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Reverbs
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PM42
37 posts
Oct 13, 2017
7:30 AM
I've played through a few Fender reverbs at guitar shops and really like their sound, but am a bit confused by their variety. Reissues from '65 and '68, black and silver faces, Princeton, Deluxe, Twin, Vibrolux, etc. Can anybody explain (or point me to where I can read about) the differences, and which model is most well suited to harp?

Thanks.
timeistight
2220 posts
Oct 13, 2017
9:54 AM
Princeton, Deluxe, Twin and Vibrolux were all amp models which Fender made throughout the fifties. After the development of the stand-alone Fender Reverb Unit (6G15) in 1961, Fender started releasing versions of their amps with the reverb circuit built in. They distinguished these amps from their reverbless brothers by appending “Reverb” to the model name. Thus, a Princeton with a built-in reverb circuit was a “Princeton Reverb”; the “Twin” amp became the “Twin Reverb” etc.

Leo Fender sold his company to CBS in 1965 and left the company. By 1968, the CBS-owned Fender company had updated all the amp models with brushed aluminium control plates. Many of the silverface amps also had CBS-designed circuit “improvements”. Throughout the seventies the blackfaced vs silverfaced control panels were a quick way (though not always accurate) way to distinguish pre-CBS from CBS amps on the used market.

The history of Fender amps is a fascinating study for music nerds like many of us. Wikipedia has lots of good info. There are also several well-researched books available.
BnT
111 posts
Oct 13, 2017
10:42 AM
"Which model is best suited for harp?"

Where are you playing - how large or small is the venue? Outdoors? What type band (traditional blues [quieter], blues rock [louder], etc.).

You can have the best 15 watt amp but it'll be hard to hear outdoors,in a large venue, or with a high volume band (unless it's mic'd to the PA).

As a traditional player I like my 59 Bassman RI with a Boss "Fender 63 Deluxe Reverb" pedal (about 1 lb) that fits in my harp case. I can use it anywhere. But, if I want less bulk,volume, or weight I pair the pedal with a smaller vintage tube amp - Silvertone 1300, Gibson GA 40, Sonola, Masco A-17, etc. (which I prefer to smaller Fenders) so there's always great tone and reverb when needed.

So answer the initial questions, then try out the different amps, and see what appeals to YOUR ear. If you ask five other harp players get ready for 7 opinions.
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BnT

Last Edited by BnT on Oct 13, 2017 10:27 PM
SuperBee
5026 posts
Oct 13, 2017
2:37 PM
“Get ready for 7 different opinions”
Ha ha, definitely.

I have several opinions myself.

For an idea of scale, I use a silverface Princeton Reverb (12 watt, 10” speaker) as my rehearsal amp.
4 piece band playing mostly Chicago-style in a space about 5 metres square. Last night the bass player brought his upright and I had to turn down to around 2 on the volume. I was plugged into the lower gain input (“2”). Normally I’d have the volume around 3, maybe a little more.
Joe_L
2791 posts
Oct 13, 2017
3:04 PM
The beauty of the amplified playing is that you have lots of options with amps that have reverb. Currently, none of my amps have reverb and I rrely use it, but when I do I think the Boss Fender Reverb pedal that emulates the 1963 reverb tank is very nice. I own one of those and I probably won't sell it.
1847
4490 posts
Oct 13, 2017
3:47 PM
personally i do not care for reverb, i am more of a digital echo kind of guy, however that does not mean it does not sound great when i hear others use it. it just doesn't suit my playing, unless it is a natural reverb like in a bathroom. heck i can stay in there and play all day. ha ha ha.

my friend jay summers swears by his boss fender reverb pedal with his guitar, and he sounds great.

i was at this show, and both jr watson and mitch kasmar had them a top of their amp. needless to say they sounded fantastic. creme de le creme.

PM42
38 posts
Oct 14, 2017
9:42 AM
Over the past few days I've played through a silverface 68, a limited edition "Boudreaux" 65, and big damn Twin. I think the silverface sounded best. The 65 was brighter than I expected. The Twin sounded good but it's too much firepower for me. The 68 silverface seemed nice and warm. I'm told somebody in me area has a 65 Deluxe she may be trying to sell, so hopefully I can get a crack at that sometime soon.
SuperBee
5027 posts
Oct 14, 2017
11:51 PM
I’m guessing: do you mean a 68 reissue deluxe when you say ‘68 silverface’?
I think the Boudreaux amp is a 65 RI Deluxe?

The 65 RI amps are well-regarded.
The ‘real’ 68 amps were not so well-liked, but the 68RI amps are not exactly similar to the original amps, apart from aesthetics (I personally love silverface aesthetics, but it’s the least relevant quality I can think of by which to rate an amp).

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a good thing said about a fender twin Reverb as a harp amp.

I used my little 78 Princeton Reverb in a church space last night. It wasn’t miked, and I had to be really careful to play quietly

Last Edited by SuperBee on Oct 14, 2017 11:52 PM
Joe_L
2792 posts
Oct 15, 2017
12:17 PM
SuperBee - I’ve seen Billy Branch play through a few different Twin Reverbs in a variety of settings from small clubs to large festivals. He sounded great, but the volume was paint peeling loud in a small club. I think the main reason why Twin Reverbs have fallen out of favor is that they are so damn heavy, plus they tend to be pretty clean sounding.

I think I also saw Cotton play through one back in the early 80’s at a club in Chicago.

Last Edited by Joe_L on Oct 15, 2017 12:19 PM
SuperBee
5029 posts
Oct 15, 2017
12:40 PM
That’s fair enough, many of the negative remarks are about the weight for sure. Re volume, I remember my mate demoed his 68RI for me, and warned me to stand outside the room. His main complaint about the 68RI amps is that they went through tubes very quickly.
bonedog569
1095 posts
Oct 23, 2017
7:33 PM
There is a lot out there on Fender amp history. Most valued are original early 60's Black Face and the earlier Tweed amps. SF original amps are good too and are also valued.

Biggest demarcation is that modern re-issues are wired by machine on printed circuit boards. Earlier BF & SF are hand wired.

You want the smallest, least powerful amp that will still let you be heard. Most amps don't start to sing till they are turned up more than half way. The bigger amps are great for guitar and can work for harp but other than the 59 Bassman re-issue (no reverb) they are not ideal for harp.

For harp, the simpler the circuit the better. Reverb circuits add more pre-amp tubes and more chances of engendering feedback. You are better off getting a non-reverb amp and putting a reverb and/or delay pedal in front of it. (between mic and amp) Take your time, investigate mic.s a well as amps, take your time and enjoy the process. Good luck.


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