fargen dual classic or divided by 13 FRT

[oscar100]

im down to tehse 2 choices but neither are available in UK for me to try so i hope you can help me choose

any stories on either amp or fargens blackbird that may help me decide one way or teh otehr are appreciated

needs to be loud enuff to small gig with drums but quiet enuff for studio + some home -

head format with reverb

20w or so

BFDR and ZZtop crunch ish

takes pedals well

good lead tone - not fizzy

 

[abergdahl]

You might wan't to consider Custom By Cougar Hawk amp, it's a Dual 6V6 amp that has the same type of preamp as the Thunderbird and the 6V6 power amp will make it sound more fenderish than the slightly Voxy Thunderbird.

Take a look here: http://www.custombycougar.com

These are made in Sweden which means that shipping, import tax and VAT will be less of an issue.

I have not tried the Hawk yet but i LOVE my Thunderbird and will report as soon as i get a chance to play the Hawk.

 

[oscar100]

cmon guys - help me out here....what should it be?

 

[big mike]

I'd go with the Fargen Jo. /13 is a great amp, taking nothing away from them at all. But from your description, the Fargen does more of what you're wanting.

 

[mountain blues]

I've never played a ÷13 FTR, but given your design and tone specs, the Dual Classic does that perfectly. That is why I got mine. I have the 6L6 version, but for the 20 watts you could go with 6V6's.

The Dual Classic is a superb amp.

 

[DerekMinnich]

The ÷13 FTR 37 (not FRT....it would've been but I guess Fred didn't want to make people think of the word Fart) is everything your asking for. It's 37 watts though and 4 6V6's...it has a half power mode though also. If you need the louder cleans at a gig you can always use it in full power mode or if you want dirt at lower volumes you can use the half power switch. Killer reverb, great cleans, and good dirt. Me and a friend were talking recently and he said it has a very "custom" sound....indeed it does. It's got its own thing going on which IMO is very cool.

 

[KennyM]

Can't speak for the Fargen although it seems to have pretty positive reviews around here but I can offer my findings on the FTR 37.

I think the 37 is the best sounding amp I have ever owned. I've only taken it out for a few live gigs and it sounded stellar in each diferent playing situation. Plenty loud for anything but your death metal gig. As 99% of what I use it for is recording, I can only tell you that I can't get a bad sound out of this amp. Doesn't matter what kind of mic or whether you mic the G12H30 or Blue, it all sounds phenomenal. Takes pedals like a champ too.

Just to qualify things, I've been playing since I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan as a kid and I've owned just about every amp out there including a Dumble. I can't speak highly enough for the amps that Fred builds and they all have this bigger than life sound that I've never found before.

Kenny M.

 

[Seegs]

I have a Dual Classic and have played through a D13 ERT33 and compared both extensively...

I have not heard the FRT 37 but between the ERT33 and the Fargen DC I would go with the Fargen...

Chow,
Seegs

 

[philster]

Originally posted by KennyM
Can't speak for the Fargen although it seems to have pretty positive reviews around here but I can offer my findings on the FTR 37.

I think the 37 is the best sounding amp I have ever owned. I've only taken it out for a few live gigs and it sounded stellar in each diferent playing situation. Plenty loud for anything but your death metal gig. As 99% of what I use it for is recording, I can only tell you that I can't get a bad sound out of this amp. Doesn't matter what kind of mic or whether you mic the G12H30 or Blue, it all sounds phenomenal. Takes pedals like a champ too.

Just to qualify things, I've been playing since I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan as a kid and I've owned just about every amp out there including a Dumble. I can't speak highly enough for the amps that Fred builds and they all have this bigger than life sound that I've never found before.

Kenny M.

I am with Kenny on this one. My 2001 built 37 (serial #5, if I remember right), is just a monster of an amp. Unbelievably tight low end. Can go from clean jangly to screaming overdrive with a turn of the guitar volume knob.
Never touched a tube in 4 years and I swear it sounds better every time I play it.

Phil

 

[oscar100]

seems equally balanced so far......what am i gonna do?

nice problem to have tho....

 

[Seegs]

If you're ever in Germany you can come by and check the Fargen out...my friend Chrissy has a D13 ERT33 and he ordered a Fargen DC Head with matching cab. after playing through mine...

You can run 6L6 or 6V6 tubes in the DC for anywhere from 20-40 watts...

I think he still has his D13 ERT33 and a D13 2X12" celestion Blue loaded cab. and it is still avaliable...!!



Chow,
Seegs

 

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Fargen's new overdrive channels are setting a new standard.
I have both the SCO( the only one made so far) and the VOS
and they are in a league of their own. Ben's clean channel
was always killer ( his Blackbird circuit). With that combo, you
can't go wrong. The only 2 people to play my SCO besides myself
so far, have both ordered one within 15 minutes of plugging in,
and these were both pro studio owners with fairly amazing
amp collections. The VOS which is his EL34 based overdrive is
quickly becoming one of the most highly talked about new amps
available. People are selling off amps in the 5k to 40k range
and replacing them with the VOS. Fargen is the place to be. I've
been producing guitar driven rock records since 1974 and I
will be using both the SCO and VSO as two of my main tools
for some time to come.

