Torn between 2 amps:

Open lane

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I am torn between 2 amps. A fender princeton reverb reissue or a hand wired 4 watt vox. I do most of my playing in a small room in my parents' house so the small wattage is actually prefered.

Here's what i'm thinking:

The princeton would prob sound best with my strat and i'd plan on using it mainly clean. I generally dislike the way fender amps break up. The vox on the other hand, i can imagine "dirtying up" quite nicely and sound good for any of my guitars.


I just know if i buy the vox, i'll be kicking myself for not getting that fender chime.... And if i get the fender, my non-strats will feel lonely.


I really think i need both if i want to get the best of both worlds but right now, i have to pick ONE.

I would plan on getting one now and the other later in year but i don't know if i prioritize NAD's over NGD's and there are a lot of guitars i'm GASing for.

I'm truely torn at the moment but i think i'm leaning toward the fender since my style is going in more of a blues fusion direction in recent months. I don't want to regret it later down the line, though.

I'm still undecided. Anyone here have experience making a similar decision? Is there something you'd do differently?

I know i'm greedy because at the current moment it feels like i will be desiring the pros of whatever i'm missing instead of focusing on the pros of whatever i get.

My current main amp is a marshall class 5 and i don't purchase new amps too frequently.
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

Sorry i posted this in the wrong forum. Mods, please feel free to remove. Putting it in the right area now. Sorry!!
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

Get the Vox. Everything you just said leans towards it. I have a Fender. Glorious cleans (and I like how it beaks up), but Vox cleans are a beautiful thing as well.
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

the vox is a really cute bedroom amp with its own sound.
the PR is more of a small venue stage amp. the fender needs some tweaks to became real cool: JJ 6V6 tubes, which are in fact 6L6 and therefore the classic fender tubes. Change the ratty stock speaker to a WGS G10C which sounds fuller like a 12 incher, more so than any 10inch i heard. Just my 2 ct.
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

what kind of a breakup are you looking for? a gritty blues like Stevie Ray Vaughan or a more overdrive tone like a classic Thin Lizzy "boys are back in town" overdrive tone? or brown sound crunchy like 80's rock or a Clapton "Layla" type breakup? I think both amps can have a nice clean sound. However "Chime" is a classic Fender tone and if your going to be playing mostly clean and you need head room go with the fender, If the Vox can pass and you dont need much volume and you like its breakup tone and you wont need to buy a pedal then stay Vox. Personally if you intend on playing with a drummer I would get the Fender for more volume and get an appropriate dirt pedal for the breakup you want. There are so many now that its easy to add a little dirt to anything. If its just a bedroom amp then the Vox is just fine but you will still have to turn it up loud in the bedroom to drive the Vox. A little dirt pedal with the Fender will sound fine at low volume because you can set the dirt pedal at unity volume and just switch it on for a lead tone at low volume.
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

If I were in your situation, I'd get the Fender and A/B it with the Class 5 with a couple of ODs to boost them.
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

I love my original Princeton Reverb. Pair it with your favorite overdrive (or overdrives ;)) of choice and enjoy. My Strats love the PR! I'll give you a slightly different take on tubes and speakers and say Mullards and the Eminence Rajin Cajun. Also... The Fender breakup doesn't really happen at bedroom volumes.

That being said, either way you need one of each, Fender, Marshall and Vox! So you're right, it's really just a step until you have all three.
 
Re: Torn between 2 amps:

I tend to agree with guitfiddle - you have the Marshall already so Fender will add more options. Of course Vox amps sound amazing and have good cleans too but if you like Fender clean/blues tones then go for it and keep your distortion with the Marshall for now (awesome little amp)
 
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