it !

 

[jcthejester13]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

Fender '65 Twin.

YOLO

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

why not just get your princeton fixed up?

 

[kilphody]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

why not just get your princeton fixed up?

+1 That's a great amp.

 

[mojosman]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

why not just get your princeton fixed up?

That may be the way to go. I have a guy that does great work on tube amps, but he's not cheap. The caps need doing for sure, and the speaker is a Carvin replacement. It's adequate, but a better speaker would do a lot for the amp. I'm sure in the end the amp repairs will cost about what I would have to spend on a small amp.

 

[mojosman]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

Have you checked out the Fender Excelisior?

No, I haven't seen one in a store around here yet. I will have to make it a point to try one.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

That may be the way to go. I have a guy that does great work on tube amps, but he's not cheap. The caps need doing for sure, and the speaker is a Carvin replacement. It's adequate, but a better speaker would do a lot for the amp. I'm sure in the end the amp repairs will cost about what I would have to spend on a small amp.

any amp you find in that range will not be as good as your princeton reverb for a classic fender tone. get it repaired and see what it sounds like then maybe in the future get a different speaker but i wouldnt do anything till you get the amp running in tip top shape

 

[phil_104]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

No, I haven't seen one in a store around here yet. I will have to make it a point to try one.

I own an Excelsior and a Blues Jr. If you are looking to replace your Blues Deluxe (I've owned one also), the excelsior might not be what you are looking for. It's kind of a 1 trick pony, and although it sounds great, I would miss the control and the character of my Blues Jr if I was to revert to a single amp.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

the princeton is much more than a little practice amp. they sound just okay at true bedroom volumes imo. nonetheless, for what it will cost to fix it, i don't think you'll find anything better in terms of classic fender tone in a small cab.

 

[erksin]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

That may be the way to go. I have a guy that does great work on tube amps, but he's not cheap. The caps need doing for sure, and the speaker is a Carvin replacement. It's adequate, but a better speaker would do a lot for the amp. I'm sure in the end the amp repairs will cost about what I would have to spend on a small amp.

And you'll wind up with something 10x better than what you'd pay for new. Get it fixed!

 

[erksin]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

any amp you find in that range will not be as good as your princeton reverb for a classic fender tone. get it repaired and see what it sounds like then maybe in the future get a different speaker but i wouldnt do anything till you get the amp running in tip top shape

+1. Get the amp healthy first. Then save up for a Celestion Gold for the speaker and you'll have the ultimate small 6V6er IMO. Very hard to beat that amp for it's size.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

the princeton is much more than a little practice amp. they sound just okay at true bedroom volumes imo. nonetheless, for what it will cost to fix it, i don't think you'll find anything better in terms of classic fender tone in a small cab.

+1

 

[mojosman]

Re: Fender tone small practice tube amp reccomendations...

Thanks everybody for the advice. I was initially thinking a newer amp would be the way to go, but I guess fixing the old amp up is the best idea. It's been sitting for too long anyway. Thanks again.