"big" Fender amps... obsolete?

[StoogeSurfer]

I won't bore you with the story about my '73 Super Reverb.

OK actually I will. Leaving home for college in 1975, I needed to downsize the amp, which was a 2x15 Carvin cabinet with a Bandmaster head ... put an ad in the paper (people read newspapers then) and managed to find a sucker, I mean guy who would trade me his then two-year old amp for my rig. Took that Super to college and have had it ever since. Frankly at the time I felt sort of like a weenie for "downsizing" my amp.

Seems to me that a lot of seriously working bands are using a Vibrolux these days. Just an observation. For me, a Blues Deluxe is more than enough for most clubs, and that's what I use. I had a vintage JBL 15" in it for a while and it kicked a$$ but eventually even the weight of that got to me, and I put the 12 inch Emi back in.

[Radspin]

Funny, I use my Dual Showman Reverb and Bandmaster for in-the-house playing (usually when no one else is around!) and my PR, VOX DA-5 and ZT Lunchbox for gigs! I don't want to carry big amps around anymore and the small ones are fine for my low-volume band.

Back in the '70s and early '80s, though, I wouldn't think of playing with anything less than a Bandmaster--I would crank it to 10 and get a great sound.

And there's nothing like a Twin Reverb. It occupies a sonic universe all its own; nothing else sounds like it or probably ever will.

[T Prior]

Originally Posted by Radspin

And there's nothing like a Twin Reverb. It occupies a sonic universe all its own; nothing else sounds like it or probably ever will.

And that's why there has been a plethora of manufacturers for almost half a century now, making 2x12 tube amps trying to make a better TWIN REVERB... Even Fender tried !


"We need "Creamier" Creamy Peanut Butter I tell ya "

[Paul in Colorado]

I have two big Fender amps, A Dual Showman Reverb head (Twin equiv.) and a Bandmaster Reverb. I run them through a 2 x 12" small Bassman clone cab with JBL K-120's. Eventually, I will put them in combo cabs, the DSR in a 2 x 12" and the BMR in a 3 x 10". I like the small tranny in the Bandmaster and since Tweed Bandmasters had three tens, so should the BMR combo.

Most of the time I gig with a Mesa Studio .22+ (with an Altec speaker) or a Vox AC-15. But I like having the firepower on standby of big Fender amps. I'd gig the Fenders more if they were in combo cabs.

[Tonemaster]

Looks like Freddie's plugged into a Supersix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__N2ePZx5os

T.

[backalleyblues]

In the Super vs Princeton (which one would I take?), I'd take the Princeton-because I already have a Super!!!

I do use a small amp (Carvin Vintage 16 with Cannabis Rex) in small rooms, but when in doubt, the Super comes out... played an outdoors gig yesterday, with one of my fave soundman running the board, and the sound was heavenly! Don't get me wrong, the Carvin is a great sounding amp, but it was not the right tool for this job... I like to hear my amp on stage, and not through a monitor, and while the Carvin is quite loud, it does get lost in open space-the Super, on the other hand, I could hear just fine all the way on the other side (and I was running the amp at 4 on the volume!)

As far as running one of these amps real low, here's a real good example-I had my Cool Cat Drive pedal on (also real low) but the amp was set at "1"... the room was a small theater, and the acoustics were very nice...


Franc Robert

[vanguard]

Originally Posted by Radspin

And there's nothing like a Twin Reverb. It occupies a sonic universe all its own; nothing else sounds like it or probably ever will.

SIG'd!

[jondanger]

Just thought anyone subscribed to this thread in NC might be interested in this:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2688554363.htmlhttp://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2688554363.html

Master volume twin with stock JBLs for $825. Too much for what I need. I wish I could justify it!

[Skub]

I use a bassman59 RI with volume usually set around 10 and controlled via the magic of my guitar volume knob. Sometimes I'm wide open and yet never too loud for the mix,I'll just hang on to my obsolete pos thanks anyway.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Skub

I use a bassman59 RI with volume usually set around 10 and controlled via the magic of my guitar volume knob. Sometimes I'm wide open and yet never too loud for the mix,I'll just hang on to my obsolete pos thanks anyway.

Try it with ceramic speakers.

[Skub]

Originally Posted by robt57

Try it with ceramic speakers.

What will that do for me?

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Skub

What will that do for me?

It will make it so using it on 10 will be less likely,. It has Alnicos in it, does it not?

[umasstele]

Originally Posted by Tonemaster

Looks like Freddie's plugged into a Supersix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__N2ePZx5os

T.

Killer performance! You're right, hes into a super 6...AND a twin reverb!

[Skub]

Originally Posted by robt57

It will make it so using it on 10 will be less likely,. It has Alnicos in it, does it not?

Yes,it has Jensen P10Rs.

I'd be very reluctant to mess with anything that may change the sound,because I absolutely love it. Is volume increase the only difference going to ceramic...aside from I bet it's heavier to carry.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Skub

Yes,it has Jensen P10Rs.

inefficient, and alnico mags compress when pushed. And sound great of course.

My Point was with the punch of ceramic mags on the speakers, you'd not find it as usable on 10. or you'd get kicked outta more places I am betting.

[Skub]

Originally Posted by robt57

inefficient, and alnico mags compress when pushed. And sound great of course.

My Point was with the punch of ceramic mags on the speakers, you'd not find it as usable on 10. or you'd get kicked outta more places I am betting.

Ta,you got in before my last edit.

[5595bassman]

Killer performance! You're right, hes into a super 6...AND a twin reverb!

Does not look tall enough for a Super 6 to me!

I think it is more like a Quad Reverb ( a TR with 4x12" ) like mine.

Here is a link to a Super 6 specs : http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-super-six-reverb/
And the Quad Reverb specs : http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fende...e-quad-reverb/

The big amp beside theTR is about twice as big and a bit as tall as the drummer's hi-hats and this guy is sitting low. So around a kichen table hight which is around 30 in. QR is 31½ in.

[Revv23]

Man this thread is making me want to buy a twin!

My friends and family already tell me that my 5E3 is too loud!!

You guys are lucky you get to carry these big amps all over town.

:)

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by Revv23

Man this thread is making me want to buy a twin!

My friends and family already tell me that my 5E3 is too loud!!

You guys are lucky you get to carry these big amps all over town.

:)

You don't need a Twin if your Deluxe is too loud.
You obviously haven't been trained in the use of the volume knob.

[Tonemaster]

Originally Posted by 5595bassman

Does not look tall enough for a Super 6 to me!

I think it is more like a Quad Reverb ( a TR with 4x12" ) like mine.

Here is a link to a Super 6 specs : http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-super-six-reverb/
And the Quad Reverb specs : http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fende...e-quad-reverb/

The big amp beside theTR is about twice as big and a bit as tall as the drummer's hi-hats and this guy is sitting low. So around a kichen table hight which is around 30 in. QR is 31½ in.

Either one sounds wicked. You'd need a little forklift fer the sucker!!

T.