Amp for surf playing

[Desert Surfer]

Can anyone give me some tips or helps for getting the amp which is most suitable for surf playing? I am looking for clean, quite tone with reverb (don't like the tremolo). I don't need a distorted (dirty) channel as I never use it. I don't Smoke on the water, I don't smoke, period.

I started with a '59 Fender Bassman RI but found it did not have the reverb. So, I traded in a Fender '65 Twin Reverb RI. Later, I sold it and got a Koch Twintone Amp which is quite nice (it has a dirty channel which I don't use) But I am always looking for that perfect sound.

I am looking again.. a few options just came up:

1) a 1965 vintage Twin Reverb at $1850: all original but with a repaired hole (ex-owner tried to installed a master control volume but restored to the original condition) I haven't checked that one yet as someone told me the modification will effect future resale value. Also I heard it is very heavy.
2) a 1970 Deluxe Reverb Amp at $1500
3) a 1975 'Vibrolux Revert Amp at $1450, a little pricey but he maybe willing to take my Twintone as trade in

I don't play in a band nor in public so small wattage (20w) will be sufficient. The clean and quiet tone and nice reverb are most important to me.

The amps are at different locations. Before I drive a long way to check them out, can anyone give me some feedback or experience you had? Or even suggest other models which may be suitable for my playing.

Thanks!

[MWaldorf]

The "classic" surf tone is a Fender Showman Amp with an outboard Reverb unit.

If you're looking for the "drip", ie the glissando reverb sound in Pipeline or Walk Don't Run '64 or Baja, you really need the outboard Fender Reverb. The vintage 60s tanks run anywhere from $500 and up, but the reissue ones can be made to sound almost as good with a few modifications, mainly in the tube compliment.

One you've got the outboard tank, any clean amp will get the tone. A Champ, a Princeton, a Deluxe, a Tremolux - combo or piggy back will work. Personally I'd recommend an amp with vibrato as the effect is part of the sound, if only for songs like Pipeline or Telstar.

If you really are tied to a single combo amp, I'd say the 60s Ampeg amps have the best combo reverb I've heard. I'd look for a Reverberocket II or one of the Gemini series. I'd avoid the earlier top panel models only because they've got a single tone control and the front panel has treble and bass which gives much more control. It's not exactly a Fender sound, but it's very nice.

Mel

[Desert Surfer]

Thanks, Mel for your good advice. I will probably stick to "single combo" as I would like to keep everything simple. Ampeg Amp will be a nice one to look at.

[Desert Surfer]

Thanks. Danny, Mel or anyone:

If you have to choose just one from the following amps, which one would you pick?

1) a 1965 vintage Twin Reverb at $1850
2) a 1970 Deluxe Reverb Amp at $1500
3) a 1975 'Vibrolux Revert Amp at $1450
4) a 2006 Koch Twintone $1200 (keep it, don't trade)

[Strat-o-rama]

Personally, I would go with option #3. They are easy to lug around, compared to a Twin, and not much bigger than the Deluxe. This is the amp Eddie Angel uses in Los Straitjackets (Silverface Vibrolux Reverb) for a sound reference. It is very clean and when pushed you get that nice compression/break-up that I personally like, and general consensus among the amp gurus, the Silverfaces stay cleaner than their blackface counterparts.
I had a Twin (a '65 reissue) for a while and got rid of it. Too heavy, and don't really deliver the tone until cranked (at least to my ears). A buddy of mine had/has a late 70's Twin (Master Volume style)that was a surf tone monster. I tried to buy ot from him, but he wouldn't giive it up. At the time we were playing mostly blues and bluesy classic rock, but the band indulged me in an instro surf medley in our second set, and when I used that amp it was killer.
From what I understand, the 1970 Deluxe is a clean machine, and also does not break up nearly as soon as the blackface versions.
Hope this is helpful.
Trent

[MWaldorf]

I've never played a Koch so I can't comment on that, but I've got a '67 blackface Twin Reverb and it's a great amp. I've run mine in several arrangements, from the stock 2x12s, 2x12" JBLs, 1x15" JBL in the combo cabinet to the current head w/2x15" bottom. Way more power than you'd need to play around the house, of course.

