Fender Head

jorgemg1984 · #1 08-06-2011, 12:34 PM

Hi all!

I have several solid state amps that I like, specially a Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight. Since I love this amp I will buy other cabs to use with it and I think I would like to have a good fender tube head to use with it.

What I would want is:

- only one channel with bass, middle, treble and reverb. Dont need two channels and dont need vibrato or tremolo.
- something that could go between around 60w and 30w (with a half power switch)
- all tube
- it needs to be a head because fender combos are too heavy
- impedance selector (4 / 8 ohms)
- line out or fx loop would be good but not essential

The only one I found was this one

Allen Amplification - Old Flame Amp

Does anyone know another head that would meet this cirteria? A kit would work fine also since I have a guy that can build me the amp. I look sepcially for the sweet Fender sound (vibrolux, princeton, deluxe), I dont need that bell clean sound of the Twin.

Thanks!

Drifter · #2 08-06-2011, 12:44 PM

How about this one?

Amp-Kit Blackface Super Reverb AB763 HEAD-Version - AMP-Kit Blackface

It has a few features you don't need but it should have everything you want.

TAD makes great KITs. I have a Tweed Deluxe head that I connect to the internal speaker of my Fender Jazz King, resulting in a fantastic alternative tube sound.

jorgemg1984 · #3 08-06-2011, 04:04 PM

Hi fliter, thats great, I was already aware of TAD, I actually live in Portugal, so its even better to order European.

The Super Reverb is great but I would be paying for loads of stuff I dont need... something with just 1 channel with EQ and reverb would be perfect

The Allen kit seems good but its only 40w, would like to have a little more power...

Do you like the Twee head much more than the Jazz King? I love my jazzmaster ultralight but would like to have a good tube head

Dad3353 · #4 08-06-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

... only 40w, would like to have a little more power...

Good evening, jorgemg1984
Just to react to this specific phrase...
40w of valve amp is power enough for a great many applications (depending on speaker efficiency for volume...); an example could be Vox AC30, which gets damned loud.
Going up to 50w will give just about nothing more; perhaps a tad more 'headroom'. The next 'step' up would be 100w (there are 70-80w heads, but they're a bit more rare...). 100w of valve amp is enormous.
For a top-end amp, with features close to your list, have a look at...
HI-TONE introduces the Custom 30 JP™ Amplifier Kit;
...for a (switchable...) 15/30w amp. This will fill any medium-sized venue (with adequate cab, of course...). If you need more power than this, for whatever reason, there are other kits on the same site.
Hope this helps...

jorgemg1984 · #5 08-06-2011, 08:51 PM

Hi Dad3353,

Thanks so much for your input. I said that because I have heard several people complianing about the lack of volume oh the Deluxe (22w) and the Princeton (12w) and saying that the Twin (65w) is not as sweet but can cover any gig.

I will probably use the head with a convertible 2x12 with Tornados and a convertible 1x12 with an EV, probably no issues here. If what you say its true then the Allen Kit seems perfect (or a Super Reverb head with only one channel and just reverb, no vibrato). Will also check your link.

Actually I know what I want just dont want to pay for it

TruVerb

Drifter · #6 08-07-2011, 12:47 AM

If you know what you want, you'll never be happy with something else. Or find somebody that will Custom build your amp to your exact specs. But I doubt it will be much cheaper. Good luck anyway.

jorgemg1984 · #7 08-07-2011, 08:03 AM

I will talk with my tech and see whatche can tell me. The TAD kit is too expensive for what it is. I also found Audio Amp Co in Germany, also too expensive. The Allen kit seems like the best option so far, lets se if someone else has more ideas. Maybe 35w is enough, I think jzucker uses a 35w gries.

Joe Strummer · #8 08-07-2011, 08:12 AM

Increased wattage generally gives you more volume before the amp begins to distort-- so called 'clean headroom'. A 12w amp will get very loud, especially with an efficient speaker, but will begin to distort at volume #5. If you want clean and loud, you need more wattage or a solid state amp.

taxman · #9 08-07-2011, 09:59 AM

I think the Jazzmaster Head is only 2 Ohms impedence. It is hard to find speaker cabinets to match it, and hard to find tube heads to match that speaker impedence.

jorgemg1984 · #10 08-07-2011, 01:11 PM

My Jazzmaster Ultralight already is very loud, I just want my tube amp to get reasonibly loud without distortion, dont want to spend a lot of money on an amp that doesnt get clean enough when I need it.

The Jazzmaster Ultralight is solid state, 2 ohms is the minimum load. You can load it at 4 or 8 ohms but with less output power - which can be conpensated with efficient speakers and good cabinets.

bananafist · #11 08-08-2011, 06:59 AM

Marsh amps (US) do kits and ready built amps. Also google CP amps for very competitively priced amps, well built. I see, after checking CP are not building currently.
An old (60s-70s) fender Bassman head would give you 50w and meet your needs. I had two, both sold now.

jorgemg1984 · #12 08-08-2011, 07:38 PM

Yes, I was thinking a Bandmaster Reverb would be even better - then upgrade the OT to have 4 and 8 ohms and maybe a low power switch. The Bassman easily distorts right?

Joe Strummer · #13 08-08-2011, 07:44 PM

I have a brilliant one channel Bassman amp that switches between 100s (@ 4 ohms) and 50w (@ 8 ohms). The mod I had done on it morphed the best of Fender w/the best of Marshall (presence, middle). I'm even selling it, but its probably too heavy to ship to Portugal.

