Amp Poll

[fungusyoung]

Another vote for Fender.

I have a '79 Champ that is just awesome for playing through at home. I also have a '68 Bassman that I run through an Avatar 2x12. To me, Bassmans remain one of the most undervalued of Fender's sliverface era options out there... 50 cracklin watts and vintage Fender tone. Last I knew they could be had for sub $500 on Ebay.

But, I also love my Orange Rocker 30. If you want an aggressive ballsy amp with some of the sweetest gains around, this is the one. I'd describe the tones as somewhere between a Vox and Marshall.

 

[Pappy]

As much as I like Fenders, I was blown AWAY playing a Dr. Z RXES. I can't wait for the junior model to come out as the regular one was just way too loud. If you haven't tried one out I strongly recommend it.

 

[Spike1956]

Currently I am playing my Bluesbirds through 2 amps with an ab y switch. A Mesa Lone Star Special and a Fender Blues Junior. Or if I need more power I'll go with my Fender HR Deluxe and the Lone Star. My jazzboxes I play through the Blues Junior mostly.

Spike

 

[CurtO]

Hi capnjuan, I was not aware that you are an amp tech. Are you familiar with the Famous (at least on the Fender Discussion Page) Bill Machrone. He's worked out some sweet mods for the Blues Jr. modified tone stack, stiffer power supply, adjustabel bias and many others as well as a sweet mod to the reverb problem Fender had with some of the earlier Blues Jr's?

 

[capnjuan]

Hi capnjuan, I was not aware that you are an amp tech. Are you familiar with the Famous (at least on the Fender Discussion Page) Bill Machrone. He's worked out some sweet mods for the Blues Jr. modified tone stack, stiffer power supply, adjustabel bias and many others as well as a sweet mod to the reverb problem Fender had with some of the earlier Blues Jr's?

Hi Curt0; thank you but 'amp tech' isn't a title I deserve; just someone with a vacuum tube stereo background adapting it to early/mid 60s tube amps. If someone here had big problems, I probably couldn't help them much. There are at least several members here technically stronger than I; matsickma, default, rwood, Kap'n too probably and DKL isn't too shabby either.

I do spend time on Ampage, Gear Page and Vintage Amps but for no good reason haven't spent much time on the FDP and so don't recognize Mr. Machrone's name or designs. I can do 'care and feeding' and some fix-em-up but I couldn't design my way out of a paper bag. That having been said, if you got stuff not working correctly, I'd be willing to take a shot or two at it.

John

 

[CurtO]

I'd be willing to take a shot or two at it.

Thanks capnjuan, everythings working great right now. I too have a passion for tube amps but am not very capable beyond some simple soldering and tweaking. In fact, in my next life I'd like to own a guitar and amp sales and service business. I'm always looking for an opportunity to jump into that type of business, but until I win the lotto or get a huge inheritance from a rich aunt or uncle. I'm stuck doing the 8 - 5 routine.

 

[capnjuan]

Thanks capnjuan, everythings working great right now. I too have a passion for tube amps but am not very capable beyond some simple soldering and tweaking. In fact, in my next life I'd like to own a guitar and amp sales and service business. I'm always looking for an opportunity to jump into that type of business, but until I win the lotto or get a huge inheritance from a rich aunt or uncle. I'm stuck doing the 8 - 5 routine.

As are most of us....J

 

[Scotter]

Thanks capnjuan, everythings working great right now. I too have a passion for tube amps but am not very capable beyond some simple soldering and tweaking. In fact, in my next life I'd like to own a guitar and amp sales and service business. I'm always looking for an opportunity to jump into that type of business, but until I win the lotto or get a huge inheritance from a rich aunt or uncle. I'm stuck doing the 8 - 5 routine.

As are most of us....J

Sounds like another poll... 8 to 5 for me, too...

I voted Fender as I have a '93 Blues Deluxe that I've done a lot of mods to, but I also really like the Dr. Z stuff.

