The Deluxe handles your picking dynamics MUCH more musically than the modelers do. When you dig in with the pick, all the modelers splat out. The Deluxe just sounds far superior in EVERY way . . .
@@rigelloar7474you sir, are correct. I’m 58 and have been gigging since I was 15. Nothing like a tube amp. Although I just recently bought a Laney Lionheart Loudpedal that sounds fantastic. It’s SS, not digital.
@@pharmerdavid1432 you can say tubes are better but listen to his comments about repair technicians. In time, tube amps will become a minority thing. solid state will improve further
Shout out to the Mesa Lonestar. Best channel switching amp that can pull off a great fender-style clean tone (not to mention that the 2nd channel is excellent in its own right).
@@danielc6508 Crap that's what the problem is when I played thru a Deluxe reverb at a jams. I was plugged into the vibrato channel. I thought it was the other way around. Thanks.
I love it, he starts out with playing a 'one and done' amp with a 'one and done' drive pedal... talk about a best kept secret... the Boss OD-3 !! Great video!! Well done ...
I have the hand wired Achilles Deluxe Reverb. Two 10” Jensen’s. Best amp I have. Tried the helix stomp but not my thing. I like normal pedals I can adjust quickly depending on the venue. The Deluxe is great weight and size. Lovely trem and reverb.
A comparison with the Tonemaster version for your impressions would be interesting. For me, the one thing that the tube Deluxe Reverb lacks is an attenuator. Given that most venues have a Deluxe Reverb and/or a Twin Reverb as backline, I would lean towards owning a more household and marriage friendly Tonemaster.
You might wanna check the SuperSonic 22 also, might be up your alley. Same housing / poweramp as the DR, cleanchannel very close to the DR, dumbly overdrive, and an efx loop…which takes a modeled amp well. Running a DR, id definitely have a tech add an efx loop.
I was blessed with a loving and indulgent Mom that bought me, a brand-new '66 Deluxe Reverb in either '66 or '67. I had been playing rather seriously for maybe 3 years? I was like 15 or 16?? While I thought the amp wonderful-sounding at the time, it wasn't loud enough for the bands I was getting into. So this idiot (me!) traded it for a used blonde Bandmaster w/2-12 cab. That amp had the volume I was looking for at the time. After many years, I finally re-bought a DR, one of Fender's so-called '64 hand-wired Custom DR's. Wow... To my ears it sounds even better than my '66. When Fender decides to build and offer something amazing, they still have the ability to do just that... God bless 'em!! 👍👍
The Deluxe Reverb is probably the most perfect amp you can get. My favorite amp is an Ampeg Jet12R which gives the same vibes as a Deluxe. The DR gets that perfect clean to breakup and obviously a great pedal platform. Great video!
I honestly love the Custom 68 Pro Reverb. It has the one channel that has more of a bassman tone stack, so is richer sounding, and bias trem which I vastly prefer to optical, and it weighs 35lbs.
I made the comment in your previous DR video: try jumpering the channels. It opens up so many tonal possibilities. If you like the sound of the normal channel better but you still want to use the reverb You can jumper from the normal channel into the vib channel and use the vol control as a reverb level. Set the eq to tailor the tone of the reverb.
I took the financial plunge and bought a vintage 1965 Deluxe Reverb a couple years ago cause it's always been my dream amp. It's amazing. I think it's the best amp I have ever played/heard. Definitely my desert island rig and I'll be buried with it one day. Fantastic amps, both old and new!
Fender Deluxe Reverb (Tonemaster not valve) has been my only gigging amp since 2019…. Never going back to valves - has handled every gig, session and jamming scenario I’ve thrown at it.
Mesa/Boogie Studio 22+ (2 channels, w/o equalizer, but with spring reverb). Used it as my only amp since it came out. Plus old Morley Wah-Wah as my only pedal.
I found one in my local Music Go Round. It was gutted and completely hardwired. It's the most amazing sounding 22watts I've ever heard. I only paid $1100 for it!
Reverb Deluxe for me. I have an original '64 and a Tonemaster. Tonemaster does majority of gigs from weddings/corporate to full on rock/blues/ etc. After many amps I realised this is all I need......
Sure. I have the black with jenson neo. Updated firmware and changed the IRs to the celestion. Fortunate to have tried several other speakers - an Avatar alnico, reconed Oxford, Eminence Patriot and original EVM 12L. All improved one thing at the cost of another. The original is voiced closest to the old ones and sounds very good after burning in. Consider an overdrive with a decent mid bump like a TS or Klon clone or even a GE7. Highly recommend for live gigs - use the XLR out and adjust the power rating for the stage. I use the 5 watt setting most. Best of luck.
I can’t say enough good things about the Barber pedals. The Gain Changer and Direct Drive pair very well and help fill in the mids on any Fender amp but especially help with the Tone Master. You can leave the Gain Changer on and it’s just as dynamic as an amp.
I've been thinking of getting a Little Sister myself, as an owner of a 65DRRI. I already have a nice little MesaBoogie cabinet, I'm dying to try (TPS) wet-dry!
@@NewPraetorianBlues Tin Sister or Little Sister are both amazing amps. I have a DRRI, Twin Sister, and Pink Taco v2 (plus some high gainers). DRRI plus your Friedman of choice is an excellent amp rig!
@@NewPraetorianBlues yes. I have an ABY splitter and have run them both together, largely without pedals, with just a touch of gain on the Twin Sister. They pair very well together.
I have a MK V combo…extremely versatile, not a one trick act…it can do everything, huge range of great tones and sounds available. Use your ears, you can dial in any tone to fit any style of music. I have several other amps, but the MK V pretty much covers the ground of all of them. Very useful playing covers; this one amp and a pedal board can do it all. Have had it for 12 years, never had any reliability issues. Excellent piece of equipment!
In Helix LT I use the Deluxe and AC30 more than anything else. Before Helix, my FAVORITE amp was a Hot Rod Deluxe. When I have more space I’ll pick another one up. I don’t think it was amazing, but it did a good job with everything I threw at it.
I have been using a Revv D25, somewhere between a Princeton and a deluxe. it’s great and the price isn’t too bad for all the features you get with the two notes!
I’ve been playing around with modellers for gigs but never been really happy. Got my old Marshall JTM 30 back up and running, just plug a couple of drive and a few fx pedals into the clean channel (lead channel sucks) and it’s so much easier to get good tones. Makes me smile so much more than the modellers.
When I started learning to play guitar in 1977, I was lucky enough to have my dad’s Black Face Deluxe Reverb, a 1965. I’ve always played single channel amp, still do. My main amps are that original Deluxe Reverb I started with and a Carr Mercury V. For me, I’m not really into the multi channel amps, I’d rather use a pedal I can switch on and off the pedalboard for what ever gig I’m playing, and sounds I’m needing.
