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

jb_abides

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Apr 6, 2005
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Thanks! What's the modern equivalent of Boogie MK I?

As @renderit suggests, the Mark V:25 head [or 1x10 combo], or the Mark V:35 head [or 1x12 combo]... the Mark I circuit is a selection within, the Mark Vs have the 'library' of past to present Mark circuits. MESA refers to such as their "Greatest Hits" collection.

Among other differences, the V:35 adds a useful feature of 'Channel Independent SOLO Feature' basically a built-in solo boost per channel, that can be dialed to your liking, foot-switchable, as well as a long-tank reverb, whereas V:25 is short-tank. If you are a reverb aficionado it may tilt you in that direction.
 

brandtkronholm

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Dec 3, 2006
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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.
Ren has displayed some outstanding options above in post #20. He is a man of exquisite taste!

Just for fun, here’s a picture of my old Super Reverb and Mesa Boogie MKIII. These are definitely not easy-to-manage home/practice amps!

(I broke these loose while the wife was out for the evening a few months ago. Ouch, my ears!).
DA15ECAA-FCEC-4EA1-9335-DD6777BD538A.jpeg

I have a little Fender Pro Jr. for home use. I love it. Volume, tone, on/off.
 

brandtkronholm

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Thanks! What's the modern equivalent of Boogie MK I?
Boogie made MKI reissues a few years back. They are fine amps. They are also very loud amps. They are also very heavy (lbs/kg) amps.

This is a big question because the Boogie MKI was really the first boutique hot-rod high-gain amp. Philosophically any other boutique high gain (and channel switching) amp might be a modern equivalent of a Boogie MKI. But philosophy isn’t tone and all the modern boutique amps have their own sound - more or less.
 

jb_abides

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FWIW: The Mark V 25 or 35 has switchable power down to 10 watts, in addition to the master volume.
 

Mr. Papa

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Jan 14, 2002
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I’m most fond of the ‘68 DRRI, for the normal channel circuit mods vs the 65. I love the quirks of the Princeton and the power of a Super or Twin Reverb, but unless you really want those specific sounds the Deluxe is a dependable, somewhat middle of the road, but good, sound at home volume. All that said, the Peavey Classic 30 or Delta Blues does the Stones rock&roll thing for cheaper (maybe better).
 
Last edited:

dju

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May 7, 2004
Messages
148
I was trying to decide on a fender amp like what you are doing also. I was looking at the different drri, prri, deluxe tweed......
I haven't been able to play one yet but I read many reviews that said the prri has a great sound and being a lower powered amp than the drri it might get some of those edge of breakup tones at lower volumes. I got this model with the 12" jenson alnico speaker from GC's used site. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender...8734.gc?pfm=krecs+1440515358734+31259+GCWHOME
hopefully it will be here mid next week.
good luck with your search.
 

jb_abides

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5,276
I was trying to decide on a fender amp like what you are doing also. I was looking at the different drri, prri, deluxe tweed......
I haven't been able to play one yet but I read many reviews that said the prri has a great sound and being a lower powered amp than the drri it might get some of those edge of breakup tones at lower volumes. I got this model with the 12" jenson alnico speaker from GC's used site. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender...8734.gc?pfm=krecs+1440515358734+31259+GCWHOME
hopefully it will be here mid next week.
good luck with your search.

Nice add, suggesting this PRRI.

Hope it works out for you, please chime in with your thoughts.

And the Bordeaux looks great, paired with the wheat-colored grille cloth!

Congrats.
 

jrgtr42

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Mar 24, 2005
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2,308
Boogie had one out a while back called the Blue Angel. At the time I was working selling them (among other things) and I thought that was the best sounding Boogie amp.
But I do think that the DRRI is the amp you're looking for - sounds right up the alley - maybe think about a BF Princeton clone with a 12" speaker for even quieter. But the DRRI does tick all the boxes you're looking for.
 

