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Which Fender amp?

Which amp would you keep?

  • Fender Sidekick 65

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • Fender Rumble 25

    Votes: 7 87.5%
  • Total voters
    8
B

btmendenhall

Guest
Jul 18, 2012
24
4
#1
Hi everyone,
I recently came up on what I thought were two good deals. A basically new Fender Rumble 25 for $50 and a Fender Sidekick 65 Bass for $50.
The Rumble is in near brand new condition as mentioned.
The Sidekick needs a little work. The gain knob is dirty as it cracks when you turn it. The output is also very low and inconsistent which I'm thinking may be due to some capacitors as is common with a 30 year old SS. Good news is that the 15" speaker is in great shape. Also the tolex looks good. I will likely convert it to a silver face as it came that way on earlier versions and I like that look more.
So the question is:
What would you do? Keep the Rumble and sell the Sidekick for a (hopeful) profit? Or keep the Sidekick and sell the Rumble?
 

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#5
btmendenhall said:
Hi everyone,
I recently came up on what I thought were two good deals. A basically new Fender Rumble 25 for $50 and a Fender Sidekick 65 Bass for $50.
The Rumble is in near brand new condition as mentioned.
The Sidekick needs a little work. The gain knob is dirty as it cracks when you turn it. The output is also very low and inconsistent which I'm thinking may be due to some capacitors as is common with a 30 year old SS. Good news is that the 15" speaker is in great shape. Also the tolex looks good. I will likely convert it to a silver face as it came that way on earlier versions and I like that look more.
So the question is:
What would you do? Keep the Rumble and sell the Sidekick for a (hopeful) profit? Or keep the Sidekick and sell the Rumble?
Click to expand...

Question... If the Sidekick output is low, how do you know the speaker is good?
Question... If the Sidekick output is low, how is it much, if any louder than the Rumble?
Question... If the Sidekick has problems and the Rumble does not, do you really want a fixer-upper, project amp, or do you just want to play?
 
#6
Good questions! For all questions, it is by best estimation and via the following:
Question... If the Sidekick output is low, how do you know the speaker is good? No tears in the cone or rubber section. With the amp turned off, i gently moved the cone to check for voice coil failures (usually scrapes, etc). Also, there are brief intermittent moments when the amp would output the correct volume and the sound was good. This also leads me to think of other possible problems.
Question... If the Sidekick output is low, how is it much, if any louder than the Rumble? This estimation is based on reviews that i have seen on both amps. From what I've read, the Sidekick is loud for a 65W bass amp. I know first hand that the Rumble 25 is loud for a 25W. All other things being equal, a 65W amp should be louder than a 25W amp
Question... If the Sidekick has problems and the Rumble does not, do you really want a fixer-upper, project amp, or do you just want to play? The answer to this depends. I plan on opening the amp, cleaning the potentiometers and inspecting for bursting capacitors. Those are pretty easily within my realm. If it is something else, and i have to take it somewhere for repair, then the effort/cost may exceed reward.
 
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#7
I removed the amp section and opened it up. It looks great inside. I pulled the gain and volume pots and they were in rough shape. The gain had already been replaced and everything else was original. Unfortunately, these are not serviceable pots. They will need to be replaced.
Does anyone know where i can find an a10k 4 pin pot?
 

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#8
I cleaned the gain and volume pots with DeoxIt D5 and walla! Everything works like new. I spent $23 on new grill cloth and cleaned everything up (polished metal bits, etc).
So I'll follow everyone's recommendation and post the Sidekick 65 for sale. As long as I get more than $73 for it, I'll be making money.
 
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#9
btmendenhall said:
I cleaned the gain and volume pots with DeoxIt D5 and walla! Everything works like new. I spent $23 on new grill cloth and cleaned everything up (polished metal bits, etc).
So I'll follow everyone's recommendation and post the Sidekick 65 for sale. As long as I get more than $73 for it, I'll be making money.
Click to expand...
Hallelujah! If you like the way it sounds, and it's yours already, why not keep it? I thought your poll was a toss up buy vs buy and not a fix what I got post.
 
#10
Linnin said:
Hallelujah! If you like the way it sounds, and it's yours already, why not keep it? I thought your poll was a toss up buy vs buy and not a fix what I got post.
Click to expand...
Now that its working, much prefer the Rumble 25 to it. And, between the two, there is more profit to make on the Sidekick 65.
Sorry for the confusion. The poll was more around which one should i sell, and which one should i keep. The Rumble 25 really is as good as everyone says it is. Im totally blown away.
The Sidekick is coming along nicely and should be a really nice piece when its done. It will fall into that "affordable semi-vintage" category.
Not that anyone cares, but ill post a pic of the Sidekick when its done.
 
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