Guitar makes?Music 

  • Thread starter Thread starter wee_man
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Originally posted by wee_man
I have to say there's some real nice peices of kit coming from you guys. I didn't realise so many of you played or owned.

I use fender strings (original 150 lights), mainly because I get them free or really cheap.

I want to learn acoustic now I've been laying electric for some time now, but I don't know what to start with. Any suggestion guys? My dad wants to get a right handed Martin or something, and he wants me to learn to play upside down (which i can do) so he can play it as well and add it to his collection.:rolleyes:

Also if any of you guys have any recordings of you playing in a band or sololy it would be nice to hear from you.

BTW Kosmic Fool, I wouldn't quite know what would sound better, a ferrari on song or a Fender or Les Paul.
Personally I'd go for the guitar any day, plus I don't think my mum would be to happy with me substituting my guitar playing to listening to a Ferrari on full song. Hmm... I'll have to try that one....
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If your dad is ready to pay the freight on a Martin, may I humbly suggest a Larrivee D-05. It'll run $1500USD, give or take. I have yet to play a Larivee that didn't sound excellent. Every bit as sweet sounding as an old Martin, but way less expensive.

I also prefer Fender custom Lights (60L or 70L) for my acoustic. They already have a fairly warm tone to them right out of the package. Most of the other strings I've played are very "bright" and "brassy" when new. That is a sound that doesn't do anything good for my voice.
With most strings, I know that when I start really liking the way they sound, I'll need to change them in about two weeks.
 
Hi
Just noticed this thread and had to respond.
I have been playing Bass for 23 years.Seeing Geddy Lee live blew me away,and got me started.I have never taken a lesson,now it seems that I hear something,and I can see it on the fretboard in my mind.
I currently have a fretless(by my own hand)Westone 4 string,Hohner B2A headless 4 ,
and a Warwick Thumb 5 Bolt-on.The neck-thru Thumb 5 just didnt have the same tone as the others. You just cant beat the sound of Wenge and Bubinga woods.
I go thru an Ampeg SVT 3 Pro head,Ampeg 4x10 Classic cab, DOD SR 830 EQ,foot pedals too many to list, and ToneWorks Pandoras Box.
Some very nice equipment on display here.

Later,
cinjun8
Edit: I finally got to hear Blue Onion...

Very Good!!
Keep at it
 
Originally posted by cinjun8
Hi
Just noticed this thread and had to respond.
I have been playing Bass for 23 years.Seeing Geddy Lee live blew me away,and got me started.I have never taken a lesson,now it seems that I hear something,and I can see it on the fretboard in my mind.
I currently have a fretless(by my own hand)Westone 4 string,Hohner B2A headless 4 ,
and a Warwick Thumb 5 Bolt-on.The neck-thru Thumb 5 just didnt have the same tone as the others. You just cant beat the sound of Wenge and Bubinga woods.
I go thru an Ampeg SVT 3 Pro head,Ampeg 4x10 Classic cab, DOD SR 830 EQ,foot pedals too many to list, and ToneWorks Pandoras Box.
Some very nice equipment on display here.

Later,
cinjun8
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Sweet! Another satisfied Warwick owner. My rig consist of my SM-900 SWR 900w Head, going into my modest SWR 700w 4x10" cab /w tweet called the Goliath Jr. III

I got to see Rush last summer! :D It was my highlight for the summer for sure...

:cheers:
 
Hi
I practiced on a few bad necks first,made sure I knew how to fill the voids,and lots of sanding and refinishing. I did 4 necks before I took on the project.I put active electronics in,sheilded the compartment better. It plays very well. It isnt something I would do very often though.

@Paco:I absolutely LOVE the Warwick. I learn something new every time I pick it up.
 
Originally posted by Pako
http://www.blueonion.net/mp3/pako-blueonion-wakin-jam-groove-thing.mp3

Here's a free little imprompto jam that we did in my studio for fun... I was playing my fretless going direct into the board, with no preamps or anything.

Enjoy...
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:eek:
Damn Pako!
That's one hell of a sweet jam.
I agree with Neon Duke that was tight.
How long has your band been together.
In a weird way to my ears that sounded slightly like early Chili Pepper stuff.
I would be ordering your CD straight away except I haven't got any cash, considering I just went on holiday :( .
Your a good basist.

