Slikbeer
Joined: Apr 03, 2021
Posts: 9
Utrecht
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Posted on Jul 02 2021 06:31 AM
Hello there everyone,
Im kinda new to Surf guitar.
I play the guitar for 31 years now, but Metal is 'my main thing".
So, experienced player....but not in Surf.
What would you guys recommend as a starters amp?
Bedroom level is enough.
I have "the big guns" but again, for Metal (2 Peavey Triple X's and 2 Randall 4x12 Warhead cabs).
I was eyeballing a Fender Blues Jr. Seems like a nice allrounder?
For reverb, I have the Ocean 11. And thinking of maybe buying the new UA Golden Reverberator.
Any help would be appreciated.
Or, if I'm nr. 123012832899 with the same question, a link to a proper topic is welcome too.
— Grindpad - Oldschool Dutch Bay Area Thrashmetal
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1534
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Jul 02 2021 10:36 AM
Fender Princeton Reverb nails the surf sound in a smaller amp unless you need something really quiet.
I have a Vox AC10 (10 watts) that I use for recording and it is the best "bang for the buck" amp I've ever owned.
— Jack
aka WoodyJ
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
Last edited: Jul 02, 2021 10:43:23
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desert_surfer
Joined: Jun 29, 2020
Posts: 57
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Posted on Jul 02 2021 10:43 AM
Blues Jr is a good amp especially for it’s price, and has spring reverb. I’ve owned the tweed one before, but once you hear a blackface Fender you’ll be trading that thing in fast. If you can afford it, personally I’d cut to the chase and for a few hundred bucks more than the Blues Jr and get a Fender ‘65 Princeton Reverb reissue, which has better sounding reverb and has tremolo, also way nicer clean sound. Can’t go wrong with that blackface Fender sound and Princeton will be good for home. Also a ‘65 Deluxe Reverb reissue is another good choice, though slightly more money and a little bigger but not by much. Both those reissue amps are killer Fender surf tone machines and you’ll never be wondering “what else is out there” as most do when they go the shortcut. Unless you want the outboard reverb tank sound, the onboard reverb is amazing and will definitely suffice. Blues Jr reverb seemed weaker in comparison to blackface amp reverb. The Princeton reverb and Deluxe reverb are not starter amps, they are the only amp you’ll need pretty much and save you the “upgrading” loss of selling the Blues Jr a year later when you want something better after listening to surf tunes and noticing your sound is missing something. Do it right the first time, and you will love the tone and be inspired to never stop playing the amp! Best of luck.
I will add that I’ve owned a Blues Junior in tweed many years ago as my first tube amp and though it was good, after playing through my dad’s Deluxe Reverb reissue, I traded it in for a new Deluxe Reverb and never looked back. For clean tones, the Blues Junior was kind of sterile and exceeds better at blues breakup tones as it’s thing. Blues junior didn’t inspire me like the reissue Fenders still do to this day.
Last edited: Jul 02, 2021 13:22:47
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cosmonaut
Joined: Apr 02, 2019
Posts: 339
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Posted on Jul 02 2021 06:20 PM
princeton reverb reissue is great. my main ‘surf’ amp is a brownface princeton clone I built with a fender style reverb unit i also built.
I rent the princeton reverbs for backline amps a lot for bands coming through my venues.
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SandBug
Joined: Feb 22, 2016
Posts: 439
California
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Posted on Jul 02 2021 08:54 PM
I came here to say "Fender Princeton", I'm not surprised it has already been recommended.
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Slikbeer
Joined: Apr 03, 2021
Posts: 9
Utrecht
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Posted on Jul 03 2021 03:54 AM
Thanks guys.
Well, the message is pretty clear 
That helps.
I think the difference between 600 euro's and 1326,00 is still a lot.
But, you are kinda right:
in the end, going for the right stuff directly saves money in the end.
Food for thought.... (as in: how can I deceive the wife about those 1326 euro;s.... )
— Grindpad - Oldschool Dutch Bay Area Thrashmetal
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Jul 03 2021 07:50 AM
If budget is an issue I'd consider a Quilter superblock US. Along with a Surfybear classic or Surfybear metal.
Be careful of falling down the reverb pedal rabbit hole. I ended up spending more than a reissue Fender tank on pedals before I got my Fender tank. Nothing comes close to the sound of a real spring tank.
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Slikbeer
Joined: Apr 03, 2021
Posts: 9
Utrecht
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Posted on Jul 03 2021 10:01 AM
Thanks but that kinda gear is WAY to modern for me.
I'm an oldschool "real amp/real cab"-guy.
— Grindpad - Oldschool Dutch Bay Area Thrashmetal
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Redfeather
Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 854
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Posted on Jul 03 2021 12:24 PM
I'd suggest going the head + cabinet route. My feeling is that surf guitar sounds best through a punchy sealed cabinet. If you get a good 2x15 or even a 2x12 cab, then the amp really doesn't matter so much. Anything pumping through the cab will sound awesome!
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desert_surfer
Joined: Jun 29, 2020
Posts: 57
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Posted on Jul 03 2021 03:19 PM
Slikbeer wrote:
Thanks guys.
Well, the message is pretty clear
That helps.
I think the difference between 600 euro's and 1326,00 is still a lot.
But, you are kinda right:
in the end, going for the right stuff directly saves money in the end.
Food for thought.... (as in: how can I deceive the wife about those 1326 euro;s.... )
It is like double the cost, but maybe you could rationalize it and sell some gear and replace with the Princeton. You’re not just getting a surf-only amp with, they’re so versatile, you may end up playing only the Fender (at least I did ha). What I mean is, if you have the means to come up with the funds or sell off some other gear, you might not miss the other gear because you love the sound of the Princeton/Deluxe so much. It’s like a “where have you been all my life” moment once you plug in. They have such a better sound over the other stuff, that I doubt you’d ever be looking for another clean amp (unless it’s for louder volume/etc). The wife might like the idea of clearing out some gear for one smaller amp like the Princeton, win/win.
