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Post subject: Blues Deluxe mods - anybody tried it?
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:06 am
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Hi

I'm not really happy with the sound from my Blues Deluxe Reissue - in my opinion it's harsh and farty sounding. I replaced the tubes with Svetlana's and it's still not the sound I'm looking for.

I see that some people sell replacement capacitor kits and Fargen has a kit that includes a new transformer etc. But before I shell out $400 for an upgrade I wondered if anybody has tried these mods and what the results were

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe mods - anybody tried it?
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:28 am
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Jodo wrote:
Hi

I'm not really happy with the sound from my Blues Deluxe Reissue - in my opinion it's harsh and farty sounding. I replaced the tubes with Svetlana's and it's still not the sound I'm looking for.

I see that some people sell replacement capacitor kits and Fargen has a kit that includes a new transformer etc. But before I shell out $400 for an upgrade I wondered if anybody has tried these mods and what the results were

Thanks


What did it sound like when you tested it out?
Mine sounded great and still does. Never had the desire to mod it.


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:36 am
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If you don't like the way it sounds, sell it. It will only be turd polish to you and you'll never be happy. That's what I did to my HRDlx. Got rid of it. Take the $400 from the upgrade, combine it with the sale of the amp and get something that appeal's to YOUR ears, not what everyone else tells you is great.


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:37 am
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It sounded the same as it does now. I was in a shop doing A/B tests on a bunch of amps and the BDRI sounded the best among several others that I was looking at and it was reasonably priced.

But I'm just not getting a nice clean tone out of it.


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:46 am
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Don't shop on price. I'd try a used DRRI. Great sounding amps. It's at least worth a try. Try a new one, if it's what you're looking for go used and save some money. Most of the HRD series amps sound like that to me. The HRD amps don't have a ton of clean headroom. They weren't designed to. My HRDlx sounded great after I threw a set of JJ's in it until you cranked it up. Then the speaker started to get farty. That's when I gave up on it and got rid of it. It was seriously unreliable too.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe mods - anybody tried it?
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:20 pm
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Jodo wrote:
Hi

I'm not really happy with the sound from my Blues Deluxe Reissue - in my opinion it's harsh and farty sounding. I replaced the tubes with Svetlana's and it's still not the sound I'm looking for.

I see that some people sell replacement capacitor kits and Fargen has a kit that includes a new transformer etc. But before I shell out $400 for an upgrade I wondered if anybody has tried these mods and what the results were

Thanks
Personally I wouldnt put 400 into a blues deluxe.As Supro said , check out the DRRI.Great amp.Thing is,you try to find the amp that will give you the tones you are looking for, not the best one out of the bunch.The best one out of the bunch doesnt always cut it and then you are stuck.Its best to hold out and find the amp you are looking for.Every time I have settled , I regretted it.


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:50 pm
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Jodo,

I am in the SAME boat, and I posted the same question here a few weeks ago. Fargen Mod demo sounds sweet, but $400 into the amp is pretty damn steep.

I was just thinking about a retube myself, but your post just made me reconsider. Guess it's time to throw in the towel and go start plugging into different options at GC.


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:53 pm
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As an old tech-player, I don't think a $400 investment in that particular amp would be worth it. If it were a more substantial piece of equipment, then I'd say yeah. On the other hand, if you're doing all the work yourself and you're on a mission to improve this amp, the learning process and the sonic success will be worth it. Art

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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:08 pm
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+1 on checking out a used DRRI.

I bought my used DRRI at Guitar Center for less than what a new BDRI costs. Plus I took advantage of their "no interest/no payments for a year" deal, which made the cost a lot easier to manage. Their fine print states that the special financing isn't available for used gear, but they'll work with you.

I actually owned a BDRI at one time. I bought it used from GC and returned it two days later for the DRRI. To me, the difference in tone and reverb on the DRRI was worth the extra money.


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:19 pm
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jodo, i have a bdri too. i did a little mod on mine ,jensen p12n(no bell)2-12ax7c, 1- 12at7 in the p.i. spot.i didn't change the power tubes they do well for the way i play. the 12ax7c with the 12at7 will build more compression and let the power tubes do the work. i got more head room and a nice distortion when i want it. i use my e.c. strat and can get a lot of different tones with this set up. it also overdrives nicely with my les paul. check the pick ups in your guitar...do they have a high or low output? these things make a real difference. just to let you know i mainly run my controls...drive 4, treb 7 mid 5, bass 3, pres 3, master 6. i usualy only run it on the o.d. channel. i love my amp but i have changed a few things, just to sute me. good luck and don't spend a fortune to mod it. i did my set up for around $220. the speaker was the most of the exspense ($170 on line).


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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:25 pm
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I have a blues deluxe that I bought last november for 699.Its an ok amp that I have had no problems with,but like all amps HR, the volume knob is touchy.I eventually bought a 59 Bassman ri for dirt cheap and used that for my medium size gigs .I really needed something to replace the Blues jr with a little more beef.Something manageable sizewise for my bad back.After reading what people said on here about the DRRI i decided to check it out.I ended up getting one for about 100 bills more than I paid for the Blues Deluxe and its twice the amp the blues deluxe is.Awesome tone.I actually havent even brought my bassman to any gigs since either.I think I am gonna stick with the drri for now and save my back and get great tone in the process.


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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 8:10 am
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Hey guys - great feedback.

For Wiz-ski -- different tubes do help. I'm getting a better sound with the Svetlanas. I used tung-sol 12ax7's for the preamp and a JJECC81 in the pi.

Fender amp names tends to overlap a bit. Is DRRI ='65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue?

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0217400000


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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:12 am
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DRRI ='65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue Yep.


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