A Ceriatone OTS 20 Mini is a brilliant Lunchbox size 20 Watt Amplifier. Super clean sparkling Dumble-esque tones and beautiful overdrive sounds. Takes overdrive pedals incredibly well and works really well with a variety of speaker cabs. I particularly like my OTS20 Head with a 1 x 12 Closed Back Celestion Alnico Cream or Gold. But it also sounds exceptional with a 1 x 12 Thiele Cab loaded with an EVM12L. Getting a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Tone out of it is easy, and the OTS20 has got more clean headroom than the Deluxe 65 Reverb combo, which I find flubs out at around 8 on the volume. That's why I sold mine and bought a Ceriatone OTS20 mini. Just a thought.
As an avid user of JCM800's for decades before eventually getting a Helix I now just have a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb. Its all I need. Plus its light enough to carry round, the exact same sound each time I switch it on and don't have to bother about getting the valves sorted anymore. Or my wallet sobbing at the cost! As always different people need different things but I've got rid of the Helix too now (I was using it as just an FX pedal board) in favour of the smaller HX FX (basically a Helix with no amps for those not sure) and that's me sorted!
I just picked up a floor model DRRI from Guitar Center, slapped a broken in C12Q in it, and now I can’t stop playing it. I can’t believe I waited so long to get one!
My 67 deluxe reverb is my favorite amp of all time. Got it for like 2k 10 years ago maybe. I actually only use the vibrato channel and actually pull v1 (for the normal channel) and it juices the vibrato channel just a bit. But it’s a fantastic amp. I’ve had three. Always swapped the speaker from the stock one though. Mine currently has the eminence sc64 in it. Other good ones I’ve had in it are the 55hz heritage celestion g12H30, celestion vintage 30, celestion alnico gold, alnico cream. All great.
Still my favorite amp. I have played well over 25 DR and reissues. No matter which guitars or pedals are in front of that thing...I can get the sound I am wanting. And a cord straight in is still the best sound of em all. But a klon(e) in front is magic.
One of the best amps I've ever played was a drip edge Deluxe a friend had. Best cleans I've ever heard. That said, when I went to buy a Deluxe Reissue... for roughly the same price I got a used Quilter Micto Pro Mach 2...does everything a Deluxe can do, louder and at 19 lbs. Can set it for edge of break up at any volume....something a Deluxe can't do...I keep a DD3 in the back for the loop...I get reverb, trem, limiter, boost and delay on one large pedal...and nothing but compliments from the guitarists who hear it...takes pedals like a champ....oh and no tubes to change out.
I wish Fender would incorporate some of the common mods people do to '65 Deluxe Reverbs (reverb on both channels, a mid control). I have a power-scaling kit installed in mine and it works great for getting the sweet spot at low volumes.
My 67 deluxe reverb is my favorite amp of all time. Got it for like 2k 10 years ago maybe. I actually only use the vibrato channel and actually pull v1 (for the normal channel) and it juices the vibrato channel just a bit. But it’s a fantastic amp. I’ve had three. Always swapped the speaker from the stock one though. Mine currently has the eminence sc64 in it
When I used to play out a lot I used twins. A bit too much power now. Now I love the fluidity and of tone of Princetons. I find Deluxe’s a bit clunky sounding. My sleeper vote if I need more power is the Rivera Clubster 45, It does what I want and has of course a needed master volume. I just picked up a very clean one for $600. Hard to be for a quality amp. Good to get lost playing the good noise.
So you may know this, but if you pull v1, it will push the vibrato channel harder. You can also mod the amp slightly. Cut the bright cap on the vibrato channel to get closer to the normal channel vibe with more gain. You can also use a mod to take the vibrato completely out of the circuit, which will give it even more gain again.
Orange OR30 if I can only have one, but I do love my deluxe reverb straight in - there is no hiding sloppy playing, and if you can’t make a clean deluxe sound good then I don’t know how to help!
I’ve had my Rivera Jake Studio combo over 20 years, gigged recorded. Best of both worlds Fender clean /Marshall crunch. Plenty loud - plus triode/pentode switch. Solid dual trace PCB. Have had lots of others, and have tonex etc. Still go back to the Rivera.
I couldn't begin to describe how great Tone Junkies' free Deluxe Reverb Tonex capture is. It loves overdrives, compressors, and boost pedals. It's the best sounding non tube sound I've ever heard.
Deluxe Reverb (2 x 6V6) is a great amp but 22 watts is not enough. Mesa Boogie Filmore 50 (2 x 6L6) at 50 watts can do outdoor gigs, 2 channels, switchable. Don't need tremolo. But Reverb is highly desired, both amps have spring Reverb. 6L6 have best lifespan too. Mesa Boogie is handmade in USA. '64 Custom Deluxe is handmade but more expensive than Mesa Boogie. ToneMaster Deluxe Reverb is a great amp too. But the Mesa Boogie is my go-to amp. Small indoor gigs the ToneMaster is easiest to setup via XLR IR out. For Mesa Boogie (Send (1/4 inch out)), I use Boss IR-200 out. I have the TMP and two FR-12 cabs when I play stadiums but that has not happened yet and probably never.
I've owned many amps over the years, but my vintage 1964 DR stands head and shoulders above them all. It is clearly the best sounding amp I've ever owned, and I'll never get rid of it. It's also the only amp that I ever gig with. If you can get a vintage blackface DR, that's the way to go, or get an early silverface one. The new reissues are pretty good, but the vintage amps are still the best.
I love my tone master deluxe. Has that awsome edge of break sound I couldn’t get with a pedal or a modern style amp. Also, the weight and attenuater is so nice with my band
I bought one used and swapped out the transformers, cut bright cap, swapped IC's out for high quality and swapped speaker and through a vintage reverb tank it's real close to my vintage BF DR
Change the Reverb Tank... the reissue comes with the old style splashy 2 spring tank that tends to make crazy noise and ring out in the high registers... Get a medium decay 3 spring tank and you'll enjoy the verb with your pedal rig a bit more ... less noisy too.... just a suggestion anyway lol...
The Fender Super champ x2!! With a couple pedals. I had a fender deluxe reverb reissue. Sold it. I had a Fender tone master blonde. Sold it. I have a Dr z Maz 18. I have a Fender base breaker 15. I have a Hughes and kentner tri amp mk I. The Fender super champ X2 with a couple drive pedals and delay pedal is my favorite amp.
Please try a Rivera, you will love it. The new Stage IV look absolutely killer but isn't the cheapest amp for sure. I will always tout the wonderful tone of my Clubster Royale Recording amp. No other amp needed. Done.