Scottie

 

[capnjuan]

Sounds like another poll...8 to 5 for me, too...Scottie

Maybe not; might be too depressing if you found out you were one of the 4 or 5 working stiffs supporting dozens of LTG geezers and geezerettes :roll: :evil:

 

[Default]

I've come to the realization that I have a small pile o' amps. :shock: Most have some work needed as I don't buy new. :roll: :lol: A '66 Fender Vibrolux rebuilt from a chassis and an OC reverb pan, An Estey/Magnatone, Guild Maverick, a Hilgen HM-B that's destined to be reduced to a 12" combo from a rather uninspired bass amp and someone else's silverface Princeton project amp. I've been spending some time on that, trying to get that up and running so I can get it out of my house.

 

[capnjuan]

Know the feeling; manfully struggling to push a box through the front door. cj

 

[BluesDan]

Fender is my ride............
Blues Junior blonde for messin' round the house and a Twin for those occasions when "more power" is needed......... 8)

 

[capnjuan]

Hi BluesDan; popular choices....do you mess 'under the hood' or would you say you're more of an end-user?

cj

 

[BluesDan]

Hi BluesDan; popular choices....do you mess 'under the hood' or would you say you're more of an end-user?

cj

Hey cj...............more of an end user now......getting too lazy to mess around under the hood...............used to be quite the grease monkey though...... :mrgreen:

 

[capnjuan]

Hey cj....more of an end user now....getting too lazy to mess around under the hood....used to be quite the grease monkey though...:mrgreen:

That's probably code for 'rather play through the amp than tinker w/ it...'; or maybe you just don't miss doinking nearby wires w/ your soldering iron... :lol: G212: have you ever posted pics of that guitar?

Regards,
cj

 

[BluesDan]

Hey cj....more of an end user now....getting too lazy to mess around under the hood....used to be quite the grease monkey though...:mrgreen:

That's probably code for 'rather play through the amp than tinker w/ it...'; or maybe you just don't miss doinking nearby wires w/ your soldering iron... :lol: G212: have you ever posted pics of that guitar?

Regards,
cj

Exactly! ........rather play it than have it out on the bench going "Uh-oh, that was'nt good"............
The "G" was actually another recent GAS purchase, the Ebay link is still active:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=013

Regards, Dan

 

[capnjuan]

Very pretty guitar! cj

 

[BluesDan]

Very pretty guitar! cj

Thanks...it is a great looking guitar. However, like so many things in life, everything wasnt exactly as advertised, the nut is cracked ( I was going to change out to bone or tusq anyway so no big deal), the bridge has a VERY slight lift that needs watching, and the inside paper label was missing. Nothing that would have kept me from pulling the trigger on the buy cause I am a sucker for sunbursts, but it irks me just the same. Guess I gotta ask ALOT more questions before buying on "the bay". She does sound and play beautifully though, anytime I can pick up and play a guitar that makes my wife stop what she's doing and say "Which guitar is THAT?", I know its got good tone :mrgreen:

 

[capnjuan]

Buying instruments on eBay can be similar to gambling; I've made a few mistakes myself. There are people here who are good at it but usually a skill like that is developed over time - suggesting that even the 'better buyers' here have had a few slip-and-falls themselves. Try not to grind too much on it ... life's too short! cj

 

[Guest]

I'm coming in a bit late on this thread, but I thought it was interesting that their was mention (early on) of an Epiiphone EA 22-RVT "Mighty Mite".
I too, have one of these (have had, for about 25 years). They are indeed "rarities". I have been through a few gyrations on configurations, and am now in the process of bring it back to its original glory.
It's a very dark and loud amp (not sure of the wattage). I made the mistake many years ago, by asking an amp tech to "hotrod" it. He tweaked a few things with the transformer, put 6L6's in it and replaced the speaker with a Vintage 30. My new amp tech cannot understand the shortcuts the original tech did, but was surprised that the transformer was still alive.
Honestly, you could have fried an egg on the faceplate. IT WAS SCORCHIN'!!!
I've had the electronics restored, and have just purchased a period correct Jensen C12P. Now, my part of the agreement with my amp is- Use pedals VERY judiciously... no more seeing how hard I can push it with overdrive.
Besides, I have a Bassman that LOVES pedals... no need to abuse this baby.