Champ, Princeton, Clones and Look-A-Likes Rabbit Hole

[aamefford]

Value-wise, that's a steal - OG Maryland made CAD era amp for $900, but I get what you're saying. A lot of those older PRS amps are under the radar and sell low due to lack of demand. You might be able to talk him down if he'll take offers. Used market is weak right now.

Thanks, I’ll go see if it’s still available, and see if I can play it. I know I need to hear it, but any broad brush recollections of what it sounds like?

Edit - yup, still there, looks like it was just re-listed $950 asking, very clean. It’s about an hour and a quarter away.

 

[WEDGE]

It’s hard to touch a Fender Tonemaster for home use. Cost, sound quality, weight, it’s all good. And they take pedals well. Tubes rule if you can push them, or use and expensive attenuator.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Value-wise, that's a steal - OG Maryland made CAD era amp for $900, but I get what you're saying. A lot of those older PRS amps are under the radar and sell low due to lack of demand. You might be able to talk him down if he'll take offers. Used market is weak right now.

I've watched for one of those as well, fueled of course by your reviews.

 

[tbp0701]

Maybe find an independent builder? I bought a 5F1 type amp several years ago for around $560 from a builder who frequented another forum, although he seemed to have vanished last I heard. No attenuator nor DI, but a builder may be able to add it.

A downside is, since a builder few have heard of there's not much market to sell it used. And I'm hoping the circuit/layout is apparent enough that it could be repaired if needed.

Here's a photo of the back and wiring.

https://imgur.com/qcFQYTw

The front's pretty straight-forward.

https://imgur.com/b3FDC8G

 

[aamefford]

Maybe find an independent builder? I bought a 5F1 type amp several years ago for around $560 from a builder who frequented another forum, although he seemed to have vanished last I heard. No attenuator nor DI, but a builder may be able to add it.

A downside is, since a builder few have heard of there's not much market to sell it used. And I'm hoping the circuit/layout is apparent enough that it could be repaired if needed.

Here's a photo of the back and wiring.

https://imgur.com/qcFQYTw

The front's pretty straight-forward.

https://imgur.com/b3FDC8G

Nice build! I’m scam shy. An independent builder would have to be local and known locally. I’m in the San Francisco area, so I suspect that is a possibility.

Edit that I’ve considered building a kit. I have the tools, I’m a retired engineer. What could go wrong? (Tongue firmly in cheek) I’d probably have someone build the cab, or I think at least Mojotone offers them. There are some other commercial builders out there as well. I’ve considered that route.

 

[Rod/]

Although I use an Amp1 on my pedalboard out to a 1-12 or 2-12 Scumback loaded cabs,
I’d highly recommend a Fender Blues Junior combo for you. 2 controls, 1/10” speaker. 15 watts... Great tweed tone. $600 new

 

[aamefford]

Although I use an Amp1 on my pedalboard out to a 1-12 or 2-12 Scumback loaded cabs,
I’d highly recommend a Fender Blues Junior combo for you. 2 controls, 1/10” speaker. 15 watts... Great tweed tone. $600 new

I’ve wondered about both the Blues and Pro Juniors. Particleboard bodies, but about $800 cheaper than a champ reissue. Plus there’s always one on CL or Marketplace. A guy could build a hell of a cab for $800 price difference I guess.

I really wish my local shop hadn’t closed. Anyplace that has anything is most of an hour away now. The owner deserves his retirement for sure though.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Nice build! I’m scam shy. An independent builder would have to be local and known locally. I’m in the San Francisco area, so I suspect that is a possibility.

Edit that I’ve considered building a kit. I have the tools, I’m a retired engineer. What could go wrong? (Tongue firmly in cheek) I’d probably have someone build the cab, or I think at least Mojotone offers them. There are some other commercial builders out there as well. I’ve considered that route.

You should look for a Swart or Carr amp. Do some research and see what models are in your tone wheelhouse.

 

[aamefford]

You should look for a Swart or Carr amp. Do some research and see what models are in your tone wheelhouse.

I’ll do that. Added bonus is I think they hold some resale value?

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

I’ll do that. Added bonus is I think they hold some resale value?

Yes, these are high end brands.

 

[dogrocketp]

There’s a Louis Electric tornado on the verb that just got reduced 30%. It’s got the wattage you want, but with 2 -12’s. Might be more than you need, but it’s in your price range. They push very nicely through many pedals. Mostly the Tornados are 1-12. Great cleans, and they can peel paint. Richard Goodsell has retired, but his killer amps are in your price range, especially the champton. I almost bought one before I got my Louis Electric.

