Gear Reviews

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Standback Stand Review

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The Amazing Standback Stand Review

Wow, just wow and wow again! The Standback stand is just one of those things that comes into your life and you wonder where the hell it has been all your life, and crucially why no one has made one before??It is simply brilliant in it's simplicity and it is without probably one of the best guitar products I have ever brought!!

All Stand

The premise is simple, most guitarists are know for being LOUD and dominating the stage (as of course we should be ;) ) but in real world situations this isn't a good thing and you end up upsetting a lot of sound engineers. The primary reason for a lot of guitarists being so loud is that they have their amps flat on the floor pointing directly at their legs (and the front row of the audience when on a stage), so a large part of the amps sonic projection (and tone) is going towards the back of a pair of legs in jeans and a front row of an audience wincing at the loudness and the high frequency offerings of the amp.So one solution has always been to tilt the amp back. It isn't really a solution, but something that I think most guitarists should ultimately do. Why? because you will instantly realise how loud you are, and also more importantly be able to hear yourself better and crucially dial in yourr tone correctly (i.e. not over compensate for lost highs and mids). Tilting also decouples the amp mostly from the floor, so you will get a more accurate bass response from the amp and not suffer from bass transmitted into the stage (which can act like a massive bass amp depending on the nature of the stage!)So stands are good!! And yes there are some out there already. Fender do tilt back legs for some amps, but they can be a PITA to install. Other companies offer massive stands (I have had a few) and I always feel that this is yet another couple of bits of gear you need to lug around to gigs.So, some of us (myself included!) may be tempted to improvise solutions to tilt the amp back. Which generally mean resting it insecurely on an object not desiged for the job!! I was doing this for a while (using a bass drum mic stand!) until my lovely valve amp fell forwards due to the stage rocking and that is never a good thing for a tube amp!!Then Standback appeared! Three bits of plastic and some strapping...which collapses to the size of a ruler and you can stuff in the back of your amp with ease. It is so simple there isn't really much to say. You pull it out of your amp, arrange it into a triangle shape, lock the triangle together, drop your amp down on the foam holding plate and tilt your amp back....and it is done!! SO SO SIMPLE!!I am not suggesting though that this would take the weight of a stack, but it supports my Fender Deluxe Reverb perfrectly and my Zilla 2 x 12 cab.It is very, very secure, I used it last week on a very bumpy floor and it help secure and firm with no wobble!!What can I say, get one!! ! (NOTE I AM NOT ENDORSED BY THIS COMPANY!)Here is a short video review I did.ProsSimple designFantastic implementationYou can hear your guitar better in terms of level and toneConsThey didn't make it years ago :)EnjoyPeaceNeil

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HotCovers Cover for Fender Deluxe Reverb Review

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HotCovers 600 Denier Cover for Fender Deluxe Reverb

When we have things we love, we always want to do whatever we can to protect them! With any piece of gear, be it musical or otherwise, using it in a working context can put it at great risk from not just bumps and bangs but all manner of other enviormental factors. Gigging is one area where gear gets severely tested, not just during a performance, but afterwards, especially when you are in a hurry to load out of a venue at 1.30 in the morning.Of course, if you are on tour then most gear would be at home in flight cases, and on the whole I tend to opt for flight cases for everything. So why am I not writing a flight case review now?Well, the only downside of a flightcase is that they can add considerable weight to any item by their very nature of being big strong cases! When thinking about flightcasing an amp, you have to bare in mind that this may double it's weight! which is find if you have a roadie to help you manage the beast, but not so good when you are getting home at 4am and having to carry the amp up four flights of stairs by yourself.So, one option is no protection (now kids you all should have had the lesson that you should always wear protection right?) and if you take this option, you will find that your beloved piece of gear will start looking very shabby very soon, let alone start suffering from GTD's (gear transmitted diseases!).So, the other option is to get some form of protective lightweight cover, which might not prevent major damages, i.e. your amp being thrown down stairs or the general abuse that being on the road may warrant, but something which will protect it from the general gigging knocks and bumps, throws into the back of vans and cars etc.

