Choosing a Fender Tube Amp

**korey-craft** · 04-21-2012, 04:21 PM

haha I got this convo and the princeton reverb convo mixed up haha

**jorgemg1984** · 04-21-2012, 04:38 PM

Oh for some seconds I dreamed they had reissued the amps!

**RSY** · 04-21-2012, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

If you are willing to go used the cheapest way to get the vintage fender sound are the Music Man hybrid amps in my experience; actually they were the last amps designed by Leo if I remember correctly.

Leo actually only worked on the Music Man guitar and bass designs.

However, there is no denying the Music Man amps have a Fender heritage.

Scott

**jorgemg1984** · 04-21-2012, 05:36 PM

Really? Read the opposite several times in the past, always learning!

**Chordchunker** · 04-21-2012, 07:02 PM

Music Man amps are bright because they have a solid state pre-amp. They are VERY loud amps if that is what you are going for.

**jorgemg1984** · 04-21-2012, 07:07 PM

I have read it's not that hard to tame brightness on those amps, just a few simple mods.

**korey-craft** · 04-21-2012, 09:48 PM

should I pull the trigger on a classic 30 for $300?!?

**Chordchunker** · 04-21-2012, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by korey-craft

should I pull the trigger on a classic 30 for $300?!?

Good price for a great amp imo.

**korey-craft** · 04-22-2012, 10:16 AM

hmm, I do know a mod that cuts it down to approx 15 watts as well..

**korey-craft** · 04-22-2012, 12:17 PM

crap its 4 hrs away haha. Car is in the shop getting a new motor. May have to stay local

**Insufferable_Rhythm** · 04-22-2012, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Chordchunker

Music Man amps are bright because they have a solid state pre-amp.

No.

**Ob Com** · 04-22-2012, 12:28 PM

I have a Princeton reissue and also a blues junior.

Both can give a lovely jazz tone imo.

The reverb on the princeton is outstanding.

On the Bj, not so good, but depending on how much you use may or may not be an issue.

I have the blues junior with the cannabis rex speaker, and it provides a fantastic, slightly "tweedyish" alternative to the blackface tone of the princeton. Very warm sounding amp.

**Ob Com** · 04-22-2012, 01:29 PM

sry double post

**korey-craft** · 04-22-2012, 04:50 PM

Princeton, if I just had my car to go out and try it out again at bestbuy. I dont often have all day to travel by bus.

No word on the C30 or the DRRI. may have to wait

**jbear** · 04-22-2012, 05:22 PM

I put a WGS65 in a DRRI along with a few other mods but I left the bright cap...inspiring to play.
Use a Blues Jr with a C. Rex along with some cap changes and some nice tubes...very nice tone and very light.
Also recommend the HRD with a Celestion 65 or WGS 65...just use the clean channel and a pedal for OD unless you want to mod the drive channel. Even then...not so hot to my ear. Great cleans though and LOUD.

**jorgemg1984** · 04-22-2012, 05:46 PM

The WGS-65 is one speaker I would like to try but cabs and speakers are very expensive and right now I don't really need more on that deparment. If I bought a Music Man I would put that speaker, good to know it works for jazz.

**Chordchunker** · 04-22-2012, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Insufferable_Rhythm

No.

Yes.

**Insufferable_Rhythm** · 04-22-2012, 06:55 PM

Can you explain why Music Man amplifiers are "bright because they have a solid state pre-amp"?

**Philco** · 04-22-2012, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Deluxe Reverb (specially with a few mods, assuming it's a DRRI).

I have a DRRI and was wondering about these mods.
I always have the treble turned all the way off and it's still to bright.
So perhaps I should try the cap mod?

I'm also interested in trying another speaker. The Rex Cannabis seems reasonably priced.
No sure if it's 16 or 8 ohm. The amp isn't here right now.

Any other suggestions for mods?

I'm after a smooth warm jazz tone.
I'm close to the sound I want but I'd like to start experimenting to see what a difference these mods make.

**kawa** · 04-22-2012, 08:10 PM

Speaker: 1-12" Jensen® C-12K, 8 Ohm Speaker with Ceramic Magnet.
Speaker Impedance: 8 Ohm

Celestion G12T-75 Sound
1.

!

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=4j0rUxSxDqY#!

3.

!

