Vintage Sounds Vintage 15 amplifier

[pocaloc]

I’m so impressed with my new amp that I had to post here about it. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone write about these amps on OSG. They’re mainly available at Humbucker music. Anyway they’re hand wired made in the USA Princeton’s, the circuit used from 1964-1967, with some mods. It comes stock with a 12 inch speaker. It also has a full size 17 inch reverb tank rather than 9, the same as used in a twin reverb. There’s also a mid control added and a slightly larger cabinet. The coolest mod in a dwell knob for the reverb on the back of the amp. Also, it has bias vary tremolo. I don’t know if the Princeton from that era had bias vary or was the opto circuit like most other Fenders of that era. Anyway, all mods are great. The reverb with the dwell knob is amazing, it allows you to get into reverb tank territory. The mid control maxed out makes it pretty versatile and can take you slightly out of blackface territory. I’ve only had it a day so take this with a grain of salt, but it is just amazing sounding.

I just sold my Swart Mod84, which was really amazing in its own way. I don’t like the Swart take on reverb. It’s great, but it’s not that classic Fende reverb that I need. The trem on the Swart could get twice as deep as this amp. In fact that’s my only complaint about the sound. The trem doesn’t get deep enough for me. Does anyone know if there is a way of making the trem intensity stronger? The amp also seems to be really well made with quality components. Another cool thing is that they uses tube amp doctor tubes stock, which is cool because they could’ve gone cheaper. Compared to the Swart looks wise, the Swart wins hands down. The sound is what you’re concentrating on with the vintage 15. It’s not ugly or anything, just basic copy of a Fender. Anyway, I was so impressed that I had to post. I think it’s a pretty fair price at $1595 compared to other “boutique” builders, especially with the quality of the components.

[smjenkins]

That's funny timing. I've got a 22sc that I really love and I posted it in the setup of the day thread last week. I bought mine "stock" from Humbucker but I've read so many good things about the service Rick gives you if you order a custom one.

Do you have a pic of yours?

[pocaloc]

I do have a photo, but I have trouble uploading to this site. I’ll get on figuring it out. I got the black tweed version, stock, from humbucker. I was really close to going with the one that looks like yours. I sort of wish I had.

[smjenkins]

Cool. I'm assuming it looks like this black tweed one. That's a classy finish. It's understated from a distance, but the tweed pops when you get close.

[pocaloc]

That’s the one. Yeah, the tweed does stand out in person vs. the photo. I like the grill cloth in person too. It looks aged but not in a relic way. I didn’t know if I liked the brown handle on the black. I’m really taking to the look though, especially with how awesome it’s sounding.

[loudwizard]

Rick makes good stuff. I have a Super Reverb clone with all his mods and it's the bee's knees.

[smjenkins]

I just read about all the mods Rick does to the Super Reverb (from this Reverb posting: https://reverb.com/item/5672396-vintage ... ged-silver) and the switchable solid state / tube rectifier seems like a really cool idea. How does the solid state rectifier sound?

[pocaloc]

I'm thinking of sending mine back and exchanging for the vintage 20. I would like just a hair more headroom. It also has the versatility to take 6l6 as well. Not excited to have to wait two plus weeks for the exchange and pay for return shipping and all that. Decisions....

[loudwizard]

I just read about all the mods Rick does to the Super Reverb (from this Reverb posting: https://reverb.com/item/5672396-vintage ... ged-silver) and the switchable solid state / tube rectifier seems like a really cool idea. How does the solid state rectifier sound?

I think that's just on the 40 MVP - mine is solidly a Super Reverb with 4x10"s - just a tube rectifier.
the mods I speak of are the "Diaz mod" using the trem circuit for extra gain, dwell & presence controls on the reverb,
reverb and trem on both channels, and the normal channel revoiced to what he calls a "brownface/blackface" thing,
although I have to say it sounds nothing like the brownface amp I recently picked up.