Grateful Dead Music Forum

strumminsix wrote:seriously, why do all that to a so-so amp when for not much more you can get a delicious SF fender?!

Agreed, right now is a great time to pick up a Silverface. People are dumping gear left and right on Ebay and Craigslist. I just picked up a 1972 Pro Reverb AND a 1970 Twin Reverb for $900. They needed tubes and caps. Sold the Twin the other day kept the Pro. I have serious GAS.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=004

Nothing like a good clean (waiting anxiously for the TUBES to warm up) FENDER!

strumminsix wrote:seriously, why do all that to a so-so amp when for not much more you can get a delicious SF fender?!

In my case, because a freakin' SF Twin weighs the same as my car.

Your car is that lightweight?

Chuckles wrote:

strumminsix wrote:seriously, why do all that to a so-so amp when for not much more you can get a delicious SF fender?!

In my case, because a freakin' SF Twin weighs the same as my car.

What?! Fender made a couple other amps besides a Twin.
Why are you even comparing the Blues Deluxe to a Twin?!
2 totally different amps. Totally different voices.

You will NEVER get a BD to sound like a Twin, NEVER.

I think the Pro Reverb would be closer to a BD.

strumminsix wrote:I think the Pro Reverb would be closer to a BD.

This is true (both = 2X6L6).

As for why someone would buy a BD or HRD over a SF Fender, one, they generally can be had more cheaply, two, some folks like a new amp w/warranty, three, SF Fenders don't channel-switch.

Not saying this is the best approach to what to buy, just acknowledging the reasons.

Jon S. wrote:

strumminsix wrote:I think the Pro Reverb would be closer to a BD.

This is true (both = 2X6L6).

As for why someone would buy a BD or HRD over a SF Fender, one, they generally can be had more cheaply, two, some folks like a new amp w/warranty, three, SF Fenders don't channel-switch.

Not saying this is the best approach to what to buy, just acknowledging the reasons.

Thanks, Jon! I agree with your rationale. My experience with current production Fenders has been very poor so an amp in the shop, even under warranty, is a bad thing.

I have a '93 BD and love it. Recently I thought I needed an amp upgrade so I bought a used Rivera 30-12. It was a great amp but I returned it and stupidly bought a used Fender Super Reverb. Don't like it at all. Don't like the 10" speaker, need my 12" Don't like the reverb. Too big and heavy. (Did I mention my lack of brains at times) Anyway, have gone right back to the BD and love it. MAy need to do a speaker upgrade as it can get a bit muddy at times, I like to play with lower tone. Love the deep sounds this can make. It has held up well for 15+ years, from coast to coast. Retubed and reverb fix is all. Good amps, and mine has that warm Fender tone. It is warmer than The Super Reverb. Now I just gotta unload that! Glad you got it. By the way I can learn more about amps through forums than anywhere else!

strumminsix wrote:

Chuckles wrote:

strumminsix wrote:seriously, why do all that to a so-so amp when for not much more you can get a delicious SF fender?!

In my case, because a freakin' SF Twin weighs the same as my car.

What?! Fender made a couple other amps besides a Twin.
Why are you even comparing the Blues Deluxe to a Twin?!
2 totally different amps. Totally different voices.

You will NEVER get a BD to sound like a Twin, NEVER.

I think the Pro Reverb would be closer to a BD.

Yeah, you're right of course. But those were the two I was looking at and were available. I'm quite pleased with the tone on the BD.

The reason for doing all that work on a "so-so" amp is that it is no longer "so-so" when you're done, right?


In this case, much work has been done to upgrade components (including a new reverb tank). I don't see going down Jon's road, though. Who know, maybe I'll end up hating it in a month... but for now I'm very pleased with the phatter sound.

Chuckles wrote:

strumminsix wrote:

Chuckles wrote:In my case, because a freakin' SF Twin weighs the same as my car.

What?! Fender made a couple other amps besides a Twin.
Why are you even comparing the Blues Deluxe to a Twin?!
2 totally different amps. Totally different voices.