The point is, you can get a great old Fender silverface (c. 1967-1975ish) for fairly cheap, then mod it into exactly what you want.

lpdeluxe · #14 08-08-2011, 07:54 PM

There's always the Fender Bandmaster VM head. It's flexible and tuneful. I run mine into a Weber California Ceramic 15 and my friends tell me that, when I plug my 335 into it, I get my "signature" sound. Compared to my Jazzmaster Ultralight, it has sweeter top end and more articulation in the midrange. Personally, the JM is my "never-gonna-sell" amp but this combination is a close second. The nod goes to the Jazzmaster mostly because of its small footprint, light weight, and high power.

jzucker · #15 08-08-2011, 08:01 PM

Check out the gries. It has more headroom and sounds less shrill than the allen IMO. I've gone through almost every fender clone and this is the only one I've stuck with.

Gries Amplification

jorgemg1984 · #16 08-08-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Strummer

I have a brilliant one channel Bassman amp that switches between 100s (@ 4 ohms) and 50w (@ 8 ohms). The mod I had done on it morphed the best of Fender w/the best of Marshall (presence, middle). I'm even selling it, but its probably too heavy to ship to Portugal.

The point is, you can get a great old Fender silverface (c. 1967-1975ish) for fairly cheap, then mod it into exactly what you want.

Thats probably the route I will go, a vintage Bandmaster Reverb with upgraded OT and power switch, something similar to what you done to your Bassman probably. The shipping is for sure too expensive

Quote:

Check out the gries. It has more headroom and sounds less shrill than the allen IMO. I've gone through almost every fender clone and this is the only one I've stuck with.

I had heard good things about them also in the past, they seem to make good amps at good prices. The thing that somestime pisses me off about boutique amps is how expensive they are withou any significant reason other than being "boutique". But importing from the US is really painfull with shipping, VAT and fees... If I did that I would probably go this route

Tube-Tone Amplifiers

Did you ever tried one Jack?

Quote:

There's always the Fender Bandmaster VM head. It's flexible and tuneful. I run mine into a Weber California Ceramic 15 and my friends tell me that, when I plug my 335 into it, I get my "signature" sound. Compared to my Jazzmaster Ultralight, it has sweeter top end and more articulation in the midrange. Personally, the JM is my "never-gonna-sell" amp but this combination is a close second. The nod goes to the Jazzmaster mostly because of its small footprint, light weight, and high power.

Hi Ipdeluxe. Seems I will have the same gear you have

I absolutely love my jazzmaster ultralight and I have owned and tried some "jazz amps". I could love it for the weight, loudness and versatility only (calling it a "jazz amp" was a huge mistake Fender did because its completely usable as a rock amp) but the tone is also excellent. I will always keep it, its the perfect amp to use in Lisbon (lots of hills, lots of traffic and very tiny streets with no places to park). I am really curious to hear with a larger / open back cabinet with an EV!

The thing that scares me about the VM is the lack of middle button on the clean channel and being sort of an "hybrid". For that price I think I can get a real vintage Bandmaster Reverb. Have you ever A / B them?

Thanks to all for the opinons, very helpful!

jzucker · #17 08-08-2011, 08:36 PM

i haven't tried tube-tone but have talked to them. They appear to be pretty good but some of the "mods" they offer seem a bit questionable to me in their "value". Things like switching out the negative feedback are pretty useless IMO. Upgrading the OT on the bandmaster may not give you the headroom you're looking for. Headroom requires more plate voltage, not just bigger iron and the bandmaster has low plate voltage. In fact, you can probably put 6v6 tubes in there! You'd have to upgrade the power and output transformer to get a true 50 watt amp and then you'd have to replace some of the other downstream power supply cabs to handle the increased voltage. The bassman heads are cool but need to be modded to AB765 specs to give you a "true" fender sound and of course you'll need that reverb pedal that you hate.

jorgemg1984 · #18 08-08-2011, 08:46 PM

I don't hate reverb pedals, just like the amps to have a good reverb, I like and even need sometimes plug and play setups, just that. If I found the amp of my life tomorrow I would buy it without a reverb

I agree some of their mods are not very useful but you don't need to put them. Raybob said he could even build me a head with just one channel and reverb. Just from online specs seems the best Fender clone out there, does all the models, some of the options are great (others not) and its not expensive IMO. Of course this is all useless if the sound is not good, which I doubt. The only thing I would change would be the speaker, Weber doesn't seem the best option for me, a C Rex would be my choice.

Another good option is the Deluxe VM combo (brother of Bandmaster VM Ipdeluxe loves so much). You can unplug the main jack and use it as a head, can be used in 4 and 8 ohms and its made in this beautiful color

Fender DELUXE VM, BLONDE | DV247

jzucker · #19 08-08-2011, 09:09 PM

how can you know what it sounds like based on specs??? Would not recommend weber speakers. Do some searches. Manufacturers such as dr z, reinhardt and scumback have quit using them due to reliability and other concerns. The weber cali sounds nothing like a jbl by the way.

jorgemg1984 · #20 08-09-2011, 04:07 AM

What I meant is that he seems to build his amps pretty close to original and you can order a lot of custom stuff - you can order a beefed up Princeton with a middle button, no vibrato and 3 knob reverb for example. These are great options IMO. IF they sound good I think the prices and custom options are hard to beat.