Hi John. I haven’t trawled through the comments here but I run a DLRRI through a tone king Iron Man II mini attenuator, then through my pedal board. My maxim of life is “between 4 and 5 it comes alive “. Try the second channel, lower input. I use that setting for gigs and it’s amazing to my ears. Same for my Princeton at bedroom levels..
I have variations of both, but for a gig with a drummer, the Deluxe Reverb is great, sometimes even a little too loud. For home practice or quieter gigs, I prefer the tone and volume level of the Princeton Reverb with a Celestion heritage 12H.
For what it’s worth, the Rivera-era Reverb Deluxe II has the same channel one circuit as this design. Lovely spring reverb as well. Less well known/revered, so you can occasionally find them cheap….certainly cheaper than the original.
I'm not going to lie. That Deluxe Reverb does sound great. Would love to someday own one. But I'm really enjoying my Blues deluxe. I've had blues Jr's in the past and wanted more sound when I was playing out live. It does the job well. I use a volume pot in the effects loop for home use, and it still sounds great.
Hi, John! Love your videos!! I have a 65 Deluxe, a real one that I used to run a Boss DD-2 with a dry out that would go to the normal channel, in front of the DD-2 would be any drive pedals etc. from the dry out side of the DD-2 delay, I run from the wet out into modulation at times into the Vibrato channel and EQ/mix the effects side, it has a 3-dimensional quality to it that way :) Also most Deluxes from that time have the 47pf brite cap across the Vibrato channel volume pot, ala the brighter tone at lower volumes on that channel :)
I had a DRRI, then got a DRTM, and eventually sold the DRRI. What the Tone Master loses in overall sound (not much, IMHO), it more than makes up for in practicality. Still, if we are talking Desert Island Amps, I would chose the DRRI (over anything else), 'cos I guess on a desert island I wouldn't need to carry it far, or worry about annoying the neighbours. Not sure where I'd plug it in though.
I’d have to say that the supersonic 22 is probably the only amp you’d ever need. Same chassis as a deluxe, Vibrolux and Bassman channels on the clean side and everything from a pushed deluxe to a screaming Mesa on channel two. I’ll set channel 2 to edge of breakup with gain 2 completely off and you get beautiful edge of breakup that sounds great at very low volumes. It comes in handy at any gig.
Revv Generator is key for heavy :) Great video! I have a deluxe and I need to relearn to love it. It would be really cool to have a small one channel deluxe head with just the 3 knobs, but IDK how much headshell you'd still need for transformers and tubes.
I’ve been using a PodGo for about a year and a half now. The main amp model I’ve been using is a Matchless (DC 30 I think). I’ve been planning to try some Fender amp models soon. I used to play through a 1965 Bassman but have gotten away from having an amp on stage for about the last eight years. Once you settle on something that works pretty well in digital modeling, it’s easy to forget how much cool stuff is at one’s disposal. Time to experiment! 😉
Btw, I think you might really like the 68 custom fender deluxe. Why? the vintage channel (the one on the right) has the bright cap removed. (Which is a common mod on 65 deluxe reverb) to make it work well with pedals. The channel on the left ("Custom") uses the bassman tone stack. Also the reverb and vibrato work on both channels. The possible downside is the reduced negative feedback to achieve overdrive tones at lower volumes, which means less clean headroom. (I think that might be only on the left channel. In my testing the right channel seemed to be cleaner than the 65 vibrato channel) Just a thought. It be cool to listen to you playing one and see the difference
In the Vibrato channel, either clip one end of the bright cap or make the volume knob a push-pull knob as a bright switch. Either is a decent unobtrusive mod.
If you're talking about only one Fender amp, I'd choose my '76 Super Twin. No reverb, 2x12, 180W, and weighs a ton...but it has wheels. My most versatile amps are my Catalyst 100 and JVM410H, but for a small rig I'd take my Marshall Origin 50C - it is an amazing Marshall amp, JTM-45 to JMP, and with a push JCM 800.
People don’t realize how often Steve Lukather used the Deluxe Reverb in the studio in the early days because there was one always around…. He also used the Music man combo for early TOTO shows… nuff said 👍👍
Love my DRRI had the bright cap clipped switched out the capacitors (known to go bad early) and it sounds amazing. Also put a Celestion Creamback in it. Love the sound. It’s my “standard clean” and then I can see what pedal really can do!
Keeping this in Mind..... the Dr Z Carmen Ghia is kinda like the normal side of the DR. The amp I wished I wouldn't have sold was the Port City 12. It sounded amazing, took pedals very well- and sounded huge due to the ported cab. As you [and I] use pedals- I wouldn't need the 2nd channel w reverb/vib either.
Hey John, great content. Love all the stuff you put on Patreon as well. Has really helped my playing a lot. Anyway, when I was in the market for a fender amp a while back I A/B’d the deluxe reverb and the supersonic 22 head and went with the Super sonic 22. It has the deluxe Reverb clean side and from what I’ve heard the Bassman on the Burn side in a head format like you said you’d prefer. It is the most versatile amp I’ve ever played giving me great Fender cleans and great overdriven tones on the Bassman channel. It seems to love pedals too as I’m getting heavenly lead tones with my Zendrive (Warm Audio WarmDrive). I think it’s worth your time to check it out and it’s about the same price as a deluxe reverb. Thought I’d share my discovery with you.
You should try a Tone.Master DR. 1/2 the weight, no tubes to replace, and it sounds very close while adding some nice conveniences like an attenuator and a direct out.
1) Can you get the same sound/feel of that deluxe with an hx stomp + FRFR? (it really sounds great in your hands, and you seem inspired by it) 2) With an ABY pedal a deluxe reverb is actually a channel switching amp ;) You can set 1 channel specifically for solos EQ wise and with a boost in volume. (*must get a good quality ABY, cheap ones send slightly different signals out)
I have an original ‘68 deluxe. Two mods: the “fritz” mod so that reverb can be used on the normal channel; and replaced the speaker with a Cannabis Rex. Tamed those highs and I love how it sounds. Only downside is that it has cured my GAS for amps (although hoping that the solid state technology gets to the point so that I can have that tone with less weight!) PS - It’s nice to see people coming around to the notion that us old fart tube snobs may not be completely out to lunch 😉
They are going for about $800 here in Florida . People are dumping their tube amps it seems. Its been going on for a couple years now. I lived in the Chicago area a couple years ago and it was going on there too. The Princeton seems to be holding it value better then other Fender amps.
