Hi Mike,
Long time....
I just wanted to jump in here with my two cents.
First off let's all face it, customer service ain't what it used to be ! We don't have to agree with that policy but we do have to deal with it OR------- We can fix stuff ourselves.
I fix all my guitar problems, I am not so good with amp problems. BUT, I have a friend who is an old retired TV repairman, ( maybe you have one and don't know it). He fixes all my amps, we debate the value of tube amps over solid state and both end up laughing about it. My point is your equipment is the best ever made and just because service sucks now don't dump the equipment. Get some books, go on Ebay and you will probably be able to take matters into your own hands.
We have a gold Level Fender service shop here and they laugh when you bring stuff in because they are " Too Busy" and all the repairs have to be done by Fender tech's , you know because it is rocket science and only they know how to do it.
Don't get me wrong there is a place for qualfied tech's and you shouldn't be reaching in your amp trying to " do stuff" BUT..... If you learned how to or found someone who has done it your life will be allot simplier.
I have had allot of guitars and amp's and the service is about the same when you get down to it.
They are so busy, they just don't have the time for it and that will bite them in the arse sooner or later.
Hey, one man's opinion.
DR

thanks dick i understand......th eproblem was that the left hand speaker had an open circuit.......in easy terms the speaker was stuffed...........now even me a complete tim the toolman can fix that...........its the geting of the speaker thats the problem...........first fender dont have one, then they do, then they dont, then its the wrong part number , then its....it just goes on and on. i wish there was a fender employee on this site who would listne to us.
anyway upshot is i cancelled aspeaker order from the states because fender said they had one......now i have no speakers and no amp.......if i went back to the guy who gave me a real good price he will put up the price........it just boils my beetroot mate.

mike

The Weber 12" Blue Dog costs $95 here in the states. That's the ceramic magnet...the alnico magnet is $170. They come in different wattage capabilities, 15, 30, and 50, I think. I'd sure take a look at them if I were wanting to replace a speaker. They're really hard to beat. There is someone around your area that could easily change a speaker. Don't know what Fender was gonna charge you, but this'll give you an idea. The postage will be the thing to think about. Won't hurt to check it out.
Later, Edd

Hi Mike,
So the real problem is that you want the exact speaker IE: original equipment?
Do you use Ebay?
I would consider buying 2 new speakers for the cost of that one fender .... Not sure if that works money wise for you, I know shipping is high to AU.
Wish I could help ya mate.
I just bought 2 celestions for $40.00 ea and they sound great, I put them in a Marshall extension cabinet.
There are some good deals on Ebay if the shipping doesn't get ya.
Good luck and don't let the dingo eat your baby...
DR

the problem is when i went to the shop they asked fender for the wrong speaker. the speaker for mine is called a fender blue which is made by eminence. when i rang the fender distributor they told oh yes we have those in stock and quited a part number to me. when i gave this to the shop they then told them it was the wrong number etc etc etc...........and im dizzy with all the about faces im getting. i have told the shop if its not there by tuesday them im getting rid of the amp back to them as they agreed to fix it under their policies. i have looked at randalls but they dont seem to be for me. i may get a fender cyber series or similar. i have been told the peavey tube amps are not too bad, but my problem is im not sure a tube amp is the one for me. i may get a new vox ac30 but again im not sure about the tubes or if it will be loud enough.
im between a rock and hard place amp wise.

mike

Hi Mike,
Sounds like your Fender store has been americanized.... LOL They just don't give a sh*t.
Which I totally don't understand, we have the money and they have the product wouldn't you think they would give us the time of day?? That is exactly why I started doing my own setup's on my guitars, and changing my own tubes when I don't have to bias.....
Anyway, we beat that horse... If you are thinking of a new amp I just got a peavey classic 30 this summer and after changing all the tubes and now a new speaker it is an absoulte player, and loud !!!! It is pretty light compared to my twin and it can keep up with anybody at jam night, ( and they are always loud)
DR

do you find 30 watts from a tube amp louder than 60 watts from a solid state...........i looked at those peavey amps.........is that the one one that has a similar look to the fender bassman or tweed models.

mike

Mike, to be honest I don't know which one is louder. I know the tube amp's seem to have more
substance to them, my opinion of course but I play blues and you know it is very soulful and sometimes those notes seem to come right up from your toes, but I don't get that playing solid state. I know there are guy's who love and I think that is cool for the music they play but not many blues guy's i know use solid state.
I just sold an old legend that was 100watts, it had tube pre amp and solid from there on, it was so freaking loud you wouldn't believe it but no soul. I tried everything but couldn't get it to warm up and forget about tone and sustain.
I hope people don't get in an up roar about this, these are just my experiances, I play with guy's who use solid state and they love em.
Yes Mike this is the tweed covered one about 18" x 18" and weigh's about 30 - 35 lb's guessing.
I play next to a guy with a marshall with 2 x 12's, he does a metal kind of sound so it is allot thinner than mine anyway but I turn that peavey 30 up to about 6 and use my blues driver and it smokes that marshall. he could play louder don't get me wrong but where he plays is his comfort setting and that where his sound is, he looks over at that peavey and just shakes his head at the tone and volume.
The place we play is pretty large for a bar and i have never been over 7 on volume. I actually have to face it off on an angle so it doesn't hit anybody right in the face and does that work well, I use the bass players rig as a baffle and turn mine up a little, you really can't see it much and I get surrounded by marshall's and other half stack types and we all laugh at my little rig, but nobody laugh's when I play it.
I was getting very frustrated with it for awhile after first buying it as it sounded like a duck stuck in a soup can, it had a real honk to it.
I tried JJ Tesla tube which i have liked before but they did not help. Finally I used sovtek for the mains and some mix and match Jan for the pre amp and it sounds so good. Then I stumbled on a Gibson gold tone 12" speaker and put that in there and man I got to tell ya about likker tone.
Well this got longer than I wanted but hope this helps.
DR

my old fender, if and when i ever get her back, has that same feel. since i started using the boss with just a small amount of distort i noticed it killed his amp. he has an aussie brand ashton 2oo head and 4x12 cabinet and i did seem to just blow by him. and your right to play the blues you do need that feeling that comes from your soul.........i just hope today monday will bring news on my amp........if not i shall just have to get some money from the hip pocket.let the moths fly away and spend some bucks.

mike

Well good luck Mike,
It is just as you said, if you like it and it gives you the sound you want then you are in.
I'm not big on just names, of course sometimes names are good for resale and getting parts but as you know that isn't always the case. Play what you like and like what you play.
Have a good one.
DR

i had a look at the valve king. have you seen these they look like the goods

mike