Low-wattage Fender tube amps?

[paulgibson]

For magnificent cleans, you just can't beat a fender twin, deluxe reverb, Princeton. Iconic amps for decades. They take pedals well.


Posted from Mylespaul.com App for Android

 

[Rich]

My '66 Champ. I also have a Blues Jr with a replaced speaker and reverb tank. You'll pay more for a blackface Champ just because it's a blackface so, if you want to go with a Champ, look for a silverface as it has the same circuit. I bought this particular Champ simply because it was made the same year I was born; it's a silly reason, but wtf - you live only once.

 

[12watt]

<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<<<<< *ahem*
<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<

One 12AX7, two 6V6s, transformer phase inverter, two knobs, 12 watts, one 12" speaker.

 

[12watt]

If you have a low watt Fender and want more oomph, stick one of the Eminence high efficiency models in. I put a Cannabis Rex in mine and it leaves most people dumbfounded when I tell them the output.

Alternatively, drop in the lowest efficiency you can and enjoy the grind.

 

[Rhust]

fenders almost get better the smaller they get princeton, deluxe, and champ are some of my favorite amps ever

I had a teacher who gigged with a tweed princeton all the time... amazing amp.

 

[studio1087]

Gosh....as a long time Fender amp player I think just the opposite.

My Fender pile.....

1999 Blues Jr - 15 Watts
2004 Champion 600 - 5 watts
2012 Greta - 2 watts
1969 Champ - 6 watts
1995 Deluxe Reverb - 22 watts
2004 Pro Junior - 15 Watts

Let's figure the average for fun. 6 amps. Total of 65 watts. That's 10.8 watts per amp (on the average). The Deluxe Reverb is 22 watts and it will hurt your teeth. Loud!

 

[paulgibson]

Gosh....as a long time Fender amp player I think just the opposite.

My Fender pile.....

IMAGE#1

1999 Blues Jr - 15 Watts
2004 Champion 600 - 5 watts
2012 Greta - 2 watts
1969 Champ - 6 watts
1995 Deluxe Reverb - 22 watts
2004 Pro Junior - 15 Watts

Let's figure the average for fun. 6 amps. Total of 65 watts. That's 10.8 watts per amp (on the average). The Deluxe Reverb is 22 watts and it will hurt your teeth. Loud!

Man, that's a beautiful sight!


Posted from Mylespaul.com App for Android

 

[sonar]

My band amp is a Princeton Reverb Clone with a 12" Red Fang and a couple circuit tweaks. I haven't used an overdrive pedal in months.

My Vibrolux (Drip Edge) is my all around favorite Fender from any era. In my 20's it was my small amp. Now it's probably the loudest amp I'll ever need.

Vibro Champ (another clone) is my favorite "bedroom" amp. That (plus a Barber DD for Marshall goodness) and a Blackstar HT1-R for different flavors of crunch is all I need for around the house.

 

[LeftyF2003]

I would consider my Deluxe Reverb Reissue as a low wattage amp being 22 watts. It's amazing, takes pedals well and can fill any room I play it in. I did do a little work on it though. Bright cap cut, JJ tubes, pulled the preamp tube (V1) from the first channel, and Mercury Magnetics transformers and choke. The thing is a monster and can and has hung with a real 65 with no problem.

 

[MichaelAndrew3435]

Does anyone know the type of amp John Frusciante uses for the Californiacation album? I can't seem to get those types of cleans with my Strat and C5. Do I need a Fender amp to get there?

 

[mdubya]

Does anyone know the type of amp John Frusciante uses for the Californiacation album? I can't seem to get those types of cleans with my Strat and C5. Do I need a Fender amp to get there?

In studio, I was say something Plexi (Marshall) or Bassman. He also Favors Marshall Silver Jubilees, I believe.

You should be able to get there with a sweet plexi and the guitar volume rolled down.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AXjUy1_gY]Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication - Live at Slane Castle - YouTube[/ame]

 

[MichaelAndrew3435]

Bear with me, is a sweet plexi some sort of pedal? Or are you referring to the amplifier?

