Why and How Vintage Low Watt Amps Are Great For Session Players Or Just Jamming---No Shit!

I always get a laugh out of players who want to make big bucks from their old guitar amps from the 70's and forward. If your amps aren't late 60's and back you won't make much money off an amp you paid in the high 3 figures or low four figures for.

Picture of Vintage 1948 Fender Tweed Deluxe amp.
If that's not vintage I don't know what is!


Some of the best amps for tone and low level volume are 15 to 30 watts at the most. These were used in session recording situations in the 50's and 60's in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Motown. Most players still seem to think they need monstrous wattage and a boat load of accessory gear to get great recordings or live sound. Smaller amps with lower wattage seem to give off a tone that's naturally warmer and purer. A lot of players have problems with their tone on low watt practice amps as well.


I'm a prick aren't I? Some of the best vintage amps have been turned into guitar amps that aren't recognizable anymore because of all the trick outs and renos done to them. Basically, too many state of the art features like overdrive, too many tone controls and compression dials. Drives me nuts when players constantly fiddle with this shit!


Now here's what I think. Some of you are laughing now, and some of you are rolling your eyes. You should learn how to set up and play your vintage guitar amp along with setting up your guitar so they work for you, not against you. The best well known vintage amps are naturally Marshall Blues-Breaker or Fender Princeton which were used for some of the best recordings for Chess and Vee-Jay Records in the 50's and 60's.


I'm actually surprised revamped vintage amps like Fender and Marshall aren't modelling amps which would infuriate me even more. I shouldn't give these people evil and stupid ideas just to make money. Damn marketers!


Attaining good Tone Control on Vintage and Old Amps:

For overdrive and tone control you should know how to set it up with your guitar like I said above, and use your bass and tone controls with your guitar together so you when you need extra volume or to back off, you can do it without fiddling with everything. This way you develop a keen sense for building great tone for blues,country and rock.

For more info on Vintage and custom made amps from an expert: Dan Torres is the man!

http://www.torresengineering.com