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Mathijs
While it certainly is a nice amp, I can name 10 other modern Fender amps and 10 vintage ones that miles beyond the BJ.
Mathijs
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Mathijs
While it certainly is a nice amp, I can name 10 other modern Fender amps and 10 vintage ones that miles beyond the BJ.
Mathijs
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StikkyfingerQuote
Mathijs
While it certainly is a nice amp, I can name 10 other modern Fender amps and 10 vintage ones that miles beyond the BJ.
Mathijs
I'd be interested to hear what your recommendations are my friend?
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MathijsQuote
StikkyfingerQuote
Mathijs
While it certainly is a nice amp, I can name 10 other modern Fender amps and 10 vintage ones that miles beyond the BJ.
Mathijs
I'd be interested to hear what your recommendations are my friend?
Well, first of I personaly think that a good sounding valve/tube amp can not be sold under $400. A bunch of decent caps, filters, speaker, wood, transformers, man hour, profit for the manufacturer and profit for the seller: this costs more than $400. It's not PCB versus point to point, alnico versus ceramic, wood versus MDF, it't the sum of parts. For $400 you get cheap transformers, PCB board, cheap speaker, MDF cab, and in my very humble opinion: all these Chinese amps only have one sound, and it's ranging from weird to bad to mediocre.
These amps you must upgrade for them to sound more than mediocre. A good speaker for $150, caps upgrade for $50, better tubes for $50, preferably a well made power transformer for $150. So, in my opinion, if you want a good sounding valve amp you need to spend at least $800.
For $800 I prefer vintage amps over most new amps, as vintage amps were just build so much better than modern amps. For $800 you can buy many '70's Fender amps like Princeton, Deluxe Reverb, Pro Reverb, Super Reverb and Twins, many Ampeg combo's like Reverberocket, Jet's and V-series, some really good Marshall's like the MK II's and early JCM 800 (the last good Marshall that is), and all have point to point wiring, American or British transformers and caps and excellent Jensen, Celestion, JBL or Altec speakers. Modern amps all have PCB boards, cheap speakers and sound very grainy in my opinion -like the Chinese VOX'es, Fenders and Marshall's.
If you want to buy a good, modern amp, you simply need to shell out more. Victoria makes the best Tweed amps ever, Fender has some really good amps, as do all boutique builders like Dr. Z., Fuchs, Matchless, Top Hat etc. Yes, new they are expensive, but most of these amps can be bought second hand for $1300 to $1500.
My secret tip: Boogie Mk I and IIB amp are one of the best made and sounding amps, and most versions (all except the very collectable wicker/cane versions with EQ and reverb, and an Altec speaker adds $400) can still be had for silly money -$1000 for an American hand build boutique amp.
Mathijs
Quote
StikkyfingerQuote
MathijsQuote
StikkyfingerQuote
Mathijs
While it certainly is a nice amp, I can name 10 other modern Fender amps and 10 vintage ones that miles beyond the BJ.
Mathijs
I'd be interested to hear what your recommendations are my friend?
Well, first of I personaly think that a good sounding valve/tube amp can not be sold under $400. A bunch of decent caps, filters, speaker, wood, transformers, man hour, profit for the manufacturer and profit for the seller: this costs more than $400. It's not PCB versus point to point, alnico versus ceramic, wood versus MDF, it't the sum of parts. For $400 you get cheap transformers, PCB board, cheap speaker, MDF cab, and in my very humble opinion: all these Chinese amps only have one sound, and it's ranging from weird to bad to mediocre.
These amps you must upgrade for them to sound more than mediocre. A good speaker for $150, caps upgrade for $50, better tubes for $50, preferably a well made power transformer for $150. So, in my opinion, if you want a good sounding valve amp you need to spend at least $800.
For $800 I prefer vintage amps over most new amps, as vintage amps were just build so much better than modern amps. For $800 you can buy many '70's Fender amps like Princeton, Deluxe Reverb, Pro Reverb, Super Reverb and Twins, many Ampeg combo's like Reverberocket, Jet's and V-series, some really good Marshall's like the MK II's and early JCM 800 (the last good Marshall that is), and all have point to point wiring, American or British transformers and caps and excellent Jensen, Celestion, JBL or Altec speakers. Modern amps all have PCB boards, cheap speakers and sound very grainy in my opinion -like the Chinese VOX'es, Fenders and Marshall's.
If you want to buy a good, modern amp, you simply need to shell out more. Victoria makes the best Tweed amps ever, Fender has some really good amps, as do all boutique builders like Dr. Z., Fuchs, Matchless, Top Hat etc. Yes, new they are expensive, but most of these amps can be bought second hand for $1300 to $1500.
My secret tip: Boogie Mk I and IIB amp are one of the best made and sounding amps, and most versions (all except the very collectable wicker/cane versions with EQ and reverb, and an Altec speaker adds $400) can still be had for silly money -$1000 for an American hand build boutique amp.
Mathijs
Thanks for your reply. It's obvious to me that you know a lot about amps, so I appreciate you taking the time to give us your opinion.
Although I have a valve amp (Fender Super 60), I tend to use a Line 6 Spider 3 onstage, not because it has authentic valve tone (it doesn't) but it takes the knocks better than a valve amp and gives me easy access to very useable rhythmn guitar tones. I don't have to service it either, which is a bonus.
Each to his own I guess.
I supplement the tone where required with a Blackstar HT Drive valve pedal.
Check them out here [www.blackstaramps.co.uk]
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Stikkyfinger
I supplement the tone where required with a Blackstar HT Drive valve pedal.
Check them out here [www.blackstaramps.co.uk]
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open-gQuote
Stikkyfinger
I supplement the tone where required with a Blackstar HT Drive valve pedal.
Check them out here [www.blackstaramps.co.uk]
mmm, That seems to be a real nice tube pedal.
what's the price-range approx, Ian?