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Post subject: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:27 pm
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Hey there. I'm currently using a Blues Deluxe Reissue in my band, a sixties tribute (loads of Who/Kinks/Beatles/Stones). Nothing too heavy (although the band I guess is very punchy through the PA) and plenty of clean stuff. After ten years of every band member and dep wincing whenever they're near the amp, I've decided to give them a break and at least consider a quieter alternative! The BD rarely goes above 2.5 on both channels.
It's very important I have decent headroom as there are clean songs in there too. I can add an overdrive but I can't add clean! The Deluxe pretty much does what I want, but I'm curious if the 15 waters I'm looking at are going to cut through as I don't always mic up. I play a Ric 330.

The contenders are a Blues Jr (15 watts, far but too many boxy reports, even on ones modded to hell); Deluxe Reverb (22 watts - probably my favourite at the moment?); AC15CC (with Alnico Blue?); and I've also seen a second hand AC15HW1 that looks great but even the owner has suggested the headroom is poor, which is a deal breaker. Guess I'm a Fender or Vox man.

I guess these types of questions come up often and ultimately we can only go with our own ears, but as I don't really live near any shops that have these amps I usually do an awful lot of research with people like you in the know before taking the plunge.

Cheers in advance!


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:20 pm
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Spenno, welcome to the Forum! :D

IME, a EL84 amp (esp one in Class "A" topology, like the Vox) is going to have a more difficult time giving you clean headroom, than a 6V6GT amp (in Class AB1). Also, a dual, 40 watt, 6L6GC amp driving two 10-inch speakers (like the old Vibrolux Reverb) is nice. In-between the DR's 6V6GT and the more potent Super Reverb or Bandmaster Reverb. This is due to the smaller trannies and less hefty power supply built into the VLR. Along with the speakers used with the SR and BMR.

EL84 amps can be loud as heck. Like the Peavey Classic 30. But, the tone is more compressed at volume, compared to most 6V6GT amps. Prolly not what you are looking to get.


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:40 pm
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Install a 12AY7 or 5751 in place of the 12AX7 in V1 and save a ton of money. The amp will still be loud at max volume but the lower gain tube in V1 will give you a smoother sweep on the volume controls with more clean headroom.

I don't gig but I run a 5751 in V1 with the clean volume set on 8 and use the guitar volume control to go from clean to overdrive (no pedals).

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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 10:33 pm
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I set my volume on 2.5 or 3 in my living room. I don't understand the problem in a band. But if it is too loud, turn it down. :D


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:48 am
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Thanks for the tips guys. All helpful.

GTG wrote:
I set my volume on 2.5 or 3 in my living room.

If that's the case, I feel for your neighbours. I guarantee if I did that in my house the cops would be at the door within the hour.
GTG wrote:
if it is too loud, turn it down.

You'd think it would be that straightforward :) I say that I have it on 2.5 at the loudest. Usually it's less than 2. Any quieter and it just fades out and loses any character. This is the case with rolling back the volume on the Rickenbacker - all the jangle and treble that makes it a Ric seems to disappear unless it's flat out. I know it's not as much an issue with other guitars.

BMW2002Ti wrote:
a dual, 40 watt, 6L6GC amp driving two 10-inch speakers (like the old Vibrolux Reverb) is nice. In-between the DR's 6V6GT and the more potent Super Reverb or Bandmaster Reverb.

I'd love to try out a Vibrolux but haven't had the opportunity. I'll keep my eye out!

bluesky636 wrote:
Install a 12AY7 or 5751 in place of the 12AX7 in V1 and save a ton of money.

I keep seeing this tip and you're right, it's probably worth a go before making an expensive mistake. I thought valves had to be in pairs or something ... not easy as there are three of them ... I take it the three pre-amp valaves (1-3) are all independent to one another?


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:46 am
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You could try a volume control in the FX loop like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Tube-Amp ... 2589ea7f88

I run a Boss GT-100 4CM with my HRDX and though I don't have a problem with it being too loud at gigs most the time, I do use the GT-100 output volume control to bring the volume down with more gradual control at home. Effectively like using the volume box from the link above in the loop. You could also use an EQ pedal in the loop as well.

My HRDX is ver III and I have a 5751 in the V1 position because I wanted more clean headroom. Works well for me.


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:39 pm
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Spenno wrote:
Thanks for the tips guys. All helpful.

GTG wrote:
I set my volume on 2.5 or 3 in my living room.

