Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Dr0...more thoughts...

Re: effects loops. Not all effects belong in the loop. Definitely tuner, OD/DIST/FUZZ, compression and WAH in front of the amp; I also have my clean boost in front. I have a Boss pitch shifter/harmonizer and my two delays in the loop. I would also put reverb and tremolo pedals in the loop. Chorus and phasor are out front, but I might put a VIBE in the loop. Have to experiment with one.

Delay into a clean amp sounds great, but if you're cranking the amp for distortion...not so much. That loop is one of the reasons I like the Mesas over the Fenders. It is a very valuable feature for me.

With your Bassman, have you tried using a tube rectifier? Another trick is to use a lower gain preamp tune in V1, like a 12AT7 or 12AY7. These, and making the bias right on the power tubes can make the amp feel squishier.

Thiele was an Australian engineer that came up with parameters and formulas for maximizing speakers in a box. Calculating speaker resonance, box size, etc., Thiele popularized the use of a port to produce the deepest bass response with minimal distortion.

The Mesa Thiele cab is a small but deep closed-back 112 cab, with a mathmatically designed port. Its bass performance and projection are maximized. Especially with the EVM speakers, the 112 Mark III and IV combos sound huge with the Thiele. These Mesas have a deliberate mid-range voicing that curtails bass, and the Thiele cab adds back that deep bass, ala a great 412...but in a much more portable and vehicle-friendly size.

Bill
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

DRRI, wine-red, bordeaux blues edition. I traded the Jensen alnico for a Celestion A type a few months back.

With my 339 or my Strat plus, it's probably my best amp, although I'm also addicted to my Bassbreaker 007 with Fender Bassbreaker 112 cab also these days.

The DRRI:

IMG_1143.jpgs

The Celestion:

IMG_5608.jpg
 
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Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Well, I dig reverb, and I love Fenders for their clean channel + pedal ability, so channel switching with a more modern 'overdrive' channel isn't important to me (and I don't like the way it sounds on the Hot Rods, anyway).
I agree!
Fender should offer a Hot Rod/Blues Deluxe model with no drive channel.
Keep it simple and charge us less!!!
Even the George Benson model has the drive channel....I bet he's never pushed that button!
Since they'd have 2 empty holes on the control panel they could add a mix and dwell for the reverb and still charge us less!!!
 
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Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Put me in the Hot Rod Deluxe camp. Had mine for years and she works great.
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Blues Jr III Red October - stock with Eminence Wizard
Supersonic 22 blonde - stock
Hot Rod Deluxe+ Ampeg cab - lots of mods, Vtype in amp, V30 in cab. Sounds so amazing that all the others pale, which is kinda sad in a way.

AmpsSml.jpg
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Original tubes? This amp doesn't get played enough!

Original owner bought it new 66-67. Went to college; experimented with a band for about a year. Gave it up. Dude kept it in his mom's closet for decades.

I play it occasionally (have other amps); but even so, NOS lasts forever.

Some NOS tube p0rn that came with the amp:

Amperex 12AX7A/ECC83:
Amperex 12AX7A.jpg

Bugle Boy 12AT7/ECC81:
Bugle Boy ECC81-12AT7 2.jpg

GE-labeled Mullard 5AR4/GZ34:
Mullard GE 5AR4-GZ34 2.jpg

RCA 6V6GTA:
RCA 6V6GTA 2.JPG

RCA 7025:
RCA 7025 3.jpg

Telefunken 12AT7/ECC81:
Telefunken ECC81-12AT7.jpg
 
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Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

I'm a big Fender fan and currently own the following:
1) '57 custom deluxe 5E3 (a Fender clone)
2) Excelsior w/ Emi Legend 1518 (discontinued sometime back)
3) Blues Junior converted to a head.
4) Supersonic 22 (both combo and head...their issues have been remedied)
5) Blues Deluxe Reissue

I love 'em all. Each has it's own characteristics and the necessary application dictates which I use. OP did not state if he is looking to purchase one, but if so, it'll depend on how he plans to use it as to which best suits.

If I were looking for a new Fender, I'd thoroughly test the new 68 Custom Vibrolux (2X10). Would love to have a '59 Bassman ltd. (4X10), but it's too heavy and loud for my needs.

OP here: Yes, I've been thinking about it, in a general kicking the tires sort of way. I think we have similar taste in amps. I have the Bassman Ltd. and it's my main practice amp, and I like it a lot.
I've been looking at the Custom Vibrolux based on the idea that the 2x10 seems like a way to get a lot of sound out of a small box. They aren't much bigger than all the other amps listed here.

In fact, I bet you could probably replace the baffle and put in one with two 2x10's in a DR or other of these amps.
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

Here is my rough count, after this thread has been up for > 1 month:

The overall winner: Deluxe Reverb = with 8 total people mentioning one variation or another (including non-reverb).
Runner up: Hot Rod Deluxe = 3 votes
Show: Blues Deluxe - 2 votes

Others that got a single vote;
Tweed Deluxe
Bassbreaker
Supersonic 22
Champ (w/ 12")
Blues Junior III

So, thanks everyone for the participation. Interesting thread. I'm certainly going to be keeping an eye out for the Deluxe next time I'm at a decent shop, and playing around.
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

OP here: Yes, I've been thinking about it, in a general kicking the tires sort of way. I think we have similar taste in amps. I have the Bassman Ltd. and it's my main practice amp, and I like it a lot.
I've been looking at the Custom Vibrolux based on the idea that the 2x10 seems like a way to get a lot of sound out of a small box. They aren't much bigger than all the other amps listed here.

In fact, I bet you could probably replace the baffle and put in one with two 2x10's in a DR or other of these amps.

5E3 Tweed Deluxe head with a 2X10 or 1X12 cabinet offers mucho flexibility. When I need it all I go 5E3 2X10 ab'd with my Mesa Boogie 22...sorry for the interruption but am a 5E3 fanatic.
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

I did my first gigs on a Silveface Deluxe Reverb. Getting another one is on my nostalgic GAS list.
 
Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

I've got to go with my trusty old Deluxe Reverb, in Blackface. I think it was completed in 1966, and I have owned in since the mid-70s sometime. I've replaced the tubes and put a 3 prong AC cord on it, other than that it is stock. That little amp has played thousands of gigs, often sitting on top of an old 2 x 12 extension cabinet which currently features a pair of Celestions.
 
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Re: Which is your favorite Fender 1x12 tube combo amp?

My favorite 112 fender is any one w/lacquered tweed. I'll be pulling the trigger soon, small watt amp for the house.
 
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