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Topic: Fender Japanese "Sidekick" Series? |
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 7 Aug 2007 5:40 pm |
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I have a chance to get a Fender Sidekick 50 Bass amp for dirt cheap. It looks kind of old, but it's solid state. From what I've gathered, they were a Japanese line of amps from the 80's? Does anybody have the goods on this series of amps?
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Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 8 Aug 2007 7:50 pm
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Chris - If you have some rope and a small boat it could make a passable anchor. If you're lacking the rope and boat, pass. It's a kid's garage-band bass amp at best. If you don't have a bass amp at all, just want to mess around and not record or play in front of humans, it could be useful - but IMO they're simply dogs.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 8 Aug 2007 8:40 pm
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Hey Jim,
I figured as much, but thanks for confirmation. I ended up buying it ($75) because it sounds really good with my Tele. Bass? Not a chance. It breaks up too easily, and there's little real bottom end. But it's surprisingly good for rock and roll electric. It breaks up nicely with the volume wide open and the master set to taste. It almost sounds like a Marshall, and I'm not kidding. It does have that harsh solid state thing, but with the treble set low it's not so bad. I may even give it to my nephew for jamming. I will say, however, that I wouldn't hesitate to gig it for 6-string. It's got tons of power.
Besides.........look at the poor thing.........it needed a good home. I think someone actually did use it for an anchor. It also looks like it may have been run over by an ATV or something.
It says "Fender" on it, though. 
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Colby Tipton
From:
Crosby, Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Aug 2007 2:20 am
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Hey Chris,
You can take the Fender logo off and sale it on Ebay and make some of your money back. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 9 Aug 2007 6:11 am
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Joke taken, Colby. 
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2007 10:51 am
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| Actually, the little Sidekick's (10, 15, 20) are rather good for lap steel. |
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Casey Lowmiller
From:
Kansas
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Posted 10 Aug 2007 2:08 pm
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I have a Fender Sidekick Keyboard 60? amp and it is a great practice amp for psg.
At the right volume levels, or in the studio, it could pass as a useable amp.
It has great tone & response and the reverb is fantastic on it.
I bought it cheap & I'm glad that I picked it up. If it gets scuffed up...oh well!!! Better it gets scuffed up than my LTD 400.
Casey
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Known Coast to Coast as
"The Man with The Plan" |
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