chad3006
Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 76
USA
|
Posted on Aug 24 2006 10:25 PM
We all know Fender made some great surf amps and reverbs, but I thought it may be informative for some of us po' boys to list some good, cheap, surf-able amps we may have come into contact with in our lives.
I'll start with a great old amp I still have. It's a circa 1970 Heath (Heathkit) TA-16. This was my first real amp and its reverb is still the best inboard I've ever used. Its got a great tremolo circuit as well. It's a solid state 40 watt and its been to many gigs in its life with no problems. I've seen several on Ebay over the years goin' pretty cheap.
|
HBkahuna
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1778
Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
|
Posted on Aug 25 2006 10:01 AM
Not sure what is cheap to you but I have a Fender Deluxe 90, $300.
Great reverb, almost as good as my tank. Has some nice effects on the amp.
|
Chopper
Joined: Jul 13, 2006
Posts: 271
Pennsylvania
|
Posted on Aug 26 2006 10:04 AM
I'm real happy with this Fender G DEC Amp.
Digital, but for anyone wanting to practice with a band on a moments notice it can't be beat. $230 new at my local music store.
Multiple reverbs including 63 spring and spring, a slew of effects, phrase sampler, tuner, 2 inputs, midi capabilities etc. All the details are here...
http://www.fender.com/products/gdec/home.php
Theres a surf demo under 'see it in action'. Double click.
Fun amp. Anyone practicing an only needs a 15 watter and headphones most of the time like me, its unbeatable. Theres a 30 watt version due from Fender in September this year. More suitable for gigging, and you 'could' do a whole show with it alone. Honest, I get some fabulous sounds out of the little thing.
Alan
|
Redd_Tyde
Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 260
Oceanside, CA
|
Posted on Aug 27 2006 07:59 PM
I have a Epiphone Galaxie 25. They went for around $300 when they being produced. It has long spring reverb and is only one channel. I gotit modded so that the hum issue these amps faced would be reduced. I still get some noise around flourescents and fan motors, but it is bearable.,
It is a loud one for 25 watts of tube sound. Plus it scores style points for its cool retro looks.
Redd Tyde
|
TomKilauea
Joined: Sep 20, 2006
Posts: 8
Berlin
|
Posted on Sep 20 2006 04:24 PM
Another unbelievable sounding cheapo if you can find one is the
Teisco Sound Port 120, a japanese solid state 1x15 Combo.
I couldn't find much about it in the Internet, the guitar player from another
band has one and I played it once. It's loud and the sound is unbelievabe
for a solid state amp. He said you can get them for about 150 Euro (ca $120),
IF you can find one.
If you see one, try it!
Aloha,
Tom Kilauea
— Aloha,
tom
|
Fripperton
Joined: Aug 14, 2006
Posts: 270
|
Posted on Sep 20 2006 05:37 PM
The VOX Valvetronix series is quite nice and available just about anywhere. It has a Blackface setting as well as a Tweed a Vox and more. The Reverb has a lot of adjustment so you really can get it quite wet though maybe not as drippy as some might prefer but it has a lot of depth and can be set to be quite overwhelming when compared vis a vis the dry sound. I have a small AD15VT and it's great either on its own or patched into a bigger cabinet.
— There is Surf east of Sepulveda.
|
boyecho
Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 251
|
Posted on Sep 23 2006 11:01 PM
a few years back, i would have said the ampeg v4/vt-22/vt-40/v2 and on and on. it has the BEST onboard reverb i've used. i prefer it even to fender amps. . i got my 100 watt v4 head for SUPER cheap. and most recently, my 100 watt vt22 combo for an okay price. the one problem in working on these is the quartet of 7027a powertubes can be costly unless you use the one company making new production 7027a's. also, the 6k11 is no longer made. better buy up a couple NOS spares.
they've gone up in cost lately, but they're still cheaper than any fender amp even close to their specs.
|
eddiewagner
Joined: Aug 12, 2006
Posts: 77
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 05:08 AM
got one for 179 euros on sale. its excellent, great surfsound, loud enough for rehearsals/small gigs. great value and sound. lightweight and saves you "tubetime".
— www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat
|
moondevil
Joined: Sep 10, 2006
Posts: 250
Lancaster, CA
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 06:31 AM
The only ones in the audience who'll know whether you're using a digital reverb pedal or a "real" spring loaded reverb tank or if your amplifier is solid state or tube will be the guys with the arms folded, standing at the back of the room, hoping to be noticed by his peers. Not the audience to go for.