Originally posted by Gil

If your dad is ready to pay the freight on a Martin, may I humbly suggest a Larrivee D-05. It'll run $1500USD, give or take. I have yet to play a Larivee that didn't sound excellent. Every bit as sweet sounding as an old Martin, but way less expensive.
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Gil: I'm afraid it's a bit too late, he's already imported afew guitars from America. I think the biggest one he imported was a Martin OM-28 Heringbone (if you know your guitars ;) ), which he had a freind bring in for him. He'd be more than happy to have a guitar imported and pay the freight.
Larrivee...I have to be honest and say I haven't heard of Larrivee. I'll pop down to this guitar shop in town and see if they've got any in. They pretty much have everything and anything in there. Hmm... Thanks for the suggestion BTW.
 
You have access to an OM-28?:eek:

I'm not much of a new Martin guy. I never understood the allure...until I got to play an old (25+ years) Martin.
Dang, now I'm jealous.
 
Originally posted by Gil
You have access to an OM-28?:eek:

I'm not much of a new Martin guy. I never understood the allure...until I got to play an old (25+ years) Martin.
Dang, now I'm jealous.
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My dad's properly obsessed with them. I think he has 5 Martins and 4 different other types and makes of guitars (two are custom made and I've forgotten what the other two are). All acoustics though.
The access to the OM-28 though...Yeah...kind of....not really anymore. My dad really doesn't trust me any more with his guitars after when i was about 8, I went to get some coke from te dining room and I think it was the OM-28 (or one of his other Martins) proped up in there. Some how I managed to knock it over. When it hit the deck my dad gave out a shreak and ran over to it. He umm....opened it....to find...ummm.....a broken kneck...
:( :nervous: . He wasn't too happy. He actually nearly burst into tears. (True story an all this) He turned round and his face was just red. He was soo angry. He didn't speak to me for the week. And then about a month later he only did kind of get over it. I don't remember ever gettin shouted at like he did on that day before. Although he can't complain, because he went to get it repaired by this guitar maker/specialist in London. They've eneded up as best freinds, and speak nearly every day on the phone :rolleyes: .
So my dad still isn't too happy with me going near his guitars. Also it's a bit hard for me considering I'm left handed and he's right :(
 
Originally posted by wee_man
My dad's properly obsessed with them. I think he has 5 Martins and 4 different other types and makes of guitars (two are custom made and I've forgotten what the other two are). All acoustics though.
The access to the OM-28 though...Yeah...kind of....not really anymore. My dad really doesn't trust me any more with his guitars after when i was about 8, I went to get some coke from te dining room and I think it was the OM-28 (or one of his other Martins) proped up in there. Some how I managed to knock it over. When it hit the deck my dad gave out a shreak and ran over to it. He umm....opened it....to find...ummm.....a broken kneck...
:( :nervous: . He wasn't too happy. He actually nearly burst into tears. (True story an all this) He turned round and his face was just red. He was soo angry. He didn't speak to me for the week. And then about a month later he only did kind of get over it. I don't remember ever gettin shouted at like he did on that day before. Although he can't complain, because he went to get it repaired by this guitar maker/specialist in London. They've eneded up as best freinds, and speak nearly every day on the phone :rolleyes: .
So my dad still isn't too happy with me going near his guitars. Also it's a bit hard for me considering I'm left handed and he's right :(
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:eek:
You realize that breaking the Neck on any Martin more fancy than a D-15 makes you a criminal? :lol:
However if it was in the case and standing up...
Well, It should have been longways if it was "stored" in a "high traffic" area.
 
Originally posted by Gil
:eek:
You realize that breaking the Neck on any Martin more fancy than a D-15 makes you a criminal? :lol:
However if it was in the case and standing up...
Well, It should have been longways if it was "stored" in a "high traffic" area.
Click to expand...

:lol:

Yeah I think that's what my dad thought of me at the time - a criminal. I think he had in mind to lock me up or give me the death sentence as well.
 
Originally posted by KosmikFool
And Ryan, I'm saving up for a Ferrari just so you know.

