Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know there's already a amp reccomdation thread going but I had a specific questions about two amps that I was intrested in buying. The first one was a Vox AD50VT and the other one was a Fender Tweed Hot Rod Deluxe. Which do u think I should go with if i'm trying to get that 60's sound? Thanks

The trouble with the Fender is something I find epidemic in the amplifier designs of the last 15 years: decent clean tone and fairly versatile mild gain tone BUT WAY TOO MUCH GAIN ON TAP. The HRD will peel paint (slightly noisy too). The points on the dials before you move into saturation are nice, but there's not enough clean on the amp.
The Vox has a more vintage-friendly tone than the Fender, but it too has TOO MANY high gain setting. I tried one out at a big chain store (left unnamed) where the music on the store's PA was ridiculously loud; the solution: crank the Vox up and play along (the only way to get an idea of the amp's tone in this setting). So I jammed along with CCR's 'Heard It Through The...'. The Vox had a useful, exciting tone and response when played with a Gretsch 6120 and Fender Tele Thinline (single coils).

Both amps have their good points, Ray. For 60s tones the Vox is better. I would suggest you save a few dollars and up your satisfaction quotient by trying a TRAYNOR YC20 (or 40). I tried Fender, Vox (AC15), Orange, Ampeg, and numerous others, finally deciding on the Traynor. Everyone that hears it simply gushes about how good it sounds.

Best of luck.

Noel

I can vouch for the YCV 20. I have the one in Wine Red. If your look for one with more power that sounds similar (eg same tubes) try out the YCV 50. The 50 has a Master Volume as does the 20 so you can get great clean channel overdrive. Thats not to say the 40 doesn't sound really nice....cause it does.

Good Luck

Awesome Thanks for the info. I havn't heard about the TRAYNOR YC20 but I'm definetly going to look in on it!