Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Okay, I just saved up enough to by my first Ric but haven't bought the new amp yet. I was told there were a ton of threads dealing with amps but I gave up after search for a while, besides... i need specifics Okay here we go (keep in mind that I know very little technical stuff, but willing to learn)

1. Can I run a used all tube head, or any other kind of head through my Fender Deluxe 90 or Fender Bass amp?
2. Are the VoxAC30 reissues any good, what are some alternatives? I play mostly Indie Rock style with sounds ranging from the Velvet Underground to Interpol.
3. Are there any effects pedals that I can run through my amp that might give me a tube sound? I'd like to do this because I really can't afford an amp just yet.

Please help me, I am confused and I have no pride left. I can play but I have no idea where to start to achieve MY sound.

Thanks so much

For questions 2 and 3: I've found that some of the current Vox amps are good, but they take some getting used to. I have an '04 AC-30 HW that I really like, but that makes it difficult for me to really get into the current incarnations of the AC-30. As for a pedal, if you have a relatively neutral sound set on you amp, you may have some luck with the Vox Over the Top Boost pedal. It's part of the Cooltron series and is a little pricey, but gives a very good Vox tone that sounds very close to being tube driven.

That said, is your Deluxe 90 a newer version or the older version? I know that they had redone these amps a few years ago when they made it part of the Dyna-Touch series and completely changed it all around.

The Deluxe is the new version, about an '02.

Congrats on your new Ric! Re your amp question, you'll probably get as many different recommendations as responders, as it's every bit as subjective as the guitar choice, IMO. Sorry I don't know much either about running the head through one of your other amps.

I'd try things out for a bit with your Dlx 90 before jumping off in a different direction. I've never played the Dlx 90 DSP series, but it seems like a pretty versatile amp. My first amp was a pre-DSP SS Princeton 60, and I thought it was a spectacular amp. Fender's amps, SS and tube, are some of the best and most affordable around, IMO. I have a Vox AC30CC2X, Chinese-made, also a very good amp, but expensive and quite heavy. Primarily though, I tend to play either a Fender '57 Twin RI or a '59 Bassman RI, either one through a '63 RI Reverb unit.

I used to own both a Hot Rod Deluxe and Hot Rod Deville, and I'd highly recommend either of these amps if you want to go the Fender tube route--I know you're not interested in buying right now, but you can find both of these amps used for around what the Dlx 90 cost new. The Deville in particular (mine was a 4x10) had an amazing pallet of sounds, with a very nice reverb--used, they go for about a third of a new AC30CC2X. It's also a bit heavy, but not near as heavy as the Vox.

wj350 wrote:Congrats on your new Ric! Re your amp question, you'll probably get as many different recommendations as responders, as it's every bit as subjective as the guitar choice, IMO. Sorry I don't know much either about running the head through one of your other amps.

I'd try things out for a bit with your Dlx 90 before jumping off in a different direction. I've never played the Dlx 90 DSP series, but it seems like a pretty versatile amp. My first amp was a pre-DSP SS Princeton 60, and I thought it was a spectacular amp. Fender's amps, SS and tube, are some of the best and most affordable around, IMO. I have a Vox AC30CC2X, Chinese-made, also a very good amp, but expensive and quite heavy. Primarily though, I tend to play either a Fender '57 Twin RI or a '59 Bassman RI, either one through a '63 RI Reverb unit.

Funny you mention that. I was wondering about the Deluxe 90 myself because my first "good" amp was a pre-DSP 90. It's a great amp and Rics sound great through it. I'd agree to that the amp may just need tweaking before going elsewhere.