John, I’ve been waiting for this day for you. This is how we do it ij my band in Nebraska. We unapologetically play Fender 40w tube amps tastefully. This is the best I’ve ever heard your live tone!
For real the smoldering tube dust smell is possibly the best part of vintage amps. Bliss for multiple senses. First time I used my 64 Vibrolux on a gig the Sax player in my band - who happens to be a member of the baby boom generation - said he hadn’t experienced that smell on stage since the 80s. Instantly justified the purchase.
Glad you posted a video with gig footage. I have wanted to comment and request you do more of that. So many gear demos out there, but so few with footage of them in a live context and thoughtful commentary. More please and thank you!
A while ago you played your Pro Reverb and I thought it was your best tone…..now this live video is the best live tone I’ve heard on your videos! I have a black face twin and a 68 Reissue Pro Reverb….your old Pro Reverb sounds somewhere between these two amps!
Just got an OX in the last few days, put my late 60’s 40 watt bandmaster through it .( never been able to play it much past one on the volume! Which is a waste so I haven’t touched it for years) But now with the Ox I can crank it up and oh my word! It sounds amazing and so addictive the overdrive is to die for , turn the guitar volume down and the clean sparkly tones are there too. Try recording the pro reverb through an Ox you’ll love it!
I'm also very partial to blackface amps, however, if you ever get the opportunity to play a dual amp set up with a blackface and a tweed it will ruin you for other amps forever. I got to try someone else's rig - super reverb and bassman - unbelievable. I usually use a deluxe reverb. Tone master or drri, I'm happy either way.
I have a 1965 Twin Reverb with EV coffee cans in it, just a week ago I couldn't stand it anymore and took them out and put in a mojo bv30v and pulled 2 power tubes, it's actually drastically improved now. Should have done it sooner. Nothing against the EVs, just turns out it wasn't necessary let alone worth it, and the thing weighs half as much and sounds sweeter.
A blackface Bandmaster Reverb is the very same amp as your Pro, in a head. It's an incredible sounding amp, just like it's bigger brother, the Dual Showman Reverb. For clean tones, you can't beat the Fender blackface amps . You owe it to yourself to check out a Fender 30, an absolutely fantastic combo with the beautiful Fender clean sounds, PLUS an incredible lead channel. Holdsworth used these for his lead tone, in the 80s. There are not many of these around, but they are absolutely superb !
Good Amps are a must. When I was gigging with The Farmaceuticals and the reggae band I played for, The Reggae Refugees...I always used a Mesa Lonestar...around the house I use and HX Stomp... I would love to have an old Fender amp. Keep on Keepin' on rockin the jams. The band you jam with sounds groovy and funky. Rock on
Aside from the supersonic, From Fender there is both the 65 deluxe reverb amp head 22watts, and the bandmaster which is a 40watts head. There are non-fender options but not sure if they'll give you the sound you're looking for
Hands down one of the best Fender heads I played was from the 90s, it was called the Fender Tone-Master 2-Channel 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head. Not to be confused with the new “Tone-Master” line of solid state amps, they are nothing like the original Tone-Master from the 90s that were all tube.
Need a head, consider a Tremolux (if you don't need the reverb) I tried a 1964 Tremolux a few months back and it had the sound. Two days later i decided i was gonna get it but i was too late. Fender amps, i like 6L6 more than 6v6.
I’ve been gigging my 67 Super Reverb this year and I came to the same conclusion as you. Fills the room, plenty headroom (and smells funny after 2 sets!). Weirdy, I gigged a Mesa Lonestar in the past and it didn’t seem to cut as well in the mix live. Not a volume thing, problably EQ.
Get in touch with Nik at Ceriatone. They have a 2x6L6 AB764 Super Verb head. It also comes as a kit. If you get a kit, I'd be happy to put it together for you😊
John, the Fillmore amps are great. The 25 or 50 watts versions are great. 2 channel blackpanelyamps. Although I feel it has more mids than a Fender. It's great and the Head version is pretty light!