HotCovers

This is where HotCovers step in. Some amp maufactuers do provide a thin amp cover (Fender did for my deluxe reverb, thanks guys that is a nice touch! I wish more companies did this!). These covers on the whole are pretty good for dust protection, travel to rehearshals etc and if you are very careful when gigging. I actually had the Fender cover for my Blues Junior and gigged with it for nearly two years! Now the cover is pretty scruffy now, and the amp actually does have quite a few bumps, but it did an over all good job!I decieded to look for a cover which wasnt a flight case but also offered a tad more protection for my prde an joy! That is when I discovered hot covers and their excellent range of covers.I opted for the 600 Denier cover (not a fan of PVC and the way it looks!) and I ordered away! I was surprised that within a couple of days my cover had arrived. So full marks for customer service! The cover fitted perfectly and adds what feels like a decent amount of protection around the amp.So I am vey happy.You can see all the details in the video below.In short.ProsGreat over which offers a good amount of portection for the gigging muscian and ampGreat range of covers availableFantastic customer serviceConsNon really, although you could (if you are that way inclinded) think that the prices are a little pricey. But what price on protection?EnjoyPeaceNeil

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Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb Custom The Sweet Spot

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So you may have read my recent review of the Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb Custom, where I may have been quite gushing in my praise for the amp. Well actually I may have actually declared my undying love for it.Well, after some more gigging with the amp, I can safely say that this love is only getting stronger. All the the pros that I mentioned in the review still hold true and mostly importantly the way this amp sounds is just phenomenal and the ability to get the most amazing feedback from the amp is just the icing on the cake.On top of all of that, the fact that this amp is so, so easy to transport and carry make me a very happy camper. I am also more relaxed in transporting it now I have a Hot Covers cover for it (review and video review can be found here), ensuing that my pride and joy doesn't get too beaten up from gig to gig!!

The Sweet Spot

So, the title of this post is about the sweet spot! After all my recent gigs I have found that there is a lovely sweet spot on this amp, which resides in the middle of the volume dial just between 4-5, it is really hard to pin point, but when you have the amp set below 4, it is still amazing and given most situations this is where you are likely to have it set.But moving ...well actually nudging it just above 4, and somewhere in between 4.5 ish, something magical happens! I can't actually describe it, but something that is already sounding and playing awesomely, suddenly roars up a gear into a different beast, it is like something insdie the amp is unleashed.Note's sustain and feedback even more, the lovely Fender tone seems to move from 3 dimensions into 4! And for something that is already very responsive to touch, starts to feel like it is actually connected to your fingers and your very soul.What more can I say but I am even more in love! If you  get the change to take your amp into the sweet spot! Do it, do it now! If you don't own this amp and think that you want that Fender goodness, then make sure that this amp is on your list to try out!I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments below if you own the amp, or please fire away any questions if you have any about the amp!
EnjoyPeaceNeil
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Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Review

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Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Review

I have been through a few amps over the years, but for the last 4 I have been pretty much using a Fender Blues Junior III Tweed for much of my gigging needs. Primarily, because it sounds good and it is very light and easy to transport. I have had one or two issues over that time, but nothing to write home about.

Although recently it got knocked backwards during a gig and stopped working for a while, this required me to start using my Cornford Roadhouse 50 Head with a Zilla Custom 2 x 12 cab fitted with Celestion Vintage 30’s. Now this was amazing, because the amp is awesome and sounds fantastic, but this comes at a price, one being that it is pretty damn loud, okay very loud!!

We recently played a stadium gig, and the amp was only on 3-4 (obviously mic'd up!) and was still too loud! So, for the typical function and wedding it was a little too much, plus I got a bit tired carrying it up four flights of stairs to my apartment!Back to the Blues Junior and it would seem that the Blues Jnr III needs some work doing to it, so given that it was recently my birthday, I thought it was time for a new amp!

So what I wanted this time was an amp which was sublime (the Cornford is, but see above for why I can't use it all the time!) and in a different league (and portable!). After some searching around and knowing that the Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue (DRRI) was getting great praise, I noticed that the Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb had come on the scene and was getting a lot of love (a lot).

So I thought it was my duty to try one out! What follows is a real love story, but as with real love there are some complications and the true course of love of course never runs smooth! Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - A love begins

So, I was out on my travels one day and I popped into PMT Music in Cambridge. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that they had the '68 Deluxe Reverb in, so I asked to try it.....with in about 2 minutes I know that oh wow this is one hell of an amp! The kind of amp that makes you just want to play and play and play! I could have literally sat in the shop all day playing. But, I had to be somewhere and I wanted to know how the amp sounded with some of my pedals, so I left empty handed, knowing that I would return.