 

[mdubya]

Marshall Plexi era amplified.

Originally made between 1962 and 1969 in multiple configurations.

100 watt, 50 watt, 30 watt, 20 watt, 18 watt. Head or combo, bass or lead, etc.

The classic Plexi is based off of a Fender Bassman. Through a pair or quartet of Celestion speakers they produce a unique warm, sweet, saturated power tube distortion with singing sustain and complex harmonic overtones.

With the guitar's volume rolled down, they produce a warm, sweet, round clean tone.

Vintage plexi amps are out of the financial reach of many people. But there are dozens of high end clones out there.

No doubt that Frusciante favored vintage Marshall Plexi amps and, particularly the 80' Marshall Silver jubilee.

I have read that he used a 200 watt Marshall Major for "clean" tones.

 

[mdubya]

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/squawk-box/284012-definitive-plexi-tone.html

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIFmLqNOhE]1968 Marshall 50 Watt Plexi, Duane Allman Les Paul "Cherryburst", OX4 Pickups - YouTube[/ame]

 

[StormJH1]

Message boards like this are great for learning about a variety of products and getting answers to specific questions about gear. But once you locate a few possibilities, it's really best to put the forum advice down and just trust your ears, as opposed to subjective labels/connotations like "tube-like", "hybrid", etc.

I had been a fan of the RHCP/Fruciante tone for years, but I never felt my tone sounded like his at all. Then I played a Super Champ X2 at Guitar Center and I instantly knew I had to have that amp. It was nailing both the tone and the light gain characteristics I had associated with "Fender tone" in my head, but had never actually created out of an amplifier. It uses tubes in the preamp and in the power amp and DSP processing in front of that. The amp is very popular on the Telecaster Forum (pairs well with Strats and Teles), and it sounds to me like what I always thought a "tube" amp should sound like. But you can find plenty of people who will gladly deride it as digital, "hybrid", imposter crap. It's best to let that go and just enjoy what you like to enjoy.

All that aside, my personal experience with the Super Champ X2 ($349 retail, but the XD and X2 pop up used quite a bit in the 200-range) has been excellent. As mentioned above, it does take pedals on the Channel 1 "Blackface" setting, but not so much on the 16 other models, which feel more aggressively modeled. It gets loud on Channel 1, but people pretty routinely swap out the stock speaker for a Eminensce Ragin Cajun. However, this is primarily done to increase the volume for gigging purposes, so I have left in the stock speaker for now.

I started like you did looking for "low wattage tube amps" in a particular price range. I ended up with a "hybrid" that happened to be a Fender because it just fit the idea I had in my head.

 

[mdubya]

here's one of my favorite yt players demoing a Vaporizizer

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBnmLIHLp30]Tele w/Vaporizer - YouTube[/ame]

and an earlier one with a stock Champion 600

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjYUbZFsh7A]poor man's bluesbreaker - YouTube[/ame]

 

[TheWelder]

Go for a vintage blackface Champ (or silverface). Great tone, hand wired, and vintage vibe all the way. You can find blackface Champs in good condition for $500 to $600 - silverface Champs usually go for a little less.

 

[MichaelAndrew3435]

That vaporizer sounds sweet

 

[Compulsor]

Lots of good advice here; best is listen before you buy. I didn't, an it was expensive. I finally figured out I should've bought a Princeton to start with. Instead it took two vintage Twins and a vintage Deluxe that I was sure must be what I was after to realize that.
Traded a lot of gear I miss, and cash I couldn't really spare to learn that lesson, and now I'll have to wait or trade these to finally arrive where I could've started.
Best wishes, most any Silver or Blackface Fender will be wonderful, just make sure it matches what's in your head.
Don't be afraid to walk away, there's still plenty of great deals if you're patient; I wasn't.

 

[Telechamp]

My '69 SF Champ. Cranked, it is tonal heaven..