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Post subject: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:29 pm
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I recently picked up this amp used for $350. After new tubes and some soldering repairs, I'm in at around $450. Here's where I'm at...

I have abandoned the drive channel (do not like it at all) and use the #2 input (for volume reasons). The #1 channel sounds much better but the band says...well, you know...turn it down. For the settings, I turn the Treble, Mid and Bass to 12 and adjust the bass depending on the room. I play a Epi Sheraton II and use a wah, fulldrive 2 OD and a flanger in the loop. While the sound is getting better, I'm still not satisfied. For a little more background, we play rock'n'roll. Straight up.

I am considering swapping out the speaker.

Is there a speaker that will allow me to push the amp more? Do I really want that since I have added the overdrive pedal?
Is it worth changing the speaker at all? Can I get more from another speaker?

I'm not quite sure what I'm missing but it's something.

At some point, I get the feeling that I'm going to want something different. I don't want to end up 700+ into the amp unless I can really get that rockin sound. One more thought, I have another guitar in my sites...probably a tele.

Thanks for any feedback.


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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:38 pm
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Yes , a new and good speaker give you a better sound. Original speaker on those amps are "cheap".

Buy a Weber or some other quality one. A good speaker is the cheaper mod to an amp to ameliorate the tone.

If you replace the power tubes, you must check and readjust bias. These amp are very often baising too hot = too much distortion non-musical and shorter tubes life


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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:49 pm
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Thanks. I'll look into Weber.

I'm guessing the tubes have 150 hours or more. It looks like I need to take the amp to a tech for the biasing. Do I need to replace all of the tubes again?

Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:39 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Yes , a new and good speaker give you a better sound. Original speaker on those amps are "cheap".

Buy a Weber or some other quality one. A good speaker is the cheaper mod to an amp to ameliorate the tone.

If you replace the power tubes, you must check and readjust bias. These amp are very often baising too hot = too much distortion non-musical and shorter tubes life

Are you sure you're not thinking of the Hot Rod Deluxe? I have never been able to get enough distortion at reasonable volumes to suit me, and I've read many others make the same comment. Mine is the reissue with the stock spkr, and I do like it's sound very much...just have to use an OD pedal to get more distortion when wanted. It is, after all, a "Blues" amp.

But of course, good tone is a personal thing :wink:
soneedaze wrote:
At some point, I get the feeling that I'm going to want something different. I don't want to end up 700+ into the amp unless I can really get that rockin sound.

I'd say that if you have a tech check out the amp and re-bias if necessary, and you're still not satisfied, you should probably move on as you probably never will be satisfied with the amp. Your point in having $700 in a used '93 amp which currently go for $750 new is a valid one.

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:31 pm
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I had a HRDlx and finally dumped it. Between the reliability issues and trying to make it sound like something it would never be, I sold it. The drive channels were totally useless stock and only marginally better with a tube change.

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:04 pm
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I had a blues deluxe and finally got tired of wrestling with the volume knob and sold it.I got a deluxe reverb and am much happier.The key is selecting the proper amp for the proper venue.Its one of the reason that many people have more than one amp..


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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:38 pm
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budglo wrote:
Its one of the reason that many people have more than one amp.


Indeed.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:00 am
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im running a BDRI at the moment, i did find the stock speaker a bit muddy, bt after sum biasing adjustment i found its sweet spot... also dont run so much bass and mid... the amp has enough of its own... im running my treb on 4, bass on 6, mid on 6...

these amps are legend for their clean channel, i run pedals for everything else, i play a lot of blues and for that kind of music the drive on the amp is very usable, but alas... in big venues i jus turn it up to that warm overdrive... at about 8 on the volume... gets loud tho...

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:35 am
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soneedaze wrote:
Thanks. I'll look into Weber.

I'm guessing the tubes have 150 hours or more. It looks like I need to take the amp to a tech for the biasing. Do I need to replace all of the tubes again?

Thanks again.


The 93 (original Blues Deluxe) does not have an adjustable bias unless mods are made to it. It can be done but will further increase what you have invested in the amp. Fender biases these amps very cold so your tubes should last forever.

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:36 am
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stratele52 wrote:
If you replace the power tubes, you must check and readjust bias. These amp are very often baising too hot = too much distortion non-musical and shorter tubes life


Actually, these amps are biased very cold from Fender.

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:39 am
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da rok wrote:
im running a BDRI at the moment, i did find the stock speaker a bit muddy, bt after sum biasing adjustment i found its sweet spot... also dont run so much bass and mid... the amp has enough of its own... im running my treb on 4, bass on 6, mid on 6...

these amps are legend for their clean channel, i run pedals for everything else, i play a lot of blues and for that kind of music the drive on the amp is very usable, but alas... in big venues i jus turn it up to that warm overdrive... at about 8 on the volume... gets loud tho...


I have a BDRI also which is much improved over the original Blues Deluxe. I love the clean channel and have retubed it with a JJ tube kit from Eurotubes. I have a lower gain tube in V2 which gets rid of any real "drive" in the drive channel, but makes it much more usable. I use a modded Boss BD-2 and OD-3 for dirt.

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:44 am
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Try a 12au7 in the V3 phase inverter spot. More drive than 12ax7 and reduces volume touchyness.

It gives the amp a bit more grit on both channels.

I would like to hear if anyone else has tried this and what they think.

frank


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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:10 am
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Thanks for the feedback. I may just stick with it for now. Perhaps I'll try the tube change in the inverter. If I do, I will repost.

Have a great weekend.


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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 11:44 am
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FXA wrote:
Try a 12au7 in the V3 phase inverter spot. More drive than 12ax7 and reduces volume touchyness.

It gives the amp a bit more grit on both channels.

I would like to hear if anyone else has tried this and what they think.

frank


A 12AX7 has a gain factor of 100 while a 12AU7 has a gain factor of 19. I wouldn't go with anything less than a 12AT7 (which Fender uses in many amps as the PI) which has a gain factor of about 40. I don't see how a 12AU7 can give you "more grit" with that low a gain unless because you are overdriving it with V1/V2.

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Post subject: Re: 1993 Blues Deluxe tips?
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:52 pm
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I believe it gives more preamp distortion because the preamp tubes are driven more and then the signal is reduced as it goes to the power tubes so the preamp tubes create the distortion.

This is my guess, I only know that this is what it does.


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