The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

[Gearjoneser]

In the world of Fender Amps, you always see the popular mainstays like the Twin Reverb, Super Reverb, Deluxe Reverb, and Bassman, but let's hear your thoughts on the "other" good Fender amps that we hear less about.

Some examples of those might be

Bandmaster
Showman
Tremolux
TV model Tweeds
The Red Knob 80's models like the Super 60, London Reverb, Stagemaster
The "Ivy League" models like the Harvard, Princeton, and Yale
The Rivera designed II models from the early 80's
or even the 90's models like the Prosonic, Bass Breaker, and Pro Tube Series.

Tell us about the one's you've owned, heard, played on. Good and Bad Exp.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Evil Twin. 2x12 Bass Breaker are definitely unsung. Tweed Supers are highly sung praises if you are talking to knowledgable folks.

Most people that aren't into Vintage don't care or don't understand the allure of Tweed amps. Something special about them as much so as the Blackface Reverbs if you ask me. Plus you can build them yourself. How cool is that?

 

[xerxes]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

a 1996 fender buller reverb 33 watt s.s. amp. still has the best cleans ive ever heard (and i still have mine)

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I've played through both a tweed and a blonde tremolux, and they were great amps. The tweed one was truly the one that got away: $700 US about five years ago.

I've played a blackface champ that was great. Snotty in the right way.

I've played a couple of blonde bandmasters, and they were decent, but didn't blow me away. I chose my '94 Custom Vibrolux Reverb over a vintage bandmaster.

I'd say the Custom Vibrolux reverb is the best kept secret of the current fender amp line. I must admit I'm not a fan of the stock speakers, though.

I've heard people get good tones out of red-knob twins, too.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Evil Twin. 2x12 Bass Breaker are definitely unsung. Tweed Supers are highly sung praises if you are talking to knowledgable folks.

Most people that aren't into Vintage don't care or don't understand the allure of Tweed amps. Something special about them as much so as the Blackface Reverbs if you ask me. Plus you can build them yourself. How cool is that?

Yeah, the bassbreaker is a great amp. I get a similar, if less toppy, tone going with my Custom Vibrolux reverb through a mesa 2x12 with v30s.

As far as I'm concerned, blackface circuits are great, particularly with humbuckers, but I prefer pre-blackface circuits for single coils. They have a fatter midrange that sits really well in a mix. I really wanted to get a twin ri to work for me, but the vibrolux just had more personality.

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I own a '59 Bandmaster that just flat blows my JCM 800 out of the water in every way except for the thump factor. The cleans are unreal, the sound seems to swirl around between the 3 speakers, and the distortion is so much sweeter than the Marshall it's not even funny. The dynamic response to pick attack is beyond anything I've ever played. I can go from sparkling clean to grind without touching a knob. Only problem is I'm scared to take it out of the house anymore.

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I've had three of the Rivera-era Fenders. Princeton Reverb II many years ago. Awesome amp, got me hooked on the line. Super Champ that I picked up about two years ago, incredible sounding amp. Sold it for a tidy profit. Just recently picked up a Deluxe Reverb II for a steal. I'm keeping this one, it's just too cool.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I love my red knob Champ 12. One of Fender's best kept secret's IMHO.
Who else makes a Class A amp w/t reverb ,12 inch speaker,2 channel
foot switchable, headphone out, 1volt line out,dual RCA inputs ? I traded
a red knob super 60 head for it. The guy thought he was getting over
on me :laugh2: Maybe so? But i go rid of a paperweight/doorstop I had
no use for, In return I got a Amp I can use everyday that sounds GREAT !

 

[Bones]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Fender Harvard amps, I think they were all Pre-CBS

 

[Falstaff]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I have a 66 Pro Reverb, which is sort of an unsung one I guess. As are most of the heads.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I've had three of the Rivera-era Fenders. Princeton Reverb II many years ago. Awesome amp, got me hooked on the line. Super Champ that I picked up about two years ago, incredible sounding amp. Sold it for a tidy profit. Just recently picked up a Deluxe Reverb II for a steal. I'm keeping this one, it's just too cool.

