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Post by phdamage on Jul 8, 2021 16:52:19 GMT -6
hmm.. got a lead on a '68 bandmaster for $550. looks like a bit of a drive, but not a bad deal, no?
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Post by phdamage on Jul 8, 2021 18:01:08 GMT -6
or a blackface '65 bandmaster for $700 shipped - supposedly serviced recently
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Post by Guitar on Jul 8, 2021 18:22:06 GMT -6
I had a Bandmaster and didn't prefer it, not strong enough in the bass for me. Ended up with a Showman that I love, although it's super clean. With the right speakers it's pretty magical. Works on bass, too.
Super Reverb is cool. I'd like to own a Bassman sometime. AC30s are brilliant too, since you mentioned them, not Fendery at all though, nor Marshally, more Voxy.
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Post by gwlee7 on Jul 8, 2021 19:35:01 GMT -6
I had a Fender super 112 for a while. It was not a great amp. When I was younger I bet I spent 3 or 4 times what a Marshall JCM 900 cost trying and then trading or reselling different amps and pedals to find something that sounded like what I should have just waited and bought in the first place.
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Post by robschnapf on Jul 8, 2021 20:27:03 GMT -6
Ampeg Gemini I are deluxe killers. Princeton Amp (NR)
Or you could always replace the first gain stage tube with a 5751 or 12AY7 Of whatever you have and it’ll clean up nicely.
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Post by jmoose on Jul 8, 2021 20:48:36 GMT -6
hmm.. got a lead on a '68 bandmaster for $550. looks like a bit of a drive, but not a bad deal, no? That'd be cool... No reverb on a bandmaster but stick a pedal in front if needed.
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Post by theshea on Jul 9, 2021 1:14:25 GMT -6
i gotta say that i am still impressed how my little fender superchamp xd delivers fender clean sounds. it‘s cheap and sound really really good miked. and it offers a few useable variations on the fender sound too.
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Post by bikescene on Jul 9, 2021 9:59:52 GMT -6
I have a Pro Junior IV and like how it sounds recorded, clean or driven. I also have a Tweed Princeton clone that I like set on clean. However, these amps are different than the blackface tone with their single tone knobs.
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Post by notneeson on Jul 9, 2021 11:23:15 GMT -6
I had a Bandmaster and didn't prefer it, not strong enough in the bass for me. Ended up with a Showman that I love, although it's super clean. With the right speakers it's pretty magical. Works on bass, too. Super Reverb is cool. I'd like to own a Bassman sometime. AC30s are brilliant too, since you mentioned them, not Fendery at all though, nor Marshally, more Voxy. I grew up with a silverface Showman, my dad's keyboard amp from when he was gigging in the 70s, those bad boys are loud and clean! FWIW, output transformer upgrades on a Bandmaster Reverb (Edit: clarifying my model) will prevent that early output stage saturation that makes them sound so spongey. At least with the Bandmaster Reverb that I have it's been a remarkable difference, way more solid bottom. Also, mine has an Ampeg output tranny so I kind of love that no one has an amp exactly like mine.
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Post by theshea on Jul 9, 2021 11:40:10 GMT -6
I have a Pro Junior IV and like how it sounds recorded, clean or driven. I also have a Tweed Princeton clone that I like set on clean. However, these amps are different than the blackface tone with their single tone knobs. tried the blues jr a few times but could never warm up to its sound ...
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Post by jmoose on Jul 9, 2021 12:45:41 GMT -6
I grew up with a silverface Showman, my dad's keyboard amp from when he was gigging in the 70s, those bad boys are loud and clean! FWIW, output transformer upgrades on a Bandmaster will prevent that early output stage saturation that makes them sound so spongey. At least with the Bandmaster Reverb that I have it's been a remarkable difference, way more solid bottom. Also, mine has an Ampeg output tranny so I kind of love that no one has an amp exactly like mine. Showman is the head version of a Twin so yeah, quad of 6L6 is loud and clean! Friend of mine who plays keys has a 70s master volume Twin, the 135 watt version with JBL's. Stupid loud and heavy. Sounds glorious. He put some money into having that amp rebuilt years ago. Totally worth it. Old Bandmasters and distortion... stock transformers are fine. Its maintenance! I have a 61 blonde bandmaster. Got it for $125 about 15 years ago in the parking lot of Sam Ash. They wouldn't take it on trade because the tremolo didn't work! When I first brought home, on 10 with a Les Paul it sounded like early Billy Gibbons. Had a tech get the trem together and replace caps & whatnot as needed. Came back slightly cleaner but still great. Few years ago it just quit. No magic smoke just wouldn't turn on. I brought it to Fuchs thinking he'd just get it running. No... we rebuilt the amp for another 50 years of service. New tubes. New tube sockets. Caps etc. Came back an entirely different amp. Was like twice as loud and way, way juicier. Where I used to run it on 5 the volume was now about 3. Cleaner. Beefier. Way less distortion but the tone is twice the size. And where I basically used the vibrato channel before, now both channels and all 4 inputs are entirely usable. Saw someone mention the Pro Jr & Blues... I have an early blonde Pro Jr. Its rad. Certainly gets used but is more of a tweed-ish tone. Blues Jr is ok. Friend of mine has one its a good amp for what it is but not a "classic" Fender probably because of the small bottle EL84s. Too much midrange. Its a different sound then 6L6 or 6v6 tubes which have more lows & highs.
