Amp help (Please)

compost67 · #1 04-12-2011, 10:23 PM

Hey guys, I've been looking at forums for about a month and finally decided to just ask people straight up, since all situations are different.

So I'm looking to get a new tube amp (preferably Fender) That can do a couple things. I need headroom to play in my jazz band, but also a nice slightly distorted sound for when I play blues or classic rock with my band in clubs and such.

There are two main ones I'm looking at, the Fender Twin Reverb Reissue 65 and the Fender Blues Deluxe. The Twin because it's classic, and because of the great clean tones, but I don't know if it will be too loud in my jazz band since the guitar is usually very quiet, and I don't know if I can get a nice distorted sound out of it with pedals at club volume without it sounding like crap. Im also thinking the Blues Deluxe since I can actually get it to break up without going deaf, but I'm not sure that it has enough clean headroom to play in jazz band and other jazz gigs.

Thanks a lot guys

Doctor Jeff · #2 04-12-2011, 10:44 PM

Peavey Classic 30, or Fender Blues Jr. I don't play rock at clubs but I can't imagine needing anything louder. Or heavier.

compost67 · #3 04-12-2011, 10:51 PM

I don't really care about weight, and I was thinking about the Blues Juinor but I didn't think it could play jazz on it without breaking up, is that true?

Oh and also I was wondering if anyone knows if the Fender Blues Deluxe gets a good jazz tone out of it, Wes like.

docbop · #4 04-12-2011, 11:15 PM

Twin is nice but it is loud. Like any amp you need to drive it some to get it to speak. I like the Fender Deluxe Reverb RI it's good for jazz and gets that classic Fender sound when driven hard. What I've read Wes used to request Fender Super Reverb 1st and Twin Reverb second. Super's don't have the power of a Twin, but with 4 10's they cut thru and push a lot of air.

JazzyJim · #5 04-13-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compost67

I don't really care about weight, and I was thinking about the Blues Juinor but I didn't think it could play jazz on it without breaking up, is that true?

Oh and also I was wondering if anyone knows if the Fender Blues Deluxe gets a good jazz tone out of it, Wes like.

The Blues Deluxe is a pretty loud amp, with what I would consider to be a fair amount of headroom. I am not personally a fan of the overdrive channel, but many like it, obviously you can always use a pedal for overdrive.

I find Deluxe Reverb to be a great "in between" amp. It's not so loud you'll deafen yourself, but for everything i've ever needed it for, it has been ample.

If you want natural amp break up, I would say pretty much anything over 30w is going to be very loud. It may even verge on "too loud" especially if you're playing in a relatively quiet combo and using a hollowbody guitar.

FWIW, I find that Twin's really start to sound their best when the volume is on or above 4. This, while still pretty much clean, is very loud.

mr. beaumont · #6 04-13-2011, 02:08 PM

You have Fender amps in a couple of varieties...

THe blackface reissue amps (deluxe reverb, twin, etc.) are amps that do not have a dedicated "overdrive" channel. This means if you want them to play dirty, you've gotta crank 'em, which can be VERY loud.

THen you have the "Hot Rod" series which have master volumes and (in some models) a dedicated dirty channel. These are easier to coax a distorted rock tone from at a reasonable volume (though many will argue it's not as good a distorted sound as a cranked amp)

Then of course, there's always the option of pedals for getting the dirty sound. I don't really have musch use for a dirty sound, so I'd always be inclined to buy an amp based on it's clean tone and use an outboard device for distortion if I needed it.

I think that in many environments, the Blues Junior is loud enough for jazz playing, unless your guitar's pickups are pretty hot or the drummer is a hard hitter...then again, I'm under the impression most folks play jazz too damn loud anyway!

I agree that the Deluxe Reverb is a great middle of the road amp--and definitely worth checking out. As far as the twin goes, you gotta be playing a pretty big room to really get that baby to a volume where it really shines. For most gigs, it's kinda like having a energetic Labrador retreiver in a studio apartment.

pingu · #7 04-13-2011, 02:20 PM

my mk1 Blues Jnr is loud enough pub /club gigs
(1 x12" 32lbs)
It has master volume
Its a warm organic kinda sound like a furry animal
(it can cry the blues too)
its not 'shiny' sounding like a Jazz chorus if that helps any

JBMorse02 · #8 04-13-2011, 03:09 PM

For what it's worth I currently use a sliverface Vibrolux Reverb (2x10, 40 watts) for ALL my gigs as it's my only serious amp. It's a wonderful rock, blues, country, and yes jazz amp. But I play in a big band and yet I have never used half the volume it's capable of. I am seriously thinking of downsizing for my jazz gigs. A Deluxe Reverb is a good choice for me and you because it's smaller, only 22 watts, and can still distort with that nice tube break up. The Princeton Reverb is the next step down and is also offered as a re-isuue.
The Twin is certainly nice but huge. Unless you're playing Madison Square Garden I don't think it would be worth hauling it's bulky ass around. I like the Hot Rod series amps, but a Hot Rod Deluxe is probably a lot more amp than you need. I used one at school and always found it too bright for jazz but that's with a Les Paul. I don't have an archtop yet.
Also, I know it's sort of cheap, but I tried out a Super Champ XD at the music store and was actually impressed. I didn't like the different modeling options, but the normal channel sounded very nice and was plenty loud for anything I'd be doing. Go try one out and see what you think.
Here is a list of Fender amps I'd recommend trying:
Fender Super Sonic (the lower wattage version)
Blues Junior as mentioned above
Super Champ XD
Princeton Reverb
Deluxe Reverb
Of course there are lots of great amps made by others but I am most familiar with Fenders.
Have fun!

bluemood · #9 04-13-2011, 04:01 PM

I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe that I modified with a weber Alinico 12A150 speaker ,6l6GC power tubes and preamp tubes also I did a reverb mod.
The HRD sound very good to me I had a chance to pickup a Fender twin RI for $500.00 and passed on it.
The new Fender HRD III has alot of mods all ready right box speaker,pots,ECT.Only at 45lb and loud as hell with a big full sound.
The older ones you just have to learn how to dial them in for tone.

compost67 · #10 04-13-2011, 04:40 PM

Thanks a lot guys! I'll definitely go to my music store and give these amps a shot, especially the DRRI, and I've probably ruled out the Twin.

Thanks again.

barrymclark · #11 04-13-2011, 06:14 PM

+1 on the Hot Rod.

I used the 410 DeVille and it did about everything... and pretty well.

If it weren't for my Cube, I'd have really regretted selling that.

mattymel · #12 04-14-2011, 12:17 AM

good for you for going TUBE!

i would def go with the DR RI. hard to beat for the money. for me, the ONLY thing twins have going for them is headroom. and then it is kind of similar to plugging into a 100 watt marshall set on 2. OUCH!

for me the twin matched with a archtop guitar is a match made in hell. too bright...too loud...too boomy.

DR is the right amount of power for what you mentioned. get a good overdrive pedal (maybe caitlinbread silver kiss) and you can play pretty muh any kind of gig with it. good luck.

Bernardo Gui · #13 04-23-2011, 05:44 PM

A good alternatvie to a tube amp: Roland JC-120.
It works for everything, it's loud and sounds clean as hell.
Killer, lush reverb and THE BEST chorus effect in the world.
The JC-120 is my primary amp.....AND I LOVE IT !

D'Aquisto Fan · #14 04-23-2011, 10:27 PM

If money is an issue, try a silver face era Fender amp rather than a new one.