Occam
Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 61
Alameda Ca
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 12:58 AM
I'm looking for a small amp for home practice that has that open snappy blackface Fender clean tone. My current home amp is a 7-watt Matamp which is better suited to heavy rock tones. I have the reverb covered so it's really just clean tones....what are some of the amps I should be looking at? I should be small enough for reasonable home use...maybe 15-watts max.
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D22
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 2054
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 01:27 AM
Go with a used Fender Princeton (non-reverb). They're plentiful and economical.
—
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 02:46 AM
The Fender Pro Junior or Fender Blues Junior are very cheap and might work too. I really like my Blues Jr.
— SSIV
Last edited: Apr 06, 2007 05:31:12
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casey
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 521
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 04:18 AM
I agree with the Princeton as a great choice, reverb or non-reverb. However,if you prefer to spend a lot less money, you might want to consider a Vox DA5 (non-tube) amp for $139 at Guitar Center. Just bought one as a travel/practice amp and was blown away by how close it comes to the Blackface Fender tone. I also have a 1966 Princeton Reverb and have had the opportunity to play through both amps side by side. Does the DA5 sound as good? Not quite, but it comes as close as any non-tube amp I've ever heard. It also has some other nice features: great (digital) reverb and delay effects, battery or 110 volt operation, and it will fit in a large suitcase for travel. Also I like it's variable power output - it has a switch for 0.5, 1.5, or 5 watt operation. It has several different amp sounds - the closest to the clean Fender sound would be selections 1 or 2. Casey
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TomK
Joined: Feb 11, 2007
Posts: 87
Pittsburgh
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 09:50 AM
I also echo a silverface Princeton Reverb if you can find one that is fairly priced.
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D22
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 2054
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 09:55 AM
TomK
I also echo a silverface Princeton Reverb if you can find one that is fairly priced.
He mentioned he already has reverb covered.
—
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 10:16 AM
Practice amp or investment? If ya got the cash, go with the Princeton Reverb. Those amps are only going up in value. Buy it today, then sell it later to send your kid to college.....ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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Sonichris
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1906
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 10:37 AM
They are going up by leaps and bounds! In 1999, I didn't buy a mint appearing SF Princeton Reverb for $150 at the local vintage store because I didn't like the name "Princeton", and because it wasn't the size of a small refrigerator - now, everyone wants them because of the small size/huge sound. 
The Blues Junior is a cool little amp, and the Pro Junior is too - and pretty cheap on the used market. -
I've seen some Peavey Delta tube amps that look pretty cool, and they are usually cheaper than the Fender's they are styled after.
Chris
— "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"
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dwgregory1
Joined: Oct 30, 2006
Posts: 118
Baltimore, MD
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 10:42 AM
I borrowed a friend's peavey delta for a while. Nice amp, he had to steal out of my house because I kept 'forgetting' to return it!
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 12:05 PM
I've been looking for a Princeton and unless you are wealthy you can forget about it. The prices are obscene even for silver face models. I picked up a Blues Junior yesterday for $275 on Craigs List and I don't know why I didn't get one earlier. 15 watts, 12 inch speaker. Lightweight and loud and very Fender sounding. I am retiring my Champ for a while.
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D22
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 2054
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 12:20 PM
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 12:30 PM
Someone got lucky at that price and it will appreciate even more. More often they are closer to $700 and that's a lot for such a small amp. I couldn't find a deal like that and I just wanted a small workhorse amp. I've used Princetons a lot and they are fantastic but if you can't get a great deal on one I think the Blues Jr will get the job done and more.
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Chopper
Joined: Jul 13, 2006
Posts: 271
Pennsylvania
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 01:22 PM
Here I go again mentioning the Fender G DEC. For home practice/fun its a blast. Plug a cd player into it with some cool surf cds an have a ball. Details at there website. I'd recommend the 15. Built in tuner, phrase sampler, midi compatability, drums, bass etc.
Its not tube, I know I know!
I got a Fender FM25DSP too so shoot me  I love the 'Fender' I get out of that little solid state amp!
I dig playing loud with headphones, at home, along with cds and hundreds of great guitar backing tracks I've accumulated over the years.
Just my 2 cents. My experience with these two amps have been great. If I lived on a farm away from other folks (ie. lotso land) I'd have me a Twin for sure, and a mess of guys over to jam on a weekly basis 
Or if I just had a grand sitting around I'd have a Fender tube amp too. Theres gotta be a million like me. These little practice amps are cropping up like weeds. They'll always be the guy in his house who loves to play for a hobby
The pros will tell you you gotta get a tube amp. I'm just a home player and happy, for now, with Fenders solid state amp options. I'd vote Fender either way.
Again, just my opinion. I feel like when I mention Fender solid state here I'm looking for a good flaming lol.
Occam, look around on this site..theres a lot of great advice on amps!
Peace 
Chop
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Anonymous
Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180
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Posted on Apr 06 2007 09:50 PM
fender blues jr. got mine a couple of weeks back. i like it!! does all i need but you might want a dirt box for extra dirt. i'm not rich and can be cheap, but i think its good bang for the buck!! peace
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Kojack
Joined: Jul 29, 2006
Posts: 116
Menomonie, Wisconsin USA
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Posted on Apr 07 2007 08:34 AM
I purchased a Gibson GA5T Skylark on eBay two years ago. If you're looking for a very nice clean sound at practice room volume, you might consider one of these.
Mine is a mid-60s unit with two 6EU7s, two 6AQ5As and a 6X4. Controls are dead simple. On/Off, Frequency (for the tremolo) and Volume. This isn't the older Skylark that's sonically similar to the Fender Champ, but I really enjoy it for clean sounds.
I purchased it from _Dan _at Lustone Amps in Rochester, NH who re-capped and re-tolexed it and also replaced a torn speaker. I haven't sampled any of Dan's custom made amps, but if his work on this Skylark is an example of his meticulous efforts, attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction, then they must be great amplifiers. He did a nice job with this little gem.
There's no reverb and and not a lot of tonal versatility. But it's got a nice little vibe to it.
Cheers,
Kojack
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Occam
Joined: Mar 11, 2007
Posts: 61
Alameda Ca
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Posted on Apr 07 2007 03:22 PM
I would have totally bought that one for $400 but most of the ones I've seen were getting close or above a grand. This is really just a practice amp for me. I bought the new Fender Champion 600 which is actually more tweed like but for $200 for a brand new tube amp that looks as cool as it does it's bound to be useful for something but I'll probably still be looking for a nice home surf amp.
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boyecho
Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 251
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Posted on Apr 07 2007 10:06 PM
ampeg superjet sj12-t. 15 watts. tremolo. volume, tone.
you can get them for under 300 if you look.
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HBkahuna
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1778
Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
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Posted on Apr 08 2007 12:49 AM
One of my amps is a Fender Deluxe 90. Its 100watts so it has plenty of power. I think it retails for around $300. It has reverb & tube echo built in. It very clean & sounds VERY surfy especially when used with my Fender reverb tank with some echo dialed in. It's very worthy consideration. I had a Peavy amp once but it caught on fire.  I didn't smell as good as a Fender. The sound I get from it may be more pleasing that all the different sounds I can get with my Cyber Twin.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Apr 08 2007 01:43 AM
Unfortunately my idea of a small amp is a Deluxe Reverb.
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abdul_tom
Joined: Dec 04, 2006
Posts: 251
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Posted on Apr 10 2007 06:51 PM
Ampeg Jets and Super Jets have a chronic rattling/buzzing problem. Shame because they sound great.
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