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Topic: Fender tweed amps for pedal steel? |
Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2016 7:27 am |
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Does anyone like Fender tweed amps (or tweed amp clones) for their pedal steel?
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2016 8:48 am
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| I really like my tweed bassman reissue for psg, but it's a lot cleaner and louder than most tweeds. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 23 Mar 2016 9:06 am
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For the right situation, I sometimes use a '57 2-input tweed 4x10" Bassman - non-reissue - for both guitar and steel. Perhaps the best guitar amp I've ever played, much less owned. The 2-input version is a dual-5U4 rectifier circuit and is superbly warm but has quite a bit of juice.
It won't keep up with an insane stage volume for clean pedal steel, but that's something I rarely have to deal with anymore.
A '53 tweed Pro or 55 tweed Deluxe are great with an old Fender console and Telecaster, but break up pretty early for pedal steel. I still love my black/silverface amps, but there's something about tweed. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 23 Mar 2016 10:09 am
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I have tried it, and I always find myself missing the midrange scoop of the later fender style amps.
I heard that recording you made with the champ - great sound! Very "classic"
The immediacy of tweed amps is really appealing, and its part of the mojo that I fit into my Milkman circuits. Tweed era circuits have a hi fi yet subtle compressed sound to it that is really hard to beat. I definitely borrow a lot from that era!
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Milkmansound.com |
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2016 12:29 pm
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| Quote: |
| I heard that recording you made with the champ - great sound! Very "classic" |
Part of that was the microphone used for the recording too, I think. It was refreshing to instantly get a pleasing tone with an amp with only one knob! I didn't touch or tweak that thing for the entire 6 hours, the volume was on 4......
I need a tweed amp in my arsenal!
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2016 12:41 pm
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I have used both my '56 Pro and '58 Bassman in the studio. Although the Bassman is surprisingly clean-sounding, not enough oomph for stage.
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Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2016 7:26 am
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| Dave Zirbel wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I heard that recording you made with the champ - great sound! Very "classic" |
Part of that was the microphone used for the recording too, I think. It was refreshing to instantly get a pleasing tone with an amp with only one knob! I didn't touch or tweak that thing for the entire 6 hours, the volume was on 4......
I need a tweed amp in my arsenal! |
Is there a link to this recording? Would love to hear this sound. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 24 Mar 2016 8:00 am
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This amp, with D-120s, is the best sounding amp for pedal steel I've ever heard. Plenty of EQ control and loud as hell. Not exactly light though...
Victoria 80212, a Fender 5F8A clone, like Ken Fox's amp.
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2016 8:11 am
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| In a word - yes. |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 6:44 am
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I have a general question about these amps.
Why are they so expensive?
I saw Neil Young play twice electric and he had the little Tweed amp up there and the sound was unbelievable. Easily the best sounding lead tone I've ever heard.
I've always wanted to try out a 5e3 but they are like 1,8000 for a little amp. I've always read they are a very simple circuit, why doesn't Fender make more of these at a more reasonable price point? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 8:34 am
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| Cartwright Thompson wrote: |
This amp, with D-120s, is the best sounding amp for pedal steel I've ever heard. Plenty of EQ control and loud as hell. Not exactly light though...
Victoria 80212, a Fender 5F8A clone, like Ken Fox's amp.
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I've always wanted one of those, and, with the JBLs in the amp, I'm drooling.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 9:20 am
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| Mark Hershey wrote: |
I have a general question about these amps.
Why are they so expensive?
I saw Neil Young play twice electric and he had the little Tweed amp up there and the sound was unbelievable. Easily the best sounding lead tone I've ever heard.
I've always wanted to try out a 5e3 but they are like 1,8000 for a little amp. I've always read they are a very simple circuit, why doesn't Fender make more of these at a more reasonable price point? |
Originals are expensive because they are very collectible, not to mention that they are one of the best guitar amps ever made. A 5E3 in good shape is generally a lot more than $1800. But there is no problem getting a clone for a lot less than your $1800. Clones vary in quality, but a good one is a fine-sounding amp. A friend of mine just got a 25-watt version of the 5E3 from Lil' Dawg amps, it's excellent - just a bit more headroom from bigger output transformer iron, but can still get pretty gnarly on demand.
