Fender Prosonic
Party_Man
O(+>Has anyone tried one of these? I saw one in Rhythm City Music in Atlanta
O(+>last week, but didn't get a chance to try it. 60 watts, 2x10 combo,
O(+>channel switching (only one set of tone controls), reverb (no reverb in
O(+>the head-only version).
O(+>
O(+>I thought the light-green combo was a pretty amp, it is a little smaller
O(+>than a Twin, I guess a little larger than a Deluxe. I wish I knew how it
O(+>sounded.
O(+>
O(+>If you have any experience with this amp, please let me know.
O(+>
O(+>--
O(+>David Swanger
O(+>Division of University Computing
O(+>Auburn University, Alabama
O(+>swa...@mail.auburn.edu
A friend of mine just bought a Red Lizard (lokks cool as hell) head-only
Prosonic. He hates Reverb so it suits him fine. You will not beleive how
loud this thing can get. He cranked it up to three (using a Carvin 4x12)
and I nearly went deaf. He has a drum kit in the room with the amp and the
damn simbals were ringing like they had been hit! It has two gain
controls: with the 2nd control up the 1st one works like a
compressor...you can get these really cool distortions...er, overdrives:
this is nothin but tube. You put the amp into the drive channel with both
of the gains up to 10, you can still here every note ringing loud and
clear. This thing does not, in fact it can't, get muddy. Trust me, you
want one of these. It'll make you come in your pants. I think the heads
(nice, cute playful pun there...not intentional but worked great) retail
for $1600. He works at a local music store so he ordered through them. He
got it for $800. I guess it pays to have connections.
--
I don't need a woman...I've got my guitar!
They call me The Electric Sexx Messiah.
David Swanger
Has anyone tried one of these? I saw one in Rhythm City Music in Atlanta
I thought the light-green combo was a pretty amp, it is a little smaller
than a Twin, I guess a little larger than a Deluxe. I wish I knew how it
sounded.
If you have any experience with this amp, please let me know.
--
David Swanger
Division of University Computing
Auburn University, Alabama
swa...@mail.auburn.edu
David Swanger
> O(+>Has anyone tried one of these? I saw one in Rhythm City Music in Atlanta
> O(+>last week, but didn't get a chance to try it. 60 watts, 2x10 combo,
> O(+>channel switching (only one set of tone controls), reverb (no reverb in
> O(+>the head-only version).
> O(+>
> A friend of mine just bought a Red Lizard (lokks cool as hell) head-only
> Prosonic. He hates Reverb so it suits him fine. You will not beleive how
> loud this thing can get. He cranked it up to three (using a Carvin 4x12)
> and I nearly went deaf. He has a drum kit in the room with the amp and the
> damn simbals were ringing like they had been hit! It has two gain
> controls: with the 2nd control up the 1st one works like a
> compressor...you can get these really cool distortions...er, overdrives:
> this is nothin but tube. You put the amp into the drive channel with both
> of the gains up to 10, you can still here every note ringing loud and
> clear. This thing does not, in fact it can't, get muddy. Trust me, you
> want one of these. It'll make you come in your pants. I think the heads
> (nice, cute playful pun there...not intentional but worked great) retail
> for $1600. He works at a local music store so he ordered through them. He
> got it for $800. I guess it pays to have connections.
I think Rhythm City wanted $895 for the head and $1195 for the combo.
Now I guess I'm going to have to try one out...
moo...@vivanet.com
clean channel was what you'd expect from Fender and the overdrive
channel was probably the best high gain sound ever produced by Fender
(beats the hell out of the ToneMaster) but I'd rather hear power tube
distortion myself. It's really a matter of taste, I personally own a
VibroKing and would recommend it to those who like more "vintage" sounds
but the Prosonic is definately designed to shred. Either way, good
luck!!!
Al
>
> Has anyone tried one of these? I saw one in Rhythm City Music in Atlanta
I've been waiting to try this amp as a possible replacement for a Mark IV
Boogie(NEVER should of sold my old Mark IIB) & finally managed to play the
combo version at the local Guitar Center(I go in the afternoon when no one's
there!). Using a US Vintage Tele the amp had good Fender BF clean sound & very
decent reverb(sounded almost like an old Vibrolux Reverb). With a Texas Special
equipped Strat it does a pretty good early SRV type sound, but lacked enough
bottom-end to really nail it. It does a very wide range of good master volume
preamp-distortion type sounds.
There was a G12-80 equipped Concert Amp sitting right next to it, so I plugged
it's speaker into the Prosonic & WOW, this thing should of had a 12, at least
for single coil guitars!