@@57ebartley yes there’s a trend away from tube to SS and digital - it’s lighter - but never sounds better. Reminds me of the situation with Hi Fi - remember when everyone wanted or had proper speaker cabs on the record player. You know, three way 12” bass, mid, and compression driver. And now most people are on their smart dinky little tech speaker and they are happy with crap sound. It’s happened with guitar amps as well - hell Marshall see their future in that sub standard Wi-Fi stuff
@@ChristopherDowning I used to live in a bigger house and my music room was a full basement. Now I live in a smaller house in Florida where basements don't exist. My tube amps just kill my ear drums. I've switched to a modeler when I started using my electrics in my acoustic show. Way easier when I practice just to play the modeler through the small PA I have in my Studio. I can get some pretty cool tones out of it at lower volumes . I do miss the controlled Feedback though. I do still have my Fender amps too.
@@57ebartley me too …. FLR to Raw Dawg amp and Helix Stomp XL…. I think the Princeton is holding up because it’s so home useable as well as gigs (mic for bigger)
Here’s my thoughts on the DRRI. If they were still $999 like they used to be a few years ago, I’d agree it would be a great option. However, at the current whopping price of $1700, it is no longer a value and quite frankly grossly overpriced. You can literally buy a Mesa Fillmore 25 for the same price or less! Fender needs to wake up!
It’s insane. About a year ago I bought a 74 DR and had it serviced and it came to about 1500 all told. Seems to make a lot more sense than buying a reissue at this point.
@@timeconsumer325 Yep agree - with heavy amps on the decline, there are some good deals. Just need to add in a budget for a complete refurb of the circuitry. Which then makes a new one feel like the no-worry option.
tips for a better deluxe reverb: 1. swap the stock jensen speaker ,modern jensens are awful and have nothing to do with old jensens which were great .i recommend celestion and fane. 2.swap the v1 tube (normal channel's preamp) with a vintage mullard i63 for a thicker bassman like tone it works really well with single coils and drive 3.swap the v2 tube (tremolo channel's preamp) with a vintage ge 12ax7wa it has a classic american clean tone works great with humbuckers and p90's. all these mods are reversible easy to do and cost less than 500$ ive modded more than 30 amps like this it always works since the stock parts are that bad, enjoy!
I think the channel switching vs pedal question is one that I'm wrestling with. I love the option of different pedals, but in reality I only really need a rhythm and a lead tone. That's where I think a two-channel amp with a good effects loop could/should be enough. I'm considering a Blackstar St. James EL34 to fit that bill. Truth be told, build quality notwithstanding, I have to say my Catalyst does a pretty good job of it. So I'm not sure what the St. James buys me. Or is it just GAS?
If you want something similar to a Deluxe Reverb but without the vibrato channel something like the REVV D25, D20 or D40 are pretty close I think. I have the D25 and the only downside with it for me is that it does not have a spring reverb tank and the buildt in reverb is more of a plate. But something like a UAFX golden takes care of that so it is not that big of a deal
Loving my D40 amp! But... it's more than twice the price of what John paid for the Fender Combo. Don't get me wrong. The D40 is designed do so much more than the Fender, so I understand where the money is going. But dang! The Revv does everything people say they're looking for. Great cleans, edge of breakup, drive tones, and takes pedals beautifully. It has bulit-in load box, power switching from 40-10 watts, Two Notes Capture X with 2 channel XLR outs, and most of the features are switchable via MIDI. I'm sure I left something out, but they're also built in Canada, not some far east sweatshop. I've never been so happy with an amp!
Tom Bukovac said the D/R is all you need. He uses them and Princetons. Most of the Nashville players use them. You do need to mike them if your band is loud. It also proves amplifiers havnt really improved since the the mid sixties and guitars from the fifties
John, i highly recommend the Eminence Alessandro speaker for th DRRI. Removes any slight ice pick and flubbiness present with the stock speaker. I recently bought a used Vox AC15c1 for $380 and having never play one before it's been a similar revelation as you are having with the DRRI
The AskZac channel is excellent for all things Deluxe Reverb...
...and the Psionic channel for the DR variants, servicing, repairs and mods.
Next Year It will be 30 years that I've owned my '77 Deluxe Reverb. And it ain't going anywhere! Best amp I've owned for sure!
The Deluxe handles your picking dynamics MUCH more musically than the modelers do. When you dig in with the pick, all the modelers splat out. The Deluxe just sounds far superior in EVERY way . . .
Right? Even on youtube it's audible and makes an even bigger difference to the player, so maybe we'll be seeing him use his DR more in the future?
@@pharmerdavid1432 Maybe it's because I'm such a geezer, but to these old ears, every digital modeler I've heard sounds "close, but no cigar". . .
@@rigelloar7474you sir, are correct. I’m 58 and have been gigging since I was 15. Nothing like a tube amp. Although I just recently bought a Laney Lionheart Loudpedal that sounds fantastic. It’s SS, not digital.
@@pharmerdavid1432 you can say tubes are better but listen to his comments about repair technicians. In time, tube amps will become a minority thing. solid state will improve further
Can't afford £1650 for picking dynamics I'm afraid.
Shout out to the Mesa Lonestar. Best channel switching amp that can pull off a great fender-style clean tone (not to mention that the 2nd channel is excellent in its own right).
The Vibrato Chanel uses a cap to increase treble at lower volumes. The Normal side does not. A lot people clip it but I don't mind it.
@@danielc6508 Crap that's what the problem is when I played thru a Deluxe reverb at a jams. I was plugged into the vibrato channel. I thought it was the other way around. Thanks.
I have 2 Tonemaster DR’s in my surf band. I use the vibrato a lot and never noticed a treble increase.
I love it, he starts out with playing a 'one and done' amp with a 'one and done' drive pedal... talk about a best kept secret... the Boss OD-3 !! Great video!! Well done ...
That intro is one of the favorites I've heard from you in a long time. Super soulful and dynamic..
I have the hand wired Achilles Deluxe Reverb. Two 10” Jensen’s. Best amp I have. Tried the helix stomp but not my thing. I like normal pedals I can adjust quickly depending on the venue. The Deluxe is great weight and size. Lovely trem and reverb.
Ordered an Achillies Princeton/Zephyr 15. Can't wait to pick it up!
A comparison with the Tonemaster version for your impressions would be interesting. For me, the one thing that the tube Deluxe Reverb lacks is an attenuator. Given that most venues have a Deluxe Reverb and/or a Twin Reverb as backline, I would lean towards owning a more household and marriage friendly Tonemaster.
You might wanna check the SuperSonic 22 also, might be up your alley. Same housing / poweramp as the DR, cleanchannel very close to the DR, dumbly overdrive, and an efx loop…which takes a modeled amp well. Running a DR, id definitely have a tech add an efx loop.