The main thing that struck me was that I was not sure how this amp is rated at 22 Watts, as it one one loud amp too, and wow thanks to the negative feedback this amp is SO sensitive to touch!! It is one of those amps you literally feel connected to, the sound coming out of the speakers just makes you smile. The tone has a deep round body to it, which really inspires you to play. The amp is just it is so responsive to your touch and you can so easily coax a note into the most glorious feedback and sustain. What really surprises me about this amp is how he character and tone of your guitar really jumps out, although with the pickup…it is like you can hear the very wood of the guitar.

I would also add that there is a real sweet spot on volume control which is around 4-5 when the amp not only really comes to life in terms of volume but in terms of the most luxurious tone.The amp has two channels (which differ from the original), one being the Vintage Channel (like the original) and the Custom channel - modified Fender Bassman amp with some of the highs removed so that pedals work well with this channel (and they do) Plimsoul, Suhr riot, for example.

Unlike the original amp they both have the reverb and vibro across them. Speaking of which, I find both the reverb and vibro to be fantastic, although with a character (i.e. a typical Fender Spring reverb tone) which may not be suitable for everyone, and personally beyond 2 on the dial it is too much for me. The Vibro channel is lush, but due to legislation in the UK and Europe the Opto circuit has been replaced due to the material used being outlawed here. I am not fully sure of the impact on the sound but it is a little bit noisy, especially at high intensities.

They are both foot switchable which is great, but personally I think the supplied foot switch is a piece of plastic crap. I am surprised when you spend SO much on an amp that they provide a rubbishy plastic footswitch. I will see how long I get out of it...maybe I am wrong and it will out last me, but you get a feeling for gear when you are gigging all the time, I don't think it will last, especially with my heavy feet. But I guess nice that they included it...oh and VERY nice that they included a cover too, I wish more companies would do this!!

Crucially, the amp also takes pedals really, really well, I have use it in conjunction with a Rothwell Audio F1 Booster, Fulltone Plimsoul, TC Nova System and Suhr Riot and they all sounded fantastic. I have attached the following audio clips so you can hear. These clips are from a recent gig and are the isolated guitar track from the Mic in front of the cab so you can get an idea of what it sounds like live and mic'd up. I have noted on the clips the one's which are straight and those with pedals.

The guitar was an American Fender Strat with Seymour Duncan Hot-Rails in the bridge position, my main gigging guitar.

Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb Audio Clips

Isolated track from live gig of Fender 68 deluxe reverb with Fender American Strat, clean sound from bridge pickup, overdrive from HotRails in the neck.Isolated track from live gig of Fender 68 deluxe reverb with Fender American Strat with Suhr Riot and TC Electronic Flashback pedals.

Okay, so there is a problem (or two), thanks to the negative feedback circuitry there is some Hiss, now live this isn't a problem at all and I have yet to record with it, so I can not tell how bad it is at the moment. It is not a deal breaker and I understand that the circuit modification which makes this amp SO responsive to touch is responsible, so this is a good trade off I guess!

There is also a LOUD pop (capacitor discharging no doubt) when you switch it from stand by mode. Again I know why this happens but I guess we are used to modern gear and these issues being resolved. I hope it isn't a indicator of any other problems....speaking of which!

Love never runs smoothly

So, I popped into the PMT Music in Manchester to buy the amp, I tried it out for a while and also with some pedals, I knew I was in love!!! So I brought it, took it home, re-confirgured my pedal board with the pedals I wanted, and had a little play....happy days!! But, a day later I had my first gig with the amp!! During soundcheck, everything was fine, I had a big smile on my face as this amp just sung and also had a real depth which filled the sound stage really well!

Soundcheck over, switch amp off....amp blew a fuse straight away. Replace fuse, amp comes on, and then blows it again, add to this a very strange sound from the vibro channel and then it just got SO hot, it was impossible to touch the front of the amp for a very long time without potentially getting burnt. My heart sunk, in all the years and amps I have had, I have never had this happen to me, more worryingly I had a gig to do, luckily I had a back up!!

This really really dented my confidence with the amp, and also quality control at Fender. This is NOT a cheap amp at all, and I WOULD not expect these kinds of things to happen with a brand new high end amp, and I was very sad and my heart broken. I had found love, but it was troubled!!

Needless to say I took the amp back, PMT were excellent in sorting it out, even lending me an amp to get me through the next couple of gigs until they got a new FDRI in stock for me. I now have the next amp, and I do love this amp, even after a very short time with it, BUT it makes me nervous, and when you gig weekly nervous isn't good. Hopefully my Mark II doesn't suffer from Fender quality control issues....but it doesn't make my have confidence.