I felt it was a very good sounding amp, but with the 10's it just didn't do it
for me. Since I already have a BF amp, I'll probably get a Mark IIC Boogie, but
I'm still sleeping on it!
Bill
For the past 24 hours a Prosonic has been dwelling in my basement.
I love the amp, haven't played it with the band or on a gig, but in my
basement it's killer. You can get a wide range of distortion sounds. There are
two gain knobs, 1 for distortion, the second one adds compression. The tone
controls are very responsive. If the amp isn't setting on the floor it sounds
kinda thin, but on the floor it sounds great. For what its worth I'm the former
owner of a Boogie MKIV and have regreted selling it just about every day until
now. It's easy to dial in a sound with the Prosonic, with the boogie there were
so many knobs switches and push pull pots that you were lucky to find the same
sound once a month, but when you did it was great. I had one problem with the
boogie and the technician that worked on it told me he hoped I never had a real
problem with it cause it would be a bear to troubleshoot, the Prosonic looks
pretty straightforward.
One problem (don't know if it's a defective tube or what) is that I get a real
funky awful distortion/pop when I strum the guitar hard while using the effects
device (Quadraverb) through the effects loop . Hmmmm it's really weird, I'm
going to have a tech look at it tommorow but I suspect a problem with the loop.
I'm going to play it with the band Saturday night and if anyone is interested
in how it went, email me and I'll report back, for what it's worth. If it works
out I'm going to get the red lizard covering (I think it looks pretty gall dern
cool). Hopefully my months long amp crisis is OVER!
Meric Ozcan
>Someone posted a request for opinions on the Fender Prosonic.
>One problem (don't know if it's a defective tube or what) is that I get a real
>funky awful distortion/pop when I strum the guitar hard while using the effects
>device (Quadraverb) through the effects loop . Hmmmm it's really weird, I'm
>going to have a tech look at it tommorow but I suspect a problem with the loop.
Well, I might be stating the obvious but are you sure you are not
overloading the Qverb? You would get nasty distortion that way...
Threepenny
>Has anyone tried one of these?
I played one for hours using a custom shop strat and it sounded great to
me...very smooth, warm and easy to use...but I wasn't crazy about the
overdriven sound and I didn't get to crank it up...
rappleye
> Has anyone tried one of these? I saw one in Rhythm City Music in Atlanta
> last week, but didn't get a chance to try it. 60 watts, 2x10 combo,
> channel switching (only one set of tone controls), reverb (no reverb in
> the head-only version).
>
> I thought the light-green combo was a pretty amp, it is a little smaller
> than a Twin, I guess a little larger than a Deluxe. I wish I knew how it
> sounded.
>
Fender is trying to emulate a Boogie with the Prosonic, and to my ears has
done a pretty good job...but the fit and finish on the four Prosonics I've
seen have left me wondering about how good the electronics are if they
can't even put the tolex on correctly. Anybody else noticed this?
paul
giri iyengar
>One problem (don't know if it's a defective tube or what) is that I get a real
>funky awful distortion/pop when I strum the guitar hard while using the effects
>device (Quadraverb) through the effects loop . Hmmmm it's really weird, I'm
>going to have a tech look at it tommorow but I suspect a problem with the loop.
Bill (Jeff? "-),
I think the problem is that you're overloading your Quadraverb's input
when you hit the strings hard. Set the input level such that the red
(usually) warning light only comes on a *little* bit when you're
hitting the strings as hard as you can. Of course, all this at a fixed
preamp volume. The problem should disappear.
.Giri
Jeffgtr
>I think the problem is that you're overloading your Quadraverb's input
>when you hit the strings hard. Set the input level such that the red
>(usually) warning light only comes on a *little* bit when you're
>hitting the strings as hard as you can. Of course, all this at a fixed
>preamp volume. The problem should disappear.
Been there done that. In fact as I decreased the input or output the problem
became worse! Weird huh? Sending the amp back to Fender. Probably just some
sort of defect. I've given up on solving the problem on my own.
Al
>
>
> One problem (don't know if it's a defective tube or what) is that I get a real
> funky awful distortion/pop when I strum the guitar hard while using the effects
> device (Quadraverb) through the effects loop . Hmmmm it's really weird, I'm
> going to have a tech look at it tommorow but I suspect a problem with the loop.
tube. Some amps use a tube to drive the effects loop & mix the return. Check your
schematic. Look for the tube(s) just before and after the effects out jack. It
should be labeled VnA or VnB where n is a number from 1-6(probably 4 or 5). To
locate that tube in the amp, check the tube chart, or count from the 1st preamp
tube(V1).