Best £250 I’ve spent😂 Wishing I’d played a less janky solo on that right now though
What's the custody situation? 🤣
I like it. Kind of jazzy Albert Collins
I was blessed with a loving and indulgent Mom that bought me, a brand-new '66 Deluxe Reverb in either '66 or '67. I had been playing rather seriously for maybe 3 years? I was like 15 or 16?? While I thought the amp wonderful-sounding at the time, it wasn't loud enough for the bands I was getting into. So this idiot (me!) traded it for a used blonde Bandmaster w/2-12 cab. That amp had the volume I was looking for at the time. After many years, I finally re-bought a DR, one of Fender's so-called '64 hand-wired Custom DR's. Wow... To my ears it sounds even better than my '66. When Fender decides to build and offer something amazing, they still have the ability to do just that... God bless 'em!! 👍👍
The Deluxe Reverb is probably the most perfect amp you can get. My favorite amp is an Ampeg Jet12R which gives the same vibes as a Deluxe. The DR gets that perfect clean to breakup and obviously a great pedal platform. Great video!
I honestly love the Custom 68 Pro Reverb. It has the one channel that has more of a bassman tone stack, so is richer sounding, and bias trem which I vastly prefer to optical, and it weighs 35lbs.
@@craiger2399 I prefer the Bassmen tome stack as well. 68 Deluxe reissue and I have a Supersonic 22 as well .
Love mine too...such an amazing amp
68 DR and a Peavy Classic 30 with el-84's work great together. The DR does it all, even if you just go straight into the amp.
I made the comment in your previous DR video: try jumpering the channels. It opens up so many tonal possibilities. If you like the sound of the normal channel better but you still want to use the reverb You can jumper from the normal channel into the vib channel and use the vol control as a reverb level. Set the eq to tailor the tone of the reverb.
Love my ToneMaster Deluxe. The last time I had to repair a tube amp the cost was almost as much as a new amp. Never again.
cool
How much it was and what was the problem?
I took the financial plunge and bought a vintage 1965 Deluxe Reverb a couple years ago cause it's always been my dream amp. It's amazing. I think it's the best amp I have ever played/heard. Definitely my desert island rig and I'll be buried with it one day. Fantastic amps, both old and new!
Fender Deluxe Reverb (Tonemaster not valve) has been my only gigging amp since 2019…. Never going back to valves - has handled every gig, session and jamming scenario I’ve thrown at it.
Had mine and gigged it that long too, despite all the " it will only last 2 years" comments,lol.
@@midnighthour4299 Well stated - completely agree. I remember hearing that same critique when they launched.
Mesa/Boogie Studio 22+ (2 channels, w/o equalizer, but with spring reverb). Used it as my only amp since it came out. Plus old Morley Wah-Wah as my only pedal.
One of the best ever
I found one in my local Music Go Round. It was gutted and completely hardwired. It's the most amazing sounding 22watts I've ever heard. I only paid $1100 for it!
Reverb Deluxe for me. I have an original '64 and a Tonemaster. Tonemaster does majority of gigs from weddings/corporate to full on rock/blues/ etc. After many amps I realised this is all I need......
Love it. Same here.
Just curious which Deluxe Tonemaster do you have?.
Sure. I have the black with jenson neo. Updated firmware and changed the IRs to the celestion. Fortunate to have tried several other speakers - an Avatar alnico, reconed Oxford, Eminence Patriot and original EVM 12L. All improved one thing at the cost of another. The original is voiced closest to the old ones and sounds very good after burning in. Consider an overdrive with a decent mid bump like a TS or Klon clone or even a GE7. Highly recommend for live gigs - use the XLR out and adjust the power rating for the stage. I use the 5 watt setting most. Best of luck.
I can’t say enough good things about the Barber pedals. The Gain Changer and Direct Drive pair very well and help fill in the mids on any Fender amp but especially help with the Tone Master. You can leave the Gain Changer on and it’s just as dynamic as an amp.
I have a vintage 64 deluxe reverb as well but my all time favorite is still my 68 Princeton reverb.😊
You are a Fantastic Guitar player, .. "and almost ev'rytime" with a Fabolous Sound!! ..
Yes, just clip of the bright cap on the V channel, its then the same as the N channel
I've sold my amp collection except my vintage 1965 DR and my Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini. With those two, you have everything covered.
I've been thinking of getting a Little Sister myself, as an owner of a 65DRRI. I already have a nice little MesaBoogie cabinet, I'm dying to try (TPS) wet-dry!
@@NewPraetorianBlues Tin Sister or Little Sister are both amazing amps. I have a DRRI, Twin Sister, and Pink Taco v2 (plus some high gainers). DRRI plus your Friedman of choice is an excellent amp rig!
@@jmartinez2367 Have you tried playing the DRRI and Twin Sister in a dual-amp rig?
@@NewPraetorianBlues yes. I have an ABY splitter and have run them both together, largely without pedals, with just a touch of gain on the Twin Sister. They pair very well together.
@@NewPraetorianBlues yes - they pair very well together.
How about a Mesa Boogie Mark 5, it cost an arm and a leg, but if I could afford one, I think that would be the amp for me that would do everything.
Awesome amp indeed 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
pretty much every modern high end mesa boogie is exceptionally versatile from my experience.
got one and basically "yep that's it" lol
I sold my Mark 2C+ when I got my vintage 1965 DR. In comparison, the DR was 1000x better. I don't miss the Boogie at all.
I have a MK V combo…extremely versatile, not a one trick act…it can do everything, huge range of great tones and sounds available. Use your ears, you can dial in any tone to fit any style of music. I have several other amps, but the MK V pretty much covers the ground of all of them. Very useful playing covers; this one amp and a pedal board can do it all. Have had it for 12 years, never had any reliability issues. Excellent piece of equipment!
In Helix LT I use the Deluxe and AC30 more than anything else.
Before Helix, my FAVORITE amp was a Hot Rod Deluxe. When I have more space I’ll pick another one up. I don’t think it was amazing, but it did a good job with everything I threw at it.
I have been using a Revv D25, somewhere between a Princeton and a deluxe. it’s great and the price isn’t too bad for all the features you get with the two notes!
DRRI is a good amp . Great if you swap the speaker for something other than a Jensen. Weber and Alessandro are great choices.
I’ve been playing around with modellers for gigs but never been really happy. Got my old Marshall JTM 30 back up and running, just plug a couple of drive and a few fx pedals into the clean channel (lead channel sucks) and it’s so much easier to get good tones. Makes me smile so much more than the modellers.
When I started learning to play guitar in 1977, I was lucky enough to have my dad’s Black Face Deluxe Reverb, a 1965. I’ve always played single channel amp, still do. My main amps are that original Deluxe Reverb I started with and a Carr Mercury V. For me, I’m not really into the multi channel amps, I’d rather use a pedal I can switch on and off the pedalboard for what ever gig I’m playing, and sounds I’m needing.
