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Post subject: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 12:17 pm
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Hi all

I plan on getting a new amp this Saturday to replace my Fender Super 60 1 x 12 combo

My setup has mainly been a Digitech GSP1101 going in to the POWER AMP IN on the Super 60 so I have been using the GSP1101 for my tone

I play in a covers band so need to cover all tones from the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Kings Of Leon, Guns 'n' Roses, Nirvana as well as general blues and rock so I rely on the GSP1101 to give me my different sounds/tones

I now want to use more of a real amp tone and I have narrowed my search down to 2 options

The SuperSonic 22 was my third option but due to reported reliability issues (and I heard it was now being discontinued) I think I have dismissed this one (but could still be tempted)

I am therefore looking at the Blackstar Series 1 45w combo or the Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

I love the clean sound of the DRRI but I am worried about lack of headroom, no gain channel and no effects loop

The Blackstar seems like it would be more versatile within my setup with the MIDI switching and using a real tube gain channel

However, before dismissing the DRRI I wanted to ask you guys the following about this amp:

Will it be loud enough in a rock band - pubs & clubs?

Is the lack of an FX Loop an issue? - I use the GSP1101 multi fx so will it be an issue putting all fx into the front of the amp (especially delays and reverbs, which are "better" I'm the fx loop aren't they?)

Will I be losing out against the Blackstar because I will still be using my modelling for gain sounds?

Any advice or insight would be much appreciated as I am in a situation where my head is saying Blackstar but my heart is saying DRRI!!!!

Help!


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:48 pm
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Boydie wrote:
I plan on getting a new amp this Saturday to replace my Fender Super 60 1 x 12 combo


You've got a pretty respectable rig right now, Boydie. I'm not sure that any of the alternatives you've cited would give you any additional capabilities.

That said, the Deluxe Reverb is loud enough for all but the largest indoor venues and of course it can always be mic'd if need be for any possible coliseum gigs.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:54 pm
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Thanks ARJAY

The Super 60 has served me well but I fear it is slowly dying after 25 years of gigging

I would have thought both of these options would have been considered "upgrades" on the Super 60?

And just to clarify I have the "red knob" Super 60 and not the Super-Sonic 60


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:59 pm
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Turn your Super 60 over to a competent tech and have him overhaul it -- there are plenty of years left on that chassis, trust me. One of my primary gigging amps is a 1964 Vibroverb and I rely on it implicitly.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:46 am
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I switched from a Peavey Classic 50/410 to a DRRI about 6 months ago and would never go back. My DRRI is a limited edition "Fudge Brownie" and apart from the colour the only difference from a normal DRRI is the 40w alnico speaker so it breaks up a bit earlier.

The DRRI is a great platform for clean tones or if you want dirt most pedals that I've tried work very well with it. My favourite overdrives are Okko Diablo Gain Plus, Wampler Euphoria and Free The Tone MS-SOV. I had some tube problems so replaced them all but the biggest tonal change came from putting Tung-Sol 6V6GT tubes in the power section. The tone from my DRRI is now exceptional and I would not hesitate to recommend it.


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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 2:30 am
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As you are only using your Combo as amplification have you considered a rack based power amp feeding a cab?

I use a Samson-Servo-120A-Power-Amp. It has some great amp saving features, minimum rig space, switchable headphone out and no fans (I have other power amps with fans that really annoy me). It is surprisingly heavy though (weight wise not music). It doesn't seem to colour the sound at all.

I started my rig with a digital signal processor but added a Marshall JMP1 as a pre (good enough for Billy Gibbons - https://youtu.be/u6DrxfrbbF8?t=639). Midi with the DSP and you get all of the convenience of the preset switching but also have the joy of proper valves in the front end - something digital processors still don't seem to have nailed 100%.

Probably my favourite configuration:-

Image

It does change and is currently in a 6U rack with a graphic equ and another dsp for reverb these two additions are immediately before the power amp to allow easy venue tweaks.

While the above is perhaps no more convenient than a combo I run the cab as stereo to provide separation for looped parts.

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John

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Post subject: Re: Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar Series 1 45
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:26 am
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Thanks for the advice guys

Having spent a good few hours directly comparing the 2 amps I ended up going for the Blackstar

The Fender tone of the DRRI was definitely something special and if I were looking for a "Blues" amp or an amp to use at home then I wouldn't have hesitated and got the DRRI

However, the Blackstar edged it on versatility for my particular gigging needs - ie a variety of sounds covering the rockier stuff and the potential to integrate with my MIDI multi-fx set-up so I can use the tube pre-amp for distortion sounds

But man - the DRRI sounded AMAZING and I think I will end up getting it one day just for me!


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