Opinions please!

I'm on the fence with a decision. I have the opportunity to buy a used (But perfect) Fender '57 Deluxe Limited Edition. They only made 300 of these and I can get this one at half of the original street price. Part of me finds the look cool, part of me thinks it's over the top. I wanted one when they first came out, and this is an opportunity that I probably won't see again. So, what's your vote on this amp?


http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z11/MRiverMusic/750-57AmpLTD_lifestyle.jpg

Um... Get it!

letsthinkyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so list is $3999.99. I found one new for $2799.99. So, you can get this one for $1,400? Do you like it? Get it.
Caveat....that maple cab will never sound like the solid pine of the original or the reissue. My guess is that the resonant frequency will be higher...harmonics will differ...probably be a bit brighter than the pine and have a sharper attack. I would definitely plug a Tele into it before laying down the money.
So, there's my opinion....fwiw. I personally prefer the pine/tweed for the original look. Sonics...I would have to hear one of these to have an opinion on that. I love what the solid pine does.

Okay, so list is $3999.99. I found one new for $2799.99. So, you can get this one for $1,400? Do you like it? Get it.
Caveat....that maple cab will never sound like the solid pine of the original or the reissue. My guess is that the resonant frequency will be higher...harmonics will differ...probably be a bit brighter than the pine and have a sharper attack. I would definitely plug a Tele into it before laying down the money.
So, there's my opinion....fwiw. I personally prefer the pine/tweed for the original look. Sonics...I would have to hear one of these to have an opinion on that. I love what the solid pine does.

You're right on with your post. I can get the amp for $1,400 and I've played it on several occasions. My main amp is a pine box tweed deluxe built by Richter. It has a Ceramic Weber Blue Dog in it, and it has that great diffused tweed deluxe sound. Fat and smooth when pushed. The Limited Edition has a Celestion Blues Alnico speaker, an the amp has a cleaner, more focused tone than a traditional tweed deluxe. It also sounds a bit darker in the low end. A friend referred to the clean tone on the Limited Edition as a little bit "Brooding".

Thanks for the thoughtful opinion!

I'd do it

Maybe the coolest looking new amp available.
Certain to be a future collectable.
Half price is a deal (if you can afford half price).

If I ever build my own, it will be styled after an old radio cab.

Thanks for sharing!

Still over 70 looks and only a couple of opinions? Let me know what you think. Even if it's bad. ESPECIALLY if it's bad!:mrgreen:

I have no experience with those, so I have no idea how it sounds... But it sure ain't a looker.... Yikes! If I were going to drop some cash on a high end amp I'd want it to look cool as well as sound like something special... Just my 2 cents... and all that...

$1400? Will that be cash, check or charge?

YES! I'm suckered in by the sorta Flot-A-Tone style refridgerator handle on top alone. For that price you shouldn't waste time pondering. ;)

Get it for the artistic value if nothing else. Love that handle, right off a 50's kitchen appliance!

Bob Arbogast

I have no idea what it sounds like, but I think it is gorgeous.

Go for it, I can't imagine you won't be able to flip it should it not suit you.


Bubbanov

Now we're talkin! My post was really about how the amp struck everyone from a visual standpoint.

Hate the look, love the look - Those are the feelings I'm looking for! The badge on the front doesn't really look like that. It's more of a hologram that changes as you move around it.

I dig the Art Deco look to it, but I won't buy an amp that I won't play live. That means this lacquered cab is gonna get a few bumps and scratches. Ouch!

I'm close to pulling the trigger on this. :razz:

Use the money you saved buying it to get an Anvil ATA case so it will stay pretty. That is quite a rare amp, indeed.

Is 12 watts going to be enough for you? Looks good, yes, but make sure you are sold on the sound/tone.

BTW..."brooding"?!? What does that mean???

Is 12 watts going to be enough for you? Looks good, yes, but make sure you are sold on the sound/tone.

BTW..."brooding"?!? What does that mean???

I gig with my Tweed Deluxe. I prefer to mic my setup just about everywhere. I find that I get much better spread in the room. As far as "Brooding," what I mean to say is that the amp has a rich low end, and a somber tone. Cleaner than a traditional Tweed Deluxe. More emphasis on the lower midrange. Think Cello instead of Viola.

I love trying to use language to describe tone!:mrgreen:

"Somber"?!? You mean, like your team just lost, not a funeral? :cry:

Personally, I think this thing is dog ugly. It's totally Kitsch!

Having said that, I'd buy it for that price in a heartbeat for the investment value. I'd keep it mint, hold it for a while, and then I'd cash it out for something I really wanted!

"Somber"?!? You mean, like your team just lost, not a funeral? :cry:

LOL!

No funeral. More along the lines melancholy.

Personally, I think this thing is dog ugly. It's totally Kitsch!

Having said that, I'd buy it for that price in a heartbeat for the investment value. I'd keep it mint, hold it for a while, and then I'd cash it out for something I really wanted!


Okay, I'll go for a more studied opinion on the looks. I agree with Jeff that it is as ugly as it gets, imo. I don't like the color, and I definitely don't like the 'badge'. IT looks like someone took a good Fender amp and screwed up the cosmetics with a can of Krylon...and a badge off of an Alfa Romeo.
:lol:
If I got one at a bargain price, I would be looking for someone who liked it to make a profit on.....or if it sounded really good, I would strip it down, finish it properly and throw away that badge.
I do like the handle, though. It reminds me of my old Alamo amp...exactly.

The badge is the one part of the amp that I really don't care for.

I'd get it just for the looks! :lol:

Yep, one man's meat....

I have one of these, and I think it's the bee's knees!

