livinproof Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I have a `64 Bandmaster in a 2x10 combo cabinet/with an extention cabinet with 2-10s. I also have a Bandmaster in a 3x10 combo cabinet. In my opinion these are the best amp combos Fender never made. I have a Marsh dumble clone on the way, does that count? It is designed from a Bassman...............)
rockabilly69 Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Obviously a new amp cannot be considered 'vintage' as per the thread title. However, you've named one of the best new updated and vastly improved versions of an old vintage design. er The Sweet Spot is a great amp, and I applaud Allen for the gig friendly mods, but if you had chance to hear my '64 Deluxe Reverb wound up, or my friend Troy's '65 Deluxe Reverb, I don't think you'd cling to your "vastly improved versions of an old vintage design":) I've never heard a better sounding Deluxe Reverb than my '64 ever And I've heard a TON of them. There's just something to be said for those vintage transformers.
Gitfiddler Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 The Sweet Spot is a great amp, and I applaud Allen for the gig friendly mods, but if you had chance to hear my '64 Deluxe Reverb wound up, or my friend Troy's '65 Deluxe Reverb, I don't think you'd cling to your "vastly improved versions of an old vintage design":) I've never heard a better sounding Deluxe Reverb than my '64 ever And I've heard a TON of them. There's just something to be said for those vintage transformers. OK...Let me restate. I think the new boutique builders are doing a great job reinventing and improving Leo's original concepts. Maybe I got overly enthusiastic with the term vastly improved, but I think there are so many old amps that simply don't cut it...vintage or not, some are just old and cranky...and expensive to own and operate. To get them sounding as great as they should often takes more and more cash. That has been my experience. If your amps sound as good as you say, that's great. YMMV.
slider313 Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 OK...Let me restate. I think the new boutique builders are doing a great job reinventing and improving Leo's original concepts. Maybe I got overly enthusiastic with the term vastly improved, but I think there are so many old amps that simply don't cut it...vintage or not, some are just old and cranky...and expensive to own and operate. To get them sounding as great as they should often takes more and more cash. That has been my experience. If your amps sound as good as you say, that's great. YMMV. Yes, some of the "boutique" builders have built "improved" versions of Leo's designs but using a upgraded power transformer; that can use 6V6's, 6L6's El34's and KT66's takes something away from the original design. Some like it, some don't. There are some builders who copy the circuit exactly as per the schematic. Some of those sound pretty much spot on. Stu Daddy Amps was one of them until Fender issued a cease and desist order. As for vintage amps needing constant repair, that has not been my experience. Take most old Fenders'; have them serviced by a reputable amp tech and they're good for the next 20-25 years. If your vintage amp has turned into a "money pit" then it's probably time for a new tech.
hinesarchtop Posted August 15, 2014 Posted August 15, 2014 My folks gave me a used silverface Deluxe reverb for high school graduation. I currently own a 63 tremolux head with the matching 2-10 piggy back cab. One of the best sounding was a 64 Deluxe reverb that I sold (stupid). I had a Quad reverb for a while when I wanted to be Freddy King!
rockabilly69 Posted August 18, 2014 Posted August 18, 2014 OK...Let me restate. I think the new boutique builders are doing a great job reinventing and improving Leo's original concepts. Maybe I got overly enthusiastic with the term vastly improved, but I think there are so many old amps that simply don't cut it...vintage or not, some are just old and cranky...and expensive to own and operate. To get them sounding as great as they should often takes more and more cash. That has been my experience. If your amps sound as good as you say, that's great. YMMV. You can restate it anyway you want, but if you use the word IMPROVED I disagree. I'd take any properly serviced blackface Deluxe Reverb, Princeton Reverb, or Vibrolux, over any boutique equivalent when I want that wound up Fender tone. As I said before, it's all about the transformers. The circuits are so simple that any good amp tech worth his salt can get them into shape for little money as long as the the trannies are there. I own a boutique Victoria Regal II which incorporates many of the so called improvements, and for low volume recording I LOVE it, but when I get a chance to open up my '64 Deluxe Reverb, there is nothing like it. I regularly play through 4 other perfectly serviced blackfaces ('65 DR, (2) 65 PR's, and a '65 Super) owned by my friend Troy, and all of them exhibit the same quality. The boutiques are good, and I can make them all work, but IMNSHO, there was magic in the vintage blackfaces. And as for reliability, I bounced my Deluxe Reverb around in the back seat of my car for more gigs that I could count and it always sounded great! The only failure came from a modern rectifier tube, which I long since replaced.
