Want to go amp shopping -- where do I go?

[JakeK]

Now that I have a new 1997SPC, and will be giving my borrowed Fender Princeton DSP back to its original owner shortly, I need to start thinking about getting a new amp. I want to be able to try out a WIDE variety of amps, but want to avoid Guitar Center. Unfortunately, that's the only place to go with a WIDE variety of amps. My local (chain) music store is to the point where the only tube models they have are the Fender Hot Rods...everything else is solid-state.

International Vintage Guitars has a small selection of Fender amps, and I'd really love to go there, but I want to able to try out Marshalls, Voxes, Hiwatts, Ampegs, etc.

[jps]

No reason not to go to GC to try amps. it doesn't mean you have to buy from them.

[JakeK]

Yeah, Jeff, this is true, but I just hate the atmosphere, the people, the kids...you know what I'm saying?

[jps]

You don't have to tell me about that!

[Scastles]

Try C&M Music. There's a few of them around you.

http://www.cheeweez.com/goout.asp?u=htt ... center.net

[JakeK]

That is my local chain store...the one in Mandeville has been reduced to the Fender Hot Rod Devilles and a bunch of solid-states. They also have an Ampeg SVT stack, but I don't think bass amps work well with guitars.

[jps]

TThey also have an Ampeg SVT stack, but I don't think bass amps work well with guitars.

They did for The Rolling Stones!

[soundmasterg]

Elliot Randall used an SVT and a Strat for "Reelin in the Years" by Steely Dan, so they can give you a good sound, but yah, they aren't really practical for guitar. I'd say go to GC and check out what they have, and then hunt down some stores that you could go to on a road trip. Where are you located anyway? In my area we have a lot of decent stores to check out, but I realize it's not the same everywhere.

Greg

[wj350]

I wouldn't knock the HR Devilles and Deluxes....I think they're pretty terrific sound amps, and there are some good deals on the used market for them.

[soundmasterg]

I wouldn't knock the HR Devilles and Deluxes....I think they're pretty terrific sound amps, and there are some good deals on the used market for them.

They're alright, but as compared to vintage ones they are overly bright and are harder to work on and less reliable.

Greg

[wj350]

They're alright, but as compared to vintage ones they are overly bright and are harder to work on and less reliable. Greg

Kinda makes one want to wonder what the bands of the '60s and '70s would have done had they had access to the internet.

Imagine John reading that the Ric 325 was a "one trick pony" or the Telecaster was a "cheap country twang" guitar. I get your point on the vintage thing, but then you have to wonder what the "state of the art" opinion might have been before they were vintage. Or what the opinion might be down the road....

Bill

[soundmasterg]

They're alright, but as compared to vintage ones they are overly bright and are harder to work on and less reliable. Greg

Kinda makes one want to wonder what the bands of the '60s and '70s would have done had they had access to the internet.

Imagine John reading that the Ric 325 was a "one trick pony" or the Telecaster was a "cheap country twang" guitar. I get your point on the vintage thing, but then you have to wonder what the "state of the art" opinion might have been before they were vintage. Or what the opinion might be down the road....

Bill

The problem with the modern Fenders is that the voltages inside the amp are too high. When you get higher voltages, you get more gain, but you also get a brighter amp and more noise. Fender has been forced to change some long standing wiring in their newer amps and conform with code, which is a good thing, as it makes the amps safer and quieter, but the higher voltage is the problem. If someone wanted to they could lower the voltages down and get a warmer sounding amp, but the newer amps with their PCB's are harder to work on than the older ones. Moreover, they often use 1/4 watt resistors where a 1/2 watt should be used, so down the line, those resistors will fail, whereas in the vintage amps they will not. Its not as simple as saying, "well these amps are new and when they get to be 40 years old they will sound better like the vintage amps of today did." Certainly today's vintage amps were often brighter when new than they are today, but they were better made, and not quite as bright as today's new Fender stuff. They were also simpler....when you add channel switching and things of that nature, it complicates the circuitry and muddies up the sound. The simpler an amp is the clearer it will sound....some people like that, and others like all the doodads and switching that modern amps do. Each to his own. I'm not saying all modern amps are bad....just that the new Fenders aren't as good as the older ones.

If you're talking about vintage guitars, then there is definitly something there......they're usually lighter and in my experience, the pickups sound better as a general rule, though they are less consistant and you get more bad ones than with today's stuff.

Greg

[wmthor]

That is my local chain store ...

Jake, there's nothing wrong with a phone call to C&M's other stores to see what they have in stock before you go out.

[JakeK]

I was talking to the friend of mine/my dad's who lent me the Fender DSP...he said there's this place called New Orleans Music Exchange that sells Vox and Orange amps. If they are anything like Chicago Music Exchange, let me tell you...

I actually have a photo of me in that shop when I was about 11. I saw a Höfner 500/1V62 in the window, and I just HAD to hold it. The store clerks were nice and let me pose with it, and were impressed I knew so much about The Beatles.

My mom said since I did so well on my Who project, she's taking me down to IVG next Monday (as I have a Doctor's appointment then) or Friday to try out some amps and (possibly) get me a MXR Dyna Comp.

[johnallg]

Sounds like a great outing Jake. Enjoy and have fun (after the doctor stop).