Mr. Papa

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Jan 14, 2002
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Boogie had one out a while back called the Blue Angel. At the time I was working selling them (among other things) and I thought that was the best sounding Boogie amp.
But I do think that the DRRI is the amp you're looking for - sounds right up the alley - maybe think about a BF Princeton clone with a 12" speaker for even quieter. But the DRRI does tick all the boxes you're looking for.
I have a Blue Angel and it is amazing. Hard to find, but my favorite “Fender style” amp sound even though it has EL84 and 6V6 power tubes. Definitely my favorite of any Boogie I’ve played.
 

jb_abides

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Oh my.... maybe you now need to try the solid state Princeton!

It's 'absolute genius'... except... 'can't do fuzz'

 

DrewB

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Jul 15, 2001
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I have a 2017 '65 Princeton Reverb reissue that sounds fantastic with every guitar that's been plugged into it. It has a really nice breakup with Gibsons (P-90s or humbuckers). In fact, a friend is selling his Milkman "The Creamer" after hearing the two side-by-side, both of us preferring the Princeton by a large margin. I'm a Marshall guy, and the Princeton is the first Fender amp I've owned that didn't make me reconsider the purchase after I plugged in at home. Clean or dirty, it really does it for me. FWIW, I don't care for silverface or blackface Fenders with 12" speakers.
 

jb_abides

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I have a 2017 '65 Princeton Reverb reissue that sounds fantastic with every guitar that's been plugged into it. It has a really nice breakup with Gibsons (P-90s or humbuckers). In fact, a friend is selling his Milkman "The Creamer" after hearing the two side-by-side, both of us preferring the Princeton by a large margin. I'm a Marshall guy, and the Princeton is the first Fender amp I've owned that didn't make me reconsider the purchase after I plugged in at home. Clean or dirty, it really does it for me. FWIW, I don't care for silverface or blackface Fenders with 12" speakers.

Was this a 10" with the Jensen, or a Greenback? I heard their are some limited editions out there...
 

Konrad00711

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May 24, 2016
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35
Hey guys, thanks for all suggestions! Can someone tell me something about Victory V40 Deluxe?
I was thinking about using it as clean platform (seems to be made for that applications if I understand correctly) with small, dedicated pedalboard for different r'n'r flavours (I was thinking about Catalinbread SFT for more Ampeg-like tones + TS9 for overall throaty grit + any-kind-of-tweed-like-drive for more crazy things).
 

garagemonkey

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Jun 8, 2019
Messages
37
For the money I find it hard to beat the Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reissue. I've got a lot of amps of all kinds and of all of them it's probably one of my most versatile. Sounds absolutely beautiful, too. The "Custom" channel is voiced with a tweed Bassman tone stack and the "Vintage" as a blackface Fender. Both channels are in phase, so you can jumper them and blend the two as you like. Also, Tremolo and Reverb are available on both. Sparkling cleans to raunchy rock n roll. The reverb is super wet and drippy and the tremolo is lush and throbby. Really well dialed in my opinion.

Mine is pretty much stock with the exception of a Weber Ferromax speaker that was in it when I bought it, but the Celestion G12V-70 speaker these come with are really excellent to my ears (I've got one in my '73 silverface Deluxe Reverb to save the stock speaker).

 

JeffBlue

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Sep 16, 2012
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348
I'm unsure what they are going for now, I have a silverface Vibro Champ and a Bandmaster Reverb head. The Bandmaster Reverb I had modified to a blackface/ODS mod from Ben Fargen. Here is my amp before Ben sent it back to me.
 

WillyW

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Apr 17, 2021
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I have a first gen Blues Jr, and the Pro jr. (15w)

I don't NEED it but would like the 12 watt princeton reverb OR the 5 watt Vibro champ.
 
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Konrad00711

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May 24, 2016
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Well, the silverface deluxe ri was probably my favourite one from all amps I've tried so far. I'm going to find and try the Mesa Boogie Mk V, all YT videos are kinda appealing.
 

jb_abides

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Good luck, thanks for reporting back, it will be interesting to hear your choice and rationale.
 
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