Only time will do that. I will report back!!!

Okay, so yes I really, really do love it, even thinking about it make me want to go and play guitar and when I playing through it, I really just don't want to stop. That really is something very special in an amp. I think that I have been very fortunate over the years to have either played through or owned some exception amps. Some have been amazing, some have been workhorses, some have been fleeting romances and some have been downright hype and rubbish.

I think your amp quest is a journey, you will probably never really ever stop thinking about your first love, but you will find those along the way which change your mind and take you to different places. There is nothing wrong with that. For me personally, digital processing doesn't rock my world, most solid state doesn't rock my world, Mesa Boogies don't rock my world, but I think this amp really does. After years of searching I have 3 amazing amps, each different, perhaps think of them as a blonde, brunette and redhead, if you are that way inclined.

My very first proper amp, the Marshall JMP-1 preamp with EL34 50/50 power amp, is the business, I do love this more than anything. I have owned it for over 20 years and it still is my first love.Recently, the Cornford Roadhouse 50 has become a contender for my heart,  it sounds epic, the crunch and dirt is out of this world, and when you kick in the boost channel, well there ain't no feeling like it.

Finally, the trio is now complete with the Fender Deluxe Reverb 68, it is creamy, it is crystal clean, it is crunchy, it is dirty, it sound proper, it sounds authentic, it sounds amazing. Reliability still issues at the forefront of my mind, I am hoping that this will be come the one, the one I take out week in week out and gig the hell out of and I can't wait!

The FDR 68 just has a sound you feel connected to, the sound coming out of the speakers just makes you smile. The tone has a deep, round body to it, with plenty of sparkle, especially on the Vintage channel. The Custom channel, is also deep and sensuous, but the treble is tamed a bit, which means it works well with pedals, which don't end up making it sound harsh at all. The controls on both channels are very responsive and it is kind of amazing how much low end this amp seems to have. It fills a stage, it enhances the soundscape and makes the guitar sound present in a band situation and more than that, this means it really inspired you to play.

Thanks to the negative feedback mod on the amp which Fender have done, the amp is just it is SO responsive to your touch and you can so easily coax as note into the most glorious feedback and sustain, the only slight downside is this results in the amp sounding a little bit hissy.But it gets better, the EQ section is amazing and very responsive and interactive, you really have so many options as you move the controls around.

The cleans sound glassy, but without any ice-pickiness, where this amp really shines in in the break-up territory. Instant classic Fender Tones, add an overdrive and you are in heaven. The sound is powerful and it really makes those around sit up and take note, you can get some great overdrive and distortion sounds out of this amp, not death defying metal, this is a classic rock/blues amp. The tonal changes between a single coil or humbucker guitar are immense but just as they should be.

Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb Conclusions

Pros

  • This is a proper Fender amp, it sounds so rich, clean and organic

  • The custom channel for me is a think of beauty with pedals!

  • The TONE, THE TONE, THE TONE!

  • The Tone!!

  • You get a cover!

Cons

  • Hiss

  • Reliability (time will tell!)

  • Footswitch is a bit sh*t for an amp of this price, crappy plastic.

Request

I hope that you found this article useful and enjoy my blog, podcast and YouTube channel. I’m always happy to share my thoughts and to help others as much as I can and I will never charge for my blog content. Having said that, I truly appreciate when someone supports me in return for the time it takes to write articles, produce podcasts and videos, where I share my years of work and experience with you.

Here are some ways you can show your appreciation:

Neil

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TC Nova System 2 review - Wish list

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I have written a few times about the Nova System, and you can find my original review here and also my wish list year after year here. Basically, this is such a fantastic piece of gear, but with a few additional features it could be amazing. It is also getting on a bit now, so it would be so nice if TC Electronic would develop a new multi-effects unit, in line with some of the fantastic new single pedals they have been making.So I just thought I would post a little video of my wish list for the Nova System, if it was every to be made. I am not sure it ever will, but if it was an TC Electronic are listening, then please can it have some of these features...please! It would be the best unit of all time!EnjoyPeaceNeil

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iRig Pro Ik Multimedia Review

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A short review of the iRig Pro from IK Multimedia a one-in audio interface for the iPad, or any computer. Featuring Jack input, XLR input (with phantom power) and midi input. Very simple to use, and the unit comes with two different connections, so you can connect it via USB or via Lightning connector (i.e to an iPad or iPhone). Latency is really good when used with the iPad, and the sound quality is really reasonable for such a device!What can I say but this is a fantastic little unit, perfect for the mobile iPad studio, which I why I brought it. Simply now I need my guitar, cable, iRig and my iPad and I have a fantastic little notepad for recording ideas and getting songs down in sketch form. I have also been using it with LoopyHD as a practice tool and for some looping (yet to use it live but it could be done!). I also using with my Laptop when I quickly need to get a guitar part into the computer (for lessons etc), this makes life so much easier and it is SO small!EnjoyPeaceNeil

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Cornford Roadhouse 50 Head Review

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Okay, so a while back I reviewed the Cornford Roadhouse 30 combo that I owned, and to reiterate....I loved it.....but I sold even after all the positive things I said about it.

Why you ask?

Well, the one negative was the weight, the deep cabinet which made it very awkward to carry, and most importantly, I live up four flights of stairs and it is the last thing you want to be lugging up stairs at 3 am in the morning. But, I was pining for it, it sounded amazing, really amazing, so I thought the compromise is to get the head version but then Cornford when out of business and the stocks ran out before I could get one.

Anyway, I kept an eye out for one on the second hand listing sites, and low and behold, one turned up. Initially, I was hoping for the 30 Watt version, but the 50 turned up and I thought that the extra headroom would be worth it.

Note : I have paired the Cornford Roadhouse 50 Head with my Zilla Custom 2 x 12 cab fitted with Celestion Vintage 30's

So here is the review, and to be honest it is very similar to the other review, with a few amendments!

Okay, so yes I really, really do love it, and with the 50 watt version I really have no reservations, no problem with the weight etc, because this amp sounds awesome!

Why?

Because it has one of the most organic sounding overdrives I have ever had the fortune to play. It is one of those sounds you literally feel connected to, the sound coming out of the speakers just makes you smile. The tone has a deep round body to it, which really inspired you to play. The amp is just it is so responsive to your touch and you can so easily coax as note into the most glorious feedback and sustain.

As with the 30 watt, what really surprises me about this amp is how he character and tone of your guitar really jumps out, although with the pickup...it is like you can hear the very wood of the guitar. Also, just like the 30 Watt the amp to me has a vocal like quality.

But it gets better, the EQ section is amazing and very responsive and interactive, you really have so many options as you move the controls around. The cleans sound glassy, but without any ice-pickiness, but this isn't a clean amp, where this amp really shines in in the break-up crunch territory....wow instant ACDC if you like that kind of thing.

The sound is powerful and it really makes those around sit up and take note.....but it gets even better....the secret of this amp is the boost function. BOOOOOM!!

To quote Spinal Tap, it really does give you that push over the edge when you need it, but is a way you couldn't imagine, it adds a kind of velveteen shimmer to the sound and makes you want to play for ever. You can get some great overdrive and distortion sounds out of this amp, not death defying metal, this is a classic rock/blues amp. The tonal changes between a single coil or humbucker guitar are immense but just as they should be.

In the previous review, I said about the 30 Watter 'So why is this not top number one amp ever?'

Well, the reservations about the 30 aren't present in the 50 version, yes it it is kind of only really applicable to the rock/blues fraternity. Yes it does lovely cleans, but not much of it before you get a glorious break up tone, so if you want clean, clean clean, then go back to Fender. If breakup is your thing, then welcome aboard.

The Zilla 2 x 12 open back cabinet seems to fill space gloriously, with real bass meet to the sound, the cabinet and speakers (Celestion V30) work in perfect harmony. Then when you kick in the boost, wow you are like a tone king. The amp also takes pedals really well, I use it in conjunction with a Rothwell Audio F1 Booster, Fulltone Plimsoul and Suhr Riot and this sounded fantastic.

Pros

  • For Blues/Rock, you would be hard pressed to find a better sounding amp (in this price range!)

  • It sounds amazing, and when you kick in the boost...wow!

  • Fantastically crafted and sensitive EQ section which is extremely responsive and well tied together

Cons

  • It is a bit of a one trick pony (and it pains me to write that), the trick it does it does totally amazingly though

Request

I hope that you found this article useful and enjoy my blog, podcast and YouTube channel. I’m always happy to share my thoughts and to help others as much as I can and I will never charge for my blog content. Having said that, I truly appreciate when someone supports me in return for the time it takes to write articles, produce podcasts and videos, where I share my years of work and experience with you.

Here are some ways you can show your appreciation:


Peace

Neil