Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

I've been reading Dave Hunter's "Guitar Rigs" book -- very interesting and informative -- and listening to the accompanying CD with various rig examples. One of the tracks features a Tele (?) into a cranked Fender Tremolux. I know nothing about this amp other than what I heard on that track, but I can tell you the sound was to die for.

What can y'all tell me about this gem?

- Keith

 

[ES350]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

BF is basically a Pro chassis (tube rectifier, 35 watt OT), no 'verb, into a 2x10 sealed cab. The tweed and the blonde models are very different critters (tweed is sort of a fixed bias variant of a Deluxe, blonde models include 6BQ5 and 6L6 models, one had a 1x12" cab)...about the same as a Bandmaster, but the tube rectifier gets another thing going on you don't get with the SS rectifier.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

Actually the BF Tremolux is a nonverb piggyback version of a 2x10 Vibrolux Reverb (i.e., Roy B's fave). The Brown is similar in terms of specs, except for early ones with EL84 (6BQ5) power tubes and a 1x10 tone ring cab. As ES350 noted, the tweed Tremolux was more like a Deluxe with trem and a few other differences no doubt. Does the book you mentioned indicate what year of Tremolux?

I have a '63 BF blonde transitional Tremolux, and it does sound great with a Tele as you crank it up. It's a bit darker and fatter sounding than most other BF and SF amps that I've heard. It's a great size for many applications, both in terms of the wattage and the footprint and weight -- easy on the back and the ears.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

I think the clip I heard is a cranked tweed Tremolux.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

Check the Fender Amp Fieldguide for further info.
http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/

 

[ES350]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

That tweed Tremolux is one cool circuit...choke, fixed bias, long tail PI, 5U4 rectifier version of the 5E3. Fender should have made a lot more of those...I guess they did later (brown Deluxe). I'm in the process of tweaking a Mission 5E3 kit to that; figure 25 watts in a 5E3 cab, portable and very gigable.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

Sounds very cool indeed. I played a locally made tweed Pro clone (wide panel-type circuit) with a 4x10 cab that sounded great. I'm hoping that the guy will make a 1x12 version, as I think it will complement my '54 5D3 Deluxe.

 

[ES350]

Re: Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

yeah---I have a 5C3, I love the tone, but just want something I can use for small gigs without hauling the old Pro around (it's getting pretty beat up). The 5G9 looks like a relatively easy way to get in the ballpark from current 5E3 kits with a few component swaps and some tinkering...The old Mission kit used Deluxe Reverb PT iron anyway, so it's good for a 5AR4 and fixed bias.