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Post by razzgospel on Mar 22, 2013 15:31:22 GMT -5
My Vox amp is getting weirder and weirder, to the point I can't rely on it any more, and I'm thinking of picking up another amp to replace it. I have a Fender amp, which I like much better, and a PA system, so I'm looking for something with enough power for a fairly good sized room, If it could take a guitar and a microphone at the same time, that would be great, but not essential. I have a PA system for that. I play electric, but don't use pedals or special effects. I just want a clean, warm sound with minimal effects, and no distortion. I see all these adds for orange amplifiers. Other than being easy to find in a dark room, anyone have any opinion of their quality? Any suggestions you make in the $200-$300 price range would be appreciated. I use the amp for mostly going in to small venues. I can get 30-40% off through Hello Music, so an amp listing for up to $500 would be considered. I figure I might's well use the expertise of all you gear heads on here.
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Post by steve on Mar 22, 2013 18:07:16 GMT -5
What about taking the Vox to an amp Doctor Jerry. If you basically like it, you could spend a few bob on it and save yourself a pile of cash. As for size of amp, I have a 30watt amp that is more than capable of playing reasonable size venues. I know you are looking for "headroom" but even so, I'd have though a 30 watt amp would suffice. As for makes, well i think you might foind the Orange a bit hot. Personally I love them but I am not sure you will get the pristine warm cleans. To me, that is a Fender trait-I can't say more than that as I haven't tried every amp under the sun. I did play a lovely Mesa Boogie combo that had a great warm tone many years ago but that was a lot more than what you are looking at paying. I have a nice amp-it is a Laney VC30. Quite inexpensive- reliable and nice clean tones too( though I crank mine to get a "just breaking up tone" ). Not sure how much they are your side of the pond though but they are made in UK. Mine has been played constantly for the last 6 years with only one night of letting me down but that was a valve that gave up the ghost and I was just a few miles from homne so I could nip back and get a spare. I don't blame the amop for that though- the valve was about 4 years old at the time and had been well used. I replaced the whole set just to be sure and nop problems since.
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 22, 2013 20:45:27 GMT -5
I'll check out any amp anyonee posts. I appreciate your reccommendations. I never liked my Vox all that much, It has eight million settings I hate. My Fender suits me fine, and actually I would like to pick up a smaller wattage, and LIGHTER amp for some of the venues where I play, where I have a long haul to get to the room or space, and the space doesn't require a lot of amplification.
I'll check these suggestions out... and any others people post.
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 22, 2013 22:54:12 GMT -5
Part of the problem is that most of the amps I look at have dozens of settings for distortions. I'm not much into heavy metal. Maybe I'll have to buy an inexpensive amp to get the tone I want.
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Post by Admin on Mar 22, 2013 23:55:58 GMT -5
Jery, you definitely need a tube amp. If you can find a fender that will give you what you want.
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Post by Admin on Mar 23, 2013 11:41:29 GMT -5
It's a lot more than you indicated you wanted to pay, but this amp is just what the "Doctor" ordered I think Fender Limited-Edition Blues Deluxe "Smoky Tweed" Reissue 40W 1x12 Combo Amp Lac The beauty of aged vintage looks and classic blues tone in one versatile package! The reissue Blues Deluxe is a vintage-style tube amp with boutique tone at a great price that many pro rock, country and blues players have used to superb effect. While its newer cousin, the Hot Rod Deluxe, has many modern refinements, more and more enthusiasts continue to request the warm tone, unique circuitry, classic features and sharp look of the original version. This Musician's Friend-limited FSR pairs classic Alnico chime with the looks of an amp thats spent most of its life delivering the goods to a smoky Juke joint or bar.Amplifier type: tube Speaker: 12, 8-ohm Jensen P-12Q speaker Impedance: 4 or 8 Ohms Output power: 40 watts Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7 Power Tubes: 2 x JJ 6L6 Rectifier: Solid State Rectifier Inputs: 1 (High input) and 2 (Low input) Controls: Presence, Reverb, Master Volume, Middle, Bass, Treble, Drive Select Switch, Drive Volume, Bright Switch Covering/Grille Cloth: Darkened Lacquered Tweed covering and Vintage Brown/Gold grille cloth Leather handle $749.00 at Musician's Friend.
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Post by earleg on Mar 23, 2013 13:53:01 GMT -5
Which models of Vox and Fender do you have presently Razz? Is having enough power to be heard over drums, etc.. an issue?
