Time for a tube amp!!

[Bob Hoffnar]

In this part of the world you better have a loud amp. I play an average of about 4 live gigs a week. I do not leave the house without something as loud as a twin.

For bigger throw and go bar/dance hall gigs I need to be ready to monitor myself no matter what else is happening on stage or with the sound man.

For smaller gigs I need to be able to cover the room with my stage amp.

I am talking about hundreds of freelance battle condition gigs every year. If you live in a more civilized part of the world or are touring with pros the situation may be different. In central Texas you better be ready to play for 3 hours a night with a big enough gun and plenty of ammo.

[James Hartman]

OP here....I'm currently stuck on my decision. Locally, I've got a Fender Deluxe Reverb (RI) the owner is allowing me to try out. Another steeler from a band we opened for a couple weeks ago was usin one on their tour and it sounded good. This particular venue had the best sound I've ever played with. I have always have PA support if needed, so not sure if I need the extra oomph of a Twin. Plus, the Deluxe is much lighter. However, the price is $700.

I also received an offer on a '67 Twin (non-master) recabbed with a 15". Price is $900 and a 2 hr. Drive to pick it up. I'm sure this puppy is a tone monster and if I was collecting, I'd go ahead and buy it now.

What I need is an amp I can carry to my 2-3 gigs a month and be happy with the tone. It's looking like I'll be playing some big festivals this summer, but still should have PA support and my own monitor feed. I'm just worried the Deluxe will be underpowered, but then again with PA support, who needs the power of the twin?

One of my most used amps is an original 1965 Deluxe Reverb. It's surprisingly loud for a low wattage amp - partly because of my choice of speaker (Weber Silver Bell 50w) and power tubes (JJ 6V6). I mention that because a less efficient speaker, and 6V6s with less headroom would make a significant difference (less clean volume on tap). This amp sounds incredible and almost always garners compliments on its tone from other musicians.

I have no idea whether the reissue DR sounds much like my original. Fender has tended tailor their reissues with an eye toward the young rock guitarist market - probably not a good trend for steel guitar amps. One thing you can count on is the reissue will not be as well built, durable, or easy to service as my vintage amp.

If I wanted a Fender amp that wasn't a pricey collectors item, I'd shop for an early Silverface version of whichever model best suited my needs, and include a couple hundred $$ for service and tweaking in the purchase calculation.