Pull trigger? DRRI "I need a push."

Sir Woodley · March 30th, 2006, 09:01 PM

I have a chance to buy a new DRRI. I've read all that I could about them. (Don't recall anything negative.

) But have not been able to play one yet. If I do get one, this will be the last amp I buy for years to come. Blues, classic rock, country, funk, ......... 2 teles, 2 strats, les paul, sg,..... I'm just looking for a "great" tube sound & I love it when they are juuusst breaking up.(tube distortion) I don't mind throwin' a sm57 in front of it if I have to. (But will I really need to mike it in a small gig situation??) I don't wanna have to much distortioin from cranking the 22watts just to get a good volumn. Is thiss a problem? I think I'm about 90% set on a DRRI. I want "magic tone"! Is this a good choice? I know I'm beating a dead horse, but this is a big decision for me. ($$$) Thank you all, M

shakedancer · March 30th, 2006, 09:33 PM

Do it!!!!!

CharlieO · March 30th, 2006, 10:36 PM

I think I might have a better idea. If you have even the slightest bit of uncertainty, try to buy a used DRRI. You'll save a couple of hundred dollars, and if it turns out that it isn't the perfect amp for you, you'll be able to re-sell it without losing money. Of course, as many guys will tell you, a used silverface Deluxe Reverb might cost about the same as the new DRRI that you are considering. This might be the smartest way to go.

My guess is that a Deluxe Reverb is probably perfect for your needs.

Rusty · March 30th, 2006, 11:06 PM

as long as your stage volume isn't massive and besides you aren't looking for twin-type clean tones anyway. you can actually get more mileage out of a dr's limited headroom by running a compressor or something to tighten up the bottom end - along with something to push it a little into light crunch territory when needed.

run the amp at around 4 with a rig like that (keeley compressor and sd-1 or a fulldrive) and it actually sounds more together than just running the amp at 7-8 all on its lonesome...the volume will still be there, but the flub won't...ymmv...

ps...magic tone awaits, i promise :D

moonshiner · March 31st, 2006, 11:33 AM

You'll really like it provided that it's a good one... Newer amps have that tendency to be hit or miss... I tried about a dozen DRRI's before I found a used one that just kicked the south side of a donkey heading north...

Do it...

FMA · March 31st, 2006, 12:30 PM

A friend had one for sale not too long ago. He let me borrow it to check it out and well, I loved it. Classic Fender tone. Plenty loud. Broke up nicely. Great reverb.
