Fender Amp .... Need One With A Master Volume!

[taxer]

I have a Fender Princeton Chorus for over 20 years and it is by far my favorite amp. However, I love the fuller sound of the classic Fender Twins. Problem is I must have a Master Volume. I have a VOX AC30 and the Master Volume is the best knob on that amp. I can get 90% of the amp's real tone at minimal volume levels. A Fender Twin without a Master Volume I would have to crank to cockroach killing levels in order to get its true tone.

My question:
Does Fender make an amp on the level of its classic Twin that comes equipped with a Master Volume?

 

[ASC67]

You can get a silverface 70's Twin with Master volume.

 

[taxer]

You can get a silverface 70's Twin with Master volume.

Thanks.
Are they re-issues or do I have to buy used? Have to say, I won't ever buy any guitar gear used.

 

[dickysofa]

I don't mean to get to be difficult but amps like the AC30 and Twin are supposed to be turned up and the tubes driven. Pushing lots of air is a key to their sound. A Master Volume is a completely different amp. This is why folks use Princetons, Deluxe Reverbs and AC15's.

 

[ASC67]

maybe something like this

(link removed)

 

[taxer]

I don't mean to get to be difficult but amps like the AC30 and Twin are supposed to be turned up and the tubes driven.

You are quite right, However, these new AC30s can sound pretty darn good at lower volumes with that Master Volume at work. Tubes can be driven by turning up your pre-amp section or simply using a boost pedal.

 

[JBennett]

Blues Deluxe...

 

[jh45gun]

Thanks.
Are they re-issues or do I have to buy used? Have to say, I won't ever buy any guitar gear used.

Just my opinion but I would take a USED Silverface amp and get a cap job on it then any NEW amp with circuit boards. The older amps easier to work on and to me a better investment.

 

[Unadan]

Nothing wrong with a well designed PCB amp. I have an old JMP Marshall 2x12 combo from approx. 1980 that has a CB in it - I've had it all these years and have only had to fix speaker cones and replace power tubes. Let your EARS be the judge.

 

[Ringo]

a good master volume can be added ....

There are better master volume circuits that can be added to a non master amp or used to replace the ones on the later SF Fender amps.
My buddy added a MV on the back of his 73 Super Reverb years ago and it is very useful.

 

[Chase TM]

Couldn't you get a master volume effect by jumping the two channels together on a bassman? They sell a reissue for about $1400

 

[Ringo]

not the same thing

Jumpering channels isn't the same thing as a master volume.

 

[Axis29]

maybe something like this

(link removed)

+1

I think one of the SuperSonic series is your best bet if you only want to buy new.


I used to own a Princeton Chorus and loved it's lush chorus, but nay of the Fender all tube amps make me so much happier.

 

[Wally]

Taxer.....NEgative connotation to that moniker, right? (;^)...
The best MV amps Fender has ever built would be the Super Champ, Princeton REverb II and Deluxe REverb II from the Rivera/Jahns era of 1982-1985. Handwired little amps that do BF REverb amp coutnry and surf tones very well, Tweed tones well, adn go into high gain territory well. Fender has never come close to doing it so well as they did in these amps, ime. Noone has ever built a handwired amp like this for the price that one can buy one at.

FWIW, I like power tube involvement both in clean modes and OD. Harmonics start jumping with power tubes working. Running MV's down low, one is dealing with preamp gain solely. Nothing wrong with that if that is what one wants. but using a lower wattage amp that can be pushed in the output section when going for OD yields a fuller and richer sound, imho, than does running high preamp gain with power tubes barely involved.
So, I sort of ageree with dickysofa's statement "but amps like the AC30 and Twin are supposed to be turned up and the tubes driven.".... I would say taht ALL amps need to be run at a level that brings the power tubes into true action. THerefore, use small amps for small venues. USe larger amps..or mic little amps...for larger venues. Get those power tubes working, imho. Preamp OD is great, but when you add to that soem power tubes pushing in to OD, you get that big soudn...at whatever level that particular amp can muster, right?

 

[Chase TM]

Jumpering channels isn't the same thing as a master volume.

I know it's not the same thing, but could it not be used to similar ends as a mv?

 

[Wally]

I know it's not the same thing, but could it not be used to similar ends as a mv?

Chase, jumpering or daisy channel channels does not increase gain. IT simply allows two paths of singal processing at exactly the same gain level. IN the case of the BAssman RI you mention, there is a tonal difference between the two channels because there is a high freq cap on the 'Bright'
channel. When you daisy chain these channels, you have some added tonal complexity but you do not have an increase in gain. HEndrix did this with his Marshalls, which were in reality very simular to the 5F6A BAssman circuit...modeled on the Bassman, actually. IF daisy chaining these channels were a gain increase, you would hear a vastly different amp when you daisy chained or jumpered the channels. Marshall went on to a MV set-up to deal with the effect of Mesa Boogies on the market. Boogies cascaded another gain stage in a single channel to get taht preamp gain going on....and usheered in the modern era for guitar amplification in doing so.

 

[taxer]

The Super Sonic is a head. I need a combo. Sure I would like a Bassman, but same thing, no Master Volume.

I see your points about tube amps are supposed to be turned up and the advice to use big amps for big gigs, smaller for smaller gigs. But I am just looking for a music room amp at home. I find it odd that Fender does not supply a top line amp with a Master Volume for use by a home player.

This lack of a top amp with a Master Volume control is leading me towards the Roland Jazz Chorus. My friend has one and even at low volumes the sound is sparkling (and I sure ain't looking for grit through a Jazz Chorus so there is no need to turn that amp up).

 

[RawjerLee]

Blues Junior?

 

[ASC67]

The Super Sonic is a head. I need a combo. Sure I would like a Bassman, but same thing, no Master Volume.

I see your points about tube amps are supposed to be turned up and the advice to use big amps for big gigs, smaller for smaller gigs. But I am just looking for a music room amp at home. I find it odd that Fender does not supply a top line amp with a Master Volume for use by a home player.

This lack of a top amp with a Master Volume control is leading me towards the Roland Jazz Chorus. My friend has one and even at low volumes the sound is sparkling (and I sure ain't looking for grit through a Jazz Chorus so there is no need to turn that amp up).

Super sonics come in combo's as well

100watt Twin

(link removed)



60watt

(link removed)

22watt

(link removed)

 

[Wally]

I still hold that a used Rivera/Jahns era handwired FEnder amp is far superior to anything that Fender is building now....such as the SuperSonics. YMMV....

I would definitely go for a new SuperSonic over a Roland Jazz Chorus. the best those amps can sound for me is with the power cord not plugged into the wall. again...Ymmv...... I sold one for $125 just to get it gone far from my ears. Princeton Chorus....I have no use for one at all.

Taxer, if you are disatisfied with what FEnder offers, check out the little Rivera amps. I have never heard a Rivera amp that I did not like.