I used to have one years and years ago. I traded it in for a Kendrick amp...lol. but I use a 1970 twin with 2 tubes pulled and chopped into a head shell! Very good,! Get a head shell from mojo amps and leave the 2x12 cab at home. Pro tip. For reverb fenders get a Barber Launch Pad - it allows you use normal and reverb channels independently or at the same time and foot switch able! (Normal and reverb channels are out of phase , so it fixes that,). Do you can run digital on one side and vintage reverb on the other, or blend both
You should check out the Paul Rivera era 80s Fender Concert head. They are hand wired 60 Watts of goodness with amazing clean tones and pretty solid drive tones as well (Paul used to mod fender amps for better drive tones before he worked for fender directly). And best of all they are pretty affordable so very good for taking on the road.
I have a supersonic 22 head = you're welcome to have it on loan to try if you like. I live in N Abbot but do come to Exeter - let me know in the comments and it can be arranged = Ray W.
Try a benson Vincent head (ie the higher powered monarch), but if you found your sound then just take the amp out and put it in a head version, store the cabinet.
I like your current drummer in this video. Heavy Amps and bad Backs are a marriage made in Hell. You might want to wear a Back Brace when carrying and moving heavy items. They do work. 😉
check out the fender deville 2x12 60watt clen headroom for day, perfect pedal platform amp. there was a michael Landua signature version made a few years ago it had two clean channels instead of a clean and drive to more drive
Awsome Vid John! Would it be possible to do a Demo and Review of the PRS SE Zack Myer's Guitar?? Thank You! Love your Channel and Content! Cheers from Salem, Oh. US.
Just buy a headshell for your Pro Reverb. You already know you like that amp. Alternately, Bandmaster amps are 40 watts. I don't know how much real difference there is in the BF topologies.
Your buddy should have heard that you were getting drowned out and rolled his guitar back or played more dynamically during your solo. He just wasn’t listening. If I had an idea that there were mix issues I’d make sure I was increasing dynamic variation through the gig to leave holes for the other players. Volume wars usually start when somebody who has no clue in the audience says something because they have no idea what a decent mix sounds like.
you had more a sound stage problem instead of headroom, because a rhythm tone occupied the bass and mid range frequencies already. Whereas to cut through with the lead, its not only a volume/ headroom, but what sound space is already occupied - so you would have had to crank your presence/mid/treble to cut through the mix. This is a common problem where "volume wars" start to begin. Then you're cranking in so much energy into one space, theres no acoustic environment in the world to support bad sound staging. Its literally a physics limitations, all players cant occupies the same frequency range, because the air and our ears can only sense so much energy in a given freq range, we destinguish the differences by detecting the all the range of frequencies in context of time, even at the same volume/energy. The point is, if you want to be heard - fill the frequencies that ARNT be filled by the other instruments. And here we are full circle - dial in everyones sound staging! The volume wars problem is also a byproduct of dialing in tone solo - where once you're with the band, everything blends together because your tone is "lost in the mix". Its common for bedroom players to get stuck in a rut where you find they have way too much bass or scooped mids - whereas live LEAD tone should be the polar opposite (cranked mids and reasonable to low bass). I mention this because were in the world of amp capturing/patches/recording now...And so now we're facing the consequences of trying to use solo and home level tone with a band mix.
But my solo tones are super mid heavy. Otherwise agreed it's mostly about trying to balance two guitar tones, in which case if both are running Tubescreamer type boosts then the one with the higher headroom is likely to win that war?
@@johnnathancordy It looked like a pretty small venue, and I know from experience these can be the hardest to work with, mainly because most drummers have no concept of volume control. We all end up trying to make ourselves heard over them, with no real success. If you can get the drummer to back off (or have him play with practice sticks), then everything else can be turned down to a reasonable level. I also find that even in small venues, it's better to set the guitar amp fairly quiet, and mic it up through the PA.
@@johnnathancordy to answer the tubescreamer Q: i believe it is based more on how the amps negative feedback responds to volume. I think you enjoy the blackface because the negative feedback/presence is providing an additional mid/treble boost by simply cranking the volume. Where as ,with like a Soldano (and other amp designs), the negative feedback doesn't respond as much to master volume but rather it's effect on gain is dependent on the setting itself. Your Hiwatt could be like this too. In a vacuum - how does itS presence feel to change when you crank the volume? Where I'm getting at is, maybe for the Hiwatt - you need an additional mid/treble boost because the amps negative feedback isn't doing that for you. This is why there's so many flavors of clean amps! It would be cool to see an AB comparison of presence vs master volume for your blackface and Hiwatt.