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Post by notneeson on Jul 9, 2021 12:49:54 GMT -6
I grew up with a silverface Showman, my dad's keyboard amp from when he was gigging in the 70s, those bad boys are loud and clean! FWIW, output transformer upgrades on a Bandmaster will prevent that early output stage saturation that makes them sound so spongey. At least with the Bandmaster Reverb that I have it's been a remarkable difference, way more solid bottom. Also, mine has an Ampeg output tranny so I kind of love that no one has an amp exactly like mine. Showman is the head version of a Twin so yeah, quad of 6L6 is loud and clean! Friend of mine who plays keys has a 70s master volume Twin, the 135 watt version with JBL's. Stupid loud and heavy. Sounds glorious. He put some money into having that amp rebuilt years ago. Totally worth it. Old Bandmasters and distortion... stock transformers are fine. Its maintenance! I have a 61 blonde bandmaster. Got it for $125 about 15 years ago in the parking lot of Sam Ash. They wouldn't take it on trade because the tremolo didn't work! When I first brought home, on 10 with a Les Paul it sounded like early Billy Gibbons. Had a tech get the trem together and replace caps & whatnot as needed. Came back slightly cleaner but still great. Few years ago it just quit. No magic smoke just wouldn't turn on. I brought it to Fuchs thinking he'd just get it running. No... we rebuilt the amp for another 50 years of service. New tubes. New tube sockets. Caps etc. Came back an entirely different amp. Was like twice as loud and way, way juicier. Where I used to run it on 5 the volume was now about 3. Cleaner. Beefier. Way less distortion but the tone is twice the size. And where I basically used the vibrato channel before, now both channels and all 4 inputs are entirely usable. Saw someone mention the Pro Jr & Blues... I have an early blonde Pro Jr. Its rad. Certainly gets used but is more of a tweed-ish tone. Blues Jr is ok. Friend of mine has one its a good amp for what it is but not a "classic" Fender probably because of the small bottle EL84s. Too much midrange. Its a different sound then 6L6 or 6v6 tubes which have more lows & highs. Roger that— the stock output tranny in my '68 Bandmaster Reverb was noticeably puny, but I really don't know what a '61 sounds like either way.
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Post by Guitar on Jul 9, 2021 12:55:10 GMT -6
I had a Bandmaster and didn't prefer it, not strong enough in the bass for me. Ended up with a Showman that I love, although it's super clean. With the right speakers it's pretty magical. Works on bass, too. Super Reverb is cool. I'd like to own a Bassman sometime. AC30s are brilliant too, since you mentioned them, not Fendery at all though, nor Marshally, more Voxy. I grew up with a silverface Showman, my dad's keyboard amp from when he was gigging in the 70s, those bad boys are loud and clean! FWIW, output transformer upgrades on a Bandmaster Reverb (Edit: clarifying my model) will prevent that early output stage saturation that makes them sound so spongey. At least with the Bandmaster Reverb that I have it's been a remarkable difference, way more solid bottom. Also, mine has an Ampeg output tranny so I kind of love that no one has an amp exactly like mine. Great idea for a mod! The small transformer was the thing that got me on the B-master. A big piece of iron would have improved the situation, I'm sure. Big iron is sort of my way of life with tube amps. Well, for the most part.
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Post by Guitar on Jul 9, 2021 12:56:49 GMT -6
jmoose Showman is actually missing one preamp tube of some sort that the Twin had. So it's "even cleaner" which is kind of insane, but there you have it. Love both of these things but I prefer heads for portability and speaker modularity, so I went with the Showman.
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Post by dok on Jul 9, 2021 13:03:22 GMT -6
For my money these are definitely in the sweet spot, although I have no idea if you can still get one for under a $1k. Throw in a more efficient Weber 10F150 for a ton more headroom and it will get way loud before it breaks up. I gigged with mine for years and never needed to turn it up beyond 5, certainly don't even need to get it that loud for recording. Plenty of low end and no boxiness as far as I'm concerned in that 10" speaker. The re-issue with the speaker upgrade would be my next move if I was set on this model. If I'm being honest it's hard for me to wrap my mind around needing more of an amp than that one, it takes pedals well and can still be hauled around easily by one person. I've never once had the urge to upgrade or change my amp situation since getting this one configured. Just put mine in a new cabinet.
