Best Amp?

[Dave Mudgett]

On Hand-Wired vs. PC - a big difference is serviceability. It really is a big difference, my opinion, not to mention the resale value. Tone is subjective, but to me, there's nothing like a properly set up old Fender amp.

Another big difference (IMHO) is those nice old transformers and build quality. A 60s Super or Twin Reverb is a great amp, either blackface or silverface.

Don't get me wrong - I love a good Twin Reverb - I have a '69 Silverface Dual Showman Reverb (Twin Reverb chassis in a head-only config) and a 70s Twin Reverb. I love 'em, but my bands would murder me in my sleep if I showed up to a guitar gig with them. Even my '66 Super Reverb would be a problem on many gigs - but as Bill Hatcher says, for twang-surf-blues-country-rock, they're hard to beat. But for guitar - medium-to-high power BF/SF Fenders can be very loud for a club gig or for practicing at home.

So - I'm using an early 70s Princeton Reverb for a lot of guitar gigs these days - wunderbar. But for a little more juice, a nice old Deluxe Reverb or Vibrolux Reverb is very hard to beat.

My suggestion - go out and listen to a bunch of amps - vintage, reissue, whatever - and listen with your ears. My only concern would be dropping $1300-1400 on a PC board reissue amp. If you can find a nice used one for cheap, it might make sense. But that type of price for a PC-board reissue just seems too much to me. YMMV.

Again - this is just opinions. It depends on what you want.

[Johnny Thomasson]

Another vote for a vintage amp. I've A/B'd my '65 Twin with a '65 reissue, and to my ears, the reissue sounded a bit brittle. The difference could have been the speakers; I have a 15" D-130 JBL in mine. Of course the comparison was totally subjective, but IMO, mine whupped up on the reissue pretty good - it wasn't even close.

It sounds killer with either my '72 Shobud or my '51 Tele. I bought it about 1977, and used it primarily for fiddle. It makes a heck of a fiddle amp, too. I paid $475 for it, which was a lot of money at the time. I think new Twins were about $500 then; these things do hold their value.

Here's a photo of the old girl:




I rode this amp hard and put it up wet for about 25 years, and it still sounds as good as the day I got it. It doesn't look quite as good as the day I got it though.

Whatever you decide on, I hope you enjoy it! Good luck, and happy birthday!

[Robert Mayo]

Super clean, takes pedals like a snack....Fender silverface twins or dual showmans . More British sound with usable gain ? Check Gibson super goldtone amps, sleepers, made in the late 90's early 2000's.

[Jim Peters]

If just guitar, get a SF Deluxe. IMHO the best clubbing amp ever made. JP

[Bill Cutright]

Don’t know that I’ll be adding much to what everone else has said (Maybe reinforce some of it)

If you’re looking at the Twin vs. Super question/solution, $2k is too much to spend.
However, if you’re committed to spending that with the hope of attaining toneful bliss, there’s virtually everything available with the exception of one or two mega-hi-end units… deciding/recommending would be tough.

The trend in guitar amps is definitly toward lower power, grab-n-go, models, and the Twin/Super direction is neither. The best tone I’ve heard in the last two years was a Silverfaced Princeton. Didn’t hurt that the player was a certain numero uno Nashville Cat. You’d have about $1500 left to figure out how it’s done…

[Stephen Gregory]

Use $750.00-1000 for the amp and the rest for lessons from the best teacher you can find!!!!! Expensive vintage gear is what a lot of non players buy although some Pros do to. Learn your craft with decent equipment but make sure you learn to master your craft, first and foremost. Education FIRST, before overpriced gear.