Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Guys- Just picked up a VOX AD100VT-212 amp for my CW 12. Not sure if I'm really happy with it; sounds a bit "Hollow" to my ears. Or perhaps I just need to mess with it more?

Unfortunantely, I don't have the budget to really get what I want, a Fender blackface twin, and would really like to hear input on what ya'll think the best amp for a Rick-12 would be in the "Economy mode".

In other words, if you had $500 maximum to spend, what would you get that would cover good sound, reverb, chorus, delay, etc.

Whether that be with a modelling amp, or something more basic with an inexpensive multi-effects pedal, whatever combination.

And if so, what's the best "Economy pedal" out there?

The best I can do, for 500 bucks total in a combo; 1X12, 2X10, or 2X12 (w/or without pedal?) set-up.

Also, something with a descent overdrive, good twang, etc that will work well with an Epiphone Casino, etc.

I do tend to prefer a little "Tube amp bite", (Whether real or "Faked") to the Roland "Watery" sound, which I'll admit, is a gorgeous sounding amp.

Thanks so much in adavnce!!

Christian


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If the amp is brand new, it might benefit from some play time to break in the speakers.

Bumping this thread into '08...

I say up the ante a bit and pick up the Tweed '59 Fender Bassman reissue. That amp smokes most other new and "off the rack" amps. But the Blues Jr is also worthy.

You'll need a compressor too. I like my Zoom pedals, but the DynaComp is probably the closest to the compressor originally stuffed into McGuinn's 370/12.

For overdrive, again I enjoy my Zoom pedals. But there are tons of OD, distortion and fuzz pedals out there. Go try a few. My fave vintage pedal is my DOD 250 overdrive pedal. But, there are many flavors, all you do is choose! Enjoy the hunt!

Chris,

Vintage Amps do take a bit of time to "play in" by most accounts, as the Caps in particular take a while to settle in.

I've yet to be satisfied with an amp's tone to get the early Byrds recording tone. Interestingly my VOX AC30TB gets close at LOUD volume through my Jangle Box and a POD but not much use to me, on an every day basis. I want a low noise amp that gets the tone at a relatively low volume for after work practice. Help!!!

I've tried a 60's Fender Black Face and maybe its a bit closer but again need to really have it really cranked...


DIíng . No amp seems to come closest, but no use if giging...

Si.......

Last fall, I bought a really clean 1977 silverface Twin Reverb, and it suits my 370's perfectly. Especially for nailing the Byrds sound, with loads of compression, of course. The late 70's Twins are among the last vintage Fender bargains out there, usually in the $800 range. The blackface snobs detest these Twins, because they have a master volume and pull-knob distortion. I will be the first to admit that the distortion sucks. However, this can easily be remedied with a quality distortion pedal out front. Besides, you have to crank a blackface Twin up to ear-splitting volume to get that great distortion they are capable of. I live in an apartment, so that's a problem for me. Apart from treble boost and heavy compression, the classic McGuinn sound is very clean. That is the '77 Twin's greatest strength, and this is documented in Tom Wheeler's excellent Fender amp book. I'll go as far as saying it's the best clean Fender sound I've ever heard, especially for a under a grand. Get one of these amps before they shoot up into the crazy money zone like the rest of the 70's Fender gear has. You can't find a silverface Deluxe or Princeton Reverb under a grand any more. The silverface Super Reverb is starting to climb, approaching a grand. It will be there soon. The vintage Fender market keeps evolving as the classic stuff goes from working tool to high-dollar investment. 10 years ago, nobody wanted a 70's Strat. Now they're getting into the $5000 range. See what I mean? I'd rather save some money and get a Fender Custom Shop guitar myself. I went the reissue hardware-upgrade route with my 370's, with toasters and the reissue silver cases. They may not have the 21-fret necks ('02 370/12 MG & '04 370 FG), but they've got THE SOUND through my Twin Reverb.

I really like the Crate VTX65 with a single 12" speaker for its crisp, clean channel. I run my 360/12 through a J-box and that's about as close to those early sounds I've ever come. I tried lots of tube amps before I settled on the solid-state Crate. Best "clean" sound I've found. I don't like any of the "effects" built in so I'm just running it clean most of the time. The 2nd channel is usable also but I can't really use the third, or highly overdriven channel. Mike in TX

Set the amp on Tweed or AC30, and turn the FX knob to comp. Turn all 3 edit controls to the max. This sounds pretty jangly.
The Janglebox is the best way to get the Byrds' sound, but this works pretty well with just the Valvetronix.

Matthew

Wouldn't a Vox Valvetronix have an onboard compressor? Have you tried the compression on your CW?

I've gotten more used to my AD-100VT; I know it isn't the greatest, but with the Janglebox, I've got it sounding pretty good with one of the Vox presets; ironically more Byrdsy than the "2 X 12", or "4 X 10" settings!!

It's working pretty well, and with the gain up just a smidge, I'm getting a good "Bells of Rhymney bite".

Christian