Need advice on Fender combos...

Personally, I'd get a new AC30CC2 and forego the Fender. The sounds you described above can easily be had without pedals with the Vox.

Yes, they've had a bit of a shaky start with their new facility, but their customer service is the best in the biz (for a large manufacturer, that is) and their tone is amazing. Get a new one -- they've already made improvements (including new Tung Sol preamp tubes instead of the cheap Chinese ones they used initially.)

Either that, or do what I did -- I ordered a Hayseed 30 AC30 clone from Valvetech Amps. You can get a hand-built, point-to-point AC30 clone for only a couple of hundred more than a stock AC30CC2. The catch is, there's a three-month wait.

 

I'm a big fan of the Deluxe and Twin Reverbs. Great cleans, versatility (reverb/trem. on seperate switchable channel), lots of power, and a very managable size. They react beautifully to all of my pedals, are great buys, and quite roadworthy. Haven't yet heard the song they don't sound great with, assuming the right mix of effects. AC

 

Do you use the FX loop? Unless you have rack-mounted FX, you may as well use them in-line.

Either that, or have them fix or replace the amp. If you love the sound, you love the sound... you won't get it from a Fender.

The Bassman is a great circuit, but those four tens just don't sound like a pair of twelves. The only Fender I've tried recently that could hold a candle to the Vox is the new '57 low-power Twin reissue -- but that's twice the price of the Vox.

Besides -- your new amp is under warranty. Use it. Most of them are just fine. You just got a bad one, that's all. Again, it's the sound. It's those EL84s running at the limit. A Fender won't sound like that.

 

EL84 amps are unique. Some love 'em, some hate 'em. If you love 'em (and it sounds like you do), nothing else comes close. And the grandaddy of 'em all is the AC30.

Trust your feelings, young Skywalker...

 

Fender? I'd get a used BF Bassman head......something in the year 1965-67 range. No loop but Holy Smokeroonies Batman does it ever sound good with a couple of pedals!

 

Actually, if you're hell-bent on a Fender, that's a pretty good idea. BF Bassmans can still be had relatively cheap.

 

About the AC30cc heads, is it true you have to take the chassis out to change tubes?

 

If they're anything like the combos, yes.

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/480681/

Just went from $699 to $499 at MF. Great reviews from old timers at HC. It's a Fender, has a 5 year transferable warranty and let's you leave the pedals at home.

 

Yes for the AC30CC heads you have to slide out the chassis to get at the tubes. This involves removing 4 bolts from the underside of the chassis, as well as removing the back panel...It doesnt really take too long - but would want to have to do it in the middle of a gig...

-- Barr

 

Plus, with the head, you don't have to deal with a soldered (and short!) speaker connection! Piece of cake!

 

Actually the Vibrolux Custom is a good amp for those styles ( and much lighter than an AC30 ) It's not a true reissue and has more crunch than the original.I would change the speakers to Weber silver 10's( I happen to have 2 for sale ) and put a pair of JJ 6L6GC's in it.

 

The Vibrolux Custom is nice. Not a lot of headroom though. The AC30 is way louder IMO.

taco

 

I've got a CS Vibrolux at the moment. It couldn't be more different than an AC30 if it were a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier. It's quite noisy and a little thin-sounding. Though, with my Tele, it does sound divine for spanky clean country tones.

For the type of music he was talking, the Vox is the only way to go (or an old-school Marshall of some sort, like a Blues Breaker or JTM45).