If you were to build one fender amp

If I'm pigeon-holed into strictly Fender circuits without modifications, I'd opt for the Blackface Pro-Reverb (AA165). I'm surprised it's not mentioned more. IMHO, the Pro-Reverb is the pinnacle Fender Blackface sound.
 
I'm working on a 5F2A right now... but I'd have to think what my "ultimate Fender" build would be... It would likely be behind the Two-Rock, Dumble, and Hiwatt builds I'm considering...
 
I highly recommend the 5F11 Vibrolux / 6G2 Princeton (however you choose to build it, it's essentially the same circuit). It has a really nice 'HiFi' tweed sound with a lush bias tremolo. It also takes pedals really well!
 
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coltonius said:
I highly recommend the 5F11 Vibrolux / 6G2 Princeton (however you choose to build it, it's essentially the same circuit). It has a really nice 'HiFi' tweed sound with a lush bias tremolo. It also takes pedals really well!
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Definitely! Fantastic circuit. I like to build it as a 1x12 and leave out the NFB.
 
kweefthief said:
I'm looking for a winter/summer break project! I really love the sound of a blackpanel princeton but don't feel like shelling out $800+. A super reverb would be so cool, but tooooo loud. Personally, I just play at home and would like something quieter. Right now, I'm just running a blues jr with a crex keeping it clean (looking to change tone stack on it). I would love to run two amps in stereo😏.

Anyways, if you guys could build only one fender amp, which would it be?
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might as well get in on a super necro post ... cathode bias tweed bassman with an effects loop and post phase inverter master volume as a 2x12 combo with some nice vintage 30s. don't think I'll get around to it as I'm still sore about not having classictone transformers available anymore
 
Brett said:
If I'm pigeon-holed into strictly Fender circuits without modifications, I'd opt for the Blackface Pro-Reverb (AA165). I'm surprised it's not mentioned more. IMHO, the Pro-Reverb is the pinnacle Fender Blackface sound.
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Played one of them! I think it had a custom order 15" JBL. It was in a tiny store and I'm too shy to turn it up but I think it unknowingly seeps its way into my idea of perfect clean tone. Sadly, someone bought it so no more play time for me. It was real torn up, like no tolex!
 
After building the 5F1 and 5E3, I can honestly say those two amps are so much better than reissue versions you can buy today. It’s definitely an expensive hobby, but my addiction to NOS RCA tubes does not help. I do enjoy sourcing my own parts and ten years of pedal building has made that easier. I just gathered all the parts for a Princeton Reverb including the American Made reverb tank by Gibbs. With the cabinet and 12 inch speaker, I probably poured $1309 into this project. Yea, it gets expensive.
 
But as you say, the amps you can build sound so much better than Fender's modern RIs. The reissues are probably fine for what they are but they don't sound as good nor will they age as well as the originals. It's crazy really because technology has improved in most aspects so much - speakers today are so much more robust than they used to be and there is such a fantastic range available. You would imagine that a modern Fender amp would sound ten times better than some old thing. Sadly that is not true. Modern amps are built to a price lower than ever before and are definitely not built to last or to sound as good as they used to. This is not a PCB Vs Handwired argument - PCBs are fine if well designed. Fender's are not.

Nowadays we can build an amp which has all the good bits about the old amps that we like and get rid of the bits that we don't (flappy bass notes, death caps, easily blown speakers, etc). Whereas Fender seem to be making amps with all the bits we didn't like and adding some new ones to go with them!
 
JamieJ said:
I’m GASing hard for a Princeton Reverb at the moment…
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Me too! I havent been playing electric for that long and the first tube amp I plugged into was a PRRI with a 12 inch. Still want one, but maybe with a 10 inch instead. I've tried a 64 HW and the Custom 68 as well but never a normal PRRI. I loved the 64 and hated the 68. The 68 sounded dark and too bottom heavy even with a strat. But I've heard people love it🤔.

If I ever get around to an amp build it would be the princeton reverb though.
 
szukalski said:
5150 and Dual Rectifiers are based on the SLO. In the Dual Rectifier case.. it's a Jan Ray type deal.
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not just 5150 or DR (...and 'based on' is being too kind)
- framus cobra lead channel looks almost identical to SLO lead channel
- bogner uberschall is a bit further off, but the similarities are there.

imo, the mesa mark series, and some of the stuff engl have done, are the only big names in proper high gain that didn't just take a leaf from soldano or marshall
 
EVH isn't owned by Fender. EVH has a deal with Fender to produce their products. When the contract expires they could go to another company to make the gear if they wanted.
 
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