A Ceriatone OTS 20 Mini is a brilliant Lunchbox size 20 Watt Amplifier. Super clean sparkling Dumble-esque tones and beautiful overdrive sounds. Takes overdrive pedals incredibly well and works really well with a variety of speaker cabs. I particularly like my OTS20 Head with a 1 x 12 Closed Back Celestion Alnico Cream or Gold. But it also sounds exceptional with a 1 x 12 Thiele Cab loaded with an EVM12L. Getting a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Tone out of it is easy, and the OTS20 has got more clean headroom than the Deluxe 65 Reverb combo, which I find flubs out at around 8 on the volume. That's why I sold mine and bought a Ceriatone OTS20 mini. Just a thought.
As an avid user of JCM800's for decades before eventually getting a Helix I now just have a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb. Its all I need. Plus its light enough to carry round, the exact same sound each time I switch it on and don't have to bother about getting the valves sorted anymore. Or my wallet sobbing at the cost! As always different people need different things but I've got rid of the Helix too now (I was using it as just an FX pedal board) in favour of the smaller HX FX (basically a Helix with no amps for those not sure) and that's me sorted!
I just picked up a floor model DRRI from Guitar Center, slapped a broken in C12Q in it, and now I can’t stop playing it. I can’t believe I waited so long to get one!
My 67 deluxe reverb is my favorite amp of all time. Got it for like 2k 10 years ago maybe. I actually only use the vibrato channel and actually pull v1 (for the normal channel) and it juices the vibrato channel just a bit. But it’s a fantastic amp. I’ve had three. Always swapped the speaker from the stock one though. Mine currently has the eminence sc64 in it. Other good ones I’ve had in it are the 55hz heritage celestion g12H30, celestion vintage 30, celestion alnico gold, alnico cream. All great.
I love my twin… on its own it sounds gorgeous. But throw a Friedman smallbox right into the front and BOOM. It’s now a Marshall
Still my favorite amp. I have played well over 25 DR and reissues. No matter which guitars or pedals are in front of that thing...I can get the sound I am wanting.
And a cord straight in is still the best sound of em all. But a klon(e) in front is magic.
One of the best amps I've ever played was a drip edge Deluxe a friend had. Best cleans I've ever heard. That said, when I went to buy a Deluxe Reissue... for roughly the same price I got a used Quilter Micto Pro Mach 2...does everything a Deluxe can do, louder and at 19 lbs. Can set it for edge of break up at any volume....something a Deluxe can't do...I keep a DD3 in the back for the loop...I get reverb, trem, limiter, boost and delay on one large pedal...and nothing but compliments from the guitarists who hear it...takes pedals like a champ....oh and no tubes to change out.
I wish Fender would incorporate some of the common mods people do to '65 Deluxe Reverbs (reverb on both channels, a mid control). I have a power-scaling kit installed in mine and it works great for getting the sweet spot at low volumes.
My 67 deluxe reverb is my favorite amp of all time. Got it for like 2k 10 years ago maybe. I actually only use the vibrato channel and actually pull v1 (for the normal channel) and it juices the vibrato channel just a bit. But it’s a fantastic amp. I’ve had three. Always swapped the speaker from the stock one though. Mine currently has the eminence sc64 in it
When I used to play out a lot I used twins. A bit too much power now. Now I love the fluidity and of tone of Princetons. I find Deluxe’s a bit clunky sounding. My sleeper vote if I need more power is the Rivera Clubster 45, It does what I want and has of course a needed master volume. I just picked up a very clean one for $600. Hard to be for a quality amp. Good to get lost playing the good noise.
So you may know this, but if you pull v1, it will push the vibrato channel harder. You can also mod the amp slightly. Cut the bright cap on the vibrato channel to get closer to the normal channel vibe with more gain. You can also use a mod to take the vibrato completely out of the circuit, which will give it even more gain again.
Orange OR30 if I can only have one, but I do love my deluxe reverb straight in - there is no hiding sloppy playing, and if you can’t make a clean deluxe sound good then I don’t know how to help!
I’ve had my Rivera Jake Studio combo over 20 years, gigged recorded. Best of both worlds Fender clean /Marshall crunch. Plenty loud - plus triode/pentode switch. Solid dual trace PCB. Have had lots of others, and have tonex etc. Still go back to the Rivera.
These amps are killer.
The Deluxe Reverb rabbit hole has begun for JNC…..just wait till he plays a vintage one in good shape
I couldn't begin to describe how great Tone Junkies' free Deluxe Reverb Tonex capture is. It loves overdrives, compressors, and boost pedals. It's the best sounding non tube sound I've ever heard.
Deluxe Reverb (2 x 6V6) is a great amp but 22 watts is not enough. Mesa Boogie Filmore 50 (2 x 6L6) at 50 watts can do outdoor gigs, 2 channels, switchable. Don't need tremolo. But Reverb is highly desired, both amps have spring Reverb. 6L6 have best lifespan too. Mesa Boogie is handmade in USA. '64 Custom Deluxe is handmade but more expensive than Mesa Boogie. ToneMaster Deluxe Reverb is a great amp too. But the Mesa Boogie is my go-to amp. Small indoor gigs the ToneMaster is easiest to setup via XLR IR out. For Mesa Boogie (Send (1/4 inch out)), I use Boss IR-200 out. I have the TMP and two FR-12 cabs when I play stadiums but that has not happened yet and probably never.
I've owned many amps over the years, but my vintage 1964 DR stands head and shoulders above them all. It is clearly the best sounding amp I've ever owned, and I'll never get rid of it. It's also the only amp that I ever gig with. If you can get a vintage blackface DR, that's the way to go, or get an early silverface one. The new reissues are pretty good, but the vintage amps are still the best.
I love my tone master deluxe. Has that awsome edge of break sound I couldn’t get with a pedal or a modern style amp. Also, the weight and attenuater is so nice with my band
I bought one used and swapped out the transformers, cut bright cap, swapped IC's out for high quality and swapped speaker and through a vintage reverb tank it's real close to my vintage BF DR
Ibanez TSA15H or TSA30H are both phenomenal highly underrated options from Ibanez (with built in Tube Screamers).
Change the Reverb Tank... the reissue comes with the old style splashy 2 spring tank that tends to make crazy noise and ring out in the high registers... Get a medium decay 3 spring tank and you'll enjoy the verb with your pedal rig a bit more ... less noisy too.... just a suggestion anyway lol...
The Fender Super champ x2!! With a couple pedals. I had a fender deluxe reverb reissue. Sold it. I had a Fender tone master blonde. Sold it. I have a Dr z Maz 18. I have a Fender base breaker 15. I have a Hughes and kentner tri amp mk I. The Fender super champ X2 with a couple drive pedals and delay pedal is my favorite amp.
