New Fender amp recommendations, please...

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I've just acquired a fantastic new 'thin skin' Fender Telecaster (a "'62" reissue), and, after eight+ years of using my G&L Asat as my #1 guitar, I'm so enjoying the Fender's bite and top-end! I'd forgotten how much a really good one 'honks'!

It even sounds good through my Nashville-112(!!!), but I'd be grateful for anyone's thoughts on what's good these days in the 'tube/vintage reissue, etc, etc' market.

Are Fenders still good? Are Peavey tube amps (infinitely more affordable) worth a look? I'm playing this new guitar with renewed enthusiasm - I want to give it every chance to shine!
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Roger, I have experience with the Fender Blackface Reissue series - Princeton, Deluxe and Twin (Custom 15). They're not really reissues because they are circuit board amps; they are more of a tribute than anything. Of all three, the Princeton is the nicest. It outshines the others in "authentic" Blackface Fender sounds. If you are just looking for a club size Fender, I'd go with the Princeton reissue. It's a loud 14 watts, it's light, and has a nice reverb. I believe they are in the vicinity of $900. It's a lot of amp for a 110. There have been some quality control issues with newer Fender amps, but the only problems I've had so far have been with a Custom 15 that was faulty; the replacement is great. The Deluxe has not given me any problems.

A cheaper route could be a Peavey Classic 30. It is nice single 12" tube amp, and could be had in the $300 area used. But in opinion, Fender goes nicest with Fender.
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Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

The hot rod Deluxe is a great sounding amp, and so is the Classic 30. The classic 30 is a little harder to work on, Either one is a good choice. JP
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Carter,PV,Fender

Tim Walker · From: Marin County, CA (originally U.K)

Hey Roger,
The Peavey Delta Blues 1x15 is a great tele amp - definitely worth checking out. Sounds good for steel at small gigs as well and not too heavy.
Cheers,
Tim

Tim Walker · From: Marin County, CA (originally U.K)

Hey Roger,
The Peavey Delta Blues 1x15 is a great tele amp - definitely worth checking out. Sounds good for steel at small gigs as well and not too heavy.
Cheers,
Tim

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Tim! You can say that again! I also like my Delta Blues 15"er. But I upgraded the transformers. Teles sound great through 15" speakers.

Robert Szpuk · From: California, USA

I am sitting here looking at 3 different Harmony amps from the 60's that currently have my favor. 2 that i have brought back from dead and 1 great buy on a 420 model with a 15" speaker. The main "voice" i love for rock/blues comes from the smaller of the 3 with a 10" speaker that really pleases me with 2 knobs [tone at 2-3 vol 8+]and 4 tubes or the largest with the added thump of the 15". numerous similar/different options too. Then again I am an old one trick pony prowling around old tubes and speakers. just wondering who else finds their sounds this way. By the way, what's headroom? regards rob............................................ playin poorly on a variety of laps, mainly supro and solid body single coil electrics and too many resurrected tube amps n laps, a growing obsession.

Eddie Thomas · From: Macon,Ga.,USA

Hello Roger, I have a late model Fender Twin Reverb, its a Protube model. And it really "honks" with G&L's or Tele's, as I have both. Really good sound, if you are interested, please let me know. I will make you an excellent deal on it. I have too many amps and need to thin the herd. Thanks!

Charlie Thompson · From: South Carolina, USA

I purchased a new Supersonic and it quit working in a couple of days. Exchanged it for a Deluxe Reissue which has been great for smaller venues and getting a good tone for miking for guitar. I've also played steel through it on some gigs. Its light but packs a pretty good punch for 22 watts.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I don't like the new Fender amps. I have been through a few of the reissues and they didn't cut it or hold up in my experience.
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Bob

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

I played through the custom shop low power twin reissue and I though it sounded really great.

I'm not big on the other new ones.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Roger, although I am a die hard Fender fruit cake and have been for years, when speaking of amps, value and price there are three Peavey's out there that should be looked at very close up, The Classic 30 which uses EL84's and the two Classic 50's ( 2x12) (4x10) also using EL84's. I recently acquired a Classic 30 and now when I gig only on Guitar this is the go to amp. The Fender Hot Rod Deville comes out when I play Steel and Guitar. The N400 comes out when it is a Steel only gig.

Before you pull the trigger on a high price Fender amp plug into a Classic 30 or Classic 50 ( designed after the AC30's) or one of the Hot Rod Fender series if you haven't already.

Here is my classic 30 with the Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive and the $39 DanElectro Tremelo. I couldn't be more pleased with the flexibility that this setup offers. Everything from stellar clean to Brad P.

I'm not a big fan of the new Fender RI models or the new twins, overpriced and under valued in my estimation.

PS, I also like the Delta Blues 15 mentioned above, but the Classics are my first choice.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Best bang for the buck all-round use (lap steel and guitar) amp available.

Gibson Hartwell · From: Missoula, Montana, USA

Roger, Lots of people are using the new fender amps. If I'm recalling correctly a couple of well known folks including Marc Ribot and Duke Robillard (sp?) have used the Deluxe Reissue live. I like my Twin RI for steel (too loud for six string for me). Good luck!

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

I agree that the Peavey classic 30 is a better amp than the equivalent Fender new amps. The overdrive channel isn't my favorite, but the clean channel sounds great.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Roger,I played my Strat thru a Twin re-issue this summer at our state fair,it sounded great I couldn't blow it up,I think that If I had another 45 minutes I could've done some damage...just kidding,I've been playing guitar out of Fender amps since I was a little fat kid and the re-issue sounded like a great Fender. Winking

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Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Thanks, everyone, for taking the trouble to reply.

