So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

[SlowGroove]

. . . and i discovered something about their models and my tone preff !

I always knew i loved Fender amps, and the best sounding one(s) to my ears have always been the ab165 Bassman, and the little Tweed 5E3 ! Pure tone, nothing more to say !

BUT, when i looked into the Victoria site, i discovered that (according to their sound clips) that there is an amp that i like ALOT more than their 20122. Their 20122 is based/clone of the Fender 14W 5E3 ($1995.00)

And the Victoria that turned everything up-side down for me is their 35210, based on the 5F4 circuit. ($2500.00)
What is the "real" name of the olde 5F4 Fender's ?

Is the Fender 5F4 just as good as the Victoria model's sound clips ?
Man, i still can not get over that tone . . . and all this time, i thought that the 5E3 is the daddy of all tone, now i have to re-think.

Is there anyone else that love/own a 5F4 Fender or clone there off ?



Thank
James

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

The 5F4 is a narrow pannel tweed Super...killer amps, a little like a 5F6 narrow pannel tweed Bassman but not as much power and a little softer in it's attack.

Tweed Supers in general are one of my fav amps ever, I have (and use..a LOT!) a clone of a 5B4 Super which is an older design than the 5F4 and sounds a little like a cross between the 5F4 Super and the 5E3 Deluxe...killer amp but different enough where it is not for every one.

I'd love to have a 5F4 to go with it one day...they really are great amps. 30ish watts, 2x10's no frills just great tone.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

^^^ . . . thank you for the input !

I take it a 5F4 Super Tweed is an expensive beast !?!

Still, the Victoria clips blew me away !!! WOW !!!
I still do not know why i never heard this tone before . . . sooo nasty !



James

 

[ES350]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

I like the tweed Super, but I go blow up alnico 10" speakers like nobody's bizness, so I kinda prefer the 12" and 15" models. It's the same circuit as the 5E5 and 5E7 with a 4 ohm OT. I recently tried a 5F4 with 6V6s in fixed bias, a slightly different critter that sounded great; a little rounder and crunchier. And yeah, they are expensive...

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

You folks are killing me. I now think this may be a very nice thing to look into!

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

You folks are killing me. I now think this may be a very nice thing to look into!

IF you can justify the price, yes, they are great amps !
Just wonder if there is not an amp that sounds 100% the same, but at a more pocket friendly price tag !
Even their lil 5Watter sounds GOOD !



James

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

I like the tweed Super, but I go blow up alnico 10" speakers like nobody's bizness, so I kinda prefer the 12" and 15" models. It's the same circuit as the 5E5 and 5E7 with a 4 ohm OT. I recently tried a 5F4 with 6V6s in fixed bias, a slightly different critter that sounded great; a little rounder and crunchier. And yeah, they are expensive...

Why would that be ?



James

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

Any original tweed Fender amp is gonna be expensive.

Like ES350 said those mid size tweed Fenders from the narrow pannel days are all abot the same save for speaker set up...the Super (2x10), Pro (1x15) and Bandmaster (3x10) are all about the same.

They are all cool amps but again, like ES350 said those old (and even new) alniso speakers can't take a lot of abuse and the truth is that IMO once you pull the little alnico speakers in favor of a stronger ceramic speaker you ruin the cool tweed tone.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

Why would that be ?
James

They are vintage Jensens in the old Fenders and most of the tweed Supers ended up with P10R's...those are good for about 10-15 watts each MAX...2 of them is good for 20-30 watts and if you get on them they pop...sad but true

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

Any original tweed Fender amp is gonna be expensive.

Like ES350 said those mid size tweed Fenders from the narrow pannel days are all abot the same save for speaker set up...the Super (2x10), Pro (1x15) and Bandmaster (3x10) are all about the same.

They are all cool amps but again, like ES350 said those old (and even new) alniso speakers can't take a lot of abuse and the truth is that IMO once you pull the little alnico speakers in favor of a stronger ceramic speaker you ruin the cool tweed tone.