Other amps use an OPAMP solid state device to buffer the effects loop. If yours
has one of these, it's probably bad.
One other possibility is mis-matched effects levels. Loops are commonly
-10db(stomp boxes), 0db(line level), or +4db(pro audio). If the amp is +4db and
the Quadraverb is expecting 0db - overload!!!! Check the owners manual for both
the amp & quadraverb.
Srini Padmanabhan
>Fender is trying to emulate a Boogie with the Prosonic, and to my ears has
>done a pretty good job...but the fit and finish on the four Prosonics I've
>seen have left me wondering about how good the electronics are if they
>can't even put the tolex on correctly. Anybody else noticed this?
>
>paul
I've had the Prosonic for about 4 weeks and think it sounds really good - in fact, I
thought it sounded decidedly better than the Mesa Maverick I was thinking of, and
better than the Rivera 55-12.
The finish on mine looks about the same as the Maverick or the Rivera...I actually
think the reverb is noisy - and all Fenders I've used seem to have this problem.
But I'm using a Korg AX-30 in the effects loop to play live, and an Alesis Q2 to
record, so I don't really care that much.
I would like to listen to it through a 4X12.....
Srini
Graydon D. Stuckey
> >Fender is trying to emulate a Boogie with the Prosonic, and to my ears has
> >done a pretty good job...but the fit and finish on the four Prosonics I've
> >seen have left me wondering about how good the electronics are if they
> >can't even put the tolex on correctly. Anybody else noticed this?
> >
> >paul
>
> I've had the Prosonic for about 4 weeks and think it sounds really good - in fact, I
> thought it sounded decidedly better than the Mesa Maverick I was thinking of, and
> better than the Rivera 55-12.
Although I haven't lived with either the Prosonic or the Maverick for any
length of time, I have played both, and I own a Boogie Studio Caliber. I
thought that the Prosonic had tone a little like an older Boogie, but not
even in the same league as a Maverick. The Prosonic is a nice sounding
amp, but not for $1300.00!
Just my .02 worth.
Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey
gra...@apollo.gmi.edu
Flint, Michigan USA
'86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, GDS Racing Stage II
'85 Mazda RX7 GS 12A-leaning-towards-a-13B-soon
Steve Milberger
>Although I haven't lived with either the Prosonic or the Maverick for any
>length of time, I have played both, and I own a Boogie Studio Caliber. I
>thought that the Prosonic had tone a little like an older Boogie, but not
>even in the same league as a Maverick. The Prosonic is a nice sounding
>amp, but not for $1300.00!
I looked at a Prosonic a few weeks ago. It looked very cheaply made.
Then I saw the $1200 price tag, discounted. If I had this amount of
money I sure wouldn't spend it this amp. There are much better amps
for half the price.
Just my $.02
Steve
Bill Daniels
>>the fit and finish on the four Prosonics I've
>>seen have left me wondering about how good the electronics are if they
>>can't even put the tolex on correctly. Anybody else noticed this?
>>
>>paul
>
>I've had the Prosonic for about 4 weeks and think it sounds really good - in fact, I
>thought it sounded decidedly better than the Mesa Maverick I was thinking of, and
>better than the Rivera 55-12.
>
>think the reverb is noisy - and all Fenders I've used seem to have this problem.
>But I'm using a Korg AX-30 in the effects loop to play live, and an Alesis Q2 to
>record, so I don't really care that much.
>
>I would like to listen to it through a 4X12.....
>
>Srini
>
I sent it off to Rogers in Florida to re-cover in blonde Tolex to match
the ToneMaster 2x12 cab I got with it.
Things I noticed about this amp/speaker combo...
1. If you like the sound of the 2x10 combo, try it with the 2x12 (or the
4x12 if you have a couple of roadies to haul it around)...it makes the
2x10 combo sound wimpy. Why Fender dosen't offer the 2x12 TM cab in black
to match this head is one of the stupidest things Fender has done.
2. Internally, this amp appears to be built almost identically to the
cusotm shop amps (lots of point-to-point wiring, twin pots for all front
controls, ceramic tube sockets for the 12ax7s (the 6L6's and the GZ34
recto tube are in brown phenolic sockets). The two pc boards have their
components mostly top mounted (some are on the back side, along with the
traces). The fromt and back controls, switches, and plug sockets are all
mounted on the rather substntial metal chasis and NOT on pc boards. No
plug-in connections here, just honest solder and wire. This is the way all
amps should be built.
3. I was worried for a while about possible speaker/cab impedence
mismatch, but the head is supplied with a 4-8-16 ohm selecter switch.
