C
Corndog
New member
I have a '77 Super Twin Reverb also from Riveras hand...The overdrive pot got re-named "The Suck Knob" because it truly does.
My small amp is a Epi Valve Special....all tube 5 watt but ditch the stock speaker...I haven't yet but I plan to.
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
You told us your small amp is a Valve Special--but you didn't tell us what you think of it.
What's the story, morning glory?
Light
New member
O
Oancient1
New member
Very interesting, considering you stated amp history. Do you play clean or with overdrive. If the latter, do you turn the jazzmaster up to achieve distortion or used extenal pedals. I have a Fender solid-state Champion 30 that sounds just fine when playing clean or using the amps' overdrive function, but turn it up when using the clean model and it sounds extremely crappy in the same way that solid state amps always sound to me.
(Also ..... Supro and a Silvertone Twin 12 indeed! ... I'm flashing back to the sound of surf music and visions of Annette Funicello's bosum. eiiiiihahahahahahahahaha wipe out!!!!!! [cue jostling the Twin 12 head])
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
I haven't used a pedal with the JM yet, and I don't expect to. I like to tinker with an amp until I find the sweet spot with a given guitar, and then stick with it. I'm able to quickly dial in a killer sound for either of my electrics and sound great AND sound like me.
I'm not much of a pedal user (I have a DOD Tube Emulator and a Danelectro reverb pedal that I use with my harp through the Pignose tube amp), but I confess I use a Line 6 Floor Pod Plus for the cool wah.
I play the Les Paul through the clean channel and the Epi through the drive channel. Make no mistake, this time they got the distortion right. I'd been a little disappointed in the Sheraton after I put the SDs in, but the drive channel brought it back from the dead. Fat and lots of personality. I'm not crazy about the digital reverb, but then I don't use it much. To me, the classic tube-driven spring reverb tanks were the only way to go, but this little guy has so much to offer that I can live with it...and the reverb isn't "bad", it's just not "great."
Something I didn't mention: the JM has 250W into the 2 ohm 1x12 cab, and it can be LOUD and CLEAN (which I'd compare to my Music Man HD-130 Reverb), and LOUD and DIRTY. I've really fallen in love with it. I firmly believe that, once word gets out, these will become modern classics. I have never been so nuts about an amp...well, yeah, when I first got the Silvertone (bought it from the original owner in '74 for $40!). But since then, it's been a trade off: it's like the old joke about doing business: choose any two: fast, cheap, or high quality. For guitar amps that would be: great sound, light weight or features (ain't no "cheap" option with tubes).
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Oancient1
New member
I can't remember what I did with my Silvertone after I graduated to a Super Reverb. Sold that and got a Marshall "100W" stack (1972 watts) with 2 4x12 cabs -- big mistake - used it a couple times for gigs outdoors and in gyms, but couldn't tone it down enough for clubs (no drive channels in those days). Had to downgrade power wise quickly to an Ampeg B-25 and Sunn 1200s cab when we started working clubs regularly. Still have both of those, but use them only for bass if a friend comes over to jam. The small Fender 27W works fine at basement volumes, and is a good match for the Strat. I could probably get by with it in a small club if I ever lose my mind and start doing that again.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
As it happens, I was going to graduate school in English at UT Austin at the time I found the Silvertone, and a fellow student named Sterling Morrison (of Velvet Underground fame) advised me to buy it. "Or, tell me where it is, and I'll buy it" he added. "The first Velvet album was recorded with one of those."
Sometime later, when I started buying some of their albums, I noticed the Twin Twelves on stage in the photos.
They still go for chump change: $250 was the last one I saw, but a lot of them have lost the speaker cab.
M
mrhotapples
New member
Pro Junior all the way. They're cheap and they sound amazing. After that, the Hot Rod Deluxe is a good amp, especially if you put a good speaker in, but if you have the money, the Deluxe Reverb or the Princeton are wonderful.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
Well, I couldn't stand it any longer.
I took my Epiphone Sheraton to the local dealer and plugged into a pair of Fenders: a '65 Deluxe Reverb and a Hot Rod Deluxe.
The Deluxe Reverb had a tone to die for...if you wanted that tone. No matter how I tweaked the knobs, it sounded like THAT: smooth, rounded tone, no sass or distortion. Great sound, but not THE sound.
The HRD had a bit more personality, good distortion with the drive cranked, not a bad reverb, but overall it was heavy and bigger than what I wanted.
I expect a small amp to double for guitar or harp. For the guitar I ask for Fender tone (in one of its permutations) and for the harp, reverb is a given and good overdrive is required.
