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Which Fender silver/black amp for rock'n'roll tunes? (never had one before XD)

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Hi folks,

as title says, I'm in a search for a blackface/silverface-style tube amp. My knowledge here is kinda small as I basically never owned one :D From the very beginning I had different tweed era Fenders and tweed clones.

I would like to have an amp with cleaner/clearer voicing as an option for rock'n'roll applications only. I do mostly The Rolling Stones-like tunes, so nothing heavy. I don't really care about 100% clean sound. Some saturated clean/slightly broken tones are „the cleanest” I do.

I'm not a gigging musician but home player. Still, I have separate music room for my playing and recording. I don't feel like cranking here a 100 watt amp so something smaller would be better I think. Natural crunch/drive from the amp is pretty important for me. Say, I usually crank my Tweed Deluxe nearly full. It's loud, but not that loud if it helps.
I don't use many pedals, some basic stuff like TS9, SFT, some delay and reverb, simple fuzz.
If it matters, I use mostly ES-345 as my main guitar, LP R8, Original '60 tele and ES-330. Been thinking about getting LP Special (the mahogany-slab-with-P90 one :)).

It doesn't have to be exactly a Fender amp. Decent clones or other brands Fender-voiced amps are fine to.

Unfortunately there are no good music stores around and I'm not traveling-guy type. I'm ok buying online.
I had luck and try some very well known Fender amps:

Silverface Princeton (modern) – well, surprisingly cool sounding amp. Looks kinda funny next to biggo ES-345. Vary bright.
Blackface Deluxe (modern, 65ri I think) – it is what I probably would describe as a „traditional Fender tone”. Stringy, spongy, airy, old.
Silverface Deluxe (modern, 68ri) – very different than its blackface brother. This Bassman circuit was great, smoother, throatier, gnarlier. Pretty cool.

I would really like to try this new Pro Reverb with single channel and speaker. I'm kinda unsure if I would be able to krank it in my place. 40 watt sounds kinda loud I think :D
Massive amount of guitarists suggest me black/silver Vibrolux. Same thing, cranking a 35 watter with double speaker can be problematic. I think it's kinda to bright too (but I never heard it live).

Any suggestions?
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
If your only playing at home, a Deluxe Reverb ('65ri or '68ri) will tick all the boxes. 22 Watts might be too loud to get great crunch sounds from the amp itself but that's an easy fix with some pedals. They have a bright cap for low volume sparkle but that's bypassed when you turn the amp up.
IMO the one amp any guitarist should own.
 

akstrat61

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2004
Messages
1,845
Tough to beat a BF Super Reverb or BF Vibroluxe Reverb. Both take pedals well and break nicely when pushed with the correct speakers. MHO
 

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Thanks, guys. Super will be definitelly to loud. Once I had 4x10 Bassman (tweed) and it was terribly loud. Having a big ol Fenders like Twinn of Super would be cool but they're definitely too much of an amp for me.
 

Triplet

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
1,675
IMO, any pre '76 or so Silver/Black face will get you there. Get one (or two) while they are somewhat affordable...
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,950
65 Deluxe. They are awesome.

36353056002_e7e94d5b52_3k.jpg

36353072352_3949b91b78_3k.jpg

36353077172_4063a4c432_3k.jpg

36474683496_74aae1c17c_3k.jpg

36474688416_3f48df9146_3k.jpg
 

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Sooo, one more time I will focuse on Deluxes. Are there certain models that brake up earlier? Well, not tweed-like, but quicker than most XD
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Both are pretty great, just differently voiced.


I went for the '65, just because it's white :)

lor1-e1651170926963.jpeg
 

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Doesn't it feel "to thin" sounding with your Paul? I've just watched this It The Blues chapter and the blackface was kinda stiff comparing to the silverface. Well, I have similar feeling playing it by myself, but I didn't have a chance to do a 1/1 comparison with silver one.
 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
Doesn't it feel "to thin" sounding with your Paul? I've just watched this It The Blues chapter and the blackface was kinda stiff comparing to the silverface. Well, I have similar feeling playing it by myself, but I didn't have a chance to do a 1/1 comparison with silver one.
I wouldn't call it thin sounding ;)

 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,279
Another vote for the 65 Deluxe: the 65 DRRI.

Depending on your tolerance for amp maintenance versus inclination for reliability, vintage or reissue.

Excursions from the norm depend on your taste for tonal diversitynand wallet; example: Tone Kings and Louis Electrics, certain boutiques will get your in the ballpark. You'll have to do much critical listening and go out on a limb a bit given your online-only situation.

I went thru a similar decision process and ended up with the 65 DRRI; however, I had it modified with Fargen Hot Mods plus a different speaker (Greenback); zero qualms about tweaking/modding the reissue, they are plentiful.

If you perceive the stock version as thin, mods like these can liven things up. But so can a well-matched pedal!

Someday, I hope to get my hands on a Bartel Tone King, and-or a Louis Electric dialed into the Keef tone, or even the Gatton.
 
Last edited:

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
I play a '64 Deluxe Reveb. The reissues are great.