You will NEVER get a BD to sound like a Twin, NEVER.

I think the Pro Reverb would be closer to a BD.

Yeah, you're right of course. But those were the two I was looking at and were available. I'm quite pleased with the tone on the BD.

The reason for doing all that work on a "so-so" amp is that it is no longer "so-so" when you're done, right?


In this case, much work has been done to upgrade components (including a new reverb tank). I don't see going down Jon's road, though. Who know, maybe I'll end up hating it in a month... but for now I'm very pleased with the phatter sound.

Ahh, I see. Sadly with vintage gear you are at the mercy of on-line places if you know exactly what ya want and just need to buy it and plan on plopping down some cash for: tune-up, caps, and always seem to need a new tremolo roach.

Yes, you are right, when properly upgraded it will no longer be a so-so amp but instead a high-quality amp. IMO, I'd rather not put that into it. But that's just me. If what hits you in the ears makes ya smile that's all that matters isn't it?! And cuz it is I'm happy for ya!

Yeah I actually almost bought a BF Twin off craigslist but it went too fast. They were only selling it for $700 so it must have gone right away.

The way I look at gear is, if you get it and play it for a year or two and dont like it you can always sell it and use that money to get a nicer amp.

My problem with buying amps is that Im so anxious to get something I dont have too much time to save money.

Right now I have a new CRATE FlexWave 120 Watt 2x12 SS combo (which I really like for a SS amp) which cost me about $400 and this DeVille that'll cost me about a little under $600 (including the cost of the amp and replacing the output tubes and a tune up). And I also have a Fender ReIssue Champ, just a little 5watt tuber (that might I add Ive had to get replaced twice!) that I paid $200 for. If I had been patient enough to save that money Id have a nice Twin by now.


Another question to jonarob or anyone who has some amp knowledge . . . . What do you think about the new Twins . . . . probably not too much, eh?

CaptainTrips wrote:The way I look at gear is, if you get it and play it for a year or two and dont like it you can always sell it and use that money to get a nicer amp.

"Buy used - play for free."

BTW, I've heard several of the new Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissues. They sound excellent. Perhaps not exactly the same as a BF but as we all know, not all BFs sound alike, either. For all I know, the DRRI's sound very close to how the BFs actually sounded new. Some folks clip the treble bleed cap and say the amp then is very much like a true BF.*

* EDIT: I might actually be thinking of the amp's slope resistor rather than bleed cap (can't recall at present).

CaptainTrips wrote: Another question to jonarob or anyone who has some amp knowledge . . . . What do you think about the new Twins . . . . probably not too much, eh?

The re-issues? I had nothing but trouble with 4 units.

You experienced what you experienced. That can't be denied. And I get it that you really don't like new Fender amps.

Here's where I get my own "sample size" from on this one. I know a bunch of people who personally own the DRRI who I've jammed with myself. Also, folks talk about the amp all over cyberspace.

Again, personally, I'd buy a SF today if I wanted one (actually, in "real life," I bought a Tone King ) but a new one is a fine option in my estimation.

Different strokes ...

The 65' Reissue series doesn't sound good to my ears. Again, the reliability issues persist with them as well. The jacks, speakers, speaker cable, reverb cables, reverb tank, and tubes all should be replaced.

The 65' Twin Reverb is the most problematic and least legit sounding re-issue. It's running a bridge rectifier on the power supply as opposed to a full wave rectifier. The power transformer is not even center tapped. Those circuit alterations alone insures that it will never perform like a BF. The power transformers give up in 3 out of 10. Factor in all the cheap ceramic film resitors and metallized Korean poly tone caps. About the only thing worthwhile is the wood cab. It's a good project amp if you want to actually build a BF Twin Reverb. But you could buy a repro cab and all the components for a fraction of the price for a new 65' Reissue. Off the shelf they bite.

The 65' Deluxe and Super suffer from the same low quality build components and strangled tone.