Might buy a new amp later today. | Forums

[Phalaris99504]

I was out shopping, and messing around before work. I spotted a nice Fender amp yesterday, but because I was running late, I didn't get a chance to look at it too much. It's a Fender G-DEC 3. Again, wasn't sure if it was the 15W or 30W version. When I got home, I looked it up online. I'm planning on going back when the store opens and look at it a little more closely. I'll check to see if the price is good. I already checked to see what the 30W are going for online. So there won't be any price gouging. The amp has a ton of features. If I decide to buy it, I'll be sure to post pictures.

The amp has built in backing tracks and tones. It also has a SD slot where you can create and save tones. You can also purchase pre-programmed SD cards, by various artists. For example. the AC/DC card comes with 8 songs, and a tab book for those songs. The amp has a built in tuner, and is capable of recording and playback. All in all, it looks like a really nice amp. Fender also has for download, a program where you can create custom tones, backing tracks, etc... and save them to the "community" for others to download.

If anyone out there has a Fender G-DEC 3 Amp, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on it.

Phalaris.

[Pancho X1]

I have a Fender B-dec-30 which is the bass amp equivalent. I bought it in 07 and the midi functions with the backing tracks and stuff did not work but I did not realize that until about two weeks ago. I just never was at a place that I wanted to use those features until recently. anyway, i lucked out and it was still, barely, under its 5 year warranty. Fender replaced it and I've spent a good bit of time messing with the teaching tracks and I've got to say, they're awesome. I have a spider III and don't really need another amp but after experiencing what the B-dec can do, I just may invest in a G-Dec. From what I understand, not all models can take the memory cards. not sure if that is the older ones or the smaller ones. The B-Dec i have does not have a memory card option it wasn't implemented at the time. Unfortunately the B-Dec's were only made for a very short period of time but in researching them a bit when trying to figure out what was wrong with mine, they seem highly praised. not sure why Fender dropped production on them .Well, long story short, I think a G-Dec would be a worth while purchase. I've seen them going for as low as 150. so shop around and let us know if you get one and how you like it.

[cthauber]

Have a G-DEC3-30w
It is a lot of fun to mess around with. Also, you can hook it up to a PC to download/customize additional tones as well.
There are 4 versions of the 30w - Standard, Country, Blues, and Metal.
Each has it's own unique set of presets and backing tracks, but the nice thing is, you can flash the firmware of each of them with the others, so you can check out the various different presets.

There are also a few songbooks out there that include an SD card for the GDEC to give you the tone and backing tracks of the songs in the songbook.

Anyway, for a relatively inexpensive 'modeling' amp, you won't be dissapointed.

[Pancho X1]

My b-Dec came with a method book that has all the bass parts tabbed out for each track loaded on the amp. do the G-Dec's come with something similar? I have to say, I like the look of the camo colored metal one.

[triguy98]

The G-Dec was updated into the Mustang. I have a Mustang I and LOVE it. Haven't played around with a G-Dec, but haven't seen any reviews were people liked the G-Dec more... I have seen people prefer the Super and Vibro Champ XD amps more, with their hybrid tube construction and tone.

[cthauber]

G-DEC's and Mustangs are quite different in their sound modeling, and are still two completely different (and current) product lines.
The Mustangs model specific Fender amps, plus pedals, whereas the G-DEC does not. It more based on tone than specific amps/pedals.

The SuperChamp X2 (newer version of the XD) is basically a combined Mustang modeling amp plus a Tube amp in one - Very seriously looking at one of these to add to my collection

[KMatch]

Let's not confuse the GDec 30 with the GDec 3 (15 or 30). The 3 is a later model that uses .wav and mp3 file formats to let you play TONS of songs through it. You can adjust speed of the backingtracks as well. The GDec 30 used the .midi format and doesn't have near the horsepower. There IS a bit of a learning curve to the 3 if you play with settings a lot. But, you can download Fender Fuse software and do lots more with the amp directly. It has a record mode with dubbing which is great. It has 100 effects onboard which can be swapped between the standard, blues, country, metal along with their backing track samples. It CAN be overwhelming, but it's also quite simple if you stick to the basics. Tone is great, although it's not a power house.

If you don't care to use the onboard SD card capabilities, you CAN use an ipod through an input jack and play along with that! A couple of the functions aren't available on the GDec 3 15 so compare the functions as that may make a difference to you.

Drawbacks? You can't load a few tones with their associated tracks in a-few-here-and-there fashion. You CAN do one at a time, but with 400 to choose between, you have to load packs of tones/tracks 100 at a time or 1 at a time. No inbetween options.

If you want a single amp with recording abilities and TONS of stompbox effects, the GDec 3 will do ya! And the backing tracks gives you unlimited abilities for having a "buddy" to jam with. It's unlocked doors for me I never imagined! I haven't logged in for a while but I can be found on the Fender site as KMatch working out some technical issues as well as posting a hint or 2 on this amp. Questions? Drop me an email as I don't log in here much anymore. Kelly at MyAutoRepairGuys dot com.

[cws78]

I have the Fender Mustang 1. I use the amp modeling and effects and tracks from http://www.guitarbackingtrack.com/ and I love it. Plus for a quick jam I love connecting the ipod and head phones in the middle of the night to Rock out without waking the wife and kid up. And the sound from the little Mustang I is tremedous for a little amp.

I have a good friend who has the G-Dec 3, he likes my Mustang 1 better LOL. I have played with the G-Dec3 a little but not enough to see its true potential.