Just kidding dude. Do you have a job so you can get the money or is it all allowance and mowing lawns? When I get back from Atlanta I start a job washing cars (professionally, detailing, etc.) its gonna be awesome!
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Hey, the guitar's only $199. :p

Well, I just mow my parent's lawn. That gives me an easy 15$ a week ($10 a mow, $5 allowance..), I could do more stuff if I wanted to. Every once in a while I get lucky and have to mow the lawn twice in a week. :p
 
Originally posted by Ryan
Hey, the guitar's only $199. :p

Well, I just mow my parent's lawn. That gives me an easy 15$ a week ($10 a mow, $5 allowance..), I could do more stuff if I wanted to. Every once in a while I get lucky and have to mow the lawn twice in a week. :p
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:lol:
Man I wish I had a job like yours.
I have to work on Saturdays for my dads buisiness and get payed £25 a day 9 am to 6 pm :( . Not a great job, but as long as I'm earning I'm happy.
 
I was 15 when I bought my first electric- This was after I did a "Hendrix" to my yard-sale nylon-string acoustic (Action? It cook me 5 minutes to fret a first-position chord! :p ) Anyway, it was a Korean Guild "Burnside", kind of a B.C. Rich knockoff. It had a Kahler-type tremelo & locking nut. I had some older guys play it & they told me it was pretty decent. I think it cost $130. At 18 & MANY broken strings later, I traded it for a Charvel Model 1. Sam Ash had it on sale for $120!! It had a Strat-type bridge, but I always abused the trem & therefore rarely used it. I play mostly rhythym, anyway. The guitar sounded awesome w/ it's ceramic humbucker, it also had a basswood body & maple neck, but the forearm cutaway was all wrong for me. When I played standing up, I had to hold the guitar & bend my wrist all weird :irked: ! Not to mention that the volume knob was directly under the pickup & I used to tear the hell out of my pinky :mad: !! So I had my friend's father re-shape the cutaway w/ his router to more of a Model 6/Ibanez RZ (RG?) shape & I moved the knob the hell out of my way! Of course I put a hundred stickers all over it. It looked similar to the red Jackson of the guy in Exodus, I was a metalhead back then.
A few years later, a friend had a Charvel Model 4 w/3 active pickups, a genuine Kahler & rosewood fretboard that I wound up with. The first 7 frets were shot to hell, so I replaced the neck w/a Warmoth neck, removed the middle bickup (got in my way & I didn't like the sound). The cutaway & electronics were modified, so was the trem. I filled the holes & had the body painted metallic midnight blue :drool: by a friend who worked at a body shop.
I eventually got rid of the Model 1 :banghead: My Model 4 was stolen 'bout 4 years ago :( .
So what am I playing now? I found a Memphis Les Paul copy at a pawnshop for $150, some tell me it's too much, don't care! Mahogany body & neck, natural finish, brass nut, saddles & dot inlays. I replaced the '70s cream knobs w/ SG-style black/chrome & a Duncan Distortion went in & the original bridge p/u went in the front (don't know what it is, but it sounds good.) It's got a nice, thick neck (I have big hands) & the top edge of the body is beveled & very comfortable to play, I'll re-do the electronics (pots, switch, etc) probably next week.
Next on my list is a custom-built Carvin that I'm always changing the specs on.
To answer someone's question, I've been using GHS Boomer 10's for the past 15 years.
Sorry to go on for so long, but I'm a real guitar geek!

Pako- You can find fret-pulling pliers at; www.stewmac.com
 
I've been playing guitar for almost 2 years now, but I know absolutely nothing about wahs and effects pedals. My birthday's coming up and I'm interested it getting some. Can someone give me a crash-course in them?
 
Alright Koolsax. Let's go through the basic effects chain; Compression "squeezes" the signal bandwith- the sound- This gives the instrument a tighter attack & sustain to the notes. It can also make it louder- A boost in gain.
Overdrive, or distortion increases the gain to replicate an "overdriven" speaker. This sound is used in probably 95% of all rock songs. Creem used Overdrive, Korn uses Distortion.
Third in the chain is usually a Wah pedal. Hendrix used this a lot, so does Kirk Hammet of Metallica. The sound is pretty much self-explanitory. This can also boost gain.
Next come the Delay & Phase pedals. Delay can either "chop up" the sound so it's not a sustained note- Instead of "Bwaaaaaaaaa" it's "Bwa-a-a-a-a-a-a" Or the note can "slap back" a second or so later, but not as strong.
Phasers provide a "swishy" sound, usually panned left-to-right continuously.
Vibrato & Chorus are similar; Vibrato sounds like a spinning speaker. It's been used a lot more in recent years, but the song "Crimson and Clover" was one of the first songs to really use this effect.
I rarely use Chorus, but it's like a softer Vibrato. It's used in acoustic Rock songs.