Effectrode Blackbird tube pedal into your HX Stomp may be up your alley.
That’s my setup currently and loving it.
Please try a Rivera, you will love it. The new Stage IV look absolutely killer but isn't the cheapest amp for sure. I will always tout the wonderful tone of my Clubster Royale Recording amp. No other amp needed. Done.
Hi John. I haven’t trawled through the comments here but I run a DLRRI through a tone king Iron Man II mini attenuator, then through my pedal board. My maxim of life is “between 4 and 5 it comes alive “.
Try the second channel, lower input. I use that setting for gigs and it’s amazing to my ears. Same for my Princeton at bedroom levels..
I should add.. most of the time I run a Keeley hydra with plate reverb setting into the front end. Bliss.
I have variations of both, but for a gig with a drummer, the Deluxe Reverb is great, sometimes even a little too loud. For home practice or quieter gigs, I prefer the tone and volume level of the Princeton Reverb with a Celestion heritage 12H.
The DLR covers all situations - I couldn't afford both - £3k's worth of amps.
@@ChristopherDowning True, if you can only buy one and it needs to rise above a loud drummer, the DLR is the way to go.
For what it’s worth, the Rivera-era Reverb Deluxe II has the same channel one circuit as this design. Lovely spring reverb as well.
Less well known/revered, so you can occasionally find them cheap….certainly cheaper than the original.
I'm not going to lie. That Deluxe Reverb does sound great. Would love to someday own one. But I'm really enjoying my Blues deluxe. I've had blues Jr's in the past and wanted more sound when I was playing out live. It does the job well. I use a volume pot in the effects loop for home use, and it still sounds great.
Hi, John! Love your videos!! I have a 65 Deluxe, a real one that I used to run a Boss DD-2 with a dry out that would go to the normal channel, in front of the DD-2 would be any drive pedals etc. from the dry out side of the DD-2 delay, I run from the wet out into modulation at times into the Vibrato channel and EQ/mix the effects side, it has a 3-dimensional quality to it that way :) Also most Deluxes from that time have the 47pf brite cap across the Vibrato channel volume pot, ala the brighter tone at lower volumes on that channel :)
I had a DRRI, then got a DRTM, and eventually sold the DRRI. What the Tone Master loses in overall sound (not much, IMHO), it more than makes up for in practicality. Still, if we are talking Desert Island Amps, I would chose the DRRI (over anything else), 'cos I guess on a desert island I wouldn't need to carry it far, or worry about annoying the neighbours. Not sure where I'd plug it in though.
I’d have to say that the supersonic 22 is probably the only amp you’d ever need. Same chassis as a deluxe, Vibrolux and Bassman channels on the clean side and everything from a pushed deluxe to a screaming Mesa on channel two. I’ll set channel 2 to edge of breakup with gain 2 completely off and you get beautiful edge of breakup that sounds great at very low volumes. It comes in handy at any gig.
Revv Generator is key for heavy :)
Great video! I have a deluxe and I need to relearn to love it. It would be really cool to have a small one channel deluxe head with just the 3 knobs, but IDK how much headshell you'd still need for transformers and tubes.
Agree. I had a 1976 Deluxe and stupidly traded it away. Now I use a PodGo for the convenience. The only sim I use on that box is the Deluxe.
I’ve been using a PodGo for about a year and a half now. The main amp model I’ve been using is a Matchless (DC 30 I think). I’ve been planning to try some Fender amp models soon. I used to play through a 1965 Bassman but have gotten away from having an amp on stage for about the last eight years. Once you settle on something that works pretty well in digital modeling, it’s easy to forget how much cool stuff is at one’s disposal. Time to experiment! 😉
I used a Deluxe Reverb with pedals for years as my main amp. I now use a Katana 100 and get all the tones I want.
I like what you’ve done here taking yesterday’s discreet pedals and pairing up
Btw, I think you might really like the 68 custom fender deluxe. Why? the vintage channel (the one on the right) has the bright cap removed. (Which is a common mod on 65 deluxe reverb) to make it work well with pedals.
The channel on the left ("Custom") uses the bassman tone stack. Also the reverb and vibrato work on both channels.
The possible downside is the reduced negative feedback to achieve overdrive tones at lower volumes, which means less clean headroom. (I think that might be only on the left channel. In my testing the right channel seemed to be cleaner than the 65 vibrato channel)
Just a thought. It be cool to listen to you playing one and see the difference
Agreed! I have an Allen Sweet Spot which is a Princeton/Deluxe Reverb clone and it's my only remaining tube amp 😃
I have a super modified silverface bandmaster in a DR cab, a good 55 pounds and I only use it for the super loud gigs but boy it'll project
In the Vibrato channel, either clip one end of the bright cap or make the volume knob a push-pull knob as a bright switch. Either is a decent unobtrusive mod.
If you're talking about only one Fender amp, I'd choose my '76 Super Twin. No reverb, 2x12, 180W, and weighs a ton...but it has wheels.
My most versatile amps are my Catalyst 100 and JVM410H, but for a small rig I'd take my Marshall Origin 50C - it is an amazing Marshall amp, JTM-45 to JMP, and with a push JCM 800.
People don’t realize how often Steve Lukather used the Deluxe Reverb in the studio in the early days because there was one always around…. He also used the Music man combo for early TOTO shows… nuff said 👍👍
Very hard to beat those pure glassy tones ! Love the DR !
I love thee Princeton Reverb. It's perfect for me.
Don't have a tube amp now, but my DRRI would likely be the one I'd get again. I used it as a base tone with OD pedals.
its nice to hear you leaving more space in your leads....more phrasing less muscle memory
And don't forget you can jumper the channels as you would a Marshall to mix both.
The AMP1 from Bluguitar.
Smaller, more reliable, more versatile, and less expensive than the Fender Deluxe reverb ;)
Love my DRRI had the bright cap clipped switched out the capacitors (known to go bad early) and it sounds amazing. Also put a Celestion Creamback in it. Love the sound. It’s my “standard clean” and then I can see what pedal really can do!
Keeping this in Mind..... the Dr Z Carmen Ghia is kinda like the normal side of the DR. The amp I wished I wouldn't have sold was the Port City 12. It sounded amazing, took pedals very well- and sounded huge due to the ported cab. As you [and I] use pedals- I wouldn't need the 2nd channel w reverb/vib either.
Try the Pro Junior iV (or IV SE). More portable, nails the Fender sound, takes pedals great, and loud enough for every situation I've been in.
