old Concert reverb opinions....

Blues Hurler · December 8th, 2003, 06:39 PM

So I was in a shop trying out an old Beltone archtop (which I may buy), but I was playing it through an old Concert reverb, silver face, single spkr with a large metal dome visible through the cloth, had a couple of pull knobs for boost or bright or something. Thing is, I wasn't really paying attention to the amp, but the more i think about it, the more I'm thinking I might want to buy it. This old guitar actually sounded pretty great through it. I don't know anything about the older Concert. I saw one write-up on the web by a guy who says bascially they're crap (if it's the same model I saw), but I thought it sounded pretty good. Anybody know anything about them? If you need more info. I'll call the shop for more specifics before I go back to look at it. I'm sure they have some idea of the year it was made. ANy questions I should be asking them? I haven't bought a used amp in almost 30 years. Looks in nice shape. Asking $775 Cdn. Thanks.

Brad · December 8th, 2003, 06:45 PM

80's model Fender designed by Paul Rivera. I bought one in 1983?? ( or there abouts ) and it had the push pull knobs, channel switching. I took it back after af ew weeks as I was playing in a top 40 band and it just did not do what I needed it to. Some folks love em...some folks hate em. If you like it. go for it! Sounds like it may have an after market JBL ( or some such ) in there. I don't think they came stock with that speaker.

Mik · December 8th, 2003, 09:44 PM

The metal dome speaker may be the stock Fender Model F speaker (by EV). I found that speaker harsh in my Concert, replaced it with an alnico Weber-now the sound is smoother and warmer.

The amp has a tube driven effects loop-test it out.

Lately the Concert impresses me as better matched to humbuckers and higher output pickups than trad Tele pickups. Last weekend I dug the tone I was getting out of an Epi jazzbox loaded with Gibson Classic '57 hb's into the dimed clean channel.

The footswitch operation is a little quirky in that it seems to suck some tone. The amp opens up a bit more disconnected from the footswitch.

good luck,
Mik

Blues Hurler · December 9th, 2003, 01:00 PM

I've learned that it's an '83, and the store claims all stock, comes with ftswch and manual. I'll have a serious play when time permits. It does have the pull switch for mid boost.

stantheman · December 11th, 2003, 11:54 AM

'vera-era, and It's a great sounding and very
reliable Fender amplifier. I believe the review
you read was probably written by some HC Fool.
The language used at that site is just the epitome
of callous ignorance and a shrine to those who
will never discover the mixolidian mode. I got mine
at G.C. for very cheap money (on the last day
of the month BTW)....stuff that is not "the hot
thang du jour" is the way to buy. I bought my
Les Paul Standard in December '93 at the height
of S.R.V.Clone Mania for $595 (it wasn't in vogue,
they couldn't give it away) that's the way to get
the cool stuff. It always comes around again.
Buy cheap and sell when the demand is crazy

ps: I don't know about other TDPRIers but it has
been months since I've bought ANYTHING off of
E-Bay...I think the stores are giving better deals
on all that is musical 'specially reed instruments.

Blues Hurler · December 11th, 2003, 01:46 PM

I hear ya. The fact that there aren't a lot of people talking about them is a good reason to buy, all else being equal. Anything else I've seen from Fender with tubes is going for considerably more money. Maybe during the boxing-week sale madness.....
Nice score on the LP by the way!

December 8th, 2003, 06:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blues Hurler Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 653 6 Photos	old Concert reverb opinions.... So I was in a shop trying out an old Beltone archtop (which I may buy), but I was playing it through an old Concert reverb, silver face, single spkr with a large metal dome visible through the cloth, had a couple of pull knobs for boost or bright or something. Thing is, I wasn't really paying attention to the amp, but the more i think about it, the more I'm thinking I might want to buy it. This old guitar actually sounded pretty great through it. I don't know anything about the older Concert. I saw one write-up on the web by a guy who says bascially they're crap (if it's the same model I saw), but I thought it sounded pretty good. Anybody know anything about them? If you need more info. I'll call the shop for more specifics before I go back to look at it. I'm sure they have some idea of the year it was made. ANy questions I should be asking them? I haven't bought a used amp in almost 30 years. Looks in nice shape. Asking $775 Cdn. Thanks. __________________ The blues ain't about theory, they's about therapy.

December 8th, 2003, 06:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	I do believe this is an 80's model Fender designed by Paul Rivera. I bought one in 1983?? ( or there abouts ) and it had the push pull knobs, channel switching. I took it back after af ew weeks as I was playing in a top 40 band and it just did not do what I needed it to. Some folks love em...some folks hate em. If you like it. go for it! Sounds like it may have an after market JBL ( or some such ) in there. I don't think they came stock with that speaker. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

December 8th, 2003, 09:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,416	The metal dome speaker may be the stock Fender Model F speaker (by EV). I found that speaker harsh in my Concert, replaced it with an alnico Weber-now the sound is smoother and warmer. The amp has a tube driven effects loop-test it out. Lately the Concert impresses me as better matched to humbuckers and higher output pickups than trad Tele pickups. Last weekend I dug the tone I was getting out of an Epi jazzbox loaded with Gibson Classic '57 hb's into the dimed clean channel. The footswitch operation is a little quirky in that it seems to suck some tone. The amp opens up a bit more disconnected from the footswitch. good luck, Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

December 9th, 2003, 01:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Blues Hurler Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 653 6 Photos	I've learned that it's an '83, and the store claims all stock, comes with ftswch and manual. I'll have a serious play when time permits. It does have the pull switch for mid boost. __________________ The blues ain't about theory, they's about therapy.

December 11th, 2003, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,021	I've got the 4X10 Concert 'vera-era, and It's a great sounding and very reliable Fender amplifier. I believe the review you read was probably written by some HC Fool. The language used at that site is just the epitome of callous ignorance and a shrine to those who will never discover the mixolidian mode. I got mine at G.C. for very cheap money (on the last day of the month BTW)....stuff that is not "the hot thang du jour" is the way to buy. I bought my Les Paul Standard in December '93 at the height of S.R.V.Clone Mania for $595 (it wasn't in vogue, they couldn't give it away) that's the way to get the cool stuff. It always comes around again. Buy cheap and sell when the demand is crazy ps: I don't know about other TDPRIers but it has been months since I've bought ANYTHING off of E-Bay...I think the stores are giving better deals on all that is musical 'specially reed instruments. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

December 11th, 2003, 01:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Blues Hurler Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 653 6 Photos	I hear ya. The fact that there aren't a lot of people talking about them is a good reason to buy, all else being equal. Anything else I've seen from Fender with tubes is going for considerably more money. Maybe during the boxing-week sale madness..... Nice score on the LP by the way! __________________ The blues ain't about theory, they's about therapy.