Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

but searching has not yielded much. plus, this is a friendly forum where patience and tolerance are found in abundance . . .

having just had my new 330/12 set up at wildwood, where i bought it, i've been playing it through this chain: tuner >> janglebox >> equalizer (with trebles set high) >> princeton reverb clone (treble near 10).

it sounds great!

undoubtedly a subjective question, but how close does this outfit come to matching what a classic vox amp would deliver?

your forbearance and insights are much appreciated. thank you, eljayski

Can you send an audio file or link to an audio file?

manta wrote:Can you send an audio file or link to an audio file?

unfortunately, i haven't a microphone. i can and do record with a direct line in to my computer, but that bypasses the amp, of course. buying microphone is on the agenda.

Sound is in the ear of the beholder (or something like that).

What PR clone, Headstrong? Treble on 10? Wow, that is bright, and with an outboard EQ with the treble boosted, too???

How's your hearing, these days?

You should come over and check out my 1962 Fender Concert amp.

I dunno, but IMHO, it's very hard to make a Fender sound like a Vox.

The circuit layout is different
Fender
power tubes 6V6
speaker ? (Jensen, Utah, Oxford, etc)
bias Adjustable
operaton Class AB

Vox
power tubes EL84
speaker Celestion (esp Blue)
bias Cathode
operation Class A


I'm sure more technically savvy engineers in the bunch can "chime" in, but Fender is known for the mid scoop sound and Vox is known for the bloom and chime.

Fenders are nice, but I swear by my Roland Jazz-chorus for my 370/12. Helps that it also works for just about every other axe I own, too.

BuddyDog wrote:I dunno, but IMHO, it's very hard to make a Fender sound like a Vox.

Thanks, buddydog. That's the insight I was looking for. Thinking about having a small "Vox clone" custom built, now.

Obviously, I have no experience with Vox amps. They sure get good ink from a lot of people.

Regards, eljayski

I have a relatively old (late '80's/early '90's) red-knob era Fender Power Chorus (even longer-discontinued predecessor to the also long-discontinued Fender Ultra Chorus). Not thought of highly even in its day (as were any of the red-knob stolid state Fenders), the Power Chorus actually sounds more like a JC-120 than pretty much anything else I've heard - and has been a great "bright, clean, chimey & loud" amp for my Rick 12-strings (provided I don't overdrive it, which really isn't a problem given its prodigious output). I have friends who've also enjoyed using the Fender Princeton Chorus (little brother to the Fender Ultra Chorus), with Rick 12's to good advantage...

My impression was that Matchless or JMI amps were closest in sound to Vox amps.

artisan4 wrote:My impression was that Matchless or JMI amps were closest in sound to Vox amps.

I am curious if you have tried any of the Dr. Z amps, and your impressions, if you have?

r-gordon-7 wrote:I have a relatively old (late '80's/early '90's) red-knob era Fender Power Chorus (even longer-discontinued predecessor to the also long-discontinued Fender Ultra Chorus). Not thought of highly even in its day (as were any of the red-knob stolid state Fenders), the Power Chorus actually sounds more like a JC-120 than pretty much anything else I've heard - and has been a great "bright, clean, chimey & loud" amp for my Rick 12-strings (provided I don't overdrive it, which really isn't a problem given its prodigious output). I have friends who've also enjoyed using the Fender Princeton Chorus (little brother to the Fender Ultra Chorus), with Rick 12's to good advantage...

Richard,

I have a Fender Princeton Chorus that's been my main amp for fifteen years. These amps may not be a status symbol to own, but they are very versatile, and sound great for just about any style. Not only does the PC shine with my two Rics and Janglebox, but I can get some gutsy blues and rock tones using my Strat or PRS and Boss GT-3 multi-effects unit. Some users complain that the clean tones on the PC surpass the overdrive ones, but I haven't found that to be true. This amp has a very good natural overdrive sound without any pedals, and it sounds especially good with Fender guitars. It's also a wonderful jazz amp: when I run my Guild archtop directly into the amp's clean channel with the reverb turned all the way down, it produces rich jazz tones that really emulate the Roland Jazz Chorus. Not to mention the fact that the onboard stereo chorus effect is the best I've heard, hands down.

Robert

I agree with Folkie 100%. The Fender Princeton Chorus is really a fantastic amp.
My Rics get most of their play in the Fender Princeton Chorus.

r-gordon-7 wrote:I have a relatively old (late '80's/early '90's) red-knob era Fender Power Chorus (even longer-discontinued predecessor to the also long-discontinued Fender Ultra Chorus). Not thought of highly even in its day (as were any of the red-knob stolid state Fenders), the Power Chorus actually sounds more like a JC-120 than pretty much anything else I've heard - and has been a great "bright, clean, chimey & loud" amp for my Rick 12-strings (provided I don't overdrive it, which really isn't a problem given its prodigious output). I have friends who've also enjoyed using the Fender Princeton Chorus (little brother to the Fender Ultra Chorus), with Rick 12's to good advantage...

I have one very minor correction to make: I think that what you call the "Fender Ultra Chorus" was actually the Fender Ultimate Chorus (big brother to the Princeton Chorus). Great amp, but I never needed the extra weight or wattage. I see them occasionally at chain stores for obscenely low prices.

jps wrote:

artisan4 wrote:My impression was that Matchless or JMI amps were closest in sound to Vox amps.

I am curious if you have tried any of the Dr. Z amps, and your impressions, if you have?

I haven't tried the Dr. Z amps, are they Class A? I think I've seen only one, which was small/few-featured. Have you tried one?

I have briefly tried a few different models, they are superb amps, and built in my home town, to boot. Mike builds many different types of amps, so I believe he does have some models that are class A; from what I recall, he is a big VOX fan.