Your target audience is the ones that are dancing, buying drinks, yelling at the tops of their lungs and really don't give a crap if you're playing a vintage tweed bassman or a $200.00 solid state Crate.
If you're good enough, you can make ANYTHING sound good.
— Dean(aka Moondevil)
deanmatherly.com
|
JeffLeites
Joined: Mar 27, 2006
Posts: 343
North Hollywood, California
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 12:10 PM
moondevil
The only ones in the audience who'll know whether you're using a digital reverb pedal or a "real" spring loaded reverb tank or if your amplifier is solid state or tube will be the guys with the arms folded, standing at the back of the room, hoping to be noticed by his peers. Not the audience to go for.
Your target audience is the ones that are dancing, buying drinks, yelling at the tops of their lungs and really don't give a crap if you're playing a vintage tweed bassman or a $200.00 solid state Crate.
If you're good enough, you can make ANYTHING sound good.
Thanks for that moondevil, I've often suspected that that was the case 
— My Web Site - Tunes - Pictures - Guitar Projects - Hard Rock Cafe Guitar Pins
|
Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19370
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 02:31 PM
Sure, but there is NOTHING that sounds like an outboard reverb unit. Assuming I was good enough to play a Crate and still make people dance, I would still want a real Fender outboard reverb because I could hear the difference.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
|
RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2403
San Jose, Ca.
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 03:10 PM
moondevil
The only ones in the audience who'll know whether you're using a digital reverb pedal or a "real" spring loaded reverb tank or if your amplifier is solid state or tube will be the guys with the arms folded, standing at the back of the room, hoping to be noticed by his peers. Not the audience to go for.
Your target audience is the ones that are dancing, buying drinks, yelling at the tops of their lungs and really don't give a crap if you're playing a vintage tweed bassman or a $200.00 solid state Crate.
If you're good enough, you can make ANYTHING sound good.
 I somewhat agree. Generally, most people in the audience can't tell the difference. However, I think instrumental surf fans are largely comprised of other surf muscians, and fans more into the technical side of things. Still, if subjected to the blindfold test, I'll bet a good percentage wouldn't notice a difference. At shows largely comprised of the general masses, they couldn't care less, as long as they hear familiar standards and stuff they can dance to.
It cracks me up when HUGE bands, like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Eagles, have a gazillion guitars offstage and guitar techs for each guitarist, bringing out different guitars for every song, while 99% of the audience can hear no difference, and doesn't care. The band is doing it for themselves! 
Bob S.
— Bob
|
boyecho
Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 251
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 03:26 PM
call me 'self-centered' but i play onstage for my own enjoyment as much as others. when the crowd is really digging it, of course, that's another thing. but if i don't think i sound good, i'm not going to play as well.
|
WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
|
Posted on Sep 24 2006 03:40 PM
general audiences might not hearthe difference between a showman and dual showman, but they damn well hear the difference between an epi flying V with a holy grail and a marshall with a 4x12" greenbacks cab, and a jag-tank-showman w/JBL's. In the end, it's a chain, you can f around with one part but not with all. And Im pretty sure that the average public DOES hear the difference between guitars, amps and effects, tey're just not able to analyse and express what it is they are hearing. the Eagles and Tom Petty crack me up nonetheless.
there's also the visual appearance. A surf band with moddeller amps and ibanez gem's just doesn't bring across the vibe, visually, as much as a 'gear correct' band, and the result ore often then not: those girls will not dance! I've seen it with pretty much every audience Ive witnessed, surf as well as other, and it just works like that, also with non-musican audiences.
as for sound, yeah, i remeber in the old yahoo group we once discussed a rack digital reverb as good as a Fender stand alone. It cost more then twice as much as a fender tank. A moddeler that will stand the blindfold AB test against a vintage fender tube amp will most likely be as much or more than that amp.
there's also the part of feeling cool with your gear. I play worse on gear I don't feel happy with. I also play worse when wearing clothes I don 't feel happy with, or shoes that I are think stupid.
just my 2 cents of course.
WR
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
|
WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
|
Posted on Sep 25 2006 03:43 AM
moondevil
If you're good enough, you can make ANYTHING sound good.
sure. but you cannot make anything sound like you want it too, e.g. like a fendersinglecoilguitar - tank - fender tube amp.