I've been through them all, I've just purchased 17 new amps for
my studio and I do very extensive research and days worth
of A/B testing and my choices in the boutique world came down
to Fargen, Bruno, TopHat and Straub. IMO these are some of
the best designers and builders out there. I believe that Fargen
is about to explode and spin a lot of peoples heads with his
new designs. He has the potential to make a mark like Trainwreck
or D***ble have with his new designs.

 

[RichSZ]

Originally posted by DerekMinnich
The ÷13 FTR 37 (not FRT....it would've been but I guess Fred didn't want to make people think of the word Fart) is everything your asking for. It's 37 watts though and 4 6V6's...it has a half power mode though also. If you need the louder cleans at a gig you can always use it in full power mode or if you want dirt at lower volumes you can use the half power switch. Killer reverb, great cleans, and good dirt. Me and a friend were talking recently and he said it has a very "custom" sound....indeed it does. It's got its own thing going on which IMO is very cool.

Yep, everything D said...awesome amp!

 

[Burnsonix]

Originally posted by CliffC
Fargen's new overdrive channels are setting a new standard.
I have both the SCO( the only one made so far) and the VOS
and they are in a league of their own. Ben's clean channel
was always killer ( his Blackbird circuit). With that combo, you
can't go wrong. The only 2 people to play my SCO besides myself
so far, have both ordered one within 15 minutes of plugging in,
and these were both pro studio owners with fairly amazing
amp collections. The VOS which is his EL34 based overdrive is
quickly becoming one of the most highly talked about new amps
available. People are selling off amps in the 5k to 40k range
and replacing them with the VOS. Fargen is the place to be. I've
been producing guitar driven rock records since 1974 and I
will be using both the SCO and VSO as two of my main tools
for some time to come.

I've been through them all, I've just purchased 17 new amps for
my studio and I do very extensive research and days worth
of A/B testing and my choices in the boutique world came down
to Fargen, Bruno, TopHat and Straub. IMO these are some of
the best designers and builders out there. I believe that Fargen
is about to explode and spin a lot of peoples heads with his
new designs. He has the potential to make a mark like Trainwreck
or D***ble have with his new designs.

Thanks for the info, Cliff.

I am very interested in whats going on at Fargen amps - but I'm not sure exactly what is going to be issued together with the respective features/sounds etc.

Could you or Ben chip in here and let us know details of the SCO, VOS etc and what the channel voicings etc are like/capable off

Its hard to get a feel for the amps since there is no UK dealer

Thanks,

Graeme.

 

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Graeme,

Send me an email with your info and Ben and I will get on the
phone with you. The options are almost limitless as you can
customize or go with a Bordeaux or Dual Classic.

Cliff

 

[mountain blues]

Oscar,
To give you more info, the Dual Classic has Ben's signature Blackface circuit in channel 1 — no master volume — and channel 2 is a master volume circuit that goes from a clean tweed Bassman to a cranked JTM45 as you dial in the master. It isn't a channel switcher — you need an A/B/Y box — and combining both channels creates an amazing tone.

 

[Chrissy]

My Dual Classic is in the final tweaking stage and will ship next week - I'm VERY excited to receive this amp. Just to clarify, mine will be Blackface on the first channel and I went for a non-master JTM side to go with it. I also went for no reverb.

Now, Seegs' Dual Classic, which is the amp that got this model going, has Blackface on one side and tweed bassman on the other, which is a cool combination too. I've played that amp extensively (thanks Seegs!) and that was enough for me to order my own. I've only ever heard it with 6L6 and that tone is SWEET! Like he mentioned, reason enough for me to want to unload my D13 and crank the Fargen!

Chris

 

[jonc]

"our" booth at the SF/North Bay Guitar show was near to where ben and jim (soloway) were set up. ben "only" had blackbirds with him, but even after two days, and with all the competing noise, ben's amps always sounded great. i have an early epic 30 and think it's one of the best amps i've ever owned. but, if i had the funds another Fargen or two would be mine.

great amps, great customer service, and a class-act, first-rate guy as well. i hope he does break out. he deserves it. good luck with your amp choice. either the /13 or the Fargen sound like would more than meet your needs, but i know which way i'd go.

happy hunting.

jonc

 

[straticus]

Originally posted by jonc
"our" booth at the SF/North Bay Guitar show was near to where ben and jim (soloway) were set up. ben "only" had blackbirds with him, but even after two days, and with all the competing noise, ben's amps always sounded great. i have an early epic 30 and think it's one of the best amps i've ever owned. but, if i had the funds another Fargen or two would be mine.

great amps, great customer service, and a class-act, first-rate guy as well. i hope he does break out. he deserves it. good luck with your amp choice. either the /13 or the Fargen sound like would more than meet your needs, but i know which way i'd go.

happy hunting.

jonc

He had a VOS and matching 1x12 cad with him too. You're right though ............. they all sounded amazing!

 

[DetourMS]

Oscar-

Sounds like we are in the market for the same amp. I am looking at two other options as well. The first is the Dual Stage 30 by Budda. This was discontinued a few years back due to some lawsuit threat by mesa (sounds like to me they had nothing to worry about but just caved):

http://www.amptone.com/buddadualstage30.htm

The other is by a new company I learned about that is just launching. It looks interesting:

http://www.conteamps.com/

I e-mailed them and they are supposed to be doing some
clinics later this month in the Northeast USA.