@@1man1guitarletsgo I sort of replied to John the same. But the effect youre talking about (micing an amp at low volume) is ALSO the amps negative feedback relationship to amp master volume. This why it's common for new soldanos to have a depth switch or pot, because its too tame the low frequency or to tighten up high gain channel. At low volume, the negative feedback isn't playing into the tone as much- so you can dial in your sound space and then that'll "sound better" through PA because it's what you intended. Where's a lot of negative feedback circuits respond vastly different to master volume!
@@johnnathancordy same experience here as well. I've had my Deluxe Reverb Reissue for about 15 years (purchased brand new) and it's been in the shop 3 or 4 times. I bought the Electra Dyne used and it's never had a single issue.
Perhaps you could get the drummer to NOT use the ride cymbal as a crash / ride? And close his hi-hats once in a while / almost always? Would help the sound immensely.
I assume you're talking about EVM12Ls? They are a supper efficient and clean speaker that really let the character of whatever amp you're using come through. They are relatively flat when compared to other guitar speakers and impart less character/color I find. I used these for years and love them. Weight is a drawback, but the tones are pretty undeniable. They cut through a mix like few other speakers can. Killer stuff as always - thank you! Edit: 60s to early 70s Fender Bassman head for your Normal channel thing. Circuit is similar to Pro, but with solid state rectifier.
John, I’ve been waiting for this day for you. This is how we do it ij my band in Nebraska. We unapologetically play Fender 40w tube amps tastefully. This is the best I’ve ever heard your live tone!
That feedback right at the start of the solo, GAT DAMN 👌👌👌
I'm sad for you that nobody was there to lock eyes with you about it in the moment hahaha
For real the smoldering tube dust smell is possibly the best part of vintage amps. Bliss for multiple senses. First time I used my 64 Vibrolux on a gig the Sax player in my band - who happens to be a member of the baby boom generation - said he hadn’t experienced that smell on stage since the 80s. Instantly justified the purchase.
You like to smell smoldering tube dust. What drugs are you on son?
The feedback!!!! My god. Sounded incredible man
Yes please put it in the cloud 👍
❤️gig footage
I use a 1964 Blackface super reverb that I modified to a head. There 2 ohms though. So you need a cab. I use a 15” EV speaker. It’s an amazing tone.
Glad you posted a video with gig footage. I have wanted to comment and request you do more of that.
So many gear demos out there, but so few with footage of them in a live context and thoughtful commentary.
More please and thank you!
I'm showing my age, as my first thought was picturing carrying that amp up a dodgy pub fire escape to a function room. Sounds fantastic though
Amazing sounds, great story too. Would love to see you and Jake included for the next Crossroads concert!
Yes, please! Bonus point 3 gain stages, clea, rythm and lead with some awesome OD pedals!
A while ago you played your Pro Reverb and I thought it was your best tone…..now this live video is the best live tone I’ve heard on your videos!
I have a black face twin and a 68 Reissue Pro Reverb….your old Pro Reverb sounds somewhere between these two amps!
Just got an OX in the last few days, put my late 60’s 40 watt bandmaster through it .( never been able to play it much past one on the volume! Which is a waste so I haven’t touched it for years) But now with the Ox I can crank it up and oh my word! It sounds amazing and so addictive the overdrive is to die for , turn the guitar volume down and the clean sparkly tones are there too. Try recording the pro reverb through an Ox you’ll love it!
And a telecaster cuts through in the mix. 🤗
Wow! Two years younger than me, and in far better shape…
Sensational Johnno! Great amp
Damn that is some tight, groovy bass playing
Yes we need that capture bro
I'm ecstatic about my 65DRRI, Fender Blackface is the peak of amplification.