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z11/MRiverMusic/img_roughneck.jpg

Yep, one man's meat....

I have one of these, and I think it's the bee's knees!

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z11/MRiverMusic/img_roughneck.jpg

I love that one too.

I've seen other photos of the 57 LE that look better and it is cool (but I don't care for black or the badge). I still say get it (as long as a loan isn't involved). Don't gig it, that finish won't last, and it would be the ultimate bedroom amp.

Someone will pay a ransom for it in the near future, maybe you can trade it in for the new Corvette when you retire.:lol:

Looks like a Crate to me. If only it had a natural woodgrain finish...

I wanted one when they first came out, and this is an opportunity that I probably won't see again. So, what's your vote on this amp?


http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z11/MRiverMusic/750-57AmpLTD_lifestyle.jpgUm...Who cares what everyone else thinks? If you wanted one when they came out, and you STILL like 'em, why are you seeking approval at half price? If you can afford it, you'd be an IDIOT if you didn't go for it.:confused: :lol:

It looks like 10 pro votes, and 4 con votes.

I may buy it and put it in the closet for a while. Like several people here have mentioned, I'm more likely to make money on it than lose money on it. It really does sound great.

The only thing for me is that I made up my mind years ago to avoid buying guitar gear that I won't gig. This amp may make me a liar!:sad:

Um...Who cares what everyone else thinks? If you wanted one when they came out, and you STILL like 'em, why are you seeking approval at half price? If you can afford it, you'd be an IDIOT if you didn't go for it.:confused: :lol:

Well, like I said, part of me likes it and part of me finds it a bit over the top. We come here to chat with friends. Don't you talk to friends when you're on the fence about something?

OH, one more thing. I AM an idiot. I didn't realize that was in debate.

or if it sounded really good, I would strip it down, finish it properly and throw away that badge.
I do like the handle, though. It reminds me of my old Alamo amp...exactly.
See, I think that's to much fuss, considering I could get a really decent Tweed Deluxe clone anytime. Hell, you could get a real vintage one for the non-discounted cost of this ugly beast! :lol:

For that price it's a no-brainer even if it's just an investment purchase. I passed up a chance on a Dumble ODS last year and as their prices have gone through the roof I kick myself about not jumping on that deal.

Personally, I thought split-window VW beetle when I first saw this amp.....cooool. Get it!

I dig it.

Personally, I thought split-window VW beetle when I first saw this amp.....cooool. Get it!

http://www.classicvws.com/img/1952_cover_lrg.jpg

Well, like I said, part of me likes it and part of me finds it a bit over the top. We come here to chat with friends. Don't you talk to friends when you're on the fence about something?

OH, one more thing. I AM an idiot. I didn't realize that was in debate.

Well, that was a lame attempt at humor on my part. Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

Still, it's beyond cool and if it's in your "want" column at full price, it should definitely be in your collection at that price.

But I'm just a gear geek....

Well, that was a lame attempt at humor on my part. Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

Still, it's beyond cool and if it's in your "want" column at full price, it should definitely be in your collection at that price.

But I'm just a gear geek....

No offense taken at all. I'm an uber gear geek, so I know what you're feeling. I just work around this stuff all day, and sometimes it takes work to try to separate a "Crush", from something that you REALLY want. Maybe I'm just stalling.:mrgreen:

This is what I thought of when I first saw the amp, but the VW comparisons are super accurate as well!

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z11/MRiverMusic/h.jpg

http://www.classicvws.com/img/1952_cover_lrg.jpg

Ha, ha....dat's vhat eI'm taaking avout....lol. Tdot just made my tongue hard....lol.

No offense taken at all. I'm an uber gear geek, so I know what you're feeling. I just work around this stuff all day, and sometimes it takes work to try to separate a "Crush", from something that you REALLY want. Maybe I'm just stalling.:mrgreen:

This is what I thought of when I first saw the amp, but the VW comparisons are super accurate as well!

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z11/MRiverMusic/h.jpg

Come on guys!! Amp GAS is one thing......classic cars..??.. I'll be getting divorce papers for Christmas...:lol:

I say no.



you can buy an old blackface for that and have something that will sound amazing and be worth 5K in 2 more years.

I say no.



you can buy an old blackface for that and have something that will sound amazing and be worth 5K in 2 more years.

That makes sense, but to be honest, I'm not a blackface fan. I dig the fact that this amp sounds like a version of a Tweed.

But your vote is duly noted!

There is probably an important distinction that's been missed here...something that is giggable versus something that is not. And just becuase you don't gig something, doesn't mean it's NOT giggable. Get it, park it in the living room, take it to a few well-heeled jam sessions and you will be totally justified.

I am contemplating going to the local cabinetmaker and having a 1x12 Princeton reverb type amp built into a cab to match the wifes' piano, just so I can set it ther in the living room.

And yes, it WILL appreciate in value if you take care of it, I wouldn't sweat that.

ANd this one is BLEM!! http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-CUSTOM-57-AMP-BLEM_W0QQitemZ360001196331QQihZ023QQcategoryZ38074 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Half of me say's "Go for it", and the other half say's to spend the money on a vintage amp that will appreciate in value much quicker.... Can't you still get a BFPR for less than that?

I dunno. It's a tough decision, but I still don't think you can go wrong at that price.

The tone of that cab material would be an issue with me as well. I'd have to hear it first.

If I were in a financial position to buy it, and that deal came along, I would have to get it. That's isn't a run-of-the-mill amp, it's something special. I love the looks of it, and even though I wouldn't gig it at a local dive where it will get beer spilled on it, it would be great for a classy gig. I think it's a beautiful amp, and not something you see every day.