That's about the best I can do for now. It's kinda hard to explain what I've taken for granted for so long. Let me know if you have any questions. Maybe some other guys will help here, too.
Also, use a search & look up the sites of Dunlop Accessories, DOD, BOSS & Guitar One Magazine.
 
Rat Bastid gave some pretty good, and general ideas of where to start. The more you get into it, the more your ears will start looking for the "TONE". Ask any serious guitar player about his "TONE" and be ready for a hear full. Experimentation is the key to finding your "TONE" and it is your "TONE" that will set you apart from everyone else. :)

Some guys like a lot of gagets, some like as clean of a setup as possible, it's all about what it takes to achieve your "TONE".

Here is a condensed list of things that I feel will affect your tone:
  1. Guitar Wood and Finishes
  2. Strings
  3. Pickups
  4. Guitar Electronics
  5. Length and type of Guitar/Equipment cord.
  6. Effect Units (Rackmount or Stomp Boxes).
  7. Pre Amp circuits
  8. Power Amp Circuits
  9. Speaker cables
  10. Speakers
  11. Cabinets
  12. and the Rooms Natural environment.
    [/list=1]

    Those are just a few things that I can think of...

    Anyhow, Koolsax, keep on keepin' on.

    :cheers:
 
Also important is whether your have a solid-body, hollow-body, or semi-hollow.
Then there's the whole bolt-on or neck-thru argument.
As far as effects go, Steven Johnson can tell what kind of batteries are in his effects by listening to them.:eek:
 
Gil, are you sure you don't mean Eric Johnson? I read that in an interview back in '87 (thereabouts). Steve Vai mentioned that interview also some years later.
As for myself, I've noticed that Energizers have a clean sound & Duracell's are "gritty".
 
I have/had a lot of guitars to play my music with.

1. Early 60's Gibson SG(stolen)
2. Early 80's Gibson Explorer(stolen)
3. Kramer Barreta Custom
4. Mid 80's Ibanez 540 Custom
5. Standard Fender Stratocaster
6. Early 90's Les Paul Classic(traded)
7. Early 90's Music Man Eddie Van Halen
8. Danelectro Barritone
9. Peavy Wolfgang Custom Deluxe

Amps include a Marshall 1959 Plexi(Stolen), Marshall JCM-900 100 watt(sold), Marshall JCM-2000 DSL 50 watt, Fender Champ(traded) and currently using a Sony power amp with custom built tube preamp and a tube distortion pedal(Tonebone Hot British).
My practice amp is a Peavy Rage. Good distoriton from a tiny cheap amp.

I am currently looking for a tube based power amp only, that can really handle constant high volume settings and can give a lot of power amp saturation. No tube preamp. Any good suggestions?
 
Dude, if you can swing it, get the 'Boogie 500 power amp. I don't know the specs off the top of my head, but it should definitly handle what you give it. I'll do some research & get back to you.
 
Solid Lifters, I just looked at the sites of Mesa/ Boogie, Marshall, Crate, Randall, Rivera, Fender & Groove Tubes. Only M/B, Marshall & G.T. had power amps, but all in stereo. Rivera discontinued their Rack line. Sam Ash was no help & I get the Mucician's Friend catalog every month or so, & there are no tube P.A.'s in there. The 'Boogie "500" amp I mentioned earlier is something I remembered seeing in guitar mags in the mid-'80s, but the M/ B site showed only stereo P.A.s.
Since you're in SoCal, I'd suggest hitting the Music & Pawn shops. Have a qualified tech look over the tube sockets and all, (If it's used) and be prepared to buy a new sleeve o' tubes.
Did you manage to keep your Rage, or did you buy a used one? That was THE bedroom amp back when!! I had the Stereo Chorus model from that line. I kept the chorus on 1 for a tiny bit o' reverb & it had like twice the power of the Rage. Now I have a Blazer (updated Rage) in the house ($60 used) & I play through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in our studio (Loudest 40W I ever heard!). I'll be getting a 1x12 or 2x12 sealed back cab for more punch. Maybe I'll need a P.A. myself! :D
Let me know how you make out!👍

P.S. Manny's & Carvin had only Solid State.
 
