Fender TV 12 ????

[Zapp]

Anyone here with experience done a full review of the Fender TV 12? It really surprised me. I was on a 5-string expedition and trying to find an amp to run them all through in one of the homegrown stores in Austin. That tubey thing was a beast.
A Serious beast. I was really stunned cause I've only heard one Fender amp I really liked, and it was a special purpose little kickback.

just wondering if others had a read on this one?

[Lambic]

I bought one in may last year, and I love the sound. Being a bass noob, I've only used it in my living room, where I use it daily for practice (two MIA Jazzes, one fretted, one fretless, and, recently, a Squier CV Precision 50's). I leave both gain and output level less than halfway of course, and the tone controls are set to what should be "flat" when a Fender "passive tone stack" is involved: bass at about 3%, mid at 100%, and high at 0% (no "flat" midpoint: all controls go from nothing to 12). I got those settings through a simulation with the Duncan Amplification Tone Stack Calculator.

Since I didn't use it (yet) in a band setting, nor compared it to other amps, my contribution to this thread is very limited. But I like the amp. A lot.

[Zapp]

I've been through a few combos, and a bunch of heads. chronically dissatisfied. This one, simple and limited as it is, seems like an "honest" bass amp.

Completely different category altogether but I also liked [on the same day] the markbass Jeff Berlin model. a little more money, a WHALE of a lot less weight, totally different concept - small, light, neo, solidstate.

I am actually not a fan of Tube Bass amps 'cause every one I have paid a lot of attention to was not "quick" - they tend to blossom, so on the bottom you get a 'whoosh' instead of a knockout punch. The TV had some punch. I only ran it at about 30%... I figured I would get thrown out of the store otherwise

[P-oddz]

Originally Posted by Lambic

I bought one in may last year, and I love the sound. Being a bass noob, I've only used it in my living room, where I use it daily for practice (two MIA Jazzes, one fretted, one fretless, and, recently, a Squier CV Precision 50's). I leave both gain and output level less than halfway of course, and the tone controls are set to what should be "flat" when a Fender "passive tone stack" is involved: bass at about 3%, mid at 100%, and high at 0% (no "flat" midpoint: all controls go from nothing to 12). I got those settings through a simulation with the Duncan Amplification Tone Stack Calculator.

Since I didn't use it (yet) in a band setting, nor compared it to other amps, my contribution to this thread is very limited. But I like the amp. A lot.

Just FYI, according to Ed's video review - the flat setting of the passive tone stack is slightly different than you describe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfDfVLpODw

About 1:40 in to the video, he breaks it down.

So as far as the TV12, I can't offer too much insight, but being an owner of the TV15 - I could talk your ear off all day on the positives of this amp.

So, hit me.... what do you want to know. I've got experience gigging and recording with it, and love to sing its praises.

[pbillaa]

Originally Posted by P-oddz

Just FYI, according to Ed's video review - the flat setting of the passive tone stack is slightly different than you describe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfDfVLpODw

About 1:40 in to the video, he breaks it down.

So as far as the TV12, I can't offer too much insight, but being an owner of the TV15 - I could talk your ear off all day on the positives of this amp.

So, hit me.... what do you want to know. I've got experience gigging and recording with it, and love to sing its praises.

I would love to hear you sing it's praises. I'm going to get one this week as I love the tone. My only real concern is the volume of the single 15. Have you had any volume issues rehearsing or gigging the amp?

[Rob Martinez]

I have the TV 10 and love it. I sold my TV 12 to my brother in law, as it is actually TOO much for what I do! I love how SIMPLE these amps are, and my TV 10 just rocks for days. I am also not enamored of Fender amps but they really got these TV series amps right!

[P-oddz]

Originally Posted by pbillaa

I would love to hear you sing it's praises. I'm going to get one this week as I love the tone. My only real concern is the volume of the single 15. Have you had any volume issues rehearsing or gigging the amp?

No problems with volume that I've encountered. Don't let the fact that it is a single 15 fool you - this amp does get loud. At 350 watts it's completely loud enough (as in perfect) for practice and stage, (obviously with PA support at a gig, as no combo amp is going to rock a room all by itself). It is also going to depend on the rest of your band/genre and where their volume is at too. It's probably not gonna hold up to thrash metal, but chances are if you are interested in the vintage vibe to this amp - you probably aren't playing thrash metal. To give you some reference, I play in a 5 piece with two guitarists and a set of keys, and we are not always quiet.

Insert shameless plug here :
www.revisiontext.com
(might need to give the player a second to load)

All of the demos posted were recorded with the TV15 (mix of XLR out and a close mic on the speaker), so you can get a decent reference of how it mixes in a band setting as well as a general reference of how loud the band plays.

