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Post subject: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:17 am
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I am going to trade a 2010 Blues Jr. with a C-Rex installed for a 1980's era Blues DeVille 4x10. My friend needs a more portable solution and already has one Blues Jr. with a Weber speaker of some sort. I really do not need a 60 watt tube amp, but I am thinking this could be a pretty good deal because I have read that the Blues Deville can get pretty close to a Bassman tone with the right speakers.

Anyone got a 80's Blues Deville and know of any gotchas or stuff to look out for, tube suggestions? I am pretty sure this one has fixed bias. My other amps I can adjust the bias after a tube swap, so I am not sure what to do in the case of a fixed bias.

I have a Blues Deluxe Reissue and it seems that the setup is pretty similar to the Blues Deville, except for the fixed bias. I think the Blues Deville is gonna make some kinda mean tone to my amp collection..

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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:56 am
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The tone stack of the Blues Deville (both original and Reissue) as well as the Blues Deluxe (both original and Reissue) is similar to that of the 5F6A Bassman in its configuration but not in how it is driven or the following circuitry that it drives. In the Bassman the tone stack was driven by a cathode follower circuit (very low output impedance) and the tone stack then drove the PI directly (very high input impedance). This means that the tone stack is pretty well isolated from the circuitry around it and is much more effective in its operation. In the Blues amps the tone stack is stuck between two preamp gain stages that have a greater impact on the tone stack operation. As far as a Blues Deville sounding "pretty close" to a Bassman, I guess that depends on your definition of "pretty close".

Both the original Blues Deville and the Reissue are "fixed bias". The Reissue has a pot that allows the adjustment of the bias. Fixed bias does not mean "non-adjustible". It means the the bias voltage is supplied by a separate power supply coming off the power transformer that provides a fixed voltage level (as oppose to a cathode biased amp). Some amps allow you to adjust the bias output, other do not, but they are still both "fixed" supplies. There are kits available to allow you to add a bias adjustment pot to original Blues amps (incuding Blues Jrs.).

As far as what to look for, you should look for the things you would for in any 30 year old amp, mainly leaky capacitors, burned resistors, bad solder joints etc.

I use JJ tubes in both my Blue Deluxe Reissue and 5F6A Bassman clone with a NOS JAN GE 12AY7 in V1 in each amp.

Good luck and have fun.

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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:30 am
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"My other amps I can adjust the bias after a tube swap, so I am not sure what to do in the case of a fixed bias."

Your other amps are fixed bias too. "Fixed bias" means that the bias voltage it set to a fixed value (either by a pot or by a resistor) and then it doesn't change (until you adjust the pot or change the resistor). So if you replace the output tubes with tubes that have a different current draw you have to adjust the bias voltage.

As opposed to "cathode bias" (sometimes called "self biasing") where the bias circuit is sort of a closed loop feedback circuit that adjusts itself. As long as the replacement tubes are reasonably close to normal, the bias will automatically be in the proper range.

The original Blues DeVille's had the bias set by a resistor rather than a pot. The Reissue Blues DeVille's have a pot instead of a resistor.

You have several options. Some tube venders rate their tubes for current draw, so you can find a set that works properly in your amp and then always buy tubes with the same ratings. If you want to be able to use a variety of tubes you can resign yourself to changing the bias resistor as needed, or you can replace the resistor with a pot.

Installing a bias pot is a common mod that's pretty simple.

(In practice, it's common to replace the resistor with a smaller resistor plus a pot -- that way there's still some resistance even if you turn the pot fully open.)


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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:38 am
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Now I know why I work on computers instead of tube amps...
Got a lot to learn on this adventure....

I am digging the tone of the Blues Deville...
I like a little more bass, but the cleans sound pretty good with Webers in it....
http://youtu.be/47spsM8Wlbc

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:30 am
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I got the amp yesterday and it ain't no 80's, in fact they did not even make them until the 90's.. I opened it up and the circut board had 1993 on it. The amp is like new except for the stock speakers, which sound like crap. I hooked it up to my 2 x 12 ext. with two 12" Texas Heats and holy crap it rocks the house.

So I am debating on speakers now. I am thinking 2 Ragin Cajuns and 2 Delta Demons...
Anybody try that yet....

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:35 pm
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Ya beat me to it !
I had the first year and it was a 1993.
Everyone here should own the book 60 years of Tone Fender amplifiers
Helps weed out a million bits of info in a hury.

I liked my 4x10 deville a lot, pretty nice sounding amp for what it was.

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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:39 pm
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A pair of Copperheads would also interface well with Ragin' Cajun's......

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:16 pm
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I saw that set of 2 Ragin Cajuns and 2 Copperheads being sold in a few places as Barking Blues..
Looks like a good combo of tone..

I have read some good things about the Ragin Cajuns mixed with the Eminence Legend 105's also...

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:12 am
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So I ordered two Ragin Cajuns and two Eminence Legends 105's. Gonna stick them in an X pattern. I have never played much through an amp with four tens and I am digging the tone even with the bad speaker in it, I can tell this is the start of something good.

It sounds pretty pristine through the two 12" Texas Heats. I hooked it up to the Weber Mini Mass last night to get the tubes hot and see if I could break it, no dice, it just sat there craving mo' blues and sorta had that is that all you got attitude...

Anyone recommend a good set of tubes for this thing in case I do break them?

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:01 pm
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majorbytes wrote:
Anyone recommend a good set of tubes for this thing in case I do break them?


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

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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:33 pm
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Nice link BlueSky...

Well I did this tonight....
Just jammed for two hours, the Legend 105's give it the guts and the Ragin Cajun's give it the glory. Totally awesome tone with just the amp, punched on the Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet and the Big Muff Pi put it right there.. I had to really crank down on the Weber Mini Mass Attenuator to be able to stay in the same room with it though...

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:56 am
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So I have come up with an idea. The Blues Deville is a little more power than I really need and I have a Blues Deluxe. I am thinking that my Blues Deluxe guts would fit right into that Blues Deville 4x10 cabinet. Anyone ever try that one?

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 1980's Blues DeVille 4x10
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:42 am
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majorbytes wrote:
So I have come up with an idea. The Blues Deville is a little more power than I really need and I have a Blues Deluxe. I am thinking that my Blues Deluxe guts would fit right into that Blues Deville 4x10 cabinet. Anyone ever try that one?


With the exception of a few component changes and power supply differences, the amps are identical. Not sure what that would buy you.

This covers the Reissues, but you get the idea:

http://www.blueguitar.org/new/schem/fen ... eissue.pdf

You can find the original schematics on line.

Also, the Blues Deluxe is 40 watts and the Blues Deville is 60 watts. That is only a difference of 1.5 dB in power and not enough to make a significant difference in sound pressure level.

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