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Post subject: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:14 pm
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I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Reverb, and a guy's selling a 1979 in great shape for $800(Firm). However, with the Musician's Friend Columbus day sale, I could get a new one for $850. I've been looking for a used DRRI locally for months, to no avail. It seems nobody wants to let their's go. What do ya'll think I should do?


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:47 pm
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Vintage. Without a doubt.

Otherwise, and you'll shoot yourself in the morning.

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:35 pm
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I have a 1980 DR and it sounds like heaven.....the tubes on it have been glowing all afternoon...... 8) I am very, very happy with my choice.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:11 pm
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Thanks for the replies guys. I was definitely leaning towards the 78, but I didn't quite know how that year stacked up with other years. Is there a definitive rundown on the history and incarnations of the deluxe reverb that someone could point me to? Also, is there anythings I should be looking for when I check out the amp, or is sound everything? Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:05 pm
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I would insist upon a complete disassembly of the amp and a comprehensive inspection of the chassis where I would investigate any evidence of modifications, repairs, replaced parts, and original components likely to cause problems due to age and/or abuse. I'd check the cabinet for structural damage caused by immersion in water or impact with a foreign object and look it over for any cosmetic issues as a result of misuse or abuse. I'd play the amp under all conceivable scenarios and check each control for proper operation then dime it and listen for any sign of speaker fatigue. If the amp passed each of those test parameters, I'd wave $750 in cash in the seller's face and tell him to take it or leave it.

But that's just me. And my experience with buying vintage amps is limited.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:19 am
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... and ya gotta admit Silver Face Fenders do look awesome! My favorite is Blonde, but Sliverface is a close 2nd!


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:40 am
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Redfarfisa wrote:
... and ya gotta admit Silver Face Fenders do look awesome!


+1

I'm a sucker for silverfaces too. Here's my '67 DR......

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Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:15 pm
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Man that is a gorgeous amp. So the guy with the 78 won't call me back. I'm so bummed :(


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:41 pm
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Could be he changed his mind or the amp is already sold.

I've seen a few clean mid/late '70s Deluxe Reverbs on Ebay recently for reasonable $$$......

That's where mine came from.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:22 pm
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I have been hearing nothing but problems with modern Fender amps.I would go vintage you are getting a hand wired amp. that are really easy to work on. and the value will go up not like the modern ones


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:33 pm
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Dang! $800 is a great price for a working DR. Just look at EBay for what some ppl want. Well, good luck on your search. A good SF Princeton Reverb maybe another option...


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... Categories


Last edited by BMW2002Ti on Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:23 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
A good SF Princeton Reverb maybe another option...


I've seen a few clean examples recently on Ebay for reasonable $$$.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 8:34 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Dang! $800 is a great price for a working DR. Just look at EBay for what some ppl want. Well, good luck on your search. A good SF Princeton Reverb maybe another option...


http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... Categories


What is the difference b/t a princeton reverb and a Deluxe reverb? I'm looking for the perfect clean recording machine BTW.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:41 pm
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Main difference I can see is how the Vibrato/Tremolo & phase inverter units are setup in the DR & DRRI versus the PR. The PR uses half of a 12AX7 to drive the tremolo and the other half as a phase inverter. The DR & DDRI uses a full two-halves of the 12AX7 in the vibrato/tremolo section and a full 12AT7 in the phase inverter section. Plus, the DR comes with a stock 12-inch speaker and the PR comes with a 10-inch. DR comes with bias adjustment. Some PR do not. Thus, the DR is generally going to be louder.

As for the DRRI, the general layout seems to be the same as the original BF DR.

Now as for "clean." Both run 6V6GT in push-pull fashion. 6V6GT overdrive earlier than, say 6L6GC. So, you are not going to get the same overall tone as, say a dual 6L6GC Fender. Both DR and PR run tube rectifers. Either 5U4GB or GZ34. So, you are going to get a bit of sag. Not that real "in-your-face" bass and transients like a solid-state rectified amp. You want super clean.... maybe a good SF Bandmaster Reverb on top of a half-stack is the better answer.

One solution to the OD issue, is to use a very effecient speaker. Ceramic for clean headroom and crunchier OD. I've put both alnico and ceramic Webers into DR, DRRI, and PR. And they really clean up the top head & give more punch to the bass. Esp the heavy ceramic magnet variety. Like a 10F150T (50 watts) for the PR or a 12F150 (50 watt) for the DR or DRRI.

Or run the PR (or DR) through a half-stack or 2 X 12inch loaded with very efficient speakers (like the Weber ceramic) or I like the 1990's version of the Celestion Vintage 30.

Good luck, on your search. HTH a bit.


http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heav ... _schem.pdf

http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heav ... _schem.pdf

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI vs. 78' Reluxe Reverb: Which Should I get?
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 2:36 pm
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Don't forget there are significant differences between each of the amps' tremolo circuits. The PR uses bias-modulation at the output stage (Leo's first tremolo design), while the DR uses the later opto-isolator system within the pre-amp. Of the two types, I prefer the bias wiggle.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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