If I could pick only one amp to ever have for the rest of my life, I’d go with the 65 Princeton Reverb or the 65 Deluxe Reverb. It’s pretty much been that way, since I hardly play my other amps as much (though they are great).
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4129
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jul 03 2021 09:54 PM
A Blackface Princeton or DRRI are good choices. The Blackface amps sound somewhat different from the Brownface amps that were used in the earliest days of Surf, but I can state from personal experience that a DRRI is an excellent and versatile amp. Only the purest of the purists would object.
I NOW use a Winfield Tremor, which is very similar in circuit and sound to a Brownface Princeton, but a lot less expensive than the Chris Stapleton RI Princeton. I was visiting amp builder Winfield Thomas a few years ago and he invited me to try a prototype he had built, based roughly upon an improved version of the Tweed Vibrolux circuit, which is functionally very similar to the Brownface Princeton. The Bias-Varying tremolo is sublime, and perfect for Surf.
The difference in timbre is that the Tweed and Brownface circuits have stronger midrange than most Blackface Fenders.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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Squid
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1013
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
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Posted on Jul 04 2021 01:51 PM
Because you want only bedroom volume levels, and you already have an Oceans 11 reverb pedal and several guitar amps for heavy metal, you can economize by not duplicating what you already have. A simple low powered guitar amp with good clean tones may suffice with your Oceans 11 pedal.
I have several guitar amps of varying powers and philosophies. Of these the Vox Pathfinder 15R is the smallest, and it cost me $79 used. I replaced its 8" speaker with an 8" Weber speaker and it now sounds excellent. (I sold the original speaker for about the same as the used Weber speaker cost me). Its built-in spring reverb is not enough for surf but an external reverb pedal overcomes that. It has an external speaker jack, and it sounds even better through that.
If you can disconnect your Peavey or Randall amp speakers from their own amp, you may be able to connect them to a clean amp head such as a bass amp head, a Quilter amp head, or the external speaker output from a small amp such as the Vox Pathfinder 15R. I don't know if used this way these speakers will be suitable for surf, but maybe.
Added later: I see Vox 15R amps are now more costly. A better value is a ZT Lunchbox amp used with your Oceans 11, and you can gig with it.
— Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com
Last edited: Jul 04, 2021 14:08:03
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Slikbeer
Joined: Apr 03, 2021
Posts: 9
Utrecht
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 02:02 AM
Sorry, but also to the later reply's:
Thanks people!!
— Grindpad - Oldschool Dutch Bay Area Thrashmetal
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2145
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 09:42 AM
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cirecc
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 292
seattle, wa
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 10:09 AM
Samurai wrote:
This one is a great starting amp, affordable and surfy)
I agree, I use one of those box ac4s pretty regularly at home. I upgraded the speaker to an alnico Weber blue pup (celestion blue copy but in a 10”), and it gets recording use alongside my fenders as well. The stock speaker will get you going and is fine, but upgrading the speaker down the line makes it even better.
— -Eric
New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify
Also:
https://theverb.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/
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desert_surfer
Joined: Jun 29, 2020
Posts: 57
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 12:26 PM
Another vote for a small Vox. The AC4 are great and with a reverb pedal and maybe tremolo pedal, you’re set. I have an AC10 and the onboard reverb is great, but I also add in my Surfy Bear classic and it’s sounds amazing. Won’t break the bank either. I wouldn’t consider the Vox’s a just a “starter” amp only, as yes they’re affordable but I’ve been playing for years and consider them a pro amp as well. I like them better than amps costing 3 times as much.
Last edited: Aug 14, 2021 21:54:59
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2145
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Aug 15 2021 03:40 AM
Slikbeer wrote:
Hello there everyone,
Im kinda new to Surf guitar.
I play the guitar for 31 years now, but Metal is 'my main thing".
So, experienced player....but not in Surf.
What would you guys recommend as a starters amp?
Bedroom level is enough.
I have "the big guns" but again, for Metal (2 Peavey Triple X's and 2 Randall 4x12 Warhead cabs).
I was eyeballing a Fender Blues Jr. Seems like a nice allrounder?
For reverb, I have the Ocean 11. And thinking of maybe buying the new UA Golden Reverberator.
Any help would be appreciated.
Or, if I'm nr. 123012832899 with the same question, a link to a proper topic is welcome too.
Blues Jr is also nice, I used it for several years but it was a little too much for bedroom practice and I wasn’t always happy with the sound. Then I tried Vox in guitar shop and made a switch within a couple of days.
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
New Single is out!
https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single
Waikiki Makaki
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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Slikbeer
Joined: Apr 03, 2021
Posts: 9
Utrecht
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Posted on Sep 04 2021 03:16 AM
And, just to be sure, that is the Vox AC4C1-12?
— Grindpad - Oldschool Dutch Bay Area Thrashmetal
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cirecc
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 292
seattle, wa
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Posted on Sep 04 2021 02:18 PM
Slikbeer wrote:
And, just to be sure, that is the Vox AC4C1-12?
I’m sure the 12 would be nice, but that blue one we’re talking about has a 10” speaker.
— -Eric
New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify
Also:
https://theverb.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3732
tn
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Posted on Sep 04 2021 03:39 PM
All of the suggestions above are great, but I will add the Fender Super Champ x 2 to the list. Chris Barfield recommended it to me as a home amplifier and I really like it.
— http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com
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