I am in the market for a new Fender combo amp, but I am unsure which is the best for surf. I'd be using an outboard Fender reverb unit. I was looking at the '65 super reverb, twin reverb, deluxe reverb, and even the '59 bassman combo. Does anyone know which one would be best for surf? Or one better suited?

Can't say its the "best" since its all a matter of taste, but I like my 1966 Super Reverb a lot for surf, and prefer it over a Twin, Deluxe, or Vibrolux. Something about having those 4 x 10" speakers - they really move a lot of air. It can fill a large room with sound without sounding like its working hard. Presence. Seldom play it with volume above "5", and it stays plenty clean, but not too clean - if you really dig in with the pick it responds with a little bit of dirt. I find it very sensitive to picking technique. The blackface models are also somewhat of a bargain, usually selling for the same price or less than say a Princeton Reverb of the same era, and almost always less than a Vibrolux or Deluxe Reverb.

twin 15. but you'll need a tank

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There's no one answer to this ... it's been said a lot of times before, but it can't be stressed enough: it depends how loud your drummer is. They vary greatly: for example, when the guy I play with was younger, even a standard twin wasn't loud enough to stay clean unless it had JBL's in it. Now my 100w Valveking is plenty, but a Fender 40 watt isn't enough for sure. I know because I've tried it.

I know, I know - I've said this more than once before but people keep asking this question. Hate to sound like a broken record but its the truth. I do some dep gigs where the drummer is so quiet I could use a 15w amp and some where 100w is neccessary. Last time this came up someone said I should get a quiter drummer, but the fact is that I play with quite a few different ones and a lot of great drummers play very loud. The 40w wouldn't be loud enough with over half the drummers I play with.

Now throw room acoustics into the eqaution. We used to do one little club that had a heavy velvet curtain behind the band. Although we had to play quiet there, I used to have to use my JBL twin that I had at the time up higher on that stage than in any big venue because that curtain just sucked the volume away.

If you want to be SURE of a clean sound you need a loud amp.

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ToneBoy
I have to agree with my friend Rio on this. I've also found that the 40 watt amps (Vibrolux Reverb, etc.) work great for most venues, especially when its miked.

Well yes, I agree that that's a completely different kettle of fish if it's Mic'd up. Then you can use a 10w amp if you want and stick it back through the monitors. But then that assumes there's either a house PA (operated by someone who has ears) or that you are carrying a biggish PA around with you - someting an instrumental band would only want to do for the sort of venues where the drums would also need to be mic'd - seeing as how we don't need it for vocals but only between-numbers chat.

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go wth the twin, you can turn it way up or way down. the tank will help but i'm a cheapo and i might try out someone's electro-harmonix holy grail before i invest in the tank. but the tank in better!!

I was currently looking into getting a Vibrolux myself.
I love the Twin Reverb, but many guys I've known found it to be either overkill or just too big for the venue. I currently use the GT Soul-o-45 from Groove Tubes (actually from Aspen Pittman himself) and think for a Fender similar wattage range would be best...for me. You could open it up beyond 5 or 6 in a small club and get great tones and even at a bigger venue they just end up putting a mic on it anyway. Maybe at a park or fair you would be unmiked and need the extra power/speakers. But that's my experience. I also like an amp that is 40lbs! Carrying the thing can be a big part of which one to get too. Ask yourself where you play most, how much room do you have, and do you need internal reverb and vibro? My answers are yes, and I want that Fender Vibro effect that my pedal comes close to, but just not close enough for me using the GT.

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You mean NEW Vibroluxs when compared to other NEW Fender models or are you talking new vs. old?

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Let me say it more clearly, my fault: Comparing apples to apples, do you mean that in the NEW line of current Fender amps the new Vibrolux is not equal to a new Twin or Princeton, etc. in quality- that it is the Virbolux model that stands out as sub par among the current Fender line ?

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I tell ya' Lou, I'm selling this line of Amps call Fender and they sure give these things some interesting names! Like what Bud?