Classic - G12T-75 - Celestion - Guitar, Bass & Pro Audio Speakers

http://www.watfordvalves.com/cgi-bin...treport_40.pdf
__________________

Replace the speaker only for your tones.
__________________

**jorgemg1984** · 04-22-2012, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Philco

I have a DRRI and was wondering about these mods.
I always have the treble turned all the way off and it's still to bright.
So perhaps I should try the cap mod?

I'm also interested in trying another speaker. The Rex Cannabis seems reasonably priced.
No sure if it's 16 or 8 ohm. The amp isn't here right now.

Any other suggestions for mods?

I'm after a smooth warm jazz tone.
I'm close to the sound I want but I'd like to start experimenting to see what a difference these mods make.

I know guys who did some of the mods others I just read online. I think the cap mod is failry easy, basically clipping a cap. It will only work at low volumes. The C Rex works very well in Fenders, I liked it on the Blues Jr although even them I didn't like the amp. I think it should improve the stock speaker (8 ohms)

I think these two mods should already help you a lot. There are people on the forum much more prepared to help you with tone stack changes - I know some people tried putting a silver mica cap on the treble and liked it. Maybe you could also try different values in there like instead of the stock 250pf (one above like 330pf or one below like 150pf). Adding a middle control can also be helpful eventually.

Can you talk with a good tech in your area?

Honestly I would do the bright cap mod and put the C Rex. If you're sill not 100% happy in the end maybe a good EQ pedal will be the best solution.

**jorgemg1984** · 04-22-2012, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Chordchunker

Music Man amps are bright because they have a solid state pre-amp. They are VERY loud amps if that is what you are going for.

I would also like to hear more on this - there are plenty of solid state amps (pre and power) on the dark side.

**Philco** · 04-22-2012, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I know guys who did some of the mods others I just read online. I think the cap mod is failry easy, basically clipping a cap. It will only work at low volumes. The C Rex works very well in Fenders, I liked it on the Blues Jr although even them I didn't like the amp. I think it should improve the stock speaker (8 ohms)

I think these two mods should already help you a lot. There are people on the forum much more prepared to help you with tone stack changes - I know some people tried putting a silver mica cap on the treble and liked it. Maybe you could also try different values in there like instead of the stock 250pf (one above like 330pf or one below like 150pf). Adding a middle control can also be helpful eventually.

Can you talk with a good tech in your area?

Honestly I would do the bright cap mod and put the C Rex. If you're sill not 100% happy in the end maybe a good EQ pedal will be the best solution.

Thanks, I'll start with these 2 mods. My good friend is a tech so there's no problems with turning the amp into a total experiment, spending a lot of money and then returning it to stock a few months later.
It's a cycle I must adhere to.

Thanks for alerting me to another bottomless pit where I can throw my
money. The joys of modification will soon be mine!!
I've already called the tech

**jorgemg1984** · 04-22-2012, 08:35 PM

Ha Ha welcome to he dark side!

Good you have a friend to help you, I also have one here in Lisbon.

I have made some small mods on guitars, amps and pedals that I am pretty happy with - one thing I learned is do it only if you really like what you're moding. There are millions of Blues Junior mods but in the end is still a small 15w el 84 amp (the same applies to your DRRI). I have done some minor tweaking in my jazzmaster ultralight and it's really good although I already liked it a lot stock.

If I were you I would create a thread on the subject, I don't exactly know a lot on this things just like the subject

There are guys in here that can really help you and know a lot more than I do although my intuition tells me you will like both mods and they are very simple to perform.

**Philco** · 04-22-2012, 08:49 PM

Actually I think I'm fairly close to what I want now and these 2 mods will get me closer.
But you know that no one ever gets to nirvana when it comes to amps.
Just step one pace to the left and your tone is toast!

I borrowed a Hotrod Deluxe 3 on the weekend and it's not really suitable for me.
Way to much bass and I don't like the reverb as much as the DR.

Apart from the brightness problem I am also troubled by a upper midrange honk that I don't like.
But I think the way forward is to get a good eq to solve that.

No doubt there are a million new "boutique" eq pedals that everyone will recommend.
It must be in a zany coloured stomp box format with a cool font and just the right amount of street cred and grunge.
Perhaps I'll get a street artist to "tag" my new eq box to make it look "more funky".
Yes it won't be long until I'm at the top of the tone chain.
The envy of all other players in the world and somewhat of a tone guru.
It's about to happen