Hey John, great content. Love all the stuff you put on Patreon as well. Has really helped my playing a lot. Anyway, when I was in the market for a fender amp a while back I
A/B’d the deluxe reverb and the supersonic 22 head and went with the Super sonic 22. It has the deluxe Reverb clean side and from what I’ve heard the Bassman on the Burn side in a head format like you said you’d prefer. It is the most versatile amp I’ve ever played giving me great Fender cleans and great overdriven tones on the Bassman channel. It seems to love pedals too as I’m getting heavenly lead tones with my Zendrive (Warm Audio WarmDrive). I think it’s worth your time to check it out and it’s about the same price as a deluxe reverb. Thought I’d share my discovery with you.
The amp sounds good due to the player. Drri sounds great!
I think a Tone King Imperial does the deluxe reverb thing but modernised, with more versatility, and hand wired.
You should try a Tone.Master DR. 1/2 the weight, no tubes to replace, and it sounds very close while adding some nice conveniences like an attenuator and a direct out.
My Triple Recto was the most versatile and satisfying amp I’ve owned, but I’m convinced by RUclips and my Axe FX that I might be a Triple Crown man.
1) Can you get the same sound/feel of that deluxe with an hx stomp + FRFR? (it really sounds great in your hands, and you seem inspired by it)
2) With an ABY pedal a deluxe reverb is actually a channel switching amp ;) You can set 1 channel specifically for solos EQ wise and with a boost in volume. (*must get a good quality ABY, cheap ones send slightly different signals out)
Greatest amp ever made. Try it with your Les Paul and 335 too.
I have an original ‘68 deluxe. Two mods: the “fritz” mod so that reverb can be used on the normal channel; and replaced the speaker with a Cannabis Rex. Tamed those highs and I love how it sounds. Only downside is that it has cured my GAS for amps (although hoping that the solid state technology gets to the point so that I can have that tone with less weight!)
PS - It’s nice to see people coming around to the notion that us old fart tube snobs may not be completely out to lunch 😉
They are going for about $800 here in Florida . People are dumping their tube amps it seems. Its been going on for a couple years now. I lived in the Chicago area a couple years ago and it was going on there too. The Princeton seems to be holding it value better then other Fender amps.
@@57ebartley yes there’s a trend away from tube to SS and digital - it’s lighter - but never sounds better. Reminds me of the situation with Hi Fi - remember when everyone wanted or had proper speaker cabs on the record player. You know, three way 12” bass, mid, and compression driver. And now most people are on their smart dinky little tech speaker and they are happy with crap sound. It’s happened with guitar amps as well - hell Marshall see their future in that sub standard Wi-Fi stuff
@@ChristopherDowning I used to live in a bigger house and my music room was a full basement. Now I live in a smaller house in Florida where basements don't exist. My tube amps just kill my ear drums. I've switched to a modeler when I started using my electrics in my acoustic show. Way easier when I practice just to play the modeler through the small PA I have in my Studio. I can get some pretty cool tones out of it at lower volumes . I do miss the controlled Feedback though. I do still have my Fender amps too.
@@57ebartley me too …. FLR to Raw Dawg amp and Helix Stomp XL…. I think the Princeton is holding up because it’s so home useable as well as gigs (mic for bigger)
Here’s my thoughts on the DRRI. If they were still $999 like they used to be a few years ago, I’d agree it would be a great option. However, at the current whopping price of $1700, it is no longer a value and quite frankly grossly overpriced. You can literally buy a Mesa Fillmore 25 for the same price or less! Fender needs to wake up!
I paid $747 USD brand new for mine in 2008.
@@rigorhead01You have paid double that amount since in order to have it serviced
It’s insane. About a year ago I bought a 74 DR and had it serviced and it came to about 1500 all told. Seems to make a lot more sense than buying a reissue at this point.
@@timeconsumer325 Yep agree - with heavy amps on the decline, there are some good deals. Just need to add in a budget for a complete refurb of the circuitry. Which then makes a new one feel like the no-worry option.
Feels like they already woke up since they're succeding selling it at that price LOL
tips for a better deluxe reverb:
1. swap the stock jensen speaker ,modern jensens are awful and have nothing to do with old jensens which were great .i recommend celestion and fane.
2.swap the v1 tube (normal channel's preamp) with a vintage mullard i63 for a thicker bassman like tone it works really well with single coils and drive
3.swap the v2 tube (tremolo channel's preamp) with a vintage ge 12ax7wa it has a classic american clean tone works great with humbuckers and p90's.
all these mods are reversible easy to do and cost less than 500$ ive modded more than 30 amps like this it always works since the stock parts are that bad, enjoy!
Roland Blues Cube Artist. Wonderful piece of kit.
I think the channel switching vs pedal question is one that I'm wrestling with. I love the option of different pedals, but in reality I only really need a rhythm and a lead tone. That's where I think a
two-channel amp with a good effects loop could/should be enough. I'm considering a Blackstar St. James EL34 to fit that bill. Truth be told, build quality notwithstanding, I have to say my Catalyst does a pretty good job of it. So I'm not sure what the St. James buys me. Or is it just GAS?
If you want something similar to a Deluxe Reverb but without the vibrato channel something like the REVV D25, D20 or D40 are pretty close I think. I have the D25 and the only downside with it for me is that it does not have a spring reverb tank and the buildt in reverb is more of a plate. But something like a UAFX golden takes care of that so it is not that big of a deal
Loving my D40 amp! But... it's more than twice the price of what John paid for the Fender Combo. Don't get me wrong. The D40 is designed do so much more than the Fender, so I understand where the money is going. But dang! The Revv does everything people say they're looking for. Great cleans, edge of breakup, drive tones, and takes pedals beautifully. It has bulit-in load box, power switching from 40-10 watts, Two Notes Capture X with 2 channel XLR outs, and most of the features are switchable via MIDI. I'm sure I left something out, but they're also built in Canada, not some far east sweatshop. I've never been so happy with an amp!
For me is it the Amp 1 with the Blubox!
Vox AC 15 C1 with Lyle’s (RUclips channel Psionic Audio) upgrades and mods.🤘🏻
Tom Bukovac said the D/R is all you need. He uses them and Princetons. Most of the Nashville players use them. You do need to mike them if your band is loud. It also proves amplifiers havnt really improved since the the mid sixties and guitars from the fifties
Well, I guess it takes pedals pretty well. I have both the '65DRRI and the '68 Custom DRRI. They're wonderful. Let us know when you try bridging it:)
John, i highly recommend the Eminence Alessandro speaker for th DRRI. Removes any slight ice pick and flubbiness present with the stock speaker. I recently bought a used Vox AC15c1 for $380 and having never play one before it's been a similar revelation as you are having with the DRRI
I did the same with mine. It made a huge improvement.