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Topic: Got A Fender 65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb - Got A Question! |
Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 13 May 2008 2:25 pm |
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I just purchased a 1965 Reissue Fender Deluxe Reverb. It's like new and I paid $630.00 with shipping. It seems to be all original but the reverb is not that impressive. It has an Accutronics 4AB3C1B tank and I am wondering if the reverb would be a little less metallic sounding and deeper with an Accutronics 9AB3C1B tank? So far the reverb does not have the long tail and depth that my Boss RV-5 has.
Second question. The tone of the Deluxe is pretty awesome. It is less boomy than my Hot Rod Deluxe and very warm. I am tempted to sell the HRD but wonder if there are some applications where the HRD might be better and later I might regret selling it. Any opinions are welcome!
I have been using the HRD for lap steel and standard guitar.
Here's a pic of the Deluxe:
Greg |
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KENNY KRUPNICK
From:
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 13 May 2008 6:28 pm
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| Greg, Does it breakup when you crank the volume?I've wondered about these DR Re-Issues,if they sound as good as the originals. |
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Chris Scruggs
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 13 May 2008 6:36 pm
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Congratulations Greg on what is one great amp! I think there is a pretty common mod you can perform which will make the Deluxe's Reverb sound better.
As far as Deluxe Reverb vs. Hot Rod Deluxe goes:
The only amp I own and play live is a '65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb identical to yours. These are 22 watt amplifiers. I prefer to play at lower levels where I can have the volume set to 3.5 or 4, but alot of times playing with a drummer I end up between 5 and 7. This creates more distortion than most steel guitarists want to hear out of their amps, but I stubbornly figure if I'm too distorted then the band is too loud and I truck on with the little amp.
The Hot Rod Deluxe is a 40 watt amp and therefore has a lot more headroom to work with. I have recently been using a Fender Blues Deluxe (it's basically the same amp as a Hot Rod Deluxe, but tweed instead of black) at a club I play where it's the house amp. I must say it has been nice to have that extra wattage to work with.
I guess it's just a matter of apples and oranges. The only thing really that they have in common is a 1x12" configuration. If you play on the louder side, you might want to keep the Hot Rod.
And yes, I do know about the "boomy" sound you speak of, but the Deluxe Reverb can get a little bright, too. I usually keep the treble on 1 and it NEVER goes higher than 3!
CS |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 13 May 2008 6:57 pm
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Kenny, I haven't really cranked the amp yet but depending on the taper of the audio pot, the numbers on the dial may not correlate well with the older amps. It does get a warmer tone at lower volumes than the HRD.
Chris, thanks for the info and I really do like both amps a lot. I just recorded a lap steel song and the Deluxe is the winner over the HRD deluxe there. Much warmer and colorful sound at lower volumes. I used the RV-5 for that so the amp reverb is out of the loop for now.
I started out playing on a 1968 blue face Fender Deluxe Reverb and I remember it having a deeper reverb with a much longer tail and a less metallic sound. The reverb was dead on this amp when I got it! I traced it back to an open cable on the reverb tank output. I did check that both springs are producing sound and that it's cabled correctly.
This amp has me fired up! The lead guitar sound I'm getting is pretty vintage too. So far it has great sustain without a compressor and it reponds well when I twang on the strings.
Greg |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 14 May 2008 5:22 pm
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You might try swapping out the reverb recovery tube from a 12AT7 to a 12AX7. If you find the amp too bright in the reverb channel for your tastes, you can snip out the bright cap pretty easily. Do a search on google and you'll find the instructions.
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 15 May 2008 12:14 pm
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I've been gigging a DRRI for about a year now. I bought it new in March 2007, and wasn't crazy about the reverb. It sounded harsh and strange overall. So I brought it back and tried another DRRI, and the second one had a way better 'verb. So I swapped amps. The store never did figure out what was wrong with that reverb, and sold the amp at a reduced price. So if the reverb sounds off to you, maybe your warranty would cover a replacement. I know that the 'verb difference in the two amps at the store was significant for sure.
Besides the reverb issue, I love the DRRI. But I don't like it for steel because of the quick break-up. What works so beautifully for standard guitar is very frustrating for PSG. I even found the Hot Rod to be lacking in adequate headroom. On a large stage especially, 80 watts is the minimum for me - no less than a Twin or a NV112. Without a bunch of room on the VP, I'm irritable all night.
With my Tele I have the Treble down to 1-2, but with my Casino I do about 5 treble - 5 bass. Great amp all around for standard guitar, probably the best production line 112 tube combo out there now.
I think you find the DRRI warmer than the HR paritally because of the tube rectifier vs the solid state rectifier in the HR. The sag in the DRRI is superior to that of the HR, to my ear.
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Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Alan Kirk
From:
Scotia, CA, USA
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Posted 15 May 2008 3:25 pm
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Try swapping the reverb tube for a different one. That can make all the difference in the world.
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Everyone in the world has two jobs: 1) whatever they do for a living; and 2) music critic. |
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