I'm also very partial to blackface amps, however, if you ever get the opportunity to play a dual amp set up with a blackface and a tweed it will ruin you for other amps forever. I got to try someone else's rig - super reverb and bassman - unbelievable. I usually use a deluxe reverb. Tone master or drri, I'm happy either way.
Sounding great as usual.
I have a 1965 Twin Reverb with EV coffee cans in it, just a week ago I couldn't stand it anymore and took them out and put in a mojo bv30v and pulled 2 power tubes, it's actually drastically improved now. Should have done it sooner. Nothing against the EVs, just turns out it wasn't necessary let alone worth it, and the thing weighs half as much and sounds sweeter.
Amazing live tone…wow!
I will always recommend Ceriatone Amplification. You can get a bunch of different amps as heads or combos, premade or unassembled.
A blackface Bandmaster Reverb is the very same amp as your Pro, in a head. It's an incredible sounding amp, just like it's bigger brother, the Dual Showman Reverb. For clean tones, you can't beat the Fender blackface amps . You owe it to yourself to check out a Fender 30, an absolutely fantastic combo with the beautiful Fender clean sounds, PLUS an incredible lead channel. Holdsworth used these for his lead tone, in the 80s. There are not many of these around, but they are absolutely superb !
Effectrode blackbird. Not a head, but a preamp. Green channel is an amazing clean channel. Best I’ve tried so far.
Amazing clean tone
Great tone brother! I want to be you when I grow up
Yes please for Cloud. Tip jar in return is the least we can do.
Good Amps are a must. When I was gigging with The Farmaceuticals and the reggae band I played for, The Reggae Refugees...I always used a Mesa Lonestar...around the house I use and HX Stomp... I would love to have an old Fender amp. Keep on Keepin' on rockin the jams. The band you jam with sounds groovy and funky. Rock on
Sounds glorious those captures, way to push that nano. 😅
I have a '74 with Jensen neos in. Not quite a '65 but the same circuit, allegedly. It's glorious
Aside from the supersonic, From Fender there is both the 65 deluxe reverb amp head 22watts, and the bandmaster which is a 40watts head. There are non-fender options but not sure if they'll give you the sound you're looking for
Yeah man 🎉
Tone King make an incredible Fender style amp. Pretty sure you can get it as a head.
I built a head cabinet for my 72 super twin reverb , it’s still heavy AF even without the 212 combo section 😂.
Been using a Clubman and 68 Custom PR live and it is glorious...the PR is such a solid amp.
Hands down one of the best Fender heads I played was from the 90s, it was called the Fender Tone-Master 2-Channel 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amp Head. Not to be confused with the new “Tone-Master” line of solid state amps, they are nothing like the original Tone-Master from the 90s that were all tube.
Need a head, consider a Tremolux (if you don't need the reverb) I tried a 1964 Tremolux a few months back and it had the sound. Two days later i decided i was gonna get it but i was too late. Fender amps, i like 6L6 more than 6v6.
I’ve been gigging my 67 Super Reverb this year and I came to the same conclusion as you. Fills the room, plenty headroom (and smells funny after 2 sets!). Weirdy, I gigged a Mesa Lonestar in the past and it didn’t seem to cut as well in the mix live. Not a volume thing, problably EQ.
Get in touch with Nik at Ceriatone. They have a 2x6L6 AB764 Super Verb head. It also comes as a kit. If you get a kit, I'd be happy to put it together for you😊
Awesome tone. Super Sonic 22 is basically a hotrodded DRRI. You want Blonde or Black Bassman.
John, the Fillmore amps are great. The 25 or 50 watts versions are great. 2 channel blackpanelyamps. Although I feel it has more mids than a Fender. It's great and the Head version is pretty light!
I want to go that bar. Can i walk there from Chicago?
I used to have one years and years ago. I traded it in for a Kendrick amp...lol. but I use a 1970 twin with 2 tubes pulled and chopped into a head shell! Very good,! Get a head shell from mojo amps and leave the 2x12 cab at home.