If that's the case, I feel for your neighbours. I guarantee if I did that in my house the cops would be at the door within the hour.
GTG wrote:
if it is too loud, turn it down.

You'd think it would be that straightforward :) I say that I have it on 2.5 at the loudest. Usually it's less than 2. Any quieter and it just fades out and loses any character. This is the case with rolling back the volume on the Rickenbacker - all the jangle and treble that makes it a Ric seems to disappear unless it's flat out. I know it's not as much an issue with other guitars.

BMW2002Ti wrote:
a dual, 40 watt, 6L6GC amp driving two 10-inch speakers (like the old Vibrolux Reverb) is nice. In-between the DR's 6V6GT and the more potent Super Reverb or Bandmaster Reverb.

I'd love to try out a Vibrolux but haven't had the opportunity. I'll keep my eye out!

bluesky636 wrote:
Install a 12AY7 or 5751 in place of the 12AX7 in V1 and save a ton of money.

I keep seeing this tip and you're right, it's probably worth a go before making an expensive mistake. I thought valves had to be in pairs or something ... not easy as there are three of them ... I take it the three pre-amp valaves (1-3) are all independent to one another?


I would guess that it is the treble that is making their ears bleed, not the volume. And the BDRI is a "warm" voiced amp. I'd think that would be better. Good luck. :)


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:57 am
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I also use the above mentioned volume box on my BDRI and it works for me. I haven't used a 5751 in the BDRI amp but have used them in several other amps and I really like the effect it gives. Both of these solutions are very inexpensive (both for <$50 total) and would IMO be worth a try.

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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:08 am
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Thanks again. I have a JJ 5751 on the way.
I found it hard to find any 12AY7 apart from the EH one which I hadn't tried but as I've been happy with the sound from the other JJ tubes in my amp thought I'd go for them. I'll give it a whirl at the next gig and report back.


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:45 am
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Spenno wrote:
Thanks again. I have a JJ 5751 on the way.
I found it hard to find any 12AY7 apart from the EH one which I hadn't tried but as I've been happy with the sound from the other JJ tubes in my amp thought I'd go for them. I'll give it a whirl at the next gig and report back.


I buy all my NOS 12AY7s here:

http://www.kcanostubes.com/catalog/5r4gb

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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:31 pm
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Ok. So after installing a 5751 in V1 I think there is a steadier control with the volume, so an improvement I think. Thanks for the suggestion :)
The next thing I keep wondering is that my main problem with the BDRI is that although I like the sound, I'm not going above 2 on the first channel and 4 on the drive channel. Before I start looking at the Jr, I'd love to hear the BDRI naturally cranked a bit more so am looking at speaker alternatives to the stock one, which generally isn't too bad to my ears. I quite a bright sound with good mids, but would like more clarity than the stock speaker if possible.
I really know nothing about speakers in terms of sounds and qualities, as well as how they are rated and whether they'll be compatible with the amp, so any suggestions would be helpful, and I'll call in a favour with my guitar tech to install it.
The Celestion Gold has been mentioned a lot in similar threads. It's 12" and as I understand it is rated lower than the stock speaker, so I'll be able to push the tubes to attain the same volume, right? It's also quite a pricey speaker. Any other suggestions?


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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:16 pm
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You might give some thought to Eminence's Texas Heat or something from Weber's line of ceramic's.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:30 pm
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I'm a huge fan of Weber.

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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:11 pm
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It amazes me the number of people who say they can't turn this amp above 2 or 3 in a band setting because it is too loud. I don't gig, but my BDRI clean volume is set right now on 8 ( :shock: ) with my Epiphone Les Paul Standard (Burstbucker 1 and 2) plugged into input #1. Its amazing what you can accomplish using the guitar's volume controls. :idea:

Eminence Cannabis Rex and read the speaker selection section of my BDRI mod thread:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=80142

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Post subject: Re: Quieter alternatives to Blues Deluxe Reissue ...
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:17 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
It amazes me the number of people who say they can't turn this amp above 2 or 3 in a band setting because it is too loud. I don't gig, but my BDRI clean volume is set right now on 8 ( :shock: ) with my Epiphone Les Paul Standard (Burstbucker 1 and 2) plugged into input #1. Its amazing what you can accomplish using the guitar's volume controls. :idea:
Yes those controls are useful sometimes. Use them a lot here at home. Who needs an attenuator? Too many people think they have to be full on.

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