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Post subject: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 4:48 pm
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Hi - looking for advice - recently picked up a BDRI (08) for a very good price - was looking for more grit than a Blues Jr. offered. However the clean ends at about 2 on the controls (drive off of course). Would 12AT7 tubes in the pre-amp stage increase the clean tone so breakup occurs at higher volume without creating other issues with this amp? They at about 60-70% gain factor but don't want to waste $ on this...if it causes other issues... Power tubes are stock GT's, have new EH 12AX7 in pre amp stage (stock GT 12AX7 were toast).

Any experience out there?

Thx.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 5:11 pm
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Usually, BRRI has clean often too loud ! Make sure the bias is correct before change anything. (7ender recommandation is 60mV --> 60mA, let be 30mA per power valve, called cold bias but not bad, depending on your valves, 68 even more is possible of course respecting max power of your valves)

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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:37 pm
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Hi puddleglum,

I agree with Tissan, that amp should be clean at high volume on the clean channel, check the bias setting. Also, what kind of output tubes do you have? I have a HRDlx, which is a very similar amp, and I tried a 12AT7 in all three preamp spots. I didn't like the sound of the clean channel with the 12AT7 in any spot (added farty sound), although it did help the drive channel sound a little better when used in V2. I think that mine is set at about 70 mV at the test point (about 14 watts idle), and still has the original GT output tubes (5881). :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:51 pm
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I have the same experience with this amp. I probably bought it around 2000 or so probably by now (time flies).
Anyway, any volume level above 2 starts to break up the tubes and get that nice bluesy crunch. I'd like a little more head room out of it personally.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:35 am
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Back when I still owned a HRDlx (similar in architecture to the BD, as shimmilou has mentioned) the only thing it ever did well was very clean cleans, very very loudly. The "fizz" and "more fizz" channels were just that -- totally unusable. But the normal input sounded nice and "Fender-y". Most of these amps when new will respond positively to a bias "tune-up" and a cherry-picked selection of good tubes.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:41 am
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Thx for the replies - the amp bias should be factory set - the original owner never touched anything. The factory GT power tubes are still in place - 2 years old now(time to replace maybe). JJ's seem to be highly recommended...

The break up starts at 2 - it is more desirable than the drive channel oddly...but yes gets very very loud fast.

Clean tone is very good but - be nice if it did not break up until say 4.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:22 am
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i agree with puddlegum
is there anyway to make this happen?


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:30 am
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puddleglum wrote:
the amp bias should be factory set - the original owner never touched anything.


Likely the lion's share of the problems.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:22 am
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puddleglum wrote:
Hi - looking for advice - recently picked up a BDRI (08) for a very good price - was looking for more grit than a Blues Jr. offered. However the clean ends at about 2 on the controls (drive off of course). Would 12AT7 tubes in the pre-amp stage increase the clean tone so breakup occurs at higher volume without creating other issues with this amp? They at about 60-70% gain factor but don't want to waste $ on this...if it causes other issues... Power tubes are stock GT's, have new EH 12AX7 in pre amp stage (stock GT 12AX7 were toast).

Any experience out there?

Thx.


Buy this retube kit. It is what I have in my BDRI:

Fender Blues Deluxe-Deville Blues Option
Price: $68.00
Description: A hotter matched pair of the JJ 6L6GC's for the reissue or the original fixed bias 90's Blues Deluxe or Deville for a big warm tone along with a standard ECC83S for V1, an ECC81 for V2 to drop the gain with one balanced ECC83S for the phase inverter in V3. These will reduce the preamp gain for players wanting less gain.


https://ssl.eurotubes.com/cart/index.ph ... ory_id=122

Set the bias to about 38 mA cathode current per tube (if using a bias probe and note the plate voltage) or about 83 mV if measuring at the Fender test point.

Absolutely glorious cleans. Also, use input #2 unstead of input #1.

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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:23 am
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Interesting - I put a Jan-Phillips 12T7 into the 1st pre-amp tube slot(furthest from the power tubes). It did increase the clean till 3 on the clean channel. This is an improvement. Sounds quite good with my Strat. Tried also into the 2nd position, did not have as much effect. EH12AX7 in other positions.

Cheap improvement.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:46 am
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towps wrote:
i agree with puddlegum
is there anyway to make this happen?


I rebiased the amp (simple to do) to 60 mV which is spec for the stock GT's - breaks up nicely at 4 now.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:57 am
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awesome. any good resources on rebiasing you can recommend?
if it is simple i should be able to manage.
i tried to get a tech at a guitar shoppe to do it but he refused saying you bought the amp, that's what you chose so that's what you get. seemed hesitant on rebiasing for some reason.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:05 am
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towps wrote:
awesome. any good resources on rebiasing you can recommend?
if it is simple i should be able to manage.
i tried to get a tech at a guitar shoppe to do it but he refused saying you bought the amp, that's what you chose so that's what you get. seemed hesitant on rebiasing for some reason.


http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53041

http://www.eurotubes.com/euro-Fender-HRDV.htm

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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:00 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
towps wrote:
awesome. any good resources on rebiasing you can recommend?
if it is simple i should be able to manage.
i tried to get a tech at a guitar shoppe to do it but he refused saying you bought the amp, that's what you chose so that's what you get. seemed hesitant on rebiasing for some reason.


http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53041

http://www.eurotubes.com/euro-Fender-HRDV.htm


I used the eurotubes above as well as recommendations from the tubestore.com - need a digital volt meter and the board schematic and a screwdriver to adjust the pot - the factor set it at 70 mV measured from the test point on the board to chassis ground- download the maintenance from the net - do this job carefully - lots of voltage in there on or off...hats off to Fender for making bias adjustment easy.


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Post subject: Re: Blues Deluxe Reissue Clean Headroom
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:11 pm
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any good tips for not killing yourself while doing this?


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