Red Herring????

[Voodoo_Man]

Is this BS or what? What preamp problems are Fender talking about? Should I be concerned?

From the Fender Site! Some new line of amps (I use the term very loosely) that they call Vintage Modified.

"Features include a real tube amp combined with up-to-date extras including versatile amp voicing and superb DSP effects. Its solid-state overdrive and distortion eliminate many of the preamp tube problems that plague tube lovers while providing exemplary tones for rock, blues, country, jazz, metal and more."

God Bless,
John

[briane]

eliminate many of the preamp tube problems

Sounds to me like a fancy way to say no pre-amp tubes to replace.

God forbid you have to shell out 50-100 bucks every 20 years or so.

I suspect its actually cheaper for them to produce a SS pre than a tube pre, methinks a marketing gimmick.

just my 2cents.

[nickt]

That's not "BS", that's "Marketing". Oh... wait a minute... they're the same thing...

So that's one vote for BS.

[Andy Le Blanc]

I heard it was gonna be called the new cyber-touch
itll g-dec your pro tube
they bought out damn near every one..... gretch to kaman
and they'er getting nearlly impossible to maintain a dealership with
the yearly buy in is ridiculous..... and their product isnt that appealing
theyll try anything to make a buck

[Phil_S]

Actually, while I don't disagree with the main point of your statement, F* has glommed up a bunch of companies, the deal with Gretsch is a licensing deal. Gretsch still has control of the product and the name. Google for it and you'll find an interesting story of the grandson or great-grandson resurecting the company.

[Voodoo_Man]

Sounds to me like a fancy way to say no pre-amp tubes to replace.
God forbid you have to shell out 50-100 bucks every 20 years or so.
I suspect its actually cheaper for them to produce a SS pre than a tube pre, methinks a marketing gimmick.
just my 2cents.

No doubt about it on both accounts. Some kid who doen't know any better will spread the word for them too.

That's not "BS", that's "Marketing". Oh... wait a minute... they're the same thing...
So that's one vote for BS.

Sure it's BS. Kinda shows where their head is too. And I hear it's a dark & stinky place.

God Bless,
John

Now, back to talking about guitar amps.

[jaysg]

Elastic reality...

[VacuumVoodoo]

What they're doing is gearing up for the new "Energy efficiency of electronic equipment" directive that is currently on the legislative table. That's the main "problem" of tube based stuff. It will be banned soon. It's time to learn how to design better DSP algorithms and class D power amps.

[Bob-I]

Actually I've heard that these are full tube amps with DSP added. Not a bad idea for some people who want a simple rig. A friend of mine has a Champ in his store, he says it's well received, only time will tell.

[jimipage]

well, Fender said it, so I gotta believe it. I'm checkin out of this forum, guys. Nice knowin' ya. I'm off to start building solid state amps.

[jimipage]

psyche!!!!

[jjman]

Marshall has their "Vintage-Modern" (or is it Modern Vintage) line of amps so maybe they need to jump on that slogan bandwagon. May as well call these line the "Yes-No" amps.

I Love-Hate marketing slogans.

[tonelab2]

What they're doing is gearing up for the new "Energy efficiency of electronic equipment" directive that is currently on the legislative table. That's the main "problem" of tube based stuff. It will be banned soon. It's time to learn how to design better DSP algorithms and class D power amps.

Energy efficiency at it's best
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjFD6j6S7pg

[CaseyJones]

That's not "BS", that's "Marketing". Oh... wait a minute... they're the same thing...
So that's one vote for BS.

Sure it's BS. Kinda shows where their head is too. And I hear it's a dark & stinky place.

God Bless,
John

Now, back to talking about guitar amps.

You ain't kiddin'.

Of the many hats I've worn... one was in advertising production, really heavy duty major market advertising believe it or not. It warped me brain it did, you can tell people that something is whatever you tell 'em it is and they'll believe ya. It's very very difficult to explain the benefits and drawbacks of something and then have them make an informed choice, better to just sell 'em what you want 'em to buy.

The pinnacle of hypocrisy is a late night session for an anti-drug PSA... with the ad agency people snarfin' lines off the client table.

ANYWAY tubes sound like tubes and BS sounds like BS. A well built tube amp might not make you sound like you have layers and layers of digital effects (that's a good thing) but it will make the show night after night. Tell that to yer rack mounted processors when they take a power surge and check out on ya. As long as a tube amp is at the end of the signal chain the show will still go on.

Amp manufacturers keep tryin' to stuff ten pounds of shit into a five pound bag. Lots of stuff packed on a price point PC board just makes more stuff to potentially fail. When onboard digital effects fail they utterly fail, yeah I can fix it but not on a darkened stage and not with a few tubes and some bits of wire I keep in my tube amp first aid kit.

Actually I've heard that these are full tube amps with DSP added. Not a bad idea for some people who want a simple rig. A friend of mine has a Champ in his store, he says it's well received, only time will tell.

If the digital section takes a spike you're all done, end of story. My fuzzbox is broke, I can't play. Show does not go on.

[Voodoo_Man]

ANYWAY tubes sound like tubes and BS sounds like BS. A well built tube amp might not make you sound like you have layers and layers of digital effects (that's a good thing) but it will make the show night after night. Tell that to yer rack mounted processors when they take a power surge and check out on ya. As long as a tube amp is at the end of the signal chain the show will still go on.

I confess. I own some modeling boxes. Ones in a rack (where it belongs in my opinion) and has uses. But I don't use it to imitate a tube amp. I plug it into one. Built in dfx just doesn't appeal to my tastes. I'm to old to change. How can an imitation sound as good as the real thing anyway?

God Bless,
John