I will be getting a Washburn D10S Acoustic Solid Top in a couple days, and my uncle basically lets me own his '59 Les Paul and his two Ibanez guitars. I usea bassman preamp hooked up to an effects cabinet hooked to a speaker I built myself. for practice i use a peavey 120 watter.
 
:eek: (I'm afraid this is going to be a long post)
Rat Bastid you surtunly sound like you know your stuff. If you've got any pictures of your current or past guitars I'd love to see them, espicially your customs. And I have to say I couldn't of put better the descriptions of the effects better. I have to say I'm completly used to as you say "guitar geeks", my dads an absolue nut. I posted earlier some of the stuff he keeps locked up.


Well Koolsax IMO (which isn't probably the best one), but I've just got a Zoom 707 Mk.2 pedal for my birthday. Real smart piece of kit, not the most rebust thing I've ever seen, but still good for a muck about. I paid about £100 for it (I don't quite know what that is in dollars) but it has:
Drum machine,
6 types of Wah-wah
Chourus,
Reverb,
Lots of types of distortion,
Delay/phase,
Lots of types of overdrive,
about 9 other different wierd kind of effects, like jet, wind, violin (basically a delay) and lots of others.
I can record riffs, play them and play over the top of them.
I can create my own effects. There are tones of features. The only down side to it is I can't really use it for performances, because ot comprimises the sound, it isn't at all robust I've known freinds to break there's very easily. I just simply plug it into my amp and plug my guitar into it and it allows me to change the sound of my guitar.
But it all comes down to as what Pako made a very good point of, which is finding your tone, or looking for the right tone. My pedal is great through my little practice amp (a 15 watt Squire SP-10), but through bigger amps the individual and great tone (IMO) is lost. Thats why you want to be very careful with choosing a pedal. That's why instead of a pedal you may want to possibly consider buying an amp for built in affects. For example I was in y local guitar shop the other day and looking at a Marshall MG50DFX (50 watt). It has built in effects, and it comes with a special pedal for these. This will save you from getting a seperate pedal. I also have some freinds who have taken this option and haven't regretted it since.
Yet I suppose in the end it really comes down to how much you want to spend or people want to chip in towards it, whatever.
If you do want a pedal, particular effect etc. then I suggest BOSS. My personal experiance with people I know with them is that they generally are reliable, sturdy and good pedals, perhaps some of the best you can get. Though they can get pretty expensive, and generally when you buy a BOSS pedal it usually has just one effect on it. Though thanks to the way they're designed you usually combine one pedaly with another one or many others. E.g. you could get a boss wah-wah pedal and a BOSS overdrive pedal and combine the two. You could also combine a BOSS pedal with another make if you wanted. BOSS's tend to be quite expensive though, but yopu pay for what you get in this case (they have a metal casing which can stand up to a pounding).
In the end it's up to you what you're looking for, just have a look around and if you have a guitar shop near you go in and ask to have a look a listen and even try the pedals. I know that my local guitar shop is very willing in letting me try guitars amps and pedals etc.
Hope any of that helps and sorry about the huge rambling.
 
BTW can anyone help me. At the moment I've gt a Squire SP-10 amp (15 watt). I want to make quite a largish step up to my next amp. It's got to be good and loud enough for me to use it for gigs and performances. I was looking at a Marshall MBG50DFX (50 watt) amp. The bloke said it would be powerful enough for gigs but I wasn't 100% pleased with the loudness with it. Maybe it was just the acoustics of the shop I tried it in. It costs £249. I was also thinking about the 30 watt version of it which is £139, which is quite a large differance in cost. I don't know what that is in dollars. So if anyone knows about them or can recommend another amp it would be nice to hear from you.
I don't have that much to spend and preferably want to spend as little as possible, but my limit would be £400 maybe.
Thanks
 
Originally posted by Rat Bastid
Gil, are you sure you don't mean Eric Johnson? I read that in an interview back in '87 (thereabouts). Steve Vai mentioned that interview also some years later.
As for myself, I've noticed that Energizers have a clean sound & Duracell's are "gritty".
Click to expand...
D'oh!
You're right it is Eric Johnson.
I hadn't even heard of him a few years ago.
But a while back I taped "Chet Atkins-Read My Licks" off of TNN (back when it was The Nashville Network) And I heard him for the first time there. Very AWESOME guitarist.