Yeah Deluxe Reverb is your amp. Easy to master volume, but no need. great with a simple pedal if need it grittier, but the natural tone is killer
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
Hi folks,

as title says, I'm in a search for a blackface/silverface-style tube amp. My knowledge here is kinda small as I basically never owned one :D From the very beginning I had different tweed era Fenders and tweed clones.

I would like to have an amp with cleaner/clearer voicing as an option for rock'n'roll applications only. I do mostly The Rolling Stones-like tunes, so nothing heavy. I don't really care about 100% clean sound. Some saturated clean/slightly broken tones are „the cleanest” I do.

I'm not a gigging musician but home player. Still, I have separate music room for my playing and recording. I don't feel like cranking here a 100 watt amp so something smaller would be better I think. Natural crunch/drive from the amp is pretty important for me. Say, I usually crank my Tweed Deluxe nearly full. It's loud, but not that loud if it helps.
I don't use many pedals, some basic stuff like TS9, SFT, some delay and reverb, simple fuzz.
If it matters, I use mostly ES-345 as my main guitar, LP R8, Original '60 tele and ES-330. Been thinking about getting LP Special (the mahogany-slab-with-P90 one :)).

It doesn't have to be exactly a Fender amp. Decent clones or other brands Fender-voiced amps are fine to.

Unfortunately there are no good music stores around and I'm not traveling-guy type. I'm ok buying online.
I had luck and try some very well known Fender amps:

Silverface Princeton (modern) – well, surprisingly cool sounding amp. Looks kinda funny next to biggo ES-345. Vary bright.
Blackface Deluxe (modern, 65ri I think) – it is what I probably would describe as a „traditional Fender tone”. Stringy, spongy, airy, old.
Silverface Deluxe (modern, 68ri) – very different than its blackface brother. This Bassman circuit was great, smoother, throatier, gnarlier. Pretty cool.

I would really like to try this new Pro Reverb with single channel and speaker. I'm kinda unsure if I would be able to krank it in my place. 40 watt sounds kinda loud I think :D
Massive amount of guitarists suggest me black/silver Vibrolux. Same thing, cranking a 35 watter with double speaker can be problematic. I think it's kinda to bright too (but I never heard it live).

Any suggestions?
If "thin" tone is a concern, I suggest an amp with a 'midrange' (mid) control knob. More mids = fatter tone without the mud.
The bigger black & silver face Fenders have the mid control while the smaller Fenders don't.
Would you consider a Mesa Boogie? They are notoriously confusing - at first, but once you get it dialed in, they'll do it all and they'll sound great.
One of the new Fillmore series amps might do the trick. If you like a used/older amp, the .50 Caliber (1990s) is a fine option. They look cool too.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,950
Ok, original :D I've just noticed.
100% original with the possible exception of tubes (but they MAY be original) which are all NOS at worst.

Original footswitch.

2 prong killer cord as well...

36353059412_b4058d2ca6_3k.jpg

36124615670_4fc4b51b98_3k.jpg


And I have to throw in: If you also add the Origin Effects Revival drive you can cover it all.

 

DutchRay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
100% original with the possible exception of tubes (but they MAY be original) which are all NOS at worst.

Original footswitch.

2 prong killer cord as well...

36353059412_b4058d2ca6_3k.jpg

36124615670_4fc4b51b98_3k.jpg


And I have to throw in: If you also add the Origin Effects Revival drive you can cover it all.

Built in July 1966, same month as my Super Reverb! 1965's have OG stamped with green ink.
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,279
One of the new Fillmore series amps might do the trick. If you like a used/older amp, the .50 Caliber (1990s) is a fine option. They look cool too.
+1. Lonestar as well.

Also, the Fillmore is being used by Gibson to showcase nuanced pickup variations on their new Pickup Shop demo.
 

Konrad00711

Member
Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
35
Wow, thanks for all your replies. I didn't think you will be so involved in this topic XD That's very nice of you and really helpful.

I'll try to answer you all at once.

I don't really care about if the amp is vintage or modern. If I like the sound, I like the amp. I also can't or maybe even don't want to set any price range. If I like the gear, I'll invest in it. Still, I'm not a millionaire and still, the "goodest" the price the better for me XD

I'm pretty handy with electronics so amp maintenance never been a problem for me as well as some easy mods etc. Still, I know local, kinda renowned amp tech who has his weekend house nearby and is eager to help all the time.

As I mentioned before, it doesn't necessarily has to be a Fender amp but something that grants me clearer, Fender-like tone. I'm familiar with Tone King amps but the smaller one, Falcon, or something. I've always liked Mesa Lone Star on recordings but their hard to get tone is the topic of many discussions.

Once I heard Mark III but I've never even heard of Fillmore or Caliber.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,950
The new replicas of the Deluxe Reverb sound pretty damn decent to my ear.

If you like clean clean about any 15 watt and above Matchless is hard to beat.

On Mesa's give a Boogie Mark V-25 a try. They do cleans well and are easier to dirt up.

36152810382_668f9fb9ef_4k.jpg

36388557211_888b60c835_b.jpg

35712500873_eda3925de3_4k.jpg
 
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