Wrapping up, Geoff’s top 10 amp list from 3 through 1.
3. Fender Blackface Vibrolux/Deluxe Reverb. I group these amps together because of their similar circuit design and relatively similar volumes, but not the Blackface Twin Reverb just because it is so loud and so heavy. Both the Deluxe Reverb and Vibrolux Reverb are great clubbing combos you can use to get great tone in most venues. Depending on the tubes used, they can be driven and get edgy, compressed and even a little creamy. With JJ 6V6S tubes in the DR you really don’t need an overdrive pedal – you just crank it up to about 6 and push in big signal and voila - creamy overdrive with no pedals. Both these amps have lush reverb and tremolo – I don’t use tremolo much myself, but it is fun sometimes – but the reverb is quite wonderful. My experience is playing in larger rooms the room provides all the reverb you need, and in a studio there are usually better reverb options available, but in a bedroom or basement a little goes a long way. Sometimes when no one is listening I crank up the reverb and play “Walk Don’t Run” or “Pipeline” or tremolo, and play some old western TV tune I hack away at – don’t tell anyone.
2. 59 Fender Super: I consider this the perfect clubbing combo: tweed tone, two tens and you can carry it into the club, set it up and then with no fiddling around get great sounds all night long. The sounds range from those spanky Fender cleans through the tweed crunches into really rocking tone like the Bassman amps get when cranked. This is kind of like ½ a Bassman but 100% a tweed tone machine. I have seen a quote that Leo Fender loved this design the best and can understand why: simple, clean and effective. Loud enough to run with the big boys but sweet sweet tweed tone. I have built quite a few of the Fat One Tweed Supers and every single one makes me want to build another just for myself. Well maybe someday.
1. 57 Fender Deluxe: If all my other amps were taken away by a higher power (like my wife) and I only had this one amp left, I would be content to have this fine example of tweed tone which can produce classic Fender cleans and outrageous overdriven raunch. Plus it is so easy to carry, is loud enough for most venues and can be mic’d for those that are larger and this small tweed charmer is gorgeous. When I say easy to carry, after lugging around some amps, picking up a deluxe feels like you are carrying an empty cabinet and at my age that is a wonderful thing. The tone from this amp is why I love it the most. I once did a mod to a Fat One Tweed Deluxe where I changed from the cathode bias to an adjustable fixed bias circuit and the result was the same tone with extended clean headroom – very nice too. Best practice: put it up on a chair, dial in a nice volume, mix in both channels (you don’t even need a short cable), and play. You won’t need to fiddle with the settings – you will only need to play. I’d add a closed back 112 extension cabinet if this was my sole gigging amp and then simply play more often and sound great every time.
