Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

[loudriver23]

I am looking for a nice backup amp for my Mesa, and since I play mostly clean stuff I was interested in a Fender tube combo. Well since Fender amps have been around for several decades at this point there are many models and configs to choose from. I would like some clean head room so I was thinking of either a twin or maybe a Bassman.
I know many of you amp guru's swear by the Old Black Face amps, and the Vintage Tweed jobbies.

Are there any Fender tube amps that would fit my needs for around $1000.00
Such as a Twin Reissue, or a silver face Twin? Or one of the many Bassman I see on Ebay for what seem to be a screaming deal.

What should I look for?
What should I avoid at all costs??
Thanks,
Any help would be wonderbah....
:dance:

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

When I was using a Bassman it went from clean to compressed, IIRC it was around 6 on one and just shy of 5 on the other. If you want outrageous headroom try a Showman.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

SF Twins can be had for almost half of your budget. IMO a better deal than a 65'RI twin. Although I like em' there's not much love for the 80' to early 90's Red Knob series. They are prone to Input jack failure due to cheap plastic jacks that are PCB mounted.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

yeah if i was you i'd get an old showman

100 watts, all the clean headroom you could want, and it's a head

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

KMCGuitars makes a good point about something. Regarding Fender amps, the fastest way to differenciate good ones from crappy ones is to look at the input jacks. If they're metal, it's likely that it's a good Fender amp. If it's a plastic barrel with a chrome nut, it's a cheapo. I know it's a generalization, but it's the difference between entry level and pro level on most Fenders.

IMO, stay away from all the SS Fenders, and focus on tube models only.
Also, the amps with silver or oxblood grillcloth tend to be better than any with the darker gray grillcloth. Another generalization, but worth remembering.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

SF Fender amps are still a great bargin in the amp world...some are better than others but if you can spend a grand then you can get a good SF combo (Twin, pro, Super, etc) and still have money left over for a cap job, new tubes and speakers if need be.

A Twin or a Showman head would be by far the cleanest if that is what you want.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

The best clean I've ever heard in my life came from a tweaked '65 Twin RI being played with a '57 strat. the only problem with it is that it's usually too loud for most of the situations I find myself in, and it's heavier than most of the girls I've dated. :burnout:

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

BTW, I went to Guitar Center today to try out some amps, lookinf for good cleans, primarily. The best ones to me were the Bassman channel on the new Super Sonic, the '59 Bassman RI, and the 4x10" Hot Rod Deville.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

I used to want a Twin but everybody I asked about them said that i would never ever ever be able to get a good distortion tone out of an amp that clean. So I'd go there if i were you.

-X

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

I know I said clean headroom, but which one do you think would take best to an OD pedal like the SDX-03?
Which one would have enough clean headroom to play a small club gig, but not be way too loud?

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

I was just on MF and saw a Fender Super-Sonic head.
What's the story on this one?
The specs look pretty good. Anyhoe have any experience?
:smokin:

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

supersonics are ****ing incredible, the vibrolux & bassman channels both have good cleans, and both break up, vibrolux around 4-5, and bassman around 6 or 7. Burn channel is awesome, and very tweakable, so if you **** with the knobs enough you can get a distortion tone you like

if you just want a small amp to take pedals, get yourself a silverface 50 watt bassman & a 2x12

 

[gt5litre]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

I have played a 68 SF Blackline Super Reverb (uses 4 G10L-35 Celestions) and a 68 SF Blackline Bassman head using a large Fender 2X12 cabinet with reconed Utahs that have great cleans and when cranked have the2nd best crunch I have ever heard. The Super gets loud when crunchy, but the Bassman can kill a Bull from over 50 ft away, but the Bassman's crunch is the best ever IMHO.

I want that Super...bad.

gt5litre

 

[lickalotofpuss]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

I dont know if my redknob Fender was worked on but mine are all metal son,and this amp sings like mariah- damn i love that chick!

 

[Bludave]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

SF Twins can be had for almost half of your budget. IMO a better deal than a 65'RI twin. Although I like em' there's not much love for the 80' to early 90's Red Knob series. They are prone to Input jack failure due to cheap plastic jacks that are PCB mounted.

Yeah I would go with a SF Twin. If headroom is what you want thats the one. The Dual Showman and the DS Reverb are also really loud really clean, but those are head Cab configurations. If a Combo is what you want the Twin is 80W of pure clean tones. IMO I would avoid the Master volume era Fenders. To many tonally challanged amps that came out. See if you can find a '68 thru 72 Twin. If my memory serves me I don't think the Master volume was added until '74. Not sure though.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

There's a dude on The Gear Page selling a '68 SF Pro Reverb for $800-something....Blackface circuitry at a good SF price :bigthumb:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=141470

His pics page:

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/unclescooter/Fender Pro Reverb/

:beerchug:

 

[ES350]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

Find an electronically sound '68-72 Twin/Pro/Super/Bassman/Showman. One of the above...don't worry aout speakers, cosmetics, etc; all that can be replaced or repaired. The later MV and UL versions can be had cheaper but might require a little or a lot of tweaking to taste. Early 80's Rivera and Jahns designed Fender amps are also pretty good for the money. AVOID all PCB Fender models; that includes the Hot Rod series, the RI series, and everything else except Custom Shop models they've made since the early 90's. Why settle for a Happy Meal when you could have steak?

 

[Stratman]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

Try to avoid red knob twins

All twins are heavy

Super reverbs are heavy - but the tonal quality is well worth the lugging around.

Bassman (AB165 circuits) are gold

silver faced princetons, deluxe reverb are good club amps for oldies and rock and roll, but not for metal

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

ab165's will crunch too much for him

for a bassman, either an aa864 or a 70's silverface would be the best option

i've never liked the way twins took pedals

 

[lickalotofpuss]

Re: Fender Tube Amps to Avoid

Ive heard of buck cherry^ If these amps are so great why doesnt all the big ****s use them Satch ,Vai. Dime bag, you must be talking country stars back in the day, Roy clark,Les Paul ,Lawance Welk shredders? A Vun anda twoo anda tweeee!