I've just been playing this amazing Telecaster again (I can hardly put it down!) and I'm still stunned by how good it is through my Nashville 112 - which is definitely NOT a great guitar-amp! Okay, but not great.

I'll be spending some time at the local music-stores shortly, taking my faux-'62 with me. Best to avoid a Saturday, I guess - I dropped into the Ft Myers Guitar Center last week and the noise-level was appalling!

Just like a fire in a pet-shop......

I do hope a Peavey works for me, because $400-$500 works better than twice that amount, but I'll keep an open mind. I'm also very impressed with Peavey's reliability.

The best amp I ever had for guitar was my old 1962 beige Fender Showman piggy-back; it had a single 15" something-or-other, but I was as gear-conscious in those days - it may have been a Jensen.

Of course, I was playing my 1958 Gibson Super 400 at the time, so I expect that didn't hurt my sound any....

Thanks again for all your thoughts.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Roger, I guess I should have added that I purchased my Classic 30 for $300 used, it is I believe a 2003 amp in ex shape, I doubt it has ever been out of my friends house. I don't think they are that cheap new . The used market has these in the $300 to $350 range in ex shape.

I believe $400/$500 or so on the used market will get a pretty good amp, actually real good ! Our band has used at least 3 Classic 50's over the past few years and they are really great too, loud, clean all that stuff, competes with my Hot Rod Deville in every category and I think the Fender Hot Rod series are the best !

By the way, one of the Tele's my buddy was playing was a 62 RI, great guitar ! 3 color burst, white binding, rosewood neck, it was awesome !

Good luck

tp

David Doggett · Posted 9 Dec 2008 7:47 am

The Peavey Classic 30 and the Delta Blues (same amp, bigger cab and speaker?) have no backs, not even slats, and I'm guessing the same for the Classic 50. They are thin and trebley compared to Fenders. I greatly improved the low end of my Delta Blues by adding some plywood back pieces, shaped sort of like the back pieces on the old Tweed Fenders. In addition to protecting the tubes and providing a bin to store the cord, this low tech mod was the easiest and most effective mod I ever made on an amp.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

The Peavey Classic 30 sounds great but is a techs nightmare.
Too many, too close, PC boards connected by brittle/fragile ribbon cables.
I have one I am putting off rebuilding.
The metal fatigue seems to be reaching its life span,
by many tech boards reports.
Again a great sounding and playing amp,
but many reports say they are now unstable and that's a shame.
A rebuilt one is a good unit if you can find one.

The last 2 years at the blues festival I mixed 2 dozen
different players playing through the fest director's
personal 2006 Deluxe Reverb.

It has switching and routing and the modern things,
but from clean blues through grit to searing slide leads
this amp sounds very, very good with MANY different players.
Not too large and unwieldy, never seems to fade out as too weak etc.
And this is on a large outdoor stage too.
And it mics up easy for me too.

I know I have just contradicted two people whom I respect,
but thought a alternate perspective was needed also.
My 2¢

If I had a non major marque unit it would be a
Ceriatone Overtone Special 50w or 100w in
a combo cab with a 75w or 125w 15" Weber speaker.
That is one heck of a twang and scream machine.

Basically D**ble clone like those really mod'd
Fenders of the 70-90s.
I'll be playing out with it tomorrow night w/ 112 tone ring cab.

I am waiting to see how many at the festival
pick this one this year, with 210s open back
and 115 tone ring cab below.

In the end I am building my own amps tuned to my likes.
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DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!

Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

lets not forget though that the Classic 30 is a small amp, compact, small cab. They are now being made with tube guards unlike the early versions which had none.

Each of the Classic 50's we had all had tube guards and the cab thing didn't seem to be an issue.They all( 30 as well) have a lower panel in the back so you can carry stuff around in the back of the amp cabinet and it won't fall out !

I don't find the classic 30 much more treble ended than my HR Deville or HR Deluxe, I did find the Delta Blues strong on the treble, very strong.

Side by side with stock speakers, the HR Deville and the Classic 30 are pretty close in the overall tone thing in my opinion, but not in the weight factor ! The C-30 has less strength on the bottom end but I think mostly because it is a single 12 compared to the 2x12 fender amp as well as being a 30 watt amp vs a 60 watt amp.

I really like both amps and can't see me looking for another unless someone calls and is selling me an AC- 30 for $100 !

ok, what don't I like about it ? Tube rattle and the lack of a factory tube guard on the one that I have.There are after market add ons (cheap) for both issues with the early models, Peavey I believe solved these issues on newer models.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Tony

My new Tele is not just a '62 reissue, but one of Wildwood Guitars' 'Thin Skin' reissues made by the Custom Shop exclusively for them. It's just a nitro-cellulose finish with no other coating. They are magnificent, and it is my intention to post a more-detailed review in 'Music' before too long. The frets are higher than standard and the guitar seems to sustain for ever!

It's taken just six days for me to fully acknowledge that this is the best Tele I ever had my hands on.

I'm a truly happy camper, with every intention of buying another - these are so good that I can't imagine that it'll be very long before some suited genius at Fender decides to 'pull the plug'.....
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Roger, send me that Tele, let me borrow it for a year, I'll let you know if it's any good ! I promise to send it back. uhmmmm..
maybe

tp

Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

I don't think those are made exclusively for Wildwood Guitars. For example, here are a couple: ebay and Dave's Guitar.

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