Pro tip. For reverb fenders get a Barber Launch Pad - it allows you use normal and reverb channels independently or at the same time and foot switch able! (Normal and reverb channels are out of phase , so it fixes that,). Do you can run digital on one side and vintage reverb on the other, or blend both
You should check out the Paul Rivera era 80s Fender Concert head. They are hand wired 60 Watts of goodness with amazing clean tones and pretty solid drive tones as well (Paul used to mod fender amps for better drive tones before he worked for fender directly). And best of all they are pretty affordable so very good for taking on the road.
I keep seeing black panel bassmans on reverb for like 2k, would certainly be a decent option i think.
I have a supersonic 22 head = you're welcome to have it on loan to try if you like. I live in N Abbot but do come to Exeter - let me know in the comments and it can be arranged = Ray W.
Ray! Could you email me? johnnathancordy@gmail.com
06:20
Mesa California Tweed
I was going to suggest the Fillmore amps. I have a Fillmore 25 and it's glorious! Very similar to the Cali Tweed
Ampero made capture available to its new model wonder how that’s gon be
Fender made a Deluxe Reverb head for a while.
Try a benson Vincent head (ie the higher powered monarch), but if you found your sound then just take the amp out and put it in a head version, store the cabinet.
I like your current drummer in this video. Heavy Amps and bad Backs are a marriage made in Hell. You might want to wear a Back Brace when carrying and moving heavy items. They do work. 😉
Hey thanks 👋🥁
Sounds damn goood.
check out the fender deville 2x12 60watt clen headroom for day, perfect pedal platform amp. there was a michael Landua signature version made a few years ago it had two clean channels instead of a clean and drive to more drive
Awsome Vid John! Would it be possible to do a Demo and Review of the PRS SE Zack Myer's Guitar?? Thank You! Love your Channel and Content! Cheers from Salem, Oh. US.
I would trust Tim Pierce on the Fender Amp Head thing & get an old Bassman head.
I think the 60's blackface Bassman head is what you're after
epiphone so cal 50, about 250$ used (no longer made)
Just buy a headshell for your Pro Reverb. You already know you like that amp. Alternately, Bandmaster amps are 40 watts. I don't know how much real difference there is in the BF topologies.
Your buddy should have heard that you were getting drowned out and rolled his guitar back or played more dynamically during your solo. He just wasn’t listening. If I had an idea that there were mix issues I’d make sure I was increasing dynamic variation through the gig to leave holes for the other players.
Volume wars usually start when somebody who has no clue in the audience says something because they have no idea what a decent mix sounds like.
No, BF amps are usually not biased hot, quite the contrary!
Dude, you need to scrap the wedding bands and go out doing this stuff. I would pay to see you play anywhere.
More efficient speakers can double the perceived volume level.
A black face Bassman like Robben Ford used to do.
Do a Tonex capture!
Just put your pro reverb chassis in a head shell and use the cab as a speaker cab.
👏🏻 👏🏻 ❤
Gotta bring a hand truck/dolly 😅
it s time to rerebuy a vht d50 😂 you could ajust bias without open the case. I use it live as pedal plateform
you had more a sound stage problem instead of headroom, because a rhythm tone occupied the bass and mid range frequencies already. Whereas to cut through with the lead, its not only a volume/ headroom, but what sound space is already occupied - so you would have had to crank your presence/mid/treble to cut through the mix. This is a common problem where "volume wars" start to begin. Then you're cranking in so much energy into one space, theres no acoustic environment in the world to support bad sound staging.
Its literally a physics limitations, all players cant occupies the same frequency range, because the air and our ears can only sense so much energy in a given freq range, we destinguish the differences by detecting the all the range of frequencies in context of time, even at the same volume/energy. The point is, if you want to be heard - fill the frequencies that ARNT be filled by the other instruments. And here we are full circle - dial in everyones sound staging!
The volume wars problem is also a byproduct of dialing in tone solo - where once you're with the band, everything blends together because your tone is "lost in the mix". Its common for bedroom players to get stuck in a rut where you find they have way too much bass or scooped mids - whereas live LEAD tone should be the polar opposite (cranked mids and reasonable to low bass). I mention this because were in the world of amp capturing/patches/recording now...And so now we're facing the consequences of trying to use solo and home level tone with a band mix.
