I just got to get something else.

[ye olde fretmonkey]

My Peavey C30 is just getting too temperamental and unreliable. It's too bad, because the other C30 I had was pretty solid until it had been subjected to several years of being knocked around. I just want to sell this one and move on.

Can't bring my Twin to most gigs. Don't want to sell the Twin, it's too good of an amp. Can't use my SF Champ, not loud enough for any gigs. Can't bring my 80s Laney ProTube/Marshall cab half-stack, obviously.

So I got to sell the Peavey, the extension cabinet and probably liquidate some other stuff to come up with $700 or so to move on. I don't have $$ to to toss around, so this is a big decision for me.

Don't think $700 will get me into a SF Deluxe (maybe a 65 reissue, but I don't see em for sale very often). Don't want another Blues Jr, don't care for the Hot Rod or Deville series amps. I really want a ptp Fender of some sort, but the prices on em have just become absurd lately.

Sooooooo...I'm open to suggestions and throwin' it out there. Got to have something in the 22 watt range, plenty of clean headroom, reverb, tremelo and a Fendery sound

[BritishBluesBoy]

Be patient and keep looking - you might be surprised at what you can find a decent SFDR for. I got mine a year or so ago for less than a new reissue...

Just keep them eyes peeled... Keep tracking what's on eBay, craigslist etc... You'll find one...

Cheers!

[Tim Armstrong]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, run your Champ through a bigger speaker or speakers, and you'll be AMAZED at how much louder it is. Serious!

Get an adapter and run that rascal through your Twin Reverb's speakers and you'll see what I mean!

Cheers, Tim

[petebradt]

You can build a great 5F4 Super for $700.

[Murphy Slaw]

Man, don't throw stuff at me for mentioning "MESA".......

But, being in Austin you might find a used Blue Angel. I paid (I think) $650 for my 1;12 combo without a speaker, slapped a V30 in it and, wow.

2;6V6's Class A (15 watts), or, 4;EL84's Class A (30 watts), or all 6 tubes with 38 watts.

Non master volume, 5 knobs. Volume, bass, middle, high, reverb.

I gigged with this amp 1 time and ordered a flight case from Xcase. My Fender Prosonic has been retired ever since.

I know most people don't think Mesa when they think clean, thick, pretty sounds, which is why the Blue Angel didn't sell well enough to stay on the Mesa production line. But it's a really good sounding amp.

Best of luck.

Murph.

[11 Gauge]

How about running the Twin on just a pair of JJ 6V6S's with a rebias, and possibly one speaker disabled? It'll still weigh a ton, but will cost almost nothing, and the changes will be 100% reversible...

...Or maybe a quad of YellowJackets with a pair of Jensen Neos? That way, you'll cut the power and the weight, and won't have to take it to a tech for the rebias.

I'd look for affordable options for dropping power on the Twin. JMO.

[maestrovert]

STF is a kit amp supplier, but their amps are also available in "turn-key" form.....
i have one of their 5E3 Deluxe heads, and am well pleased, an' their "Super Champ" (parallel single ended) is quite intriguing too....

they jes' might have something for ya worth lookin' into....

[getbent]

I'd hunt for a musicman rp 100. you should be able to find one for 300.00, buy a demeter tremulator and you'd be set. 1X12 and plenty of amp. I have two mm amps and this thing is crazy! I love how it sounds.

if that won't work, you should be able to get a sf vibrolux for that price... that would be perfecto!

[3 Chord]

Different brands other than Fender (but nothing wrong with Fender),

used Music Man 1-12
new Carvin
new Epiphone Blues Custom
new Traynor
or if you liked your C30, maybe a new one that is more reliable

There are lots of choices but there is still the obvious. The real deal, the DRRI or SFDR.

good luck

[jh45gun]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

How about running the Twin on just a pair of JJ 6V6S's with a rebias, and possibly one speaker disabled? It'll still weigh a ton, but will cost almost nothing, and the changes will be 100% reversible...

...Or maybe a quad of YellowJackets with a pair of Jensen Neos? That way, you'll cut the power and the weight, and won't have to take it to a tech for the rebias.

I'd look for affordable options for dropping power on the Twin. JMO.

I am not trying to be smarta$$ed why go through all of that when you have a volume knob? I guess I do not understand as for years if I wanted it quieter I turned it down if louder I turned it up. For dirt I used a pedal. Always seemed to work for me. I guess instead of trying to make a twin what it is not I would just get an amp that does and keep the twin like he said.

[ye olde fretmonkey]

There's something about Twins, even at low volumes, that gets people hollerin to turn it down at quiet gigs. I think it's just 2 12s moving more air and being more "present" in the room, even if it's just turned up to 2.

I'm frankly irked by the fact that Vibros and Deluxes are as insanely expensive as they are now. It's not like they're rare, they made thousands upon thousands of those amps over the years. It's just that they're desirable more than rare.

[ol man]

Good advises here - I'll toss this in:
get a used Traynor YCV 40
before prices are climbing...
Great great amp, like a Deluxe on steroids and
also the only massproduced amp I've encountered with
two channels which both are actually highly usable.
No, it's not PTP but who cares? Hands down overall better
build quality than later years Fenders I dare say.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by ye olde fretmonkey

I'm frankly irked by the fact that Vibros and Deluxes are as insanely expensive as they are now.

There was a thread recently regarding the likelihood that prices will start to fall - let's hope it's true!

[ye olde fretmonkey]

I'd consider a Rivera-period Fender if I could find one at the right price, like a Deluxe Reverb II. They're still affordable, at least, but I'd need to spend a good amount of time playing one first.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by jh45gun

I am not trying to be smarta$$ed why go through all of that when you have a volume knob? I guess I do not understand as for years if I wanted it quieter I turned it down if louder I turned it up. For dirt I used a pedal. Always seemed to work for me. I guess instead of trying to make a twin what it is not I would just get an amp that does and keep the twin like he said.

Well, there's really two issues here.

First, a Twin is just a loud amp, even when exercising your "volume knob options".

Second, the OP has some serious financial constraints.

It sounds like a Deluxe Reverb would be the best fit, but an affordable one can't be located at the present time...

...Next best thing IMO would be to make the Twin mimic a DR a bit - drop the power and lose a speaker. Not optimal, but do-able. And completely reversible.

[Jakedog]

I know you said you don't like the Hot Rods, and frankly while I enjoyed one for awhile, I wasn't a big fan overall. I just bought one of the Blues Deluxe re-issues, the tweed 1X12, and it's light years different from the Hot Rod. After re-placing the crappy factory pre-amp tubes, it's one sweet little beast. I think the Hot Rod Dlx, with the "drive" and "more drive" channel switching, has something going on with that circuitry that negatively effects the tone. The Blues Dlx RI is still a channel switcher, but in a more traditional sense. It doesn't have the "more drive" function, and the dirt channel is lower gain than the Hot Rod, it actually sounds nice, not harsh and abrasive like the Hot Rod. As for the cleans, I'm really liking them. Much more of a traditional Fender tone than the HR series. Not a Twin, but very nice. Many years ago I ran a pair of early 70's SFDR's as my gig rig. This is by far the nicest sounding amp I've had since then. YMMV.

By the way, big box tag price is right about $700, but you can haggle. Base cost is a touch over $500, and you ought to be able to haggle into one for between five and six.


The Traynor YCV 40 was a great suggestion. I have one of those too. Really nice amp for the $$$ if you buy used (I got mine for $200). And as mentioned, both channels are highly useable. They also a YCV20 1X12. Not sure how much headroom it's got, I haven't played one, but they get smokin' reviews.


Jake

[jh45gun]

OK fair enough about the volume issue I know a Super does not get the volume a twin does but when I had my SR I never had any issues with it as far as the vol knob turned down nor with my Peavey Classic Chorus 212.

[IronJoe]

I see DRRIs on ebay for less than 700 all the time. That's probably your best option. Can you put a mic in front of your amp at gigs? You may be able to find a SFPR for around 700-800 on ebay.

Have you considered an AC15? Reverb and Tremolo, but not really "Fendery."

It might be easiest and most cost effective to just have the C30 repaired.