Between the other Fenders, a Deluxe doesn't have a bright switch if that matters to you, and neither has a middle control (the Twin Reverb does). I've never owned either of these but they sound nice when other people play them.

Mel

[Desert Surfer]

Thanks, guy. It has been a big help.

The reason I did not like the Twin Reverb '65 RI was the "weight" and "Volume" (too powerful for me) I think I am going to pass on that vintage '65 Twin Reverb because of that modified hole and the same concerns about "weight" The seller of Fender Deluxe did not get back to me yet. So that model is probably out.

I will bring my Koch to that dealer this week and try it side by side with his '75 Vibrolux. I will give you guy a update. Koch is a nice amp but I want something vintage.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Desert Surfer posted:

Can anyone give me some tips or helps for getting the amp which is most suitable for surf playing?
I am looking for clean, quite tone with reverb (don't like the tremolo). I don't need a distorted (dirty)
channel as I never use it. I don't Smoke on the water, I don't smoke, period.I don't play in a band nor
in public so small wattage (20w) will be sufficient. The clean and quiet tone and nice reverb are most
important to me.

Vincent, I'll second Mel's vote for Ampeg, but if you are a true Fender Man,
then my vote would go to the FENDER Blues Junior for a number of reasons....
1) It only weighs in roughly around 30 pounds, give or take a few pounds.
2) TRUE FENDER Spring REVERB. It might not have the sound of a tank, but will be
darn close without you having to go chase down another piece of gear for practice.
3) Has Master, Treble, Midrange, and Bass controls, not just a Tone Knob.
4) Has a 12" Speaker, so that it won't sound like you are playing through
a Transistor Radio; remember those?
5) It uses 3 12 AX7 preamp Tubes as well as 2 EL 84 Power Tubes, so you will get a 'Nice Valve Sound'.........
BTW, the Tubes are GROOVE TUBES. Everyone has their opinion on these, but they are decent for the money.
6) Great as a Practice Amp, Studio Amp for recording, or EVEN a great GIGGING Amp,
as long as you mic it, unless it is a small venue....
7) This Amp costs about $450 depending where it is purchased. But like the old phrase says,
you are actually getting "More Bang for the Buck" which I still believe that this amp comes
with a 5 year warranty, excluding the Tubes....
8) 15 Watts R.M.S. into 8 ohms. It's one of the loudest 15 watt amps I've ever heard!
9) It does have access for dirty sound, but if you leave the Master up, you can pretend that it's not even there
10) Vincent, as ALWAYS, ONLY YOUR Own Ears can make the judgement. GOOD LUCK to you!

[MWaldorf]

On the pricier side, you could consider a Gomez "G-Reverb" Amp - it's basically a brown Princeton with on-board reverb and a 15" speaker. Dario Gomez's amps get rave reviews from the folks who own them, including Denis from Zak's band, who owns the Surfer Amp model (a brownface Showman replica) and Eddie Bertrand (from Eddie and The Showman) who plays the G-Spring and El Sonido.

Dario posts on the SurfGuitar forum and he mentioned having a couple of these left in stock, and it might suit you very well.
http://www.gomezamps.com/index.html

[64sunburst]

I second strat-o-rama's recommendation - the Vibrolux, and after that the Deluxe. The Blues Jr. might be good too, but I don't have much experience with them. A Twin is definitely too much amp. I've tried a Koch at my local guitar shop - it's a nice little amp, but I think you'd be happier with a Fender. Even though the reverb on the Vibrolux and Deluxe don't match a tank, they're still pretty nice. I've played some nice boutique amps like Carr, Koch, Bad Cat, Matchless, etc but nothing really sounds like a Fender except a Fender.

Byron