DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... ATTN Any Guitarist!

Hello fellow DawgTalkers,

This one is geared to the guitar players out there. I'm currently deployed right now and tend to purchase I deployment present that awaits my return stateside. I've got a deal set up to get a band new Fender Machete 50w Head for just $979. The best price I've seen was $1099. I know some may view this head ugly and definitely astray from Fender's typical market, but, I'm in the market for something different that offers solid high gain tones and versatility. I've heard that the clean channel alone is on par with typical Fender worksmanship and woth the money.

I've not read anything negative outside of the appearance. I'd like to know you guys' take and whether or not you'd jump on the deal. If you have hands on experience, I'd love your detailed reply.

Thanks guys.

Below is the MF link for viewing an image and specifications.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/fender-machete-50-50w-tube-guitar-amp-head

I've got a 40 watt 1/12 Marshall Haze. It's got the bells and whistles on the gain channel, but I never use that channel. I took the amp out of the combo and put it into a home made head cabinet. I built a couple of 2/12 cabinets with Celestions for versatility of using 2 or 4 speakers.

I plug right into the clean and use a combination of quality pedals for overdrive and compression and affordable ones for chorus, delay, etc.

I've never had a need to turn the volume past 3 which is pretty damn loud. I've been experimenting with attenuators and soaks to get the tubes hotter and keep the volume down, but that's a choice that some may see as not necessary and stupid, but hey! that's me.

The Machete looks cool and if it's Fender it will have a distinctive crisp, clean, and LOUD output. The option for high gain, mid-scoop and other tone choices are pretty cool and since it seems you are interested in that I might assume you're in to a heavy music style.

I paid about $600 for the Haze and it's 40 watt. I probably wouldn't be able to find or afford the Marshall combo I had 30 years ago. It was a 50 watt 2/12 combo.

The only suggestion I might make is to make sure you've played through one before you put out that kind o' chunk o' change. Make sure it does everything that you expect easily and that you're happy. If that's the case then - IF YOU'RE NOT MARRIED - any price will be worth it because you'll probably keep it forever. At least you should.

My biggest regret is swapping the Marshall Combo for a Twin because the Twin had reverb. To be honest the twin was no slouch.

BTW, if you are married you really need to work on that puppy dog face or keep on off-shore bank account.

Have fun!!

LOL, I am happily married, but she is understanding of my quest for tone. No need for a puppy dog face here. We write music together and she sings for me since I'm not a very good singer. I also go to school through Full Sail University online when I'm not deployed. She fully understands my passion.

I've played through the Marshall Haze and was thoroughly impressed with what you get for the price. With the Fender Machete, I'm looking for something more American muscle sound since on the last deployment I bought myself an Orange DT30H Dual Terror head with a PPC212 cabinet. I get some good Brittish Rock tones out of that baby! This head is basically going to replace a Krank Rev Jr Pro for my high gain/metal tones. The Krank isn't a bad amp, is just doesn't have too much of the "tube warmth" and can sound a little generic at times. I'm not, getting rid of the Krank, by any means.

Get home safe and rock that thing out

I've never heard one that I know of. have you tried one out yet? you may want to try that 1st. and don't try it out at "store volume". CRANK IT.... that way you'll truly know what it will and won't do.
just a tip...... if your ears are like 95% of guitar players, you prolly couldn't pick it out doing a blindfold test anyway. that being the case you can find a quality used high gain head cheaper.
good luck dude

Never heard anything about that particular Fender, but "Fender" and "high gain" just don't seem like they should work well together. Then again, what I've heard of their EVH 5150 III sounded good to me. I must admit, the "digital reverb" thing turned me off a bit.

If I was looking to buy a new (as in not used, not just "new to me") and my budget allowed, I'd look at a USA-made boutique or custom builder. VHT/Fryette, Verellen, maybe even Soldano if you can swing the price tag. Looks like you may have already gone down that path with the Krank though.

At the end of the day though I'll take the sound of a JCM 800, an Orange OR120, a Matamp, or a Hiwatt...give me vintage British tone at ear-splitting volume, please.

But what do I know? I'm the bass player.

Nope. The slapping and the popping isn't my thing. I'm sure I could learn it if I really wanted, but I see no reason to.

I really want to get back into playing guitar. I wasn't any good but I found it fun to learn.

Problem is I received a guitar for my birthday when I was 18, and it's one of those ones with the Floyd-Rose which is such a pain in the ass. I hate dealing with those. I really want to get rid of it and get one with a regular string-through.

You can get a decent guitar on a budget these days. Believe it or not, you can get a decent Squire, Epiphone, or Ibanez around $300. I'm self taught and have been playing for roughly 12 years. It's an adventure that's a lot of fun!

Yeah, part of me wants to suggest to skip the Fender and just grab a 6505 (or an used 5150).

I played drums for 25 years. But tinkered with guitar on and off throughout.

About 5-6 years ago I got a little more serious, and sat down and started learning basic easy 3 chord songs. Simplified versions you can sit around the backyard and sing too. I was amazed at how quickly I progressed once I quit trying to "learn it like the record" and just broke it down to the simplest rythyms.

Of course that kept me motivated and I learned more and more. Mostly play acoustic for that reason, and I am constitantly learning more and more. I really want to get into a better understanding of the keys and scales, modes and more theory. I played trombone in school, so when I took up bass I tried to relearn site reading, but had no luck and put it aside.


I have a Takamine G-Series and a Fender Sonoran (Ford Mustang 45th Anniv Edition). The Fender is so easy to play, but the Takamine has a warmer tone.

I also have an Epiphone Les Paul and a Jackson DK2mg, along with my Yamaha 4-String and Ibanez SR505 5-String Basses. I play Bass at church now as we have a good fulltime drummer now and needed a bassist.

For me, playing is theraputic. It's a great way to releive my stresses, and/or to put aside thoughts for awhile to clear my head.