Fender Deluxe

Spicy Lauren

Would anyone out there advise me on a Fender Deluxe amps. I'm thinking of buying one second hand so any downs / ups advice about this type of amp is greatly appreciated!!
Also, if anyone has one for sell, PM-me!!

Thanks a mill!!

Eoin Madsen

Can you be more specific about what advice you want?

They're a good amp if you can get one for a reasonable price. In my experience they seem a bit harsh in the high mid frequencies, but that could be down to the stock valves. If you buy any valve amp it's always an idea to replace the valves. http://www.watfordvalves.com is a good shop.

What sound are you looking for? And what is your budget? There are undeniably better Fender amps if you're prepared to pay a little more. But the Fender sound is not for everyone.

Spicy Lauren

Eoin Madsen wrote:

Can you be more specific about what advice you want?

They're a good amp if you can get one for a reasonable price. In my experience they seem a bit harsh in the high mid frequencies, but that could be down to the stock valves. If you buy any valve amp it's always an idea to replace the valves. http://www.watfordvalves.com is a good shop.

What sound are you looking for? And what is your budget? There are undeniably better Fender amps if you're prepared to pay a little more. But the Fender sound is not for everyone.

Eoin, thanks for your reply.
To be honest, I havent a clue about amps at all! All I know is that I NEED one... I dont even know what a valve is! Women hey?
I went to this gig at the weekend and I really liked the sound of the Fender Deluxe amp so went to Musician Inc the next day, tried it out and set my mind on it. I just LOVE the sound it has, nice & dirty - ahem, a bit like me I suppose
What I want to know is that out of the people who use Fender amps, is there one particular model that they would recommend more than an other, and why?

Ancient1

Have a read through this thread.

As Eoin said, Fender amps aren't for everybody. Most good Fenders are praised for their clean channels and that Fender magic....but you're not going to get great OD out of them. I play the HotRod Deluxe and it's just perfect for what i want. It breaks up at a fairly early stage (which is not very characteristic of Fenders, that's why they call them Hotrods) and it's powerful as hell.

It might be a handful though so it really depends on what you play and if you're gigging etc. If it's bedroom gigging only, it's way too powerful - and you're not going to get the best out of a tube amp by playing a bedroom levels.

Spicy Lauren

Thanks for the link Ancient.
Yeah it's defo for gigging out loud that I want an amp!!
What d'ya mean by 'OD'??

Ancient1

Well, if you have your sights set on the HRDx, then check out the HRDx club on the Fender Forum and the daddy of all HRDx sites - Justin Holton's source and shrine.

You'll pay between 700 and 900 yoyos for a new one, but you can pick up a used one for about 500.

Edit: and i forgot to add that the HRDx is not for good little girls, it's for bad ass mamas.

Edit 2:

What d'ya mean by 'OD'??

- Overdrive.

Doctor J

Ancient1 wrote:

Edit: and i forgot to add that the HRDx is not for good little girls, it's for bad ass mamas.

Steady on, man. Cold shower for you

Ancient1

Yeah, it does that to you...

Eoin Madsen

Spicy Lauren wrote:

Eoin, thanks for your reply.
To be honest, I havent a clue about amps at all! All I know is that I NEED one... I dont even know what a valve is! Women hey?
I went to this gig at the weekend and I really liked the sound of the Fender Deluxe amp so went to Musician Inc the next day, tried it out and set my mind on it. I just LOVE the sound it has, nice & dirty - ahem, a bit like me I suppose
What I want to know is that out of the people who use Fender amps, is there one particular model that they would recommend more than an other, and why?

Valves are just one of the components in the circuit. They're what amplify the guitar signal and basically make it go! Because of their nature they need to be replaced every year or two. There are also many different types and brands, which affect the sound of the amp. It's not really something you need to think about straight away.

Fender amps are known for their clean sound. Imo, they dirty up really nicely though. You can't really get a "modern" distortion tone from one, but they do overdrive, and quite distinctively.