My tweed Deluxe is a circa '55 5D3, which is a bit different than the 5E3, but also outstanding. |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 10:04 am
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| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I've always wanted to try out a 5e3 but they are like 1,8000 for a little amp. |
$1800 won't but one of these now. They sell for twice that or more. Here's my 59 narrow panel, 5E3. 15 watts, 12" speaker. These are great for the studio and home, but not enough headroom for most bands unless the amp is mic'd.
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Doug, that's a beaut.
Also, I should not post in the morning before I have my coffee. To clarify I meant to put that it's 1,800 for just for a clone. Actually, I just checked the Victoria page for their clone and it's almost 2k.
I understand that it's hand made, it's a small business and they make a high quality product so I get why the prices are high.
Also, after searching around a bit it looks like the best way to get one on the cheap is to just build one from a kit. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 10:18 am
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| The Tweed Deluxe is one of the most widely used of the Tweed amps ....So many aftermarket companies clone them ....There is a wealth of info out there if you are so inclined to roll your own !! ...It's almost hard to find a bad sounding Tweed Deluxe !!.... The older components and the dried Pine cabinets of the originals not only give them moxy , but TONE TO THE BONE !!.....Jim |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 11:04 am
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| I'll probably try my hand at building a 5E3 kit in the future. I've heard some outstanding sound coming out of a Tweed Deluxe. Lanois would be another cat that makes them sing. My very limited experience with tweed is that the sound, with steel, may not be the sound you were seeking but it can be so instantly sweet and gratifying that you just go with it and save the worrying about the specific sound in your head for another day. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 11:22 am
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my personal tweed deluxe. Second amp I ever built - from a Mojotone kit with a few parts upgrades. This thing is stunning with 6 string, but not my favorite with pedal steel. Lap steel, yes.
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 11:24 am
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Oh, and Dave Z---I heard that posted recording with the Champ too. Very sweet playing and very sweet sound. I have played through tiny amps and been surprised--did a full band show thru a house PV Classic 20 that had no business sounding decent but it did.
But your session video is far better than 'surprisingly good'. |
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Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 12:56 pm
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Well, I'm a hack non-pedal player, but 50's tones are what I look for. I play homebuilt amps. I use a Harvard 1x10 for grab-n-go practice and really small gigs, a 5E3 Deluxe 1x12 (in a TV front cabinet) for medium things, and a tweed Pro 1x15 (5E5a, TV-front cabinet, with some preamp mods) for big gigs. The Pro can be reconfigured as a Super 2x10 as it is right now. The Pro also is significantly augmented with a Tim Marcus, Milkman domino mica extra-mojo tone capacitor!
I'm usually playing a D8 or D6 Fender dual pro or Clinesmith Joaquin guitar through them. Anyway, I add a reverb pedal in front and that works for most everything.
So, tweeds for pedal steel? Don't know, but for 40's - 50's Honky Tonk and Cajun music, they make me smile.
Of course, I do pack a Quilter Tone Block just in case (or for big outside gigs)...
Jim
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"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 3:00 pm
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Well, here's one for youse to think about. I was playing my '56 Pro, but pushing it hard. Wanted a Tweed Twin. Went to Nashville. Corner Music had a display of about 8 Twins right inside the front door! But they were over 800 bucks! So you can tell how long ago this was. I had only paid $250 for my '56 Pro, so I was disappointed. There was one up on a pedastal in back. Not Tweed. I thought, "Great! It's been stripped, and maybe I can afford it!" Corner's owner told me it was not for sale. I was a '52, and the cabinet finish was the original; Roxatone paint. This paint was used on factory machines and in commercial kitchens. So I go home with no amp. Next day I stopped in Ross Music in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, and saw this Pro. Not original grill cloth, but the same Roxatone paint. I've heard that Jody remembers them being ordered by a store in Indiana. Stunning amp! It had EL37s in it. Still does. A real Fender rarity! Different luggage handle too.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2016 7:04 pm
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| i would think that a tweed twin would sound just fine for anything. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2016 5:43 pm
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I have seen Carco Clave play several times at the Texas steel guitar convention through a Tweed champ with a SM-57 and it was tone to die for.
So There !
I also have a Fox Vintage Bassman and no problems with that amp. Dual rectifier B model.
Thanks Ken
Last edited by Ken Metcalf on 28 Mar 2016 3:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 28 Mar 2016 1:54 am
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No...
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Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Miles Lang
From:
Venturaloha
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Posted 8 Apr 2016 5:58 pm
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| Stringmaster and a tweed Twin was Santo Farina's magic sound |
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