What about a 5F4 clone/kit with some up-to-date, 10inchers w alnico mags ?
Maybe something from Eminance ?



James

 

[Gunny47]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

I've been bitten by the Tweed bug as well and I looked into Victorias a lot. I wanted a low power tweed twin and I did a comparison between the Fender Custom 57 Twin Amp and the Victoria 50212 at Rudy's in the city (didn't buy either from there cuz it's a tourist joint and they rob u) and I truly liked the tone of the Fender better out of the box.

But anyway, that's a side story, but probably linked to your question. Both my amps (The Tweed Twin and the Princeton Reverb copy) have Weber speakers in them and they sound fantastic Weber offers speakers with different wattage ratings, he has a TON of alnico mag 10 inch Jensens style speakers that you can choose from and I'm sure if you talk to him he'll tell you what to do if you want better reliability but same tone. Check out his speakers, they're really good.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

What about a 5F4 clone/kit with some up-to-date, 10inchers w alnico mags ?
Maybe something from Eminance ?
James

There are some others out there doing 5F4 Supers and for speakers I'd go with something from Weber VST.

The Vics are nice amps but IMHO they are a little overpriced for what they really are...

 

[Thurisaz]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

This has little to do with Victoria, but I just wanted to say that I love Fender cleans.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

I've been bitten by the Tweed bug as well and I looked into Victorias a lot. I wanted a low power tweed twin and I did a comparison between the Fender Custom 57 Twin Amp and the Victoria 50212 at Rudy's in the city (didn't buy either from there cuz it's a tourist joint and they rob u) and I truly liked the tone of the Fender better out of the box.

But anyway, that's a side story, but probably linked to your question. Both my amps (The Tweed Twin and the Princeton Reverb copy) have Weber speakers in them and they sound fantastic Weber offers speakers with different wattage ratings, he has a TON of alnico mag 10 inch Jensens style speakers that you can choose from and I'm sure if you talk to him he'll tell you what to do if you want better reliability but same tone. Check out his speakers, they're really good.

There are some others out there doing 5F4 Supers and for speakers I'd go with something from Weber VST.

The Vics are nice amps but IMHO they are a little overpriced for what they really are...

Thanks guys . . . i'll see what Weber has to offer and what they have to say !



James

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

This has little to do with Victoria, but I just wanted to say that I love Fender cleans.

. . . and i love the warm thick clean tone of my Bassman !



James

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

Thanks guys . . . i'll see what Weber has to offer and what they have to say !
James

I'll tell you, a killer combo in a 2x10 amp is a mismatch pair of Webers...I use this set up in my tweed Super, it's one 10A100T, which is like an original 50's P10R and one 10F125 which is like a 60's C10Q...the 10A100T gives you all the midrange honk, gring and reedy breakup you could ever want and the 10F125 holds together better, provides more low end and punch and adds a little volume.

If I were you thats what i'd get for one...

 

[ES350]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of a P10R on it's last legs, but I remember one gig with two tweed Bassmans (back in the day) where I blew 6 out of 8 speakers (!!!). Drive 'em hard with a 335 or a P90 archtop and they are toast...and trying to find an alnico 10" on the road in the 90's was impossible. So I went to Twins and Pros...

There are a bunch of kits and good builders out there where you can get one a bit cheaper than a Vicky...Bruce Collins had a nice Super clone IIRC, and the Clarks are real nice too...the mismatch is a good idea if you want to gig with one; a straight P10R or Q rig is going to do one thing (but really well).

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

So who are these other builders?

 

[eggman]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

Howdy,

Slowgroove: Look into Collins amplification. Tweed circuits are fairly simple, and shouldn't have to be that expensive. This is assuming that you are on a budget. Good luck! Keep your eyes peeled for used as well.

Eggman

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: So i looked into Victoria amps . . .

I love Victoria stuff (own a Double Deluxe myself) but if I was looking into the tweed thing on a budget I'd talk to Bruce Collins and see what he could do for you.