Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 What are some of less popular (read less expensive) choices in the Fender amp family? The silver faces used to be the under-the-radar amps, but they've gone up in price significantly over the past few years. I know of the Pro Reverb; it's still priced well below most of the other Fenders of its generation. What else is out there? Anything from the '80s or early '90s that cop that old school classic Fender tone? EDIT -- I forgot to mention I had an '80s Champ 12 and it didn't really do much for me. I also had a '79 SF Champ that wasn't as "full" sounding as I like. Would a Champ with a 10" baffle/speaker upgrade sound significantly different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 In terms of underrated amps, the Pro Reverb and Tremolux are the first two that came to mind. I'd also throw the Vibrosonic in there, but it's kinda heavy. It's basically a Twin with a single 15". 10 or 15 years ago, I'd have thrown the Vibrolux in the mix, but it seems to have made a bit of a comeback. In terms of pure value, the Silverface Twins have to be at the top if you don't mind the weight and many of the Rivera-era II series amps for for chump change, the Fender 30, Super Champ and esp the Concert are some of my favorites of the lesser-knowns. Some folks seem to hate the Red Knob era but most that I've plugged into were pretty great-sounding. They are just harder to work on than most of what came before. I'm no Champ expert by any means as it's not really my kind of amp, but usually going from a quality 8" to a quality 10" won't make a radical difference if you are wanting more volume or more headroom. A high-efficiency 12" would definitely make a difference but for a 10" to make a big difference, it would have to be a GREAT 10" like an EV 10L or something along those lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slushpup96 Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 "The Twin" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slushpup96 Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 The Bandmaster and Bassman also pop up on craigslist for relatively cheap sometimes. I've seen a Cyber Twin, but I have no idea what it does/ sounds like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dunning-kruger Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 The Forgoten "Red KNOBS" especiallly "the Twin" where total flops ! and good thing fender caught its act together during the 90's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 The Bandmaster and Bassman also pop up on craigslist for relatively cheap sometimes. I've seen a Cyber Twin, but I have no idea what it does/ sounds like. I used to play in a band with a guy who played through BF Bandmasters. I haven't played through one in years though. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for one, but I'd rather go with a combo. I really like the Bassman, but those are pretty Marshally, and I'm pretty well covered in that department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tweedledee Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 The silverface Musicmaster bass amps are pretty killer guitar amps. Basically a Princeton with just a volume and tone control, but with a 12" speaker. Extremely simple circuit, but it works. You can usually get one for around $300, though it's worth changing the speaker. I've had two of them and really should have kept one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HanSolo Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 CyberChamp/CyberDeluxe/CyberTwin. The swiss army knife of amps and also very loud. PCB modifies the circuit to sound like the milestone amps. The AC30 circuit (not a modeling amp) in my CyberDeluxe sounds better than my Vox AD50VT's model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 I also would say Bandmaster, then maybe Tremolux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 I also would say Bandmaster, then maybe Tremolux Noted. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bjcarl Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 How about the old Bronco champ? It's just a silver-face Vibro Champ IIRC, but you can find them for cheap sometimes. People have already mentioned the Vibrolux and the Pro Reverb...I'll also chime in for the Red-knob era amps-those are some of the best buys on the used market, IMO... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slushpup96 Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 Yeah, if you can get a Musicmaster amp, they're pretty solid for anything. Also, the very rare Fender Harvard (the vintage one, not the solid state reissue). Here's an awesome demo of one. '68 Gibson LPC through a '58 Harvard. But this are pretty rare/expensive. I just felt like mentioning it. [video=youtube;qzps_eP3cIk] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tweedledee Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 Cool, I forgot about these. Thanks! One thing I find odd about the Musicmaster is that it only uses 1 12AX7A as opposed to 2 in a champ. Any insight as to why? It has a solid state rectifier rather than a tube rectifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mistersully Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 In terms of underrated amps, the Pro Reverb and Tremolux are the first two that came to mind. i'm a big fan of the tremolux amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 i'm a big fan of the tremolux amp I had an opportunity to get a blonde Tremolux in trade a while back, and I passed. I probably made a mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bjcarl Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 FWIW...the Concert Reverb re-issue from several years ago is the same amp as the Pro Reverb(50W, Twin-like clean channel, reverb, vibrato, 1/4 power option) but 4x10 instead of 2x12...just another thing to look out for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 EDIT -- I forgot to mention I had an '80s Champ 12 and it didn't really do much for me. I also had a '79 SF Champ that wasn't as "full" sounding as I like. Would a Champ with a 10" baffle/speaker upgrade sound significantly different? Keep in mind, unless you go through any old amp, blueprint every component for drift, possibly replaced the electrolytic caps, possible replace the tubes, and (in SF Fenders) possible replace the speaker, you haven't any clue what that amp can sound like. The reason there seems to be a lack of consensus on many amp models is because any too vintage amps can have drift up to 25% or more from each other in the way the circuit works. If the amps 25+ years old, until you account for every single resistor, cap, etc. in there, it's a crap shot. That's why I don't recommend old "bargain" amps anymore, if someone doesn't know how to go through the amp and do some maintenance, then they are on the hook for bench fees for any necessary TLC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members D Carroll Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 Another vote for the cyber twin. Mines not going away anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 Keep in mind, unless you go through any old amp, blueprint every component for drift, possibly replaced the electrolytic caps, possible replace the tubes, and (in SF Fenders) possible replace the speaker, you haven't any clue what that amp can sound like. The reason there seems to be a lack of consensus on many amp models is because any too vintage amps can have drift up to 25% or more from each other in the way the circuit works. If the amps 25+ years old, until you account for every single resistor, cap, etc. in there, it's a crap shot. That's why I don't recommend old "bargain" amps anymore, if someone doesn't know how to go through the amp and do some maintenance, then they are on the hook for bench fees for any necessary TLC. Valid points, all. Thanks for the input Wyatt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 I sold my Deluxe Reverb to fund the purchase of a JMP 2204 (what're ya gonna do when G.A.S. strikes?), but I fully intend to replace it ASAP. I have a JMP 2204 and a JMP 1959. Great amps. I know the HR series of amps are either loved or hated. I didn't love mine, but I did like it. I had two and should have kept one. I sold one when I bought my first Marshall (a JCM 900) and the other when I bought an Orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 The ultralinear SF line gets a bad rap but I like them. I inherited a 70 watt Super Reverb that needed repair and, once it was fixed up and adjusted it sounded great. Incredibly clean and very powerful and responsive. It takes pedals well and there are many great overdrives to choose from these days. One of my young students really appreciates Fender clean sounds and his MIM strat sounded so good through the monster that I gave it to him. (I took it to a few gigs and realized that I'm to old to be lugging a Super around any more - I have a '73 Princeton Reverb that works really well with a SM57). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 It sure ain't your 'typical' Fender amp but I LOVE my Prosonic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 18, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 It sure ain't your 'typical' Fender amp but I LOVE my Prosonic I remember playing one back when those were new in stores. Typical Fender they're not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 for a cheap practice amp, I think the Frontman 25R sounds pretty good... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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