But my solo tones are super mid heavy. Otherwise agreed it's mostly about trying to balance two guitar tones, in which case if both are running Tubescreamer type boosts then the one with the higher headroom is likely to win that war?
@@johnnathancordy It looked like a pretty small venue, and I know from experience these can be the hardest to work with, mainly because most drummers have no concept of volume control. We all end up trying to make ourselves heard over them, with no real success. If you can get the drummer to back off (or have him play with practice sticks), then everything else can be turned down to a reasonable level. I also find that even in small venues, it's better to set the guitar amp fairly quiet, and mic it up through the PA.
@@johnnathancordy to answer the tubescreamer Q: i believe it is based more on how the amps negative feedback responds to volume.
I think you enjoy the blackface because the negative feedback/presence is providing an additional mid/treble boost by simply cranking the volume. Where as ,with like a Soldano (and other amp designs), the negative feedback doesn't respond as much to master volume but rather it's effect on gain is dependent on the setting itself.
Your Hiwatt could be like this too. In a vacuum - how does itS presence feel to change when you crank the volume? Where I'm getting at is, maybe for the Hiwatt - you need an additional mid/treble boost because the amps negative feedback isn't doing that for you. This is why there's so many flavors of clean amps!
It would be cool to see an AB comparison of presence vs master volume for your blackface and Hiwatt.
@@1man1guitarletsgo I sort of replied to John the same. But the effect youre talking about (micing an amp at low volume) is ALSO the amps negative feedback relationship to amp master volume. This why it's common for new soldanos to have a depth switch or pot, because its too tame the low frequency or to tighten up high gain channel. At low volume, the negative feedback isn't playing into the tone as much- so you can dial in your sound space and then that'll "sound better" through PA because it's what you intended. Where's a lot of negative feedback circuits respond vastly different to master volume!
@@frjhracing Thank you; yes, I agree.
70’s musicmans…
Just ask some woodworker to make you headshell for Pro Tone and presto, you have head.
So anyway, here’s a video of me shredding
Try a tremolux.
Wait Wait Wait...let me guess... "It's the best sound I have ever had" 😂😂😂🤡🤡🤡
Regardless of the model I always find the 'magic 6' setting just sounds wonderful
Probably a little loud on this one with the EVM speakers though?!
find a mid 60s Bandmaster if you want a head...
Yes Steve! Someone just suggested a silverface bandmaster on IG
I can't find your email address. If you want to try a very nice Fender head, try a Dr Z EZG50 if you can find one 👌
Fender clean tones in a head? Buy back your old Mesa Electra Dyne! 😊
For all the talk of unreliability of Mesa's, they gave me far less headaches than the Fenders...
@@johnnathancordy same experience here as well. I've had my Deluxe Reverb Reissue for about 15 years (purchased brand new) and it's been in the shop 3 or 4 times. I bought the Electra Dyne used and it's never had a single issue.
Get a SF Bassman head.
Vintage amps smell. At least mine do when they are cooking
Try the clean channel of a Prs MT-15, a cheap and light amp with headroom for days, its 6l6 based and probably closer to 30 watt then 15.
Perhaps you could get the drummer to NOT use the ride cymbal as a crash / ride? And close his hi-hats once in a while / almost always? Would help the sound immensely.
I have this exact same amp! Same year, all original. I've been playing it with a Fryette PS-2 lately, b/c it's so dang loud haha
Old amps smell like Grandpa's garage. I love it haha.
Head wise may want to look at a black face bassman or blond
I like following you but having to skip almost a minutes of Trufire ads every videos is annoying. Sorry I had to say it
Look after your back mate. Seriously
I assume you're talking about EVM12Ls?
They are a supper efficient and clean speaker that really let the character of whatever amp you're using come through. They are relatively flat when compared to other guitar speakers and impart less character/color I find. I used these for years and love them. Weight is a drawback, but the tones are pretty undeniable. They cut through a mix like few other speakers can.
Killer stuff as always - thank you!
Edit: 60s to early 70s Fender Bassman head for your Normal channel thing. Circuit is similar to Pro, but with solid state rectifier.
Yessir!!
EV's rule.