As far as tone - I'm sure you've all drooled over the Ed F. video I mentioned in my link above - so I don't need to get too much into it, but I'll add some zazz of my own. This amp is punchy, warm, and has the ability to sound angry as hell if you want to push it that hard - and to me that is where this amp shines. It sounds so good when you are pushing this amp! It sounds great at lower volumes, but at louder it sings! The tube starts to put its own brand of compression and grit on it, and just sounds like rock and roll. Any dirt pedals in front of it can drive it into trashy territory better than any other amp breakup I've experienced thus far. From smooth and warm as butter to garage rock, all in one easy-to-tote combo.

It just looks awesome IMO, and I love its tone so much! Not to sound cheesy about it, but it quite honestly helped me find "MY" tone. Any other questions I can field, I would be glad to - just let me know.

To the OP as a word of advice, if you are planning on taking this amp out for gigging - the TV12 might not exactly cut it. (take it with a grain of salt if you will, but I've seen other guys post about the amount of wattage needed to be heard generally, and I know that the 150 watts the TV12 is pushing is considered way too low end by a number of people. This obviously has many variables to it - so just throwing that out there as a something to possibly consider).

[Lambic]

Originally Posted by P-oddz

Just FYI, according to Ed's video review - the flat setting of the passive tone stack is slightly different than you describe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfDfVLpODw

About 1:40 in to the video, he breaks it down. (...)

Aha, 2-10-2. The Calculator refers to an older passive tone stack then. Great vid, thanks!

[P-oddz]

Originally Posted by Lambic

Aha, 2-10-2. The Calculator refers to an older passive tone stack then. Great vid, thanks!

No problem!

It is a great video. I didn't even know of such a thing as the "Fender tone stack" until that video. It was very helpful to me when I was considering purchase. I still play it at work in my headphones sometimes when I miss my amp.

I wanna hang out with Ed.

[Zapp]

you dog!!!!

Originally Posted by P-oddz

Just FYI, according to Ed's video review - the flat setting of the passive tone stack is slightly different than you describe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfDfVLpODw

About 1:40 in to the video, he breaks it down.

So as far as the TV12, I can't offer too much insight, but being an owner of the TV15 - I could talk your ear off all day on the positives of this amp.

So, hit me.... what do you want to know. I've got experience gigging and recording with it, and love to sing its praises.

[kosmicwizard]

Yes and that is the same stack MESA engineering used on the BASS 400 and 400+, 0-10-0 and each control interacts with the others. Cheers.

[pbillaa]

Originally Posted by P-oddz

No problems with volume that I've encountered. Don't let the fact that it is a single 15 fool you - this amp does get loud. At 350 watts it's completely loud enough (as in perfect) for practice and stage, (obviously with PA support at a gig, as no combo amp is going to rock a room all by itself). It is also going to depend on the rest of your band/genre and where their volume is at too. It's probably not gonna hold up to thrash metal, but chances are if you are interested in the vintage vibe to this amp - you probably aren't playing thrash metal. To give you some reference, I play in a 5 piece with two guitarists and a set of keys, and we are not always quiet.

Insert shameless plug here :
www.revisiontext.com
(might need to give the player a second to load)

All of the demos posted were recorded with the TV15 (mix of XLR out and a close mic on the speaker), so you can get a decent reference of how it mixes in a band setting as well as a general reference of how loud the band plays.

As far as tone - I'm sure you've all drooled over the Ed F. video I mentioned in my link above - so I don't need to get too much into it, but I'll add some zazz of my own. This amp is punchy, warm, and has the ability to sound angry as hell if you want to push it that hard - and to me that is where this amp shines. It sounds so good when you are pushing this amp! It sounds great at lower volumes, but at louder it sings! The tube starts to put its own brand of compression and grit on it, and just sounds like rock and roll. Any dirt pedals in front of it can drive it into trashy territory better than any other amp breakup I've experienced thus far. From smooth and warm as butter to garage rock, all in one easy-to-tote combo.

It just looks awesome IMO, and I love its tone so much! Not to sound cheesy about it, but it quite honestly helped me find "MY" tone. Any other questions I can field, I would be glad to - just let me know.

To the OP as a word of advice, if you are planning on taking this amp out for gigging - the TV12 might not exactly cut it. (take it with a grain of salt if you will, but I've seen other guys post about the amount of wattage needed to be heard generally, and I know that the 150 watts the TV12 is pushing is considered way too low end by a number of people. This obviously has many variables to it - so just throwing that out there as a something to possibly consider).

I actually do play thrash, and will be thrashing with the tv. I love to use a real bass tone while thrashing, I think it sounds great. My main gig however is an indie pop band, and the tv will be glorious for that gig. However we are I guess successful and tend to draw about 1000 people. Im wondering if the 15 will be loud enough for thrash rehearsals, and larger pop shows. Any insight?

[Mike M.]

After watching Ed's video and from getting some great info from our forum brother P-oddz (thanks again!) I am SOOO wanting to try the TV 15 out. For me and for my likes, that's how I like a bass to sound. That's the sound I've been wanting to find.