Im quite liberal and will respect any one who makes great surf music with an SG and a Marshall amp, and you're totally right that a good and creative musician can make that rig sound great, and even play surf music with it, and have it sound great.
however, he cannot make it sound like the atsronauts. I just don't get what's wrong with people wanting a particular sound and getting the gear to achieve it?
(check my new sig)
WR
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
|
WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
|
Posted on Sep 25 2006 03:50 AM
 hm, still this is going OT (move to other thread Brian?)
so here's my recomandation, then, Fender 75. not as awesome as the vintage Fender amps, but good clean tube sound, deep reverb, gigworthy volume and dead cheap.
smaller amps, I used to have a peavy 15 watt tweed amp, which I liked a lot, though not necessarily for surf (didn't play surf yet back then). It also wasn't particularly cheap, actually.
WR
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
|
moondevil
Joined: Sep 10, 2006
Posts: 250
Lancaster, CA
|
Posted on Sep 26 2006 02:30 AM
"he cannot make it sound like the atsronauts. I just don't get what's wrong with people wanting a particular sound and getting the gear to achieve it?"
There's nothing wrong with that, but the boutique and vintage gear (and pretty much all "pro" gear) is very cost prohibitive (and way overpriced) in a lot of peoples cases. I play a mexican strat through a Hot Rod Deville and I refuse to believe I couldn't get by on my abilities alone.
Sure I'd love better gear, it would make life easier but I can't justify the price. I can barely justify new tubes.
And for all it's worth I'm glad I don't sound like the Astronauts,
not to say that that's a bad thing. I like my sounds.
— Dean(aka Moondevil)
deanmatherly.com
|
WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
|
Posted on Sep 26 2006 03:11 AM
moondevil, for what it's worth, I think we agree wholeheartedly  . getting gear is about what you can afford and what you want, and making a balnce between those things, and there's no rules against anything. still there's a big differnece between a 200 bucks solid state amp and a fender hotrod, and still, they don't all sound alike and the audience will hear the differnece, that's all I said.
I for one am a firm believer in the law of decreasing extra benefit form further investment (or whatever you call it in English) i.e. the benefits of every extra $100 you invest is less. Im 100% sure that an AV jag sounds notably better then a jap, but the differnece is comparativly small in regard to the price differnece (Europe: AV two and a half to three times the price of a jap.) If money were no object, Id get an AV, but things being as they are Id rather invest that extra $1000 in the household.
btw, here in Europe, hotrods (as well as the older tweed blues series) seem to do as much as if not more then early 70's silverface Fenders. I play a sub $500 SF bassman with a $150 cab+JBL, and a weber tank. medium budget stuff, gigworthy. I also played a korean plywood squierstrat with one SD pup in the middle position for years and it suited me very well, still use it tho not as #1. Id love to have all the drooly stuff, but I always end up having other priorities - that's what it's all about I guess, priorities.
WR
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
|
chad3006
Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 76
USA
|
Posted on Sep 26 2006 08:15 PM
I'd love to have a Dual Showman, but I simply cannot afford one. Oh, I guess I could buckle down and get one, but my pickup (that's a truck for some of you.) needs a new trannny, etc. etc. My wife would kill me for spending that kind of money when we need it for so many other things, and I can't really blame her.
Another anecdote on the language differences (pickup/truck): When your in my neck of the woods, if you order a "Coke", they'll ask you "what kind?"
Just to let you know, I picked up another Heath TA-16 on Ebay for $20.00 the other day. She won't kill me for $20.00.
|
RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2403
San Jose, Ca.
|
Posted on Sep 26 2006 08:35 PM
WR
hm, still this is going OT (move to other thread Brian?)
so here's my recomandation, then, Fender 75. not as awesome as the vintage Fender amps, but good clean tube sound, deep reverb, gigworthy volume and dead cheap.
WR
I've got a Fender 75 I bought new in 1979. It has a great clean sound,
a 15" speaker (JBL?), and weighs a freakin' ton!!! It was Fender's original
channel switching tube amp to compete with the Mesa Boogies. The
lead channel isn't great, but the clean channel is great for surf. 75 very
loud watts of power, switchable down to 15W (I believe). I would think
you could find one fairly inexpensive.
Bob S.
— Bob
|
June Birthdays 
