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Mr. Mojo your knowledge of guitar amps is impressive to say the least. It seems that the amps of yesteryear were better in many ways than today's amps--at least when gizmos are not factored in. I've heard this many times before. A few years ago I plugged into an old Fender Twin of early 60s vintage and was surprised at how much better it sounded than the Twins of today. Ditto on those Vibroverbs. I also agree about those old pre-CBS Teles and Strats. A few months ago a friend handed me his 1968 strat and I couldn't believe how much better it sounded than my 1973 strat--though my strat is in need of some fretwork. There is a marked difference in the quality of the old axes.

I'll have to drop you a line when I go shopping for my next amp. Thanks for the info.

Problem with vintage gear is that it's so damn expensive these days, especially the guitars. Pre-CBS (pre-'65) Strats and Teles in decent condition can run you up to $20,000, and I've seen '59-'60 Les Pauls recently sell for as much as $150,000. It's just ridiculous, especially if you plan on actually playing them outside of your home. ...Way too nerve-wracking, unless you're loaded (with either cash or drugs;)

Vintage amps aren't that expensive, but unless they've been cared for extensively and/or they're in prime shape, there's always the concern that they'll give out on stage. I wouldn't play out with one without a backup handy. Without spending many thousands on either a new boutique amp or a vintage (and possibly fragile) masterpiece, a good way to go is to buy a new Fender Reissue (either a Deluxe, Twin, or Super Reverb) and change the circuitry to the original blackface circuitry of the early-mid 60's. (You can do it yourself with a soldering iron and a little guidance). You'll then have a brand new amp that should sound close to the original. And for a further upgrade that'll equal the original, install some new JBL or Jensen speakers into the thing.

.....Of course your warranty would be voided, but you shoudn't need it anyway. ...And Fender customer service pretty much sucks. Definitely drop me a line before you shop.