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Post by wiz on Jul 9, 2021 15:58:46 GMT -6
Princeton
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Post by srb on Jul 9, 2021 17:20:18 GMT -6
Ampeg Gemini I are deluxe killers. Princeton Amp (NR) Or you could always replace the first gain stage tube with a 5751 or 12AY7 Of whatever you have and it’ll clean up nicely. And the J20 Jet is a brown Deluxe in Ampeg clothing. Those can be had in the $400-$500 range. Point-to-point on a turret board, and readily modifiable. Not the cleanest machine (it is at lower volumes), but the tremolo may help mitigate that rather inconsequential 'shortcoming'.
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Post by nick8801 on Jul 9, 2021 17:47:07 GMT -6
Didn’t read this whole thread, but I love recording through my early 80’s champ. Sounds like you’re looking for bigger/louder amps though. There are a ton of builders out there making great clones these days. I have a Princeton on order from Marsh Amps. He’s really affordable and can build you whatever version of fender/Marshall/dumble amp you can dream up!
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Post by robschnapf on Jul 9, 2021 17:51:59 GMT -6
Ampeg Gemini I are deluxe killers. Princeton Amp (NR) Or you could always replace the first gain stage tube with a 5751 or 12AY7 Of whatever you have and it’ll clean up nicely. And the J20 Jet is a brown Deluxe in Ampeg clothing. Those can be had in the $400-$500 range. Point-to-point on a turret board, and readily modifiable. Not the cleanest machine (it is at lower volumes), but the tremolo may help mitigate that rather inconsequential 'shortcoming'. A brown deluxe laying in wait in blue diamond tolex but there is some work to be done to unleash it.
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Post by robschnapf on Jul 10, 2021 14:43:22 GMT -6
I got a 12 in my printston. Also I modded a little bit which I know is heresy to some. But it’s mine til I die and I use it a lot so like that. I added a 25k midrange control in the back so if it’s all the way down it’s stock. As you turn it up more midrange. Also the pot is switchable so you can completely lift the tone section for Some tweedy champ like charm. I Changed the 1meg resistor to 470K coming off the plate of the trem section for deeper trem. Also changed the cap values for a slower trem. So it still has its clean machine vibe but it’s possible to go crazy horse with it with a turn of the dial….
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Post by jamiesego on Jul 11, 2021 20:03:53 GMT -6
I’ve heard great reissue deluxe reverbs and bad ones. Same goes for silverface and honestly the blackface stuff too. I would just try a few out and find one that sounds good. Also letting a good tech look at the caps, tubes, bias, etc, and trying some different speakers is worth it.
For recording I would look at Princetons, Deluxes, and Vibro-champs (I like tremolo) first but bigger stuff like Bassmans, Super Reverbs, bandmasters, etc are cool to have around too.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jul 11, 2021 22:12:03 GMT -6
I currently have the Fender Bassbreaker. I've had a dozen Fenders over the years.
The Princeton reissue sounds good, but really needs a 12" replacement speaker to truly shine. The Bass breaker would be a great choice for you. It's tube based and has three tone settings. First, classic clear Fender, the second choice sounds quite like a Vox, the third is a higher gain sound which I never use.
The slightly Vox setting is my go to sound, but this weekend at a gig, the clear standard Fender channel worked better.
It really is a best of both worlds and sounds better than my friend's vintage Princeton Reverb.
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Post by Ward on Jul 12, 2021 7:51:55 GMT -6
I have a totally original 1964 Blackface Bandmaster and a highly modified Blackface twin (upped to 100 watts rms from 85, restrictions like resistors removed from the pre to open it up etc).
Both are fabulous for clean to hairy. If you want dirt, buy a blackface bassman and do the Marshall mods!
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Post by phdamage on Jul 12, 2021 10:34:45 GMT -6
so I got cold feet and backed out of the Bandmasters I was looking at. Honestly, I would expect I would make use of a Fender less than 10 times a year. I think the thing I need is a friend with a twin or bassman that is okay leaving it at my studio here and there, as I've managed to do for the last several years - usually a Silverface Twin of some kind.
One of my bandmates is getting his Quad Reverb fixed up and modded by Rootbeer audio and I think I got him to agree to leave it at mine, so my prayers may be answered! Now I can sink that $700 towards an Audioscape 1176 or something soon instead!
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Post by ragan on Jul 12, 2021 10:59:23 GMT -6
When I was looking for a go-to Fender for my little room, I'd pretty much settled on one of the Deluxe Reverb reissues. I expected to prefer the 65 blackface RI over the 68 silverface RI, but this video convinced me that the 68 was more along the lines of what I wanted. I got the 68 DRRI and have been very happy with it. The 65 and 68 RIs both sound very cool, the 65 is barkier, the 68 is sort of more relaxed or something. Now I kind of want the 65 as well, but the next Fender I get will probably be a Princeton.
As a bonus, I use the Custom channel on the 68 DRRI (which is a Bassman tone stack) often for tracking bass into the Suhr RL.
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