Fender Deluxe Reissue For Steel Amp

Robert Herr · From: Willow Street,Pa

I saw the Black Lilies at Delfest this past weekend. The steel player was using an old MSA and playing through a Fender Deluse Reissue amp.Any idea what kind of speaker you would have to have to get a clean tone. His tone was excellent.

J R Rose · From: Keota, Oklahoma, USA

I prefer a JBL but to keep the weight down I found that the new Telonics is great. J.R.
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Dave O'Brien · From: Florida and New Jersey

I get clean sound from my '73 at reasonable volume levels with the original Utah!
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Justin Emmert · From: Greensboro, NC

Mine plays clean with the stock Jensen.

Walter Glockler · From: Northern New Mexico

What settings are you guys using? Thanks.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Mine would work in a really small room gig, studio or mic'ed. Original speaker show in pics on the web page below.

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Deluxe%20Reverb/Deluxe%20Reverb.html

Walter Glockler · From: Northern New Mexico

Thank you.

Justin Emmert · From: Greensboro, NC

My settings are pretty much the same as Greg's from his post above. I've had no problem with volume. Any gig big enough to need a bigger amp, I just miked the amp.

Benjamin Franz · From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I put an old jbl d120f in mine. Couldn't be happier.

George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

I have the "Limited Edition", oxblood color w/stock Jensen speaker. I use it on many smaller venues ie: VFW's, Legions etc. I use a 15" extension speaker for the other side of the stage so I can keep the volume down and the bass player can hear me fine.

Sounds every bit as good as my Twin Reverb but of coarse not near the power (22 watts vs 85) but then again less than half the weight.

Geo

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

I have the Blackface Deluxe re-issue head, and use it with a Hot Rod Deluxe 1x12" cabinet (speaker is stock).

My opinion is that people seem to be concerned with the speaker (as it pertains to breakup), but to me it's a headroom thing. A passive volume pedal helps avoid hitting the front end too hard, and I've gone to using a Boss GE-7 to bring the volume level of my active pedal down to achieve a similar result.

For me - on a small gig, and when recording - I enjoy using it. It could never do a high-volume, un-miked, live gig cleanly for me, but I use something else in that case.

Best of luck,

David Spires
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2021 MSA Legend XL 10&7; Asher Electro-Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel; '79 OMI Dobro 66 w/ Scheerhorn cone and setup; '64 Hand-wired Re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

A word on settings...

Of course guitars matter, but most importantly - pickups and volume pedal type - make so much difference.

With a George L E66 in my Sierra S-10, and a Hilton active volume pedal, I often have the Bass @ 10 and Treble @ 1. Sometimes, more like 8 & 2, but treble at 6 with my pickup and volume pedal would peel the paint off all nearby cars...

One of the beautiful things about the Deluxe is, there are only two tone knobs. Twist them until you get what you want, for whatever style of music you are playing.

Smile

David Spires
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2021 MSA Legend XL 10&7; Asher Electro-Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel; '79 OMI Dobro 66 w/ Scheerhorn cone and setup; '64 Hand-wired Re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

You would want a high efficiency speaker like a JBL. Many of the Eminence Patriot and Redcoat speakers are high efficiency as well. Look at the speaker specs under "Efficiency". You want something in the 101 - 103 db range.

I have tried a Deluxe Reverb on a couple of occasions. It just did not have enough oomph to be heard clearly over the rest of the band, even from a few feet away. It could work if you mic it and have an individual monitor mix to supplement the sound coming from the amp.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

I've been using a 2005 BDR for quite a while, as a forum topic search will reveal, and it's been my preferred combo rig for recording and modest volume shows. I've also got a matching extension cabinet so I can put a tweed stack on stage when appropriate . Both have JBL K120 8-ohm speakers installed.

If the stock BDR is not clean enough for your taste, there are a couple of mods that may make it more pedal-steel-friendly:

1) Replace the cheap OEM speaker with a JBL D120F or K120. This will clean up the sound immensely, and instantly double the usable volume. Note that the JBL E120 magnet will not fit into the combo cabinet, and at 40 watts only a clean, efficient speaker really matters for a pedal steel guitar. If you are only doing blues and lap steel with it this might not apply.

2) Swap a 12AT7 or 12AY7 for the first 12AX7 in the preamp section. This will reduce gain a bit and allow you more latitude in volume knob settings. Study the gain charts and be educated about what you are doing before taking such action.

With these changes my knobs generally look something like this:

Input Gain 4-6
Treble 5-7
Bass 7-8
Midrange 4-6
Reverb 10 - 12 (long decay Accutronics Type 4)
Presence 0

If using the master volume side I don't change any of these, adjust the master volume to get the noise level you are after.

These are great amps, but expect some occasional maintenance (I had to re-cap the power supply after only a few years of use), and again, you really must ditch that cheezy OEM speaker for a JBL D120f or K120 if you want to get the most from it. Cool

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Note that the Blues Deluxe Reissue combo amp is not the same as a Deluxe Reverb of any stripe. Different circuits and controls altogether.

Hamilton Barnard · From: Oro Valley, Arizona (deceased)

Dave Campbell · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

i use mine with an ldg with a wallace true tone and sho bud volume pedal. it didn't sound great with the original speaker, but then i switched to an electrovoice sro, which was a huge improvement. a few months ago i put the amp into a cabinet for a solid state standel with a 15" altec 418B. it's the best my steel or tele have ever sounded. it cuts it on small stage club gigs, but for outdoor venues it's not quite loud enough.

Michael Dulin · From: Indiana, USA

I put an Eminence lil' Texas in mine...very clean, very clear, very light weight.MD

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Hamilton Barnard · From: Oro Valley, Arizona (deceased)

mike nolan · From: Forest Hills, NY USA

I use a couple of DRs a '64 and a '73. The speakers are the key, so look for something with a high sensitivity number 100 to 103 db. For double duty, I really like a JBL d 120, or a Tone Tubby 40-40. The '64 with an original Tone Tubby Red Alnico is fantastic, but not quite loud enough for most giga. I have a Telonics in the '73 right now, but I'm not totally in love with it.... it is loud though.

Tommy Mc · From: Middlesex VT

I own a '72 Deluxe Reverb. I know that it was used at one time by a steel player, however I use it for guitar. With either guitar or steel, the tone from the amp is to die for. I tried using it for steel at one gig, but it didn't have enough punch to get out over the guitar player. I play with a guitarist who is pretty loud, and doesn't leave too many holes for the steel....so your mileage may vary.

The original speaker was replaced somewhere along the line with a Fender Special Design blue label model 12774. (made by Eminence) This speaker is rated at 100 watts and seems to have more headroom than the originals. According to Eminence, the closest speaker they currently make is the Legend 1218.

Kerry Johnson · From: the Bay Area, CA

Hi Robert
Here is the speaker you're inquiring about:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=282912&highlight=

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I have a limited edition DR. Fender gave it to my best bud Neil Zaza. He never played it. He was heading for a tour in Asia with $20 in his wallet. I stopped at the bank and gave him some moolah. Crazy to travel with no money. When he came back, he asked me if I wanted the money or a trade. I took the trade. It's a 91 or 93 limited edition Dr, Blonde with Oxblood cloth. It sounds wonderful with the 60's Jensen and Telefunker Pres. I think the original Fender speaker might be better for steel though. Stunning amp, in brand new condition. Neil never played it, and it's never been out of my living room. Soon to be for sale here, or on Reverb. Of course I'll send in a donation.

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