Dennpark Posted September 20, 2014 Posted September 20, 2014 Love my Fenders. My favorite is a duel showman reverb head with either a 2x12 or my 2x15 cab. Tone is by far superior with the 2x15 but have to hire movers to get it out to a show. It basically lives in my basement. Took my favorite `68 silver face twin and had a cab built for the speakers and another one for the head. Just like a duel showman reverb. 42 lbs each, so it is actually movable. I keep a blackface reissue around for practice, but will probably never haul it out to a show. I still love to play thru a princeton chorus 2x10. I only have 2 solid state amps and the Princeton is one of them. the other is a 1967 Vox Buckingham(super reverb) Had it since new and can't seem to part with it, but rarely use it anymore. Played thru a Super Beatle back in the day. It made the 2x15 duel showman seem light. Cars are no longer made with trunks big enough for amps like that, and I`m to darn old to hoss them around……Discovered the twin reverb after the Super beatle days and moved to a "lighter, smaller" amp. I was and still am surprised that the twin was louder than the Beatle but with less sideways projection. I could see a deluxe reverb head being in my future, right after a sweet 16 enters my life.
Dennpark Posted September 20, 2014 Posted September 20, 2014 Love my Fenders. My favorite is a duel showman reverb head with either a 2x12 or my 2x15 cab. Tone is by far superior with the 2x15 but have to hire movers to get it out to a show. It basically lives in my basement. Took my favorite `68 silver face twin and had a cab built for the speakers and another one for the head. Just like a duel showman reverb. 42 lbs each, so it is actually movable. I keep a blackface reissue around for practice, but will probably never haul it out to a show. I still love to play thru a princeton chorus 2x10. I only have 2 solid state amps and the Princeton is one of them. the other is a 1967 Vox Buckingham(super reverb) Had it since new and can't seem to part with it, but rarely use it anymore. Played thru a Super Beatle back in the day. It made the 2x15 duel showman seem light. Cars are no longer made with trunks big enough for amps like that, and I`m to darn old to hoss them around……Discovered the twin reverb after the Super beatle days and moved to a "lighter, smaller" amp. I was and still am surprised that the twin was louder than the Beatle but with less sideways projection. I could see a deluxe reverb head being in my future, right after a sweet 16 enters my life.
Stringman Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 Count me in among the Fender Vintage Faithful. I own a 1975 Silverface Deluxe Reverb that I'm mighty happy with. I've replaced the speaker (due to a blown original) with a Weber Ferromax 12F150 and really love this amp a lot.
bolero Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 "Cars are no longer made with trunks big enough for amps like that" hahaha...I had to laugh when I read that....remember those big American cars in the '70's? you could probably fit a 4x12 cab in the trunk, of most of them although the modern small hatchback car is amazingly versatile....I can fit tons of stuff in my Toyota matrix...fold the seats forward and slide it right in. I love that thing
bolero Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 You can restate it anyway you want, but if you use the word IMPROVED I disagree. I'd take any properly serviced blackface Deluxe Reverb, Princeton Reverb, or Vibrolux, over any boutique equivalent when I want that wound up Fender tone. As I said before, it's all about the transformers. The circuits are so simple that any good amp tech worth his salt can get them into shape for little money as long as the the trannies are there. I own a boutique Victoria Regal II which incorporates many of the so called improvements, and for low volume recording I LOVE it, but when I get a chance to open up my '64 Deluxe Reverb, there is nothing like it. I regularly play through 4 other perfectly serviced blackfaces ('65 DR, (2) 65 PR's, and a '65 Super) owned by my friend Troy, and all of them exhibit the same quality. The boutiques are good, and I can make them all work, but IMNSHO, there was magic in the vintage blackfaces. And as for reliability, I bounced my Deluxe Reverb around in the back seat of my car for more gigs that I could count and it always sounded great! The only failure came from a modern rectifier tube, which I long since replaced. oh yeah....tell it like it is! I agree 100% .....hey....I think this begs for a soundclip...whaddya got?
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