I'm really interested in those Princeton II's. I forgot they made a Deluxe II.
Rivera basically created a Fender that morphs into a Boogie MK series type sound. I need to find one and play on it.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

60's Fender Champs. Those are the only Champs I've played through and I dug 'em.

 

[BluesNRock87]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

ive played 2 or so princeton's, none of them have been a let down at all, i thought they were really really nice

 

[Curly]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

yeah, the champs are great, and cool for driving a bigger amp, too

Even though the BF and early SF Bassman heads are well known, I think they're still a little under rated - a hand wired, 50 watt tube amp with great tone that can be modded easily by most good techs, and they are still affordable.

and yeah, the Bassbreaker was probably a good amp that didn't get its due - it was kind of like Fender's shot at turning the tables back on Marshall.

I agree about the Pro Reverb - 40 watts and 2x12 is hard to beat!

I'd have to say Fender's had a pretty decent batting average over the years, amp wise.

 

[tone4days]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

i have no first hand experience with the tube amps mentioned other than having heard recordings with them or seen guys play them at clubs / concerts .. i have no doubt in my mind that if i were to ever play one, i would be corrupted for life with a need to own these tonally nuanced beauties

that being said, i do own a fender solid state deluxe 90 with a stock celestion speaker .. it was the last year before they put DSP effects in them .. i got in on close out from mars for $249 because i needed a little amp to drag around when i didnt want to haul my rack rig around ... i now use it exclusively .. guitar (with SDs) - cord - amp .. that's it ... it's response to my playing dynamics is superb .. the reverb is very nice when not overdone .. the gain channel goes from gritty to singing very nicely with my volume knob .. the 'more gain' channel is perfect for a little boost and compression during solos ... at 90 watts, i havent had it above 3 .. i am not foolish enough to claim that "i'd put it up against any of the more 'serious' tube amps" mentioned, but i think it's a helluva little amp ...i would look for a replacement in a pawn shop / used section if it ever got stolen or broken

cheers,
t4d

 

[scooter]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I've used a Fender M80 pro head for the last 14 years and love it. Very nice versitly amp.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

well, since everyone is talking tubes, I owned some S.S. ones, a stage lead II 2-12, that had a wonderful clean channel, classic twin, but didn't quite pull off the swirl, but very airy, and breathy. Nice! The dirty channel was, real disaapointment though, it was kinda and attempt at a midrangey, dry marshall type tone ... the real bummer was that the eq one that channel (hi and lo mids along with treble, and bass) wasn't much good, and the channel was prevoiced so that it gave a lousy clean tone (a in trying to run some type of overdive/distortion pedal for your dirty channel).
However I own two Harvard Reverb II's, which although single channel, and limited eq when overdriven do have a very sweet brown sound with tamer harmonics, and a softer dynamics ... beautiful (and DEEP) reverb. 20watts 1- 10 , one does sound better though (different brand of chips), it just doesn't sound as alive as the other one ... with their preamp output/power amp inputs I use them as a type of small stereo rig.
I agree with the praises of the Fender super champ, I had a chance to by one once and didn't ... :yell:
I figure I'll come across one one day, even if it's a wreck ... hey BTW to the guy that has one, is that 6C10 triple triode tube still available (I know Harris Teller used to list it under Fender brand replacement tubes)?
I've also played a concert II, a bit to buzzy for me in the distortion, and an M-80 (the one with chorus, a 2-12 combo) very sweet, not really tube like, but very nice for the mid 80's metal thing, the clean reminded me of a cross between a , a JC 120, and a fender super reverb with a more mids, and a tighter bass.

 

[Fatty]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

We had a ProSonic head in our shop for forever and day.. I thought it sounded killer, but it didn't say "Mesa" on it, so no one ever checked it out. :smack:

 

[Stratman]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I love to take Bandmaster Reverbs, change the transformers - then get them into a combo cabinet with JBL D130 (15 inch speaker) INSTANT VIBROVERB with an added Mid! SRV tone!

Circuit is similar to that used in the Super Reverb, except that it has that Mid added and a weaker transformer - so change the tranny!

 

[fusion101]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

i have a 65' super reverb reissue which might not be unsung, but i sure as hell dont know anybody useing this model. Its a incredible amp but it's super bright.