gwjensen
Friend of Leo's
A local shop has a Custom Deluxe and a Custom Pro Amp, both used, but not cheap... It's over an hour away, so I wouldn't want to leave empty-handed...
I think I need a Mama Tweed...
- Thread starter gwjensen
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Nice pair there. The Deluxe fills a gap in between the Champ and the Twin. The Pro and the Twin are very similar…..even more so if you pull one of the rectifier tubes from the Twin. The Deluxe is another Sonic world in comparison.,
gwjensen
Friend of Leo's
Thanks Wally. Yeah, the Deluxe sits in the middle, but the Pro is more unique and harder to find, so it has me intrigued in that regard, but maybe not exactly the Mama Bear Tweed...
What personality do you want Mama to have? How much growl, or hair, or too-many-blueberries fartiness? How loud, how fat, how stubborn? Over time I've found that 'mystical' amps (rare, less well known) may not always end up where you want to go. It's like, "Gee, Inge, I wonder what Transylvania is like this time of year."
Put it another way, I now build for a target sound, not a target 'concept.' So if you want Mama to look and sound quite a bit like Papa, sure, go Pro. If you want someone who can sass back and give you a strong third opinion, maybe the Deluxe.
If you could play both amps at the shop, you'd for sure know more (female bears I think are called 'sows', but let's not go there). Some folks love a Deluxe, others fail to bond with it.
And finally, a new family member is a big deal. I'd be reluctant to commit to "must come back with one or the other." For me, the perfect third "tweed" might be a 5F10, or a 5F11, or (gasp) a GA-5 or 6G2 or....
Put it another way, I now build for a target sound, not a target 'concept.' So if you want Mama to look and sound quite a bit like Papa, sure, go Pro. If you want someone who can sass back and give you a strong third opinion, maybe the Deluxe.
If you could play both amps at the shop, you'd for sure know more (female bears I think are called 'sows', but let's not go there). Some folks love a Deluxe, others fail to bond with it.
And finally, a new family member is a big deal. I'd be reluctant to commit to "must come back with one or the other." For me, the perfect third "tweed" might be a 5F10, or a 5F11, or (gasp) a GA-5 or 6G2 or....
Toadtele
Friend of Leo's
So what’s the deal? Are you on the road?
Are we gonna get a new amp day thread today?!
Are we gonna get a new amp day thread today?!
gwjensen
Friend of Leo's
Thanks for the input. I'm familiar with 5e3s, but not the Pro Amp... The Custom Deluxe would probably make more sense to round out the Tweed line-up, and keep baby and Papa company
... I'm not necessarily committed to either one, but I know myself and after a 60-90 minute drive I'll want it to be a NAD... gwjensen
Friend of Leo's
No, Still mulling it over...
39martind18
Poster Extraordinaire
Here's hoping you find what you are looking for...
archetype
Fiend of Leo's
The Deluxe and the Pro are very cool, but very different amps.
Do searches, here, to inform yourself. Search for 5F4 and 'tweed super," as well. They're the same as a Pro other than the speaker(s).
Do searches, here, to inform yourself. Search for 5F4 and 'tweed super," as well. They're the same as a Pro other than the speaker(s).
NTC
Friend of Leo's
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The 5E7 Bandmaster is also closely related.
If the pro is a 5e5 circuit then it will be like a big loud 5E3 deluxe. If it a 5E5A then it will be less like the 5E3 deluxe.
Cali Dude
Friend of Leo's
I love tweed amps. I hope you find the right one for your sound.
Oh yeah…you definitely need a Tweed Deluxe….just so you can complete the trifecta.
I group the tweeds built from 1956 through 1960 into 5 classes.
1) Champ, Princeton
2)5E3 Deluxe
3)Tremolux, Vibrolux
4)Pro, Super, Bandmaster, 5E8A Twin
5)Bassman, high power Twin
I have been fortunate enough to have owned 8 out these…multiples of a few of those. The Bandmaster is my favorite, but all of them were great amps.
1) Champ, Princeton
2)5E3 Deluxe
3)Tremolux, Vibrolux
4)Pro, Super, Bandmaster, 5E8A Twin
5)Bassman, high power Twin
I have been fortunate enough to have owned 8 out these…multiples of a few of those. The Bandmaster is my favorite, but all of them were great amps.
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gwjensen
Friend of Leo's
Thats what I'm thinking. it's like something is missing....
I'm cooling off on the Pro... If I do this it'll probably be the Deluxe. Interesting discussion, though.
AlbertaGriff
Friend of Leo's
Interesting groupings! I mostly agree, but just wondering about the Tremolux and Vibrolux comparisons. My understanding was that the earlier 5E9-A Tremolux was essentially a 5E3 with trem. The later 5G9 is often compared more to a Bassman. I would certainly group the Vibrolux with the Harvard, too!
wrathfuldeity
Friend of Leo's
The thread title kind of threw me. How about grandma tweed... post art deco and pre-tweed... more of a functional and unadorned modern style. My search is over. Crawling back into my old musty hole.
gwjensen
Friend of Leo's
Life gets in the way of GAS... Car repairs, HVAC... I'd settled on the Tweed Deluxe, but not now... Probably not even there anymore... To be honest, though, 90% of my playing for the last two months has been through my 57 Custom Champ. I just love that amp... As long as I keep enjoying it so much, why bring in another amp...
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