I'm thinking about getting one of these non Fender sounding Fenders.

[Midnight Toker]

No, not the Bassbreaker, which is Fender's version of the British sound...

I'm talking about this unique "Pawn Shop Series" Excelsior amp from 2012-13. 13 watt tube goodness loaded w/ a 15". Has a volume knob, and a bright/dark tone toggle, plus a tremolo on/off/speed knob. It has a split circuit w/ the pre and power (2 6V6's!) stages separated at the top and bottom of the cabinet. There are 3 separate inputs (gtr, mic, accordion, each w/ it's own unique circuit) From all the samples I've heard, it breaks up gorgeously w/ some real grit. When dialed up, it still cleans up nice by rolling back the guitar volume, like a good amp should. Has a great vintage look as well. These can often be found in the $300 and under range.






I need another amp like a hole in the head, but this one is just so different from my vintage Fender/Marshall/National amps in tone character that I think I just have to find one.

Anyone ever heard one of these in person??

 

[Guildedagain]

If you can score an amp that does that for under $300, buy several.

 

[Westerly Wood]

 

[Bill Ashton]

My kids got me one for Christmas the year they first came out. Nice enough amp, though I think the distortion/overdrive is a little "grainy," but probably good with the right guitar. If you look on the TDPRI, there is a long thread about all the mods people do to them. Not sure that is necessary, but maybe a speaker change would affect the tone of the overdrive. There is also a simple mod to change the switch to
a conventional tone control. I do love the looks. Eventually they changed up the cosmetics a bit, different Tolex, etc...

 

[Midnight Toker]

My kids got me one for Christmas the year they first came out. Nice enough amp, though I think the distortion/overdrive is a little "grainy," but probably good with the right guitar. If you look on the TDPRI, there is a long thread about all the mods people do to them. Not sure that is necessary, but maybe a speaker change would affect the tone of the overdrive. There is also a simple mod to change the switch to
a conventional tone control. I do love the looks. Eventually they changed up the cosmetics a bit, different Tolex, etc...

I actually like the grainy drive I heard and think it would suit slide/lap steel very well. Would love something w/ deep gravelly tones for that alone. There's one on eBay for $300 obo (($54 shipping) right now. Hmmm.

 

[shihan]

We keep one in our rehearsal space. I’m generally not crazy about newer Fender amp variations, but this one is OK. Not having a foot switch for the trem is a big drawback, as is the lack of Reverb (for me anyway, I love Reverb).The on/off switch is located in a very awkward place, hard to reach when wearing a guitar. It sounds pretty good, though, and gets some good grind in the Mic. Input.
Personally, I don’t think I would buy one, but if you just have a hankering for a new amp, you could do worse for $300.

 

[Dadzmad]

I know this thread is getting old but as these are not so common these days I thought I would chime in. The original browns were designed for a big low-fi sound, I have a blue pro model with an factory Emi 1518. It has massive head room and is really loud when it gets to break up (however OD pedals like a Timmy work well). I have a matched pair of green leaf Sylvania 6v6's and a pair of Svetlana 12AX7's in her and they sound smooth and sweet. The amp works well with this 60's Baja Tele and my Harmony Juno


the pro has a big sound from the 1518 and does not seem to get swallowed when taken outside for a small gathering. A lot of these have been modded with a tone switch but I like the 3 inputs - yes you can plug in two guitars at the same time like some of the old 50's amps - not great but ok for the garage. What I like about the 3 inputs is that it frees me from fiddling with the knobs on the amp. The bright/dark switch is an adjustment for a given instrument and the inputs are a distinct basic voicing that is a starting point for setting the tone knob on your guitar (if it has one). I live near my son these days and we have a few tube amps between us. It is nothing like a Fender. This one has it's own very distinct voice and a fantastic swampy tremolo circuit. The later pro models seem to defeat the original concept for the Excelsior but the blue one has become my main amp ( and of course blue guitars sound much better through blue amps!)

 

[Neal]

Love me some Cracker!

 

[twocorgis]

Love me some Cracker!

Me too. Great band!

 

[crank]

Me three. Big Cracker fan here. My last originals project when writing hooks and solos I would often think - What would Johnny play?

 

[Westerly Wood]

Love me some Cracker!

my fave song of theirs, it's just so perfectly written and done:

 

[Bill Ashton]

I feel that maybe Fender was aiming for the tweed-Fender-Deluxe-vibe on a budget, and from my view they made that! What I have not tried is my (brown...real one!) Fender Reverb unit with it...cannot seem to get it back from my son. I never expected that coming, did I

It is kinda like my old Guild 99-J, their (Guild's) take on a tweed Fender Pro back in the day, but not as clean or as powerful as the Guild. Steve, back me up here!

Don't think its a bad amp, ya just have to audition it, and if not, if you're a gambling man...

Edit: There are a TON of YouTube videos with this amp and its iterations, using a bunch of different guitars...had to stop myself from going down the rabbit hole ...you can have at it, LOL!

 

[SFIV1967]

 

[Canard]

The Vaporiser, also in the Pawn Shop line, is worth checking out, too.