 

[deathworlder]

I'd look for a Rivera-era amp...

That said, my only Fender amp, is a Deluxe Reverb reissue, with 'Brown' mod by Kruse.

 

[aamefford]

There’s a Louis Electric tornado on the verb that just got reduced 30%. It’s got the wattage you want, but with 2 -12’s. Might be more than you need, but it’s in your price range. They push very nicely through many pedals. Mostly the Tornados are 1-12. Great cleans, and they can peel paint. Richard Goodsell has retired, but his killer amps are in your price range, especially the champton. I almost bought one before I got my Louis Electric.

Thanks! 1x12 or smaller for this project.

 

[archtop]

@archtop that is a left field option, but interesting. It doesn’t fill the combo niche, but I’m indeed curious. Do you actually use it with a speaker? If yes, what, what type cab, etc. I’m not familiar with Fryette amps, does this cover any fender-ish ground, or is it its own thing? Since it can be used many ways, how do you typically use yours? Thanks!

I use the Fryette Valvulator SPDI-IR with a Mesa 1x12 compact cabinet w/ a Greenback when using with a speaker, I also use the analog and IR based speaker sims direct into an audio interface - the Fryette IRs are really good. The clean is Fender'ish but more like a Mesa/Boogie Mark II clean as it's less mid-scooped than a typical Fender (Fryette worked on Boogies when he was at Valley Arts Guitars).

I use the Fryette GPDI-IR Valvulator for just about everything as with the 3 voices you have quite a range and the More/Less switch adds a gain stage to switch between clean and high gain for each voice: Pitbull, Deliverance and Clean. The Valvulator takes pedals very well. I've even used the GPDI-IR's IR out into a Positive Grid Spark with the Spark's amp and pedals turned off so I'm just using Spark's modulation, reverb, delay and speakers and it sounded phenomenal for a low volume living room practice rig.

I also have a Synergy SYN-1 desktop host and some modules so I can have a 3-channel desktop amp. The Synergy Z-Wreck and Morgan are great for clean and drive, the Engl Powerball and Bogners are really great too.

I have the Fryette PS-100 power station and the Synergy Fryette preamps (Pitbull, Deliverance and IICP) and Fryette's gear is so easy to dial in, he really knows how to voice his amps - I've wanted to try Fryette amps for a long, long time but was using Boogies, I now wish I had tried Fryette sooner as Fryette makes great gear.

 

[archtop]

I only have a Sig:X amp - for now - but I'm a huge fan of Fryette gear.
A ZMACS is definitely in the future for me.

The ZMACS is in my near future too, after trying the competition the ZMACS looks to have all the right stuff.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

@aamefford, indeed. Please apologize.

Despite your requirement to a combo, this would be the whole arrangement. Weight, less than 10kg.

I’ve always been intrigued by the Blug… Never heard one live. Great concept, just not sure….

 

[Maertl513]

I did a few recordings with my limited skills, but expensive gear , although the Amp 1 requires not as much money.
Lewitt LCT940 tube mic, expensive cab, expensive guitar(s) - but without further postproduction in terms of EQing. My vision was (and is) to catch the sound likewise direct listening in the room.

 

[DISTORT6]

I’ve always been intrigued by the Blug… Never heard one live. Great concept, just not sure….

Cool conversation between Steve Fryette and Thomas Blug.

 

[Rod/]

I’ve always been intrigued by the Blug… Never heard one live. Great concept, just not sure….

I’ve been using exclusively the original Silver version and the Mercury version of the Amp1 now for 4 years. It’s 100 W 2 pound amp with a nanotube which really gives it true tube feel, unlike all the other strait Class D amps out there that feel somewhat sterile….
What’s interesting about it is that unlike a tube amp which has to be turned up to its sweet spot this unit really has an unlimited sweet spot …the whole amp sounds good at all volumes and that’s really why besides the portability I’ve gone with this exclusively… And it’s much easier on my back. My whole peddleboard with the 100 W Amp1 weighs about 10 pounds.
I found to get the most realistic, big, fat tones that I go after with my humbucker guitars is by using the clean channel only and using overdrive pedals for crunch and lead tones. The fx loop is terrific on it, and my delays stay clean at all volumes.
The Speaker, emulated line out sounds terrific as well for recording or live performance through a sound system. I use the amp with 112 and 212 speaker cabinets loaded with scumback speakers.

 

[László]

You should look for a Swart or Carr amp. Do some research and see what models are in your tone wheelhouse.

I haven't tried a Swart, but the Carr amps are very nice indeed.