Re: Help me pick a new amp, please!

darkstriker · Post by **darkstriker** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:41 pm

This is not a regular "pick a new amp", folks!

There's this guy living a few miles from me who builds DIY amps relatively cheap. Since I need a new one, I was leaning toward saving up to buy a Fender Twin Amp, when it hit me. Why not order a custom made from this guy?

What I need you guys to help me with is to choose the model for it. I was searching for Fender amp schematics, and came across this big list. Since I am not familiar with lots of the older Fender amps (Portugal had an embargo on most foreign goods until 1974 and vintage stuff is expensive as heck around here), I´d like to get some opinions!

My first thought was just get a Twin Amp Clone. But can you think of a better clean/overdrive combination? Any mods? A third channel voiced in a more bluesy way?

I'm a sucker for Hendrix, SRV and Pink Floyd, and currently play in an indie band heavily influenced on Libertines and the likes.

Thanks everyone!

mjet · Post by **mjet** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:03 pm

Bear in mind that blackface/silverface (ie 60s/70s) Twins are famous for one thing - huge amounts of clean sound. Sure, you can use pedals to dirty the sound up but if you're looking at a custom job, it seems to me that you get something that'll be a bit more appropriate to your needs. Tweed-era Fender amps are known to have a bit more crunch. Additionally you could look at lower-powered amps (like the Pro Reverb at 40w) which let you push the amp a bit.

Post by **mezcalhead** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:59 pm

I agree, whether you want to use the amp breakup and how loud your band plays are important.

As for having different channels, in my experience the different channels of Fenders don't sound that different unless they're modded deliberately, eg: a lot of blackface Bassman heads seem to have one channel modded with a master volume and to be dirtier.

If you're just going with the standard schematic with no mods, then blackface Fenders tend to be more clear and sparkly whereas tweeds are more aggressive and nasal/bluesy and crunch more readily as Michael says. If you want to push your amp into breakup then get a smaller wattage like a Deluxe (tweed or blackface) .. if you want lots of clean headroom try a blackface Twin design or a tweed Bassman (the 4x10). Depending on the volume your band plays at, there are schematics that fall in between like the Vibrolux.

SRV used a Vibroverb as part of his sound I think .. but AFAIK neither Hendrix or Pink Floyd regularly used Fender amps.

darkstriker · Post by **darkstriker** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:10 pm

Right.

I am planning on using pedals to dirty the sound, and I love amps with lots of headroom (thus my choice of the Twin Amp, because of the option to have a drive channel when needed). Right now, I'm leaning toward a straight copy of a Twin Amp. (Oh... and Hendrix didn't use fender, but he used marshalls when they were almost tweed fender copies).

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:55 am

darkstriker wrote: Right.

I am planning on using pedals to dirty the sound, and I love amps with lots of headroom (thus my choice of the Twin Amp, because of the option to have a drive channel when needed). Right now, I'm leaning toward a straight copy of a Twin Amp. (Oh... and Hendrix didn't use fender, but he used marshalls when they were almost tweed fender copies).

Actually, I think he did use Fender Twin amps in the studio. Of course, I could be mistaken here, but I'm pretty sure that he used Fender blackface amps.

Why not just really customize the amp? If I am going to have custom built clone, something that won't be about preserving originality, I might be inclined to take a classic amp tone and modify it. Experimentation is pretty fun.

Superfuzz · Post by **Superfuzz** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:10 am

You can always go with some cross designs..I don't know how much similar could be, but when I use Guitar Rig 2 I love to use a Bassman thru a jcm800 cab..sounds like a marshall crunch with fender loudness and EQ shape..

geoffreysnow · Post by **geoffreysnow** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:15 am

srv used clean loud amps so a twin would work... but those are very complicated circuits and not that expensive used.

i can't find the pic now but i remember a few years ago seeing hendrix with a stack of fender amps... but why can't you have the guy make a marshall? they're just as complicated as old fenders.

StevenO · Post by **StevenO** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:23 am

darkstriker wrote: Right.

I am planning on using pedals to dirty the sound, and I love amps with lots of headroom (thus my choice of the Twin Amp, because of the option to have a drive channel when needed). Right now, I'm leaning toward a straight copy of a Twin Amp. (Oh... and Hendrix didn't use fender, but he used marshalls when they were almost tweed fender copies).

I think you're thinking of the new fender twin amp which has the the gain channels as well as the clean channel and is 100 watts. Those "twin amp"'s are not the same thing as the vintage twin amps.

darkstriker · Post by **darkstriker** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:41 am

That's the one I'm thinking of

Maybe there was some misunderstanding, but that's the Pro Tube Twin Amp I know and love

Sauerkraut · Post by **Sauerkraut** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:00 am

darkstriker wrote: That's the one I'm thinking of

Maybe there was some misunderstanding, but that's the Pro Tube Twin Amp I know and love

argh, they're awful!

go to a shop and try a few different amps, if you still think the Twin is the best than I guess you found your amp, but I think you'll find it's one of the worst (if not THE worst) tube amp Fender ever made.

darkstriker · Post by **darkstriker** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:27 am

Really? Well... I hope to get the chance of testing some more amps before I make any decision, but it's not easy to do it here.

I'll have to spend a weekend in London or in Madrid to get to try out some amps. Nearest Orange is 350 km from here :\

Sauerkraut · Post by **Sauerkraut** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:24 am

darkstriker wrote: Really? Well... I hope to get the chance of testing some more amps before I make any decision, but it's not easy to do it here.

I'll have to spend a weekend in London or in Madrid to get to try out some amps. Nearest Orange is 350 km from here :\

when you try the Twin make sure you turn it up loud, you'll notice it doesn't have much 'body' (yes, I admit, I'm terrible at describing sound).

darkstriker · Post by **darkstriker** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:24 am

You mean low end? If that's the downside, it's not really a problem. But I'll be sure to try that out as soon as I get the chance! Can you name me an amp that gives me the huge headroom and an acceptable "body"?

Sauerkraut · Post by **Sauerkraut** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:41 am

darkstriker wrote: You mean low end? If that's the downside, it's not really a problem. But I'll be sure to try that out as soon as I get the chance! Can you name me an amp that gives me the huge headroom and an acceptable "body"?

Twin Reverb: nice pronounced low end and tons of headroom.

Maggieo · Post by **Maggieo** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:15 pm

How about a Fender Bassman? Isn't that what the first Marshalls were based on?