Wee-man,
Have you had a chance to try the Fender Princeton?
It's 60watts, Solid State (so it might not be as "warm" as you'd like), But Every Fender Amp I've played thru has always been louder than the competitor of similar wattage. And if you play with a "clean" tone, you can't beat a Fender.

Roland also makes really nice amps, but they are kind of costly. Like about twice what you're looking to spend. Plus they are really known for their clean sound. If you want distortion or overdrive, forget this one.

Another choice is one of the Bigger Peavey "Trans-Tube" amps.
They are solid-state, but they have a peice of circuitry in them that makes them sound a lot like a tube amp when they are cranked, and have warmed up. Plus, Peavey Gear is probably the toughest, mass-produced stuff on the market.

Marshalls tend to be very loud. However, they can be rather fragile. When they die, they die HUGE! and with little warning.
Hope this helps.
 
Originally posted by Gil

Wee-man,
Have you had a chance to try the Fender Princeton?
It's 60watts, Solid State (so it might not be as "warm" as you'd like), But Every Fender Amp I've played thru has always been louder than the competitor of similar wattage. And if you play with a "clean" tone, you can't beat a Fender.

Another choice is one of the Bigger Peavey "Trans-Tube" amps.
They are solid-state, but they have a peice of circuitry in them that makes them sound a lot like a tube amp when they are cranked, and have warmed up. Plus, Peavey Gear is probably the toughest, mass-produced stuff on the market.

Marshalls tend to be very loud. However, they can be rather fragile. When they die, they die HUGE! and with little warning.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks Gil, the Fender Princeton rings a bell. I've probably heard of it in a mag berfore or something. The Peavey I've heard of and it's supposed to be good. AndI've also heard similar stories about the marshalls. You have no idea at the pricve tags of those amps do you? The fender one I can probably get pretty cheap. I'll have to look into it.
Thanks
Tom
 
The Princeton runs about $400, I don't know what that is in pounds.(see www.musiciansfriend.com)It comes in two versions. One is a twin with 2-10 inch speakers, the other is a single with 1-12 inch speaker.
The Peavey will run $25-50 less. But I'm not sure what the price is for absolute sure.
 
Wee-Man, thanks for the compliments bro'! I WISH I could post pics of my guitars n' cars. Trouble is, 95% of my worldly posessions were destroyed in a fire 'bout 3 years ago. :( :mad: My lady's digicam won't talk to my PC & I'm too lazy to work it out. I'm getting a scanner in about 2 weeks, I'll see if I can post some recent pics then.
Gil is right about the Princeton, that & the Harvard (discontinued) were Fender's 2 best "dirty" amps. You might also consider a Crate GLX65. $399 U.S. Crate's sound pretty good & Lot's of "bang-for-the-buck". You can find this at Musician's Friend. Also the Marshall AVT's KICK ARSE! I see a 50W for $449 U.S. It might be cheaper at home in "Jolly Old...." They tend to be a little inflated here. These are also much more reliable than the infamous all-valve Marshalls.
Good luck! :D
 
Thanks for the help Rat. I was already thinking about the Peavy Classic 20/20 EL84 tube power amp, but I like EL34's much better. The Marshall 200 watt power amp is way to much for what I want and need. They also use to make a EL84 tube power amp, but. I can work on amps myself, I have replaced plenty of pots on my Marshalls before, to know my way around. :lol:

I am thinking about making my own power amp. Hell, I made my own preamp, so I might as well go all the way.:lol:

Has anyone tried the Fender Blues Jr.? Can it play "surf guitar" music? I need a new Fender for blues/surf guitar/jazz music. The local music store that sells Fender amps never has one in stock to try out.:mad: I am also considering the Deluxe Reverb, but it is a bit pricey.
 

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