[spankdplank]

Old Ampegs have fantastic reverb and tremolo and lots of clean headroom, which you won't get in a tweed deluxe or similar kit build. Ampeg Reverberocket IIs and Gemini I & IIs from the mid to late sixties have their own sound but they are very similar to a Deluxe Reverb as far as volume and watts and they are very well built. These are available for well under $700--more like $500 or $600. I have a 67 RR II that is cut down to a head and that I use with various speaker cabinets and it is very gig worthy.

[ye olde fretmonkey]

Had a 64 Ampeg Reverberocket 2 and loved it. Had to let of it during hard times and have always kicked myself for it. Unfortunately I'd be leery of getting one now because the tubes are a little too exotic.

Had 3 Music Mans over the years and always found the clean sound to be a little bit antiseptic.

Never had a Vox, wouldn't rule one out. Haven't played a late model Traynor combo amp. Not gonna mutilate my Twin Reverb to make a different amp out of it. Don't really want to keep fixing my Peavey because I can't hang onto any piece of gear that isn't reliable.

My main gripe about amps like Hot Rod Deluxes, Peavey Classics, Kustoms, Traynors, Crates, etc etc is just the build quality and the materials. They cut every possible corner: ribbon connectors, cheapo pots and jacks, particle board cabinets, pots and tube sockets mounted directly onto (thin) circuit boards. Those are all points where an amp can give you trouble down the line if it's gigged a lot, and are unfortunately things you will find in about any new combo amp that's below a certain price point.

My tech doesn't care for most reissue stuff from Fender, including the 65 Twin reissues, but he seems to like the 65 Deluxe reissue just fine. Chances are I am going to go that route once I work up the $$ from liquidating what I've already got. I can always work up more $$ and trade up for a 70s silverface at some point down the line if I want.

[nonvintage]

A hot rodded SF Princeton Reverb w/ext cab would definitely fill any small to medium sized club without being mic'd if you're the only guitar player. If not then mic'd depending on what, the OP is using.

[Murphy Slaw]

Ask your tech about the build quality of a Mesa Blue Angel.

Or, better yet. Just grab one and curl it!

Murph.

[Tim Armstrong]

Okay, no interest in trying the Champ through your Twin speakers, eh?

Here's another way to go:

70s Traynor YGM-3 Guitarmate. 20-ish watts (2xEL84) into a single 12" speaker. Built like a brick smokehouse sounds like a cross between a Deluxe Reverb and a Marshall. GREAT reverb, trippy tremelo, they're still selling for under $500...



I upgraded the one weak link (the stock Marsland speaker) with a Celestion G12H-80, and it's a killer!

Mine sits lonely, as I have a Princeton Reverb that I really dig even more...

Cheers, Tim

[ye olde fretmonkey]

Tim, I've thought about going the Guitar Mate route. A buddy of mine had one from GC when he worked there, I remember it being pretty sweaty sounding with a Guild S-100 humbucker guitar.

Questions: How much sparkle does it have? And how much clean headroom can you get out of one? How did the Celestion affect the tone?

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by ye olde fretmonkey

Tim, I've thought about going the Guitar Mate route. A buddy of mine had one from GC when he worked there, I remember it being pretty sweaty sounding with a Guild S-100 humbucker guitar.

Questions: How much sparkle does it have? And how much clean headroom can you get out of one? How did the Celestion affect the tone?

I ain't Tim (and Tim, I don't mean to step on your toes brother, I'm just a former Guitar Mate owner with some input, feel free to slap me if'n we ever meet).

I sold my Guitar Mate 30. Reason being, it sounded killer in my house, or my rehearsal room, or anywhere else I took it, until the whole band started playing, then it disappeared. Mine just had a treble and bass, no mid control, and it ain't like a Deluxe. The mids in mine were non-existant. No matter what tubes or speaker I put in. It was just so scooped that it sounded great alone, but wouldn't cut through butter, no matter how loud I cranked it. It just got totally lost in any mix. YMMV. For what it's worth, I think mine was a bit older or newer than Tim's model, (they don't look much alike) and the problem may have been R&D'd out of it, or into it, at some point. Who knows.


Jake