So, after reading the reviews at Harmony Central, I ordered the Fender Hot Rod Blues Jr NOS in lacquered tweed (hey, if I'm gonna buy a new amp, I'm gonna get something cool). So now I'll peddle my Pignose G40V (with an Eminence speaker) and I'll be covered....
For now.
I took my Epiphone Sheraton to the local dealer and plugged into a pair of Fenders: a '65 Deluxe Reverb and a Hot Rod Deluxe.
The Deluxe Reverb had a tone to die for...if you wanted that tone. No matter how I tweaked the knobs, it sounded like THAT: smooth, rounded tone, no sass or distortion. Great sound, but not THE sound.
The HRD had a bit more personality, good distortion with the drive cranked, not a bad reverb, but overall it was heavy and bigger than what I wanted.
I expect a small amp to double for guitar or harp. For the guitar I ask for Fender tone (in one of its permutations) and for the harp, reverb is a given and good overdrive is required.
So, after reading the reviews at Harmony Central, I ordered the Fender Hot Rod Blues Jr NOS in lacquered tweed (hey, if I'm gonna buy a new amp, I'm gonna get something cool). So now I'll peddle my Pignose G40V (with an Eminence speaker) and I'll be covered....
For now.
S
soundchaser59
Reluctant Commander
Sorry, I find this beyond incredible that you would recommend a Pro Junior first, and then those other amps AFTER that.... No offense but the Pro Junior has one very important quality in common with a vacuum cleaner.
The Princeton sure does get recommended a lot, though.
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
Quoting myself here, 'cause I answered my own question--or at least jumped in and tried one.
I picked up a Blues Jr. earlier today. I'll have more time to play (& maybe track a bit) with it tonight. So I'll start a new thread with some results then...)
Anfontan
Banned by eurt
This little beast has been one of my favorites for many years now, nice and gritty but cleans up nicely!
Attachments
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
Very cool Tony...I hope to enjoy my new baby for a lot of years.
It's Saturday, and I've got an electrical circuit to run for a new light, drywall to put up in the garage, a car to work on....BUT....I just had to slap a 57 in front of the new Blues Jr. and see how it sounds tracked. I've got to play around and find the sweet settings on the amp and play with mic placement etc, for a quickie on a brand new (to me) amp, I'm liking it:
It's Saturday, and I've got an electrical circuit to run for a new light, drywall to put up in the garage, a car to work on....BUT....I just had to slap a 57 in front of the new Blues Jr. and see how it sounds tracked. I've got to play around and find the sweet settings on the amp and play with mic placement etc, for a quickie on a brand new (to me) amp, I'm liking it:
c7sus
Disenfranchised Member
I'd say the best small Fender is probably a Victoria.
T
Thurgood
New member
Great replys. Got a peavey 30, works well. I do love my DRRI. Shame on me for not reading all posts. The drri works well, my Peavey Classic 30 also. NB: I use alternate cabs. Given your choices and preferences I stand by the same. If any of you folks are on the MS/La coast be well. If you need ph # for safety PM.
tgrd.
tgrd.
T
Thurgood
New member
Sorry to repost. I am inland. Got space.
Riffmaster
New member
Sweet tweedy tone, pretty clean, but you know something dirty is going on
Congrats on a fine amp.
WhiteStrat
Don't stare at the eye.
Thanks Riffmaster--I'm looking forward to putting it in mix--not to mention just jammin' on it. And I've got a 60 year old lap steel that I'll bet sounds right at home through it. So much to do...
Back to drywall.
Back to drywall.
S
soundchaser59
Reluctant Commander
Excellent replies, Thank You!
I have heard about the Classic 20 before, but I've never seen one. I would LOVE to test one out, but it could be years, decades, before I actually stumble on one some where...... They say it is a different animal than the Classic 30?
Thanks for the clip, Strat. Just hearing that clip blind I never would have guessed it was a Blues Jr making that sound. Not bad at all. Wait till you change the speaker! I do know from hands on that the BJ sounds greaaaaaaaaat with an Eminence Cannabis Rex in it!!
I have heard about the Classic 20 before, but I've never seen one. I would LOVE to test one out, but it could be years, decades, before I actually stumble on one some where...... They say it is a different animal than the Classic 30?
Thanks for the clip, Strat. Just hearing that clip blind I never would have guessed it was a Blues Jr making that sound. Not bad at all. Wait till you change the speaker! I do know from hands on that the BJ sounds greaaaaaaaaat with an Eminence Cannabis Rex in it!!