If it works out for me you can best believe what my tax return will be buying!!!

[Zapp]

I guess to answer the question we need to hear from somebody that has added a second cabinet.
Good question: What cab would you extend this animal with? what fits the tone bill??

Originally Posted by pbillaa

I actually do play thrash, and will be thrashing with the tv. I love to use a real bass tone while thrashing, I think it sounds great. My main gig however is an indie pop band, and the tv will be glorious for that gig. However we are I guess successful and tend to draw about 1000 people. Im wondering if the 15 will be loud enough for thrash rehearsals, and larger pop shows. Any insight?

[Lambic]

Originally Posted by Mike M.

(...) For me and for my likes, that's how I like a bass to sound. That's the sound I've been wanting to find. (...)

Same here: Before the TV, I played my Jazz through a Roland keyboard amp, and tried it once through (don't shoot me) a Fender Champion 600 I bought in a time I thought of learning jazz guitar. Although it's not a bass amp, and only has a 6" speaker, I preferred the tone of that little 5W amp to that of the heavier solid state keyboard amp. That's probably when my mind switched from solid state to tube, however delicate that subject may be.

When trying the TV in a shop (with a Jazz identical to mine), where the employee put all the control knobs at 6 (I left them that way, because I didn't know the passive tone stack settings from memory, having only had taken a cursive look at the Calculator's simulation), I immediately fell in love with the tone, and didn't even *think* of trying another amp. I have that same feeling when Ed plays those different basses through it: I love that tone. And the looks, of course, and the simplicity...

One tiny thing, maybe more aimed at people with lots of experience with amps: could it be due to the tube preamp having a life of its own that each day the same bass with the same settings (on amp and bass) sounds different? Or is it just me hearing things differently one day to another?

[Lambic]

Originally Posted by Zapp

I guess to answer the question we need to hear from somebody that has added a second cabinet.
Good question: What cab would you extend this animal with? what fits the tone bill??

And could the amp drive a second cabinet acceptably, and... how to connect it, the TV having no output jack for such purpose.

[P-oddz]

Originally Posted by Zapp

I guess to answer the question we need to hear from somebody that has added a second cabinet.
Good question: What cab would you extend this animal with? what fits the tone bill??

The Bassman TV series are not cab extendable. What you see is what you get. They are not able to slave to a second cab.

This would obviously be a big deal for someone wanting to run a second cab - you can't. For me, I find that a single 15 is the sound I was looking for. I know another gentleman on TB here, that plays the 2x10 combo, and loves it just as much.

Anyway, if you are looking to extend on the power of the combo - sorry, you should look elsewhere. It's a simple design for a simple vintage tone.

[P-oddz]

Originally Posted by Lambic

One tiny thing, maybe more aimed at people with lots of experience with amps: could it be due to the tube preamp having a life of its own that each day the same bass with the same settings (on amp and bass) sounds different? Or is it just me hearing things differently one day to another?

I've never had a situation of the amp sounding different from time to time. If you feel it's quite different, maybe have it looked at. It could possibly be a failing/dying preamp tube. You can switch that out with another for cheap, or if you don't feel comfortable you can have a tech do it for a couple of dollars most likely.

[P-oddz]

Originally Posted by pbillaa

I actually do play thrash, and will be thrashing with the tv. I love to use a real bass tone while thrashing, I think it sounds great. My main gig however is an indie pop band, and the tv will be glorious for that gig. However we are I guess successful and tend to draw about 1000 people. Im wondering if the 15 will be loud enough for thrash rehearsals, and larger pop shows. Any insight?

I guess I was just throwing out a smart ass comment when I said it might not hold up to thrash metal

But you called my bluff.....

So I guess, only you can answer that. How loud are your guitarists? Are they playing 100W amps? Cranked? If so, no - it's probably not going to be enough, nor would I think that type of tone would be desirable in a thrash metal situation, but I digress.....

As far as "large pop shows" - playing to 1,000 people is quite a large pop show. Our largest shows have been outdoor festival type stuff where we've had maybe 75 -100 people paying attention to us at a time - so you sound like you are in a whole other ball game.

So I'll answer like this - obviously with 1,000 people at a show, you'd be playing a venue that would be hooked into a PA. So your volume would be needed for stage reference for you (which would also be a mix of your monitors). In which case - anything that stands out in the band normally (I would assume, mind you) can be mixed by a sound guy to stand out in a large room.

That being said - if you are normally playing those very large shows - I might look for something bigger.

[tombowlus]

FWIW, I played through the entire TV lineup last year at Winter NAMM, and while they were all very impressive, the TV12 definitely spoke to me the most. Shortly after I got done playing through them, Bobby Vega did the same thing, and he reached the same conclusion. We both just really dug the tone of the TV12. Others may very well prefer different models, but IME/IMHO, there' something extra special about the 12.