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Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
The sound(s) we're nothing to write home about and for me, I'd take a DRRI over it any day.
Just one opinion but that's my experience.
Go try it and I paid £400 for mine. Combos were about £100 more but this was 10 yrs ago.
The overdrive channel as stock is poor, but there's a very simple mod for it which transforms it out of all recognition - you need to move the tone stack from before the distortion (Fender/Boogie type) to after the distortion (Marshall/Rectifier type)... this gives a much thicker distortion with more effective EQ and substantially more gain (since the insertion loss is then after the distortion rather than before), and can be done with only the components and wire inside the amp already.
They do have one small reliability fault - the 47-ohm bias feed resistor is undersized and often burns out, which will leave the power valves with no bias and usually kill them too unless you turn off immediately. To fix it you just need to replace the 1/2W carbon resistor with a 1W or 2W wirewound one and it will never fail again.
If you're going to buy one and you want to use the channel switching, make sure it comes with the footswitch - they're complex, originals are very rare, and expensive to either buy or even have a substitute made.
And unlike kebabkid, I would take either a Concert or the lighter (but with no FX loop unfortunately) Deluxe Reverb II over any Deluxe Reverb, old or new...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Yep, quite a bit of what ICBM says rings true for me and I found the clean channel stiff and a little darker and harder sounding in comparison to DRRI and Super Reverb or Princeton amps. It's maybe closer to a Twin but not as lively and I know from past posts, we have different likes when it comes to amp sounds. Those that know me here and have heard my amps at GearFests etc (Divided, DRRI, Mesa, H&K) will know that I like a dynamic, crystalline clean sound that acts as a very good pedal platform and so external EQ or judicious use of the onboard EQ and/or a brighter guitar might suit it better but it depends what you like.
The weight really is a consideration but if you're ok with a Twin or Boogie, fair play.
Further down, there are mentions of mods and so my opinion is based on something stock, so maybe it does have more possibilities to improve it but that can be said about quite a few Fenders.
I have heard better things about the Deluxe II but I've never tried one.
As an aside, if you're interested in Point to Point Fender amps, preceeding the the Rivera-era ones was the Fender 75 designed by Ed Jahns. That had a superb Fender clean sound and a decent overdrive and like the claims made about the Super Champ, this was also meant to be Fender's take on a Mesa. Some came with 15" speakers and I heard a pair of these being used most weekends for about 10 years by a session band that I used to watch in the mid-80s (Jamie Moses and Larry Oliver for those familiar with these two around Surrey). Apart from some modulation/delay fx and occasionally, an early Roland GR Synth unit (yellow one), all the sounds including dirt came from these and they always sounded excellent.
As I said, you can only go try it and see if it suits, especially if it's a good price
It's one of the few amps I've owned that I regret selling - although I don't miss the weight. But I miss my four (yes really... three at the same time, once - they were not too expensive in those days) Super Champs more.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Ironically this is basically the same as the much-hated Pull Distortion mode on the silverface Twin, although it doesn’t sound as bad...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I had 2 X Concerts fitted with EVM 12Ls, running in Stereo, 83 - 2001.
Well made, and a stunning sound.
I did sell them on, but kept and still use, 2 X Super Champs, (One in a head shell + a Mongotone 1 X 12 Cab. ( Massive sound).
The Other is fitted with an EV10 as stock,
I also use the Princeton 2, ( slightly Modded), Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker.
and 2 X Twin 2 Combo’s,( Again Modded), & fitted with Celestion Sidewinders.
IMHO, the best amps Fender ever made, Just tweak to taste.
Sounds promising post mods....
If you do get it, check the 47-ohm bias feed resistor first - if it hasn't already failed and been replaced (almost all will have by now), or if it has and the tech has used another 1/2W resistor (of any type), replace it straight away with a 1W or bigger, preferably wirewound - then you'll never waste a pair of power valves when it inevitably cooks itself later .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The weight of the Concert is an issue, I would agree; perhaps the head is then the better option, as you mitigate some of the weight issues and allow your own choice of speaker.
BTW...I have owned two hand wired silverface Deluxe Reverbs and - gasp - have not regretted selling either. Many will disagree, but the classic Fender clean sound (for me) starts with the Pro Reverb (very underrated) and the Twin...but you would not be disappointed with the Concert for cleans. And they shouldn't cost too much either...
I'm interested in this mod, where can I find the details?
https://www.thetubestore.com/lib/thetubestore/schematics/Fender/Fender-Concert-II-83-Schematic.pdf
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein