Do I finally get Fender amps?

[MattAnt]

Have always struggled with Fender amps. Bought and sold a couple of DRRI and PRRI, and a plenty of boutique flavours of the same. Always moved them quickly and decided I was more of a Vox guy.

Was playing a friends setup the other day, which was an Achilles Vibrolux, and hot dang it was the most addictive tone I had heard in a long time. So smooth and warm and nuanced.

I was trying to figure out what part of his setup was giving this tone, was it the amp, the pedals, the guitar. Turns out it was the bright switch. Turned that on and it sounded like every other Fender I had played through, not a sound I am that fond of.

So all this time have I just needed to clip the bright cap on other Fender amps? Or is the Vibrolux the Fender for me?

Chime in with your thoughts on the matter!

[GrantB]

Dunno, I have a bog standard vintage Princeton, I twiddle the knobs until it sounds good, not too bright, and it's fantastic.

Maybe the bright cap is a modern issue? I actually don't know sorry, but try one of the new Princeton's?

[MattAnt]

Dunno, I have a bog standard vintage Princeton, I twiddle the knobs until it sounds good, not too bright, and it's fantastic.

Maybe the bright cap is a modern issue? I actually don't know sorry, but try one of the new Princeton's?

The newer Princeton's are what I have played, never played a vintage Fender I am sure they are lovely.

[sizzlingbadger]

The Fender bright cap can make OD/Distortion pedals sound pretty harsh, making it switchable is a good idea. I'd quite like a Princeton myself some day.

[Voxshall]

I think you covered all the points, some sound great some not so great I never liked the DRRI and would certainly like it more with the bright cap clipped. I had a late 60's Super Reverb and there is something about the 10 inch speakers that work great with Fender amps particularly 4 of them. I only own a silverface champ now and it sounds amazing. To me it's the slower response and sag that gives it the distinctive feel, the right amount of sparkle is important and the bass can get bloated on the bigger Fender amps and needs to be controlled but how it can collapse and fold in on itself is part of the vintage sound.

[hamo]

I'm not very worldly when it comes to amps, haven't tried that many flavours and have pretty tin ears. But for all that, I loved the SuperSonic. Where does that fit in the pantheon of Fenders?

[Starfire]

I think a lot of judgement about the reissues is based on speakers that aren't broken in yet. The Jensens take ages to break in and can be a bit harsh at first.

[Conway]

I have this FSR Princeton with an Alnico Gold 12" in it. You should try it (buy it) Matt.

[sizzlingbadger]

That is very nice...

I'm trying to decide whether to sell my Lonestar and buy a Koch "The Greg" or a Toneking or to get something like this to go with the Lonestar.

[MattAnt]

I have this FSR Princeton with an Alnico Gold 12" in it. You should try it (buy it) Matt.

Man hard to believe that wouldn't sound piercingly bright... PM me a price ha ha

[MattAnt]

I think a lot of judgement about the reissues is based on speakers that aren't broken in yet. The Jensens take ages to break in and can be a bit harsh at first.

I've only ever bought used which should take that somewhat out of the equation (unless they hadn't really played em)

[Conway]

Man hard to believe that wouldn't sound piercingly bright...

Not if you turn the treble down - that is what that knob is for, you realise...

[MattAnt]

Man hard to believe that wouldn't sound piercingly bright...

Not if you turn the treble down - that is what that knob is for, you realise...

Yea doesn't always work that way I find...

[Conway]

Man hard to believe that wouldn't sound piercingly bright...

Not if you turn the treble down - that is what that knob is for, you realise...

Yea doesn't always work that way I find...

The Princeton sounds great, not too bright to my ears.

[GrantB]

Fender Princeton tone controls are very “strong” if that makes sense