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 23, 2013 15:27:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the posts and all the suggestions. I Really appreciate it. I spent time today in a couple of stores looking at and playing guitar through amps, and think I have a better understanding of what is needed. The basic communication problem I have, which is universal, is helping to understand that what I neede may sound stupif to them, but it's what I need. My oldest son is so computer brilliant that it's almost impossible to talk with him. It's like a geophsyicist explaning the qunatum theory to a four year old. No connection. It is also difficult for someone who is primarily a guitarist, who is constantly seeking a soung through pedals and eight million effects buttons on an amplifier. I understand that it is very difficult to hear me when I say I am a singer who does folk and gospel, accompanying himself on electric, or acoustic guitar who wants a warm, clean sound, without distortion of any kind. Basically, I'm looking for an electrified acoustic sound, even from my semi-hollow body Epihone. It never seems to fail that after I describe esxactly what I'm looking for that the person I'm talking to says, "You really should have distortion, necause you might need it sometime." No, I will never use it! That's almost incomprehensible. The other thing that is diffcult to udnerstand is that I am a solo performer, and have never performed with drums or keyboard. That sounds almost un-Amer4ican. But, It's who I am. I've been to;d that I can't use an acoustic amplifier with my hollow-bordy electric. I've also been told that I can. Even experts can't agree with each other. In music stores, the salespeople try to convince me that what they have in the store is exzactly what I need, even when it is clearly not so. Somebody tried to convince that I wanted a Roland Street Cuve amplifier, despite my pinting out that the volume and gain were at ten, and it wasn't uncomfortably loud to me, and I was only sitting three feet away, directly in front of it. I mean, I may daraw a small audience, but I need something with enough volume that you can sit six feet away. I"m looking at Behringer Ultra acoustic ACX450 45 watt amplifier with dual imputs so I can plug in a mic, and my guitar. I would use this when I'm playing in small rooms, oir nursing homes/churches. I have a PA system and larger guitar amps for a larger space. Here is a simple question: Can I play an electric guitar through an acoustic guitar amp, and will I be able to get a clean, warm sound? So far, the snawers I've goten are yes and no. I really value your suggestions. Jerry
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 23, 2013 16:04:25 GMT -5
Just for a point of reference, so you can hear my music, and what I am doing, here's a youtube link: link
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 24, 2013 7:10:35 GMT -5
Still looking at the Fender Excelsior. Got a quearion. Do you think the Fender Excelsior Pro Limited addition is worth the extra $100? It has a Eminence Legend 15" speaker instead of a Special Design 15" speaker. It looks cooler, which is of some value. We all need to look cool... Other than the speaker, I think they're otherwise the same, as far as I can tell. The reviews mention several times that people who bought the amplifier upgraded the speaker and got a much better sound. I'm thinking I'll go with the Pro for the extra $100. I'm not into replacing speakers and volume knobs.
And, (I guess I have more than a couple of questions,) where is a good resource for tubes, and would you recommend getting better tubes if I buy this amplifier. Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks for all your help.
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 24, 2013 7:52:33 GMT -5
I just noticed that the Fender Excelsior is one of the amps shown in the banner .at the top of this page
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Post by earleg on Mar 24, 2013 12:27:56 GMT -5
I really like your tune and video! The Excelsior seems to be really cool amp but I haven't played or heard one live yet. Probably light in weight.
FWIW I have heard 2 different players and styles using a pod through a PA and sounded great.
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 24, 2013 14:41:53 GMT -5
Thanks, earleg. Weight is a consideration. I'm probably stronger now than I was ten years ago, thanks to Tai Chi, but I'm probably a little more laid back. I just don't feel like lugging heavy equipment, and I have to take it in my car, so I don't want too large a volume of stuff either. I'm pretty certain I'm going to get the Fender Excelsior Pro. Glad you liked the video. Thanks.
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Post by razzgospel on Mar 26, 2013 20:17:40 GMT -5
After considering everyone's suggestions carefully6, and talking to a couple of people who have the Fender Excelsior, I decided that's what I would get, and ordered the Pro model today. I think I'll be very happy with it. Again, thanks to everyone who made suggestions, especially James.
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Post by razzgospel on Apr 5, 2013 6:57:54 GMT -5
Thanks so much., James. You've been a real help. I'll look into picking up some of those NOS 66 sylvania tubes/ I want to have spares on hand, anyway, and I can try the Sylvanias and keep the tunes it comes with as the extras. If you've listened yo anu of the music I've posted on here, you'll know that I am a singer and songwriter who accompanies himself on guita.r I don't play with other musicians, despite the tracks my friend and producer has added, so it's not a matter of having enough volume to be heard in a band. I'll expreiment with the combination of tremolo and tone to see if I get the tone I want. I might at some point down the line considfer a reverb peddle,just for fun, but for the most part, I thin k this amp will do all I need. I would like to get a Pops Staples tone for some of the stuff I do, because I do a couple of songs I learned from his recordings.
I'm hoping the amp comes in today. I'll be doing a few songs next week, and it would be fun to have it.
Thanks again for all your help!
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