4. For those of you who haven't seen this yet all the Prosonics have a 3
way selector switch in the back which allows (a) Class A with Tube
rectifier, (b) Class AB with tube rect. and (c) Class AB with SS rect.
This, as mentioned above, is Fender's "Mesa Killer" and deserves a serious
listen by anybody, and not just the metal heads that Fender is aiming this
amp towards.
Jim Mumford
Hello,
Can anyone tell me what the suggested list is on the Fender Prosonic head?
please tell me where you got the figure from - especially if you got it from GC.
thanks,
-Jim
Carl Urbinati
>
>
>Although I haven't lived with either the Prosonic or the Maverick for any
>length of time, I have played both, and I own a Boogie Studio Caliber. I
>thought that the Prosonic had tone a little like an older Boogie, but not
>even in the same league as a Maverick. The Prosonic is a nice sounding
>amp, but not for $1300.00!
>
>Just my .02 worth.
>
Well I took the Prosonic for a 10 minute test drive yesterday and generally agree
with your assessment. (although I can't comment about the "like an older Boogie" -
I have never played an older Boogie.)
Certainly safe to say that the Prosonic is probably on of the meanest GAIN amps
Fender has produced (I haven't played Custom Shop Tone Master). The CLEAN channel
is certainly Fender and it does a good job of it. (There is something magical
about Fender CLEAN.) But the GAIN channel didn't have me saying "Wow, now that's
gain." I didn't switch the rectifier - I played it in tube Class A mode and maybe
switching to Class AB or solid state would have made the GAIN channel stand up some
more. And I didn't realize the $1,200-1,300 price tag (and that's discounted).
Seems to me you can do better for that price - MESA, or maybe VHT (can you get a
Pitbull 50 combo for that much?).
Anyway there may be more hype here than is actually warranted - IMHO.
Regards,
Carl
<cur...@luc.edu>
giri iyengar
>
>I looked at a Prosonic a few weeks ago. It looked very cheaply made.
>Then I saw the $1200 price tag, discounted. If I had this amount of
>money I sure wouldn't spend it this amp. There are much better amps
>for half the price.
I know nothing about the Prosonic. But I'd just like to add that
there are some incredible amps *at* that price or a little less.
The Mesa Blue Angel, the Matchless 15W amps, The Budda Twinmaster,
some other 'boutique' amps. There's some good stuff out there in
$1000-$1500 zone. *Really* good stuff. Especially if you're willing
to step back a little on the wattage. Very few people who use
huge, 1000000W stacks actually need that much power. So examine
that need carefully. And volume and headroom are not directly
connected to the wattage rating stated on the amp. You'll find 15W
amps that are louder, cleaner and have more headroom than some
40W amps.
.Giri
SEFSTRAT
>amps that are louder, cleaner and have more headroom than some
>40W amps.>>
Giri is right. My Matchless Lightning 15-watt 1x12 is way louder than my
50-watt Marshall JCM900 1x12.
Steve
SEFS...@AOL.com
~~~May your eyes kiss the sky.........
. may the breeze kiss your knees...
. may your feet kiss the grass........
. and you, my friend.......................
. have a nice day!~~~
TimTube
writes:
>Giri is right. My Matchless Lightning 15-watt 1x12 is way louder than my
>50-watt Marshall JCM900 1x12.
>
>Steve
>
>
If that is the case, then your Marshall needs some attention. Probably
just a bias adjustment. I have a 50w Marshall 1x12 combo and it can hurt
you.
...Tim
A great amp can make a lousy guitar sound great.
A lousy amp will make a great guitar sound lousy.
Carl Fiadino
> If you test out an amp that has a class A option, you're not hearing
> the real sound of the amp, you heard a bunch of tube saturation.
>
giri iyengar
>In article <4h31qc$9...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, sefs...@aol.com (SEFSTRAT)
>writes:
>>Giri is right. My Matchless Lightning 15-watt 1x12 is way louder than
>>my 50-watt Marshall JCM900 1x12.
>>
>just a bias adjustment. I have a 50w Marshall 1x12 combo and it can hurt
>you.
Tim,
That may well be true, but the point is that you shouldn't go by
wattage blindly. For another example, I played a Marshall JTM30 (?)
30W combo. Then I plugged into a Budda. 18W and *LOUD* as hell.
Awesome amp.
.Giri
Meric Ozcan
><<You'll find 15W
>>amps that are louder, cleaner and have more headroom than some
>>40W amps.>>
>
>50-watt Marshall JCM900 1x12.
>
>
>
>SEFS...@AOL.com
>
That is of course possible, power output of the amp is not everything,
efficiency of the speaker is also the part of the equation...Swap the
speakers and hear what happens...
Meric