FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Fender Tweed Amps

Question:
I just got my new copy of Guitar Player and saw an ad for the new Fender Tweed Amps. My local music store says that Fender is coming out with 12 new models. He had no idea what types. Anyone know any specs?

Answer:
I test drove the Vibro King. This is one cool amp. It sounded great loud or soft, with the tone controls set just about anywhere. It has a FAT switch, which, I believe, is a mid boost. This really did fatten up the tone. It seems unusual for a Fender amp. Fender amps of old (although this is not a reissue) usually had a bright switch or a bright input. The three 10-inch speakers really add up to a punchy sound, but not so punchy as to poke holes in your ears. I test drove this with a stock '57 reissue Strat -- not mine, but I play one, so I knew what to expect. Beautiful tones. Although this is not a reissue amp, its tones are closer to vintage than they are to Fender's modern amps. I'm not glued to vintage amps, but I haven't heard a modern, production non-reissue Fender that I've liked at all. To my ears, the modern production Fender amps are harsh sounding, and they have unusable high gain modes. The Vibro King does not have a high gain mode, and the sound is not harsh at all. It is really enticing. The Vibro King has an excellent reverb. The reverb has the three controls that the old Fender tube/spring outboard units had: dwell, mix and tone. This reverb will spoil you for anything else. It is very flexible, with virtually all settings usable. The tremolo is very cool, but this is one those effects many folks could take or leave. The only drawback is the price. It is way up there in the $2300-$2400 range. Don't expect to get any price breaks, 'cuz this is a Custom Shop number. I'll say this, though. If you test drive this beauty, don't be surprised if you entertain fleeting thoughts about owning it. Park your car in view, and look at it frequently, in an attempt to remind yourself that it needs new shoes, first.