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Post subject: Tubes mounted on PCB
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 9:15 am
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Which of the following amps have tubes mounted on printed circuit boards?

Blues Deluxe ReIssue
Hot Rod Deluxe
Deluxe Reverb ReIssue
Blues Jr. NOS

I am interested in purchasing one of these amps but for reliability purposes I want to stay away from any amp that has the tubes mounted on a PCB. I don't mind if the rest of the components are mounted on a PCB but certainly not the tubes.


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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:47 am
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Deluxe Reverb ReIssue is not mounted on the board, they are chassis mounted. The HRDlx and the rest of the Hot Rod Series mounts them on the board. My HRDlx has lots of heat related issues.
Just because tubes are mounted to the board doesn't make it a bad amp if it's designed well. The Hot Rod series uses a thin board and cheaper components and that's where the problem lies. It's the price point. Now that they cost more with no improvement in quality I'd think long and hard about any of the other amps on the list.

If you're going to gig, I'd get the Deluxe Reverb ReIssue. It's a way more versatile amp too, Two separate channels with EQ and 4 inputs.


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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:26 am
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I agree with Supro, i have a BDRI and a 59 Bassman RI and if I would be gigging now i would be using the Bassman due to the way the thing is built.I still think the BDRI is a great amp , its just more fragile than a DRRI.If you were to handle it yourself in transport ,you probably be ok, but the Reissue series amps are built like a tank.You never hear anyone complain about them failing.


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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:09 am
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I'm on my way to the music store to test out the DRRI again. I'm really thinking this is the amp for me. I was surprised to hear Supro say the DRRI was more versatile than the others. I know the HRDLX offers effects loop, mid control and presence as well as a dirty channel with a master volume. I'm a little worried about the lack of a mid and presence control on the DRRI but perhaps this will just make dialing in a tone easier. I do like to run my chorus pedal thru the loop but I guess it will be alright in front of the amp and as far as dirty channel and lack of a master volume I'll simply put my tube screamer out in front.


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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:56 am
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The DRRI is like having 2 amps in one. On my HRDlx when you channel switch, most times I find myself tweaking contols during the song. I don't like effect loops anyway. None of my other amps have one so I guess I'm just used to it. The DRRI has a much more beautiful and useful tone to me. When cranked, it has a buttery smooth distortion that cuts through a mix much better than my HRDlx. Reliability as a huge issue with my HRDlx too. What good is an amp I can't trust to gig with?


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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 7:45 am
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All amps listed have tubes mounted to a circuit board. Fender at least mounts them to a seperate ciruit board away from the main board but all are in fact mounted to a circuit board. Usually not a problem with the RI series if that helps any. The heating problem occurs moslty on HRD models when the bias increased to where it is "suppose to be".


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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 12:29 pm
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As far as I know, the DRRI has the sockets mounted to the chassis.


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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 12:43 pm
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I always thought they put them on the chassis on the higher and amps. If it's a separate board, it should be okay. I had an original up until a few years ago. The DRRI rarely has reliability issues. I'd still go that route before any of the other amps on your list.

My HRDlx took it's first dump while biased too cold. It was around 60mv. The design just is just poor period.
Another option in the same price range is the Egnater Rebel 20. I tried one out and is totally amazing right out of the box. It comes stock with both 2 6V6 and 2 EL84 JJ power tubes that you can blend and a power knob that goes from 1-20 watts. The tonal variations are amazing.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:10 am
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63supro wrote:
I always thought they put them on the chassis on the higher and amps. If it's a separate board, it should be okay. I had an original up until a few years ago. The DRRI rarely has reliability issues. I'd still go that route before any of the other amps on your list.

My HRDlx took it's first dump while biased too cold. It was around 60mv. The design just is just poor period.
Another option in the same price range is the Egnater Rebel 20. I tried one out and is totally amazing right out of the box. It comes stock with both 2 6V6 and 2 EL84 JJ power tubes that you can blend and a power knob that goes from 1-20 watts. The tonal variations are amazing.


I agree totally. The HRD are great amps but will have some failure at some point. The DRRI and all of them have the tubes mounted to a seperate circuit board. Also the DRRI is a freaking KILLER amp. I have many vintage amps and still play my DRRI out a lot. No it doesn't sound exactly like a vintage one but is sure sounds bad $@!. Fender did a great job on the RI series if you ask me. For the price point I think there is no problem. Well at least at used prices. Hell now that I think of it. There is a DRRI is great condition over at thegearpage.net in the used amps forum for like $650 shipped if I remember correct. I contacted him about since he lived in atlanta and that isn't to far from me but I already have one so I just told a few locals about it. Should check that out if your still looking for one. $650 is a steal for an amp like that.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 3:48 pm
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Power tube sockets on the DRRI are NOT soldered to a PCB. They are screwed to the chassis and wires run from them to the main PCB. I just got done working on one.


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Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:32 pm
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That's what I thought originally!


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Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:50 am
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lol I'll have to go check again. I'll let you know if my foot is in my mouth. I've been working on mostly vintage here latley and building amps.


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Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:53 am
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Ok, yup I was wrong. haha The RI series is chassis mount. My bad. I still stand by the RI series. I love them.


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Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:58 am
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I thought so. That's why you pay a premium for the reissues. I just wish they used Mallory or Sprague caps.


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Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:34 pm
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As a result of all the different answers I recieved about the tube mounting on the DRRI I e-mailed Fender and recieved the following reply

All of the below amps are on circuit boards, the only Deluxe model that isn’t, is the 57 Deluxe tweed deluxe.

Since I had read dedmouse's post I replied that I heard the power tubes were mounted on the chasis. I then recieved the following reply

My apologies, the 65 Reissue tube sockets are not pcb mounted.



Take care,’



Ed Treat

Fender Consumer Relations

Fender Musical Instruments Corp.

8860 East Chaparral Road, Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85250-2610


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