If you like what you hear from the Deluxe, I'd say question no more. It might be worth trying the Deville to get a comparison but I wouldn't really recommend anything else unless you're planning on spending considerably more money.

Custom22

Hmm is it the Fender hot Rod Deluxe amp you are talking about or a Fender Deluxe Reverb or a even one of the Deluxe DSP range?

Ancient1

Custom22 wrote:

Hmm is it the Fender hot Rod Deluxe amp you are talking about or a Fender Deluxe Reverb or a even one of the Deluxe DSP range?

The Hotrod series consists of the Deluxe, Deville (2x12 or 4x10), the Pro Junior and the Blues Junior. The Deluxe DSP is not a valve amp, it's solid state with some inbuilt digital gadgets, afaik.

Spicy Lauren

Ancient1 wrote:

The Deluxe DSP is not a valve amp, it's solid state with some inbuilt digital gadgets, afaik.

Ancient, do you reckon the DSP is better then, or it it some kind of gimmick or what?

Doctor J

No, DSP is Digital Signal Processing, a chip programmed to imitate. Why get an imitation when you can get the real thing?

Ancient1

Well, that depends on what you see as "good" or "better".

Personally i prefer the tone i get out of a valve amp, but i don't know what you like or what you play. Who knows, the DSP might be perfect for your purposes but on the other hand you might hate it.

The only way you'll find out is to try them out! We can point you in a general direction, but can't decide for you or know what you like. If you are a beginner, you might decide to go with a transistor amp for starters and upgrade at a later stage...

In terms of quality, it doesn't come close to the HRDx.

Ancient1

What i mean to say is don't get discouraged by reading all this...learn and read as much as you can about amps and then try them all out. You should be able to judge for yourself what is good and bad about an amp and also what you prefer and like in an amp. Ultimately it will all come down to what you want out of an amp (even if it's an amp that other players spit on - in many cases only based on hearsay). Of course, that's not always the case. Sometimes you will be rightfully warned

But if it works for you - that's all that counts. Never be in a hurry to buy and don't make uninformed decisions.

All of us here tend to be purist gearheads and we regularly (and sometimes categorically ) dismiss anything that doesn't rank with the ultra ultra ultra gear.

Custom22

I just thoughtthat peopl assumed it was the Hot Rod Deluxe she was refering to. Anyway, the best thing for it is to take a trip into town and sit down for 10 or fifteen minutes with each amp.

Ancient1

Hm.

That's what i thought too.

Spicy Lauren, which amp are you talking about?

Eoin Madsen

I assumed Hot Rod because I didn't think any shops in town had a Deluxe Reverb Reissue. Ultimately it doesn't really matter. Obviously, she should try a few others to make sure nothing else takes her fancy, but if the amp she played is the amp she wants... it doesn't get simpler than that.

Just don't buy the wrong one from Thomann or Musicstore or Ebay. :eek:

Spicy Lauren

Ancient1 wrote:

Hm.

That's what i thought too.

Spicy Lauren, which amp are you talking about?

Fender Deluxe. I've no idea which one...
I defo wanno go for Fender, but the question is 'which one!?'
I guess I'll to shop around a bit more... Damn, it's becoming urgent. Got an electric but no amp!! Aaargh!

fitz

Well, the other consideration is the guitar you're using compared with what the guy you heard using the Deluxe was playing.

Could be that you won't be able to achieve exactly that tone with the guitar you have.
Best bet is to go into town and try out as many amps as you can, starting with the Fenders, but not limiting yourself to them. Go into Musician Inc. and talk to them about the tone you're looking for, they might have something else you could try as an alternative if you find you're not getting what you want from the Fenders.

The important thing is budget here. How much have you got to spend?
You can get a Vox AC30CC for under a grand, and I suspect you will get the tone you want, plus others that the Fender might not be able to manage...
Definitely worth checking out.

Spicy Lauren

Went in last week and tried the deluxe with the guitar I was drooling over for the past few weeks and ended up putting a deposit on a lovely Ibanez AS73 guitar. Cant wait to get it this saturday. Yes definetely Fender amp sounded GREAT!
Guys, I want an amp NOW!!

