New Amp

Herb · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 2:14 pm Post subject: New Amp

OK, jazz fans, the new Fender '65 RI Twin Classic 15 finally arrived in Kansas City at my local music store, and I got to test drive it. I took my ES-355 and my LeGrand, and my real '65 Twin so I could do an A/B amp comparison side by side. Set it all up, identical settings on both amps, plugged in the 355 to the Classic 15, and started playing. Ooooh, very full and rich! Now I've always loved the way my '69 and '65 Twins sounded, but after the Classic 15, I plugged in to the '65, and started playing, and it sounded like someone was holding a clothespin over it's nose. Hmmmm...... So then I picked up the LeGrand. Now I was going to be concerned about resonant feedback with the 15" speaker because of it's fuller bass qualities. Same scenario, started playing, no feedback at higher volume than the '65, rich and full, and with the LeGrand's tone, I got an instant crowd around me. Plugged into the '65, had to turn it down, and it sounded real midrange-y and nasal. I also took the '69 twin with me. It was old and tired, needed caps, tubes, and the cabinet was about shot. I didn't bring the '69 home, it got traded for the new Classic 15, which is now sitting in the living room, waiting to be played and gigged with. I took the '65 over to Don's, where we rehearse, to be used as my rehearsal amp, and brought the Vibrolux that was my rehearsal amp home, so I could play the Tele through it. I am HAPPY! Very Happy

This new amp is just full of tone for jazz. Cool

Steve · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

OOO!
Envy evny, covet covet!

So does it sound like an old JBL D130 speaker, or will you be swapping out?
Sounds delish.
I have always been fond of 15" speakers. I used to campaign an old Ampeg V-4 with a D120 in a home built cabinet that was pretty good, but I have had some nice D and K130's too.

Herb · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:52 am Post subject:

Actually, it does a repro of the old D130 that's so close I can't tell the difference. That's the first thing I did when I got home, pull the Jensen copy and put the real thing in it, sounded the same, so I put the Jensen copy back in it (safety net in case of future warranty issues, etc.).

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

I want a 15" speaker in my next amp. I like the "wave" of sound that engulfs you rather than a "beam". But since I play rock/blues/country, a 26L6 version would be more than enough. Local GC has a 62 Pro Brownie with a JBL 15" i've wanted (but don't need) for a year. Last I saw the price went from $1,200 to $1,600 in that time. Yeouch! Steve, am I right in assuming that your Traynor was part of your trade? So what amp did you get for your new Tacoma? scott

Steve · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 1:15 pm Post subject:

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

Maybe one of those Tech 21 60watt 1-12 amps used would be good for you. Versitility and ss dependability in a very Smile

portable package. scott

Steve · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:08 pm Post subject:

Yes, I've had a couple TM-60's, a Power Engine, a couple of TM-10's, and a TM-120 (my favorite), as well as a Bronzewood 60, which would be ideal for this guitar.
In fact, my old Bronzewood 60 is for sale locally for $249. I like its long reverb spring tank (the TM-60's aren't quite as nice sounding in the reverb, though I appreciate their overdrive sound a lot).

My venerable PolyTone does the job for now, though I may find myself singing front again shortly, so a small PA (or even the Bronzewood) is definitely in the hunt. Idea

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

So you are looking to plug the geetar and sing through the same amp? What a revolutionary idea! Kinda like all those amps in the 50's with the mic imput. Seriously, that sounds like a great idea. But i think you should go tube. Here's my take. Search "tube amp" on Ebay and you will likely find old PA heads-like a "Knight" or RCA's etc. Maybe 26L6's, maybe more power, and get a tech to check it over, replace caps and make your own speaker enclosure. Maybe a 10" and a 12", or a "15"-something that won't break your back. With a good padded gig bag over your shoulder you can schlep in and out with one trip. Cool

You can even make/use different cabinets for different gigs. And tube rule live. Cool

Be God's-scott

Steve · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 6:31 am Post subject:

I love tube amps, but for the kinds of jobs I've been working lately ss amps do a good job and have advanced in recent years so that I generally only want tube amps for punchy R&B gigs or Blues.

Lately I've been playing more Jazz and Pop, and at pretty low volumes.

Tube amps don't really come into their own for me 'till I need the air to get "electric."
The little Traynor was perfect for that, I do miss it for some of the more rambunctious stuff with a Tele or Strat.

My problem right now is money. My day job money goes for household expenses only, and so gig or teaching money has to build a bit to get in the market for anything (once I pay off the household finances I owe because some of the Tacoma money came from there). Wink

Brian · Pit Bull Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 373

Wow, I'm hearing amp heaven here; some great noisemakers here.

Steve · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 6:21 am Post subject: