HughWalterJennings
Joined: Dec 04, 2010
Posts: 9
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Posted on Dec 15 2013 12:18 AM
Searched and didn't find a thread on these.!
Anyone actually seen one ? Elderly says "in stock".
Specification Detail
Type Tube
Number of Channels 1
Power 12 watts
Speakers 2 x 10" 16-Ohm Special Design Vaporizer Speakers
Effects No
Reverb Yes
EQ Tone
Preamp Tubes 2 x 12AX7
Power Tubes 2 x 6BQ5/EL84
Inputs 2 x TS
Outputs 1 x TS
Footswitch I/O Yes
Effects Loop No
Height 17"
Width 24.75"
Depth 10.5"
Weight 37 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number 2303200065
Last edited: Dec 15, 2013 00:25:29
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Big_Ryan
Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
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Posted on Dec 15 2013 02:03 AM
Id really love to see fender ad a mid-high watt amp to their pawnshop line, these look cool but they should come out with some kind of 50+ watt one or two knob clean machine
— http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/
http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Dec 15 2013 10:11 AM
This Pawnshop stuff Fender sells now, I suppose is a bid to capture the low-end market occupied by ancient Valco amps – that were built with good iron and remain a bargain. Seeing that these new Fender kitsch amps are cheap, should we assume they are made in China with bad iron so typical of those sweatshops? Or are they robust enough to stay functional over the long haul?
— Squink Out!
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Dec 16 2013 01:35 AM
Well, they are in a REALLY reasonable price range. Fender could lower the prices of all their products and still earn enough money. I don't think a RI amp/tank/guitar/whatever is worth what they are asking for. You pay for the brand name...anyway.
I don't get the point of these pawn shop amps. When I tested the Excelsior I was quite underwhelmed. Actually, IMO, it sucked. Big time. I love the looks of these amps and wish they'd make 'em a little bigger (like Ryan said before). 12W is enough to hold up with a drummer, sure. But you get a real distorted sound above 3 on the volume.
Wonder what you could stuff in the cab...mmmmhhh.
— The Hicadoolas
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RaistMagus
Joined: Mar 30, 2011
Posts: 388
Copenhagen
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Posted on Dec 16 2013 04:18 AM
SanchoPansen wrote:
When I tested the Excelsior I was quite underwhelmed. Actually, IMO, it sucked. Big time.
A couple of stock DRRIs that I played sucked big time as well. I wouldn't even pay 500$ for them, let alone 1000+. But a change the tubes, rebias, and maybe the speaker and you have a great amp. Maybe the same goes for the Excelsior.
I wonder how fender is selling the DRRS amps that sound like this...
— https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/
https://www.dirtyfuse.com
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Dec 16 2013 11:38 AM
I'm into small amps and I have a SF Champ and a small Supro that I love but both are too small to gig with. I use a Blues Jr quite a bit because it is small and loud. I got an Excelsior that I've used for low volume sax/guitar duet gigs and it is excellent for that. If you are looking for a classic Fender tone, this isn't it, the looks should tell you that from the start. I replaced the speaker with the Legend 1518 and it is significantly louder (and heavier), it sounds lovely with a reverb tank. I have used it with a full band and it strains a bit if you want to stay real clean, my Blues Jr. is quite louder and cleaner and cuts through the mix better. I also have a RI Super Reverb, say what you want–it sounds great, it just doesn't appreciate in value like a vintage amp.
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Dec 17 2013 01:29 AM
Stormtiger wrote:
If you are looking for a classic Fender tone, this isn't it, the looks should tell you that from the start.
Why? I mean, they look pretty cool actually, but where's the optical hint that these amps start breaking up at home useage volume? It says Fender, has tubes and speakers...I didn't expect that they are medium gain amps. I guess if you are playing a lot of Hard Rock stuff, these amps are just what you are looking for. To me, they looked a lot like the Tone King amps, which are really good and clean amps. 
— The Hicadoolas
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heepeejeep
Joined: Feb 28, 2013
Posts: 350
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Posted on Dec 17 2013 07:50 AM
I tried one of their "Ramparte" yesterday at my local store. Beautiful aesthetics but very noisy and cheap/unpleasant in sound.
Ramparte
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caddady
Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 802
N.E. Ohio
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Posted on Dec 17 2013 09:49 AM
The visual design department at Fender is nailing it IMO. In both guitars and amps.
Engineering is taking a back seat, or at least bowing to accounting for cheap parts and assembly.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreasemonkeyz
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Dec 17 2013 12:29 PM
I like their looks too but they do not resemble Fender amps in looks or sound and that was the intent. I saw a 40s Gibson amp at the store the other day with a similar look to the Excelsior, and what Fender amps have an accordion and mic input (for harmonica)? These are not meant to be typical Fender amps, you have to look hard to find a Fender logo on the Excelsior. Mine is not dirty enough to play hard rock and not quite loud enough for a rock band, but it is perfect for lower volume gigs. Mine does not break up at low volume, it gets too loud for the house and stays clean until the volume is turned way up.
SanchoPansen wrote:
Stormtiger wrote:
If you are looking for a classic Fender tone, this isn't it, the looks should tell you that from the start.
Why? I mean, they look pretty cool actually, but where's the optical hint that these amps start breaking up at home useage volume? It says Fender, has tubes and speakers...I didn't expect that they are medium gain amps. I guess if you are playing a lot of Hard Rock stuff, these amps are just what you are looking for. To me, they looked a lot like the Tone King amps, which are really good and clean amps.
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Rossmosis
Joined: Jul 13, 2010
Posts: 180
Austin
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Posted on Dec 17 2013 01:26 PM
I love my Excelsior and i PREFER the stock speaker to the Eminence upgrade and also to a Weber 15F150-A I've tried in there. I guess I like my rock n roll trashy, no point in trying to "clean up" this amp. Pre-amp tube upgrade is a must though, the power tubes are just fine.
Looking forward to hearing the Vaporizer... that Ramparte didn't sound very cool to me in clips I watched anyway.
— The Del-Vipers
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skeeter
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 2063
Virginia, USA
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Posted on Dec 17 2013 03:39 PM
I have an Excelsior Pro with the Eminence and I dig it!
What's the pre amp upgrade you did?
Rossmosis wrote:
I love my Excelsior and i PREFER the stock speaker to the Eminence upgrade and also to a Weber 15F150-A I've tried in there. I guess I like my rock n roll trashy, no point in trying to "clean up" this amp. Pre-amp tube upgrade is a must though, the power tubes are just fine.
Looking forward to hearing the Vaporizer... that Ramparte didn't sound very cool to me in clips I watched anyway.
— Paul
Atomic Mosquitos
Bug music for bug people is here!
Killers from Space
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Rossmosis
Joined: Jul 13, 2010
Posts: 180
Austin
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 12:17 AM
skeeter wrote:
I have an Excelsior Pro with the Eminence and I dig it!
What's the pre amp upgrade you did?
Rossmosis wrote:
I love my Excelsior and i PREFER the stock speaker to the Eminence upgrade and also to a Weber 15F150-A I've tried in there. I guess I like my rock n roll trashy, no point in trying to "clean up" this amp. Pre-amp tube upgrade is a must though, the power tubes are just fine.
Looking forward to hearing the Vaporizer... that Ramparte didn't sound very cool to me in clips I watched anyway.
Just a couple JJ 12AX7's. They make a big difference, especially in the V1 position.
— The Del-Vipers
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HughWalterJennings
Joined: Dec 04, 2010
Posts: 9
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 01:32 AM
So, JObeast, you'd rather have this
Than this ?
Last edited: Dec 18, 2013 01:38:54
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HughWalterJennings
Joined: Dec 04, 2010
Posts: 9
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 01:48 AM
The old Sano and Excelsior amps are what Fender based the Excelsior on. I don't get the bad rap some put on the Excelsior.
Last edited: Dec 18, 2013 01:50:44
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 02:07 AM
Buzz monsters shootout! That's exactly the sound I remember when I tested the Excelsior...including the monster buzz. IMO that's not a clean sounding amp.
Funny: 13:02 'without the usual noise' BUZZZZZZZ
— The Hicadoolas
Last edited: Dec 18, 2013 02:10:38
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 11:34 AM
I would never base my assessment of an amp on a video, but here's another with Slacktone using Excelsiors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nv3i6HDvXw
I don't know where that buzz is coming from in the demo video, I never heard anything like that with mine, it's very quiet. But I would prefer one of those old Valco amps too, who has one for sale?
PS: I remember what Dave Wronski said about Excelsiors, "People that demo it seem to want to push it into ZZ Top territory, but it worked for a Slacktone set without me being concerned about sound, and all was well. The video's sound is not that great, but maybe you can still get an idea."
Last edited: Dec 18, 2013 18:13:57
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BJB
Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 413
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 04:26 PM
HughWalterJennings wrote:
So, JObeast, you'd rather have this
Than this ?
Well, the transformers on the newer amp are quite puny compared to the other amp. But we all should expect a lot of breakup from an amp with tiny transformers like that.
— If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Dec 18 2013 06:07 PM
Yes, I would prefer OLD IRON. That is the 'lights' of an amp, where the tone lives.
It is amazing how the split pre/power amp design is so derivative of old Valco amps.
I've own plenty of the latter and defend their design/build integrity. Of course Fender should explore the bottom of the market– it's their prerogative and may stimulate interest in old '2nd-rate' amps. But they lack that integrity and are simply a bargain or student-quality amp.
Some 15 yrs ago I got into buying little old amps, and later it led to a small business reselling them. All the old amps formerly despised (as more or less inferior to old Fender amps) despite their obvious shortcomings, have excellent integrity and are capable of good characteristic sound – just not loud and clean like a Fender.
Back before 1999, such little bangers as the Ampeg Jet were a good deal at $300 because a modern rebuild using same technology and quality of parts would cost 3 times as much. They are still slightly undervalued and present a great bargain.
— Squink Out!
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HughWalterJennings
Joined: Dec 04, 2010
Posts: 9
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Posted on Dec 31 2013 02:26 AM
here ya go .. first demo up
not a thorough look, but there it is
Last edited: Dec 31, 2013 02:29:16
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