Spicy Lauren

Gonna spend most of my day tomorrow in Musician Inc trying amps, but lads I have an other question: does the amp come with a footswitch or is it something that I have to consider buying as well?

david

You'll have to inquire in the shop, different amps come with footswitches.

moonboy

Spicy Lauren wrote:

I went to this gig at the weekend and I really liked the sound of the Fender Deluxe amp so went to Musician Inc the next day, tried it out and set my mind on it.

would that have been the ballroom of romance by any chance??
depending on the guitar youre using its difficult to get a clean tone..
but thats not a bad thing,,
and it seems to be what youre looking for..
me on the otherhand would prefer say a fender stage 100(with a nice pedal) or peaveys ive found have a great fat, warm cutting tone..i could play an open D all day on one..

fish-head

Spicy Lauren wrote:

Went in last week and tried the deluxe with the guitar I was drooling over for the past few weeks and ended up putting a deposit on a lovely Ibanez AS73 guitar. Cant wait to get it this saturday. Yes definetely Fender amp sounded GREAT!
Guys, I want an amp NOW!!

Great choice of guitar. I was considering getting that guitar but I got a Sheraton instead. My brother had an Artcore and it's excellent.

Spicy Lauren

moonboy wrote:

would that have been the ballroom of romance by any chance??

Yes thats where it was. How do you know these things!!?

Went into Musician Inc at the weekend but there are no Deluxe available at the minute so I tried a 'Pro Reverb' instead and it sounded real good. Very expensive though!! I know for sure now that I want a Fender amp, Marshall just doesnt have that 'dirty' sound I'm looking for...
I was adviced to check out a Vox amp too. What d' you guys think of them amps?

Kenny_D

Vox are fantastic in the higher end amps like the Ac30 and Ac15. I'd recommend trying them out if you can afford them. The ac30 goes for about 900 new online. Well worth a look though. Its all down to personal preference. Brian May used an AC30

moonboy

Spicy Lauren wrote:

Yes thats where it was. How do you know these things!!?

i was playing that night(principles of shotgun cloning), i believe i was talking to you at some point..

Spicy Lauren wrote:

I was adviced to check out a Vox amp too. What d' you guys think of them amps?

great sounding amps..
but ive roadied for a few bands and its almost always the vox that decides it doesnt want to work or wants to shoot smoke out the top or...
maybe it was just bad luck..
but yeah, great amps but try a few fenders first..

Spicy Lauren

moonboy wrote:

i was playing that night(principles of shotgun cloning), i believe i was talking to you at some point....

Ah yes! I do remember now! I was fairly drunk that night I have to say. Your band was by far the best one.

moonboy wrote:

great sounding amps..
but ive roadied for a few bands and its almost always the vox that decides it doesnt want to work or wants to shoot smoke out the top or...
maybe it was just bad luck..
but yeah, great amps but try a few fenders first..

Ummm I'll have to rethink Vox then, but I'll give them a chance anyway.

fitz

I've a Vox AC30TBXT, one of the Korg Re-issues. Has been reliable, and it sounds glorious. The new AC30CC has an effects loop, master volume, etc...modern features with a vintage sounding amp. Definitely check it out.

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/ac30/ac_30cc.htm

WetDaddy

Sorry for the off-topic post, but Fitz...

I've a Vox AC30TBXT

How do you find it? I've the same amp myself about 8 months now. Have you had to replace any valves? Also, my model's an AC30TBX (no extra 'T' at the end). Is there much difference?

I won't turn the topic of this thread by hammering in replies, I promise!

Spicy Lauren

And Lauren's 'Amp for life' is...

... Fender Blues Deluxe ...
It's a limited edition, with the tweed look and all.

Fell in love with it at the weekend! It has exactly the sound I'd been looking for!

Guys, thanks for all your advice; me is gonna stick a deposit on that beauty next weekend. Unless you have advice on where i can get it cheaper on the Net?

Ancient1

Eoin Madsen

Spicy Lauren wrote:

Guys, thanks for all your advice; me is gonna stick a deposit on that beauty next weekend. Unless you have advice on where i can get it cheaper on the Net?

Well... how much is it going for? Tbh, I'd say anywhere online is probably cheaper. Try Thomann.de and Musicstore.de.

Spicy Lauren

I can get 10% discount which is worth exactly €879
Tis a big investment so it is...

LundiMardi

this one? 40watt 1X12?

http://www.musicstore.de/en/global/0_0_G_0_GIT0007385-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

Spicy Lauren

LundiMardi wrote:

this one? 40watt 1X12?

http://www.musicstore.de/en/global/0_0_G_0_GIT0007385-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

Yes!!

LundiMardi

Spicy Lauren wrote:

Yes!!

internet, such a beautiful thing.. that will only be around €25 to ship too, if that.

Spicy Lauren

Yes, it is a bit cheaper indeed, but what happens if there is something wrong with it? Will I have to send it back to them and be charged a ridiculous shipping amount or can I bring it to my local shop and get it fixed / looked at there?

daram

I can get anything for trade price through soundgear in portabello. I think they quoted me something like 500 for one in there. God knows I'm getting me one before anyone else though...

Spicy Lauren

daram wrote:

I can get anything for trade price through soundgear in portabello. I think they quoted me something like 500 for one in there. God knows I'm getting me one before anyone else though...

I was in there at the weekend, but there was no Blues Deluxe... I might just go back on Saturday and ask Rory if he can maybe order it for me there? Dara, will ya come with me??

Ancient1

daram wrote:

I can get anything for trade price through soundgear in portabello. I think they quoted me something like 500 for one in there. God knows I'm getting me one before anyone else though...

Do you mean Soundgear on South Richmond street?

They're a great bunch of people to deal with - and Jimmy is the man who hooked me up with my HRDx.

Jeanious

that the one ya mean?

If so, id recommend gettin onto Cormac in music technology (link) Hes down that dodgy ass lane at Loop studios, and USUALLY his prices are similar enough to thomann, plus you wouldnt have to pay the 23 quid (ish) shippin.

Just a thought!

Spicy Lauren

coyle wrote:

that the one ya mean?

If so, id recommend gettin onto Cormac in music technology (link) Hes down that dodgy ass lane at Loop studios, and USUALLY his prices are similar enough to thomann, plus you wouldnt have to pay the 23 quid (ish) shippin.

Just a thought!

Ah cool Coyle!!
Will give Cormac a bell indeed. Yes that's the one amp I am buying very very soon

daram

What time on saturday? I'm in the middle of exams (one on friday, one on monday and tuesday) so I haven't a huge amount of free time but...

I want to get an official price for one myself, so if you want to order while I'm at it I don't see the harm.

Spicy Lauren

daram wrote:

What time on saturday? I'm in the middle of exams (one on friday, one on monday and tuesday) so I haven't a huge amount of free time but...

I want to get an official price for one myself, so if you want to order while I'm at it I don't see the harm.

Well I live 5 minutes from there so give me a bell whenever you're planning to go in. Ya have my number dont ya?

daram

It dont remember getting it. But its in my phone so yeah. Not sure if i'll make it in, but if i do, i'll get you sorted out with a good deal. I got a takamine in there last week reduced from 1500 to 1050. That was one of the best deals i've ever gotten.

Spicy Lauren

Spicy Lauren wrote:

Ah cool Coyle!!
Will give Cormac a bell indeed. Yes that's the one amp I am buying very very soon

Coyle, thanks so much for that link, I can get it for €799 in there!!

Jeanious

happy days!

Is that the lowest one so far? Ya been onto Soundgear yet?

daram

I'll get it for between 500-600 in soundgear. But you may have to wait a few weeks till i get back from galavanting in the states...

Spicy Lauren

daram wrote:

I'll get it for between 500-600 in soundgear. But you may have to wait a few weeks till i get back from galavanting in the states...

Dara, I just sent ya a mail