Which Red Knob Fender Amps Are Desirable ?

[radiocaster]

It wasn't mine, I just had it at my house for a while and I didn't have cats.

I now have a bass cab with carpet covering and cats. It's in a place where they can't reach it easily now, but it was on the floor and the carpet is pulled in a ton of places plus it looks fuzzy in others.

 

[kookaburra]

FYI it's already been established that they were made by Eminence. I'm a Super 60 owner and I've always thought the speaker to be very capable indeed and I've never seriously considered swapping it out. In the past I used to attach a 2x12 with 70s Celestion greenbacks and that really added a lot for live work. Man that thing is loud.

Thanks, appreciate the info/correction! I never really considered swapping it out either, once I played it a bit.

 

[Lando27]

found this old thread, so I thought I'd plug my video:

 

[Gary Mitchell]

IMO none, I had a M-80 years ago, I hated that thing bought to use in worship at church. Went back got rid of it and got my old Bandit 65 back, the Bandit 65 million times better amp.

 

[Andy Lights]

POWER CHORUS is astounding. I played one at a rehearsal studio in the Valley (L.A.) back in the 90's, fell in love with it and then spent the next 10 years looking for one... finally found one a couple of years ago (they are rare in my neck of the woods). Only disadvantage is the weight as it is way too heavy to take to band practice. Sound-wise the CLEANS are magnificent.

 

[PJ55]

I struggle a little finding a good overdrive setting with my Ultimate Chorus, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better clean channel in any SS amp, in my opinion. But, it's a little later issue than the Red-Knob models. I did have a Princeton Chorus that I never should have sold. It was a great practice amp.

 

[RedRock]

I have a Red Knob Twin. A great, versatile amp.

 

[Ringo]

I had a Fender Super 60 112 combo, the clean channel and reverb sounded good, but that was a heavy small amp!

 

[czech-one-2]

The red knob solid staters are on my long list of "worst sounding amps ever built". The red knob tube amps, I haven't found a bad one yet, if you like Fender amp sounds. I generally don't, but I find these to be as good as any.

I've never understood why people say the red knob SS amps have good cleans. Yeah, they sound great, by themsleves at low volumes. Put them on a gig in a band mix and they're just plain awful. I'd rather have my teeth drilled with a ball peen hammer than have to listen to one of those amps ever again.

Red knob tube amps do not bother me to gig next to. They are HEAVY though. Even the little ones will surprise you with their weight. The Super 210 I had was a hernia inducing masterpiece.

OLD thread I know, but just wanted to say thanks as I was 2 minutes from bidding on a red knob London reverb 185 head.Then I read this thread. So you saved me an impulse buy! [I need help]
I have a champ 12 that is a freeking amazing clean single ended fender amp, so I will stick with it.Theres really nothing I dont love about it! Besides, 100+ watt amps are starting to piss of sound men these days....

 

[JDB2]

Besides, 100+ watt amps are starting to piss of sound men these days....

Particularly those with volume knobs that only turn clockwise. ;-)

 

[nosuch]

That is my experience, too. I was a band for about 7 years and the other guitar in the group used an evil twin. You could not find ANY setting on that thing that sounded good to me. He never seemed to notice, but to me it sucked big time. The last time I was in Houston I borrowed the amp for an evening, and no matter what I did with it, I hated it.

In the 90s I was responsible for the jazz program in a club. I remember that many guitar player specified the red knob twin for the backline, e.g. David Tronzo or Bill Frisell. Frisell came with the Paul Motion Trio with Joe Lovano. I remember that they refused to do a soundcheck, so they went on stage, Frisell turned some knobs and they started the first song. I looked at the amp and it looked like every knob was just straight up (12 o'clock). His tone was great.

 

[czech-one-2]

Particularly those with volume knobs that only turn clockwise. ;-)

LOL!

Its like this:
1] HEAVY 100+ watt amp with volume at or below 9 o'clock? [or + a 2X12'' cab in the case of the london reverb that I almost bought.]
2] Relatively light, 12w amp with tilt legs, jbl e110 and volume in the sweet spot.
Easy choice if your micing em'.
I own a JC120 so really, thats covered should I need the volume. But SE 6L6 Fender cleans are where its at for me at the moment! I'm impulsive when it comes to gear, and a red knob head looked cool. But Jakes post talked me down with a minute to spare. :-DDD

 

[schmee]

I had a Red Knob Twin. Way too much amp for me , but it was a good sounding amp. I always wanted to try a RKnob Super 60.

 

[Vespa_One]

I've been using a Fender "The Twin" Red Knob at rehearsal. Sounds great! Has the Fender cleans I love.

 

[stormin1155]

I had a Champ 12 for awhile... I thought it sounded pretty good.

 

[clydethecat]

The solid state Pro 185 wasn't bad for clean tones. But it's one of those amps that will give you enough rope to hang yourself.

 

[Manual Slim]

If I plugged in the same guitar every time I’d probably stop complaining about my Super 210.

 

[Fiesta Red]

The red knob solid staters are on my long list of "worst sounding amps ever built"...I'd rather have my teeth drilled with a ball peen hammer than have to listen to one of those amps ever again.

I think you take tone much more seriously than you should!

 

[teleplayr]

Picked up a Super 210 for $175. Got rid of it as soon as possible at a profit.

Weak clean channel, all the power was in the dirt channel. Had it checked out everything was normal for that amp.

Read a posting years ago from an engineer that was involved in the development of the "Red Knob" series and he stated that the powers to be at Fender at that time told him to make the line of amps "as cheap as possible".

 

[wildschwein]

I've been using a Fender "The Twin" Red Knob at rehearsal. Sounds great! Has the Fender cleans I love.

My main amp -- for a long time it was my dream amp and I finally got one -- it does sounds amazing. Bit of a work out to get around with it but always delivers the goods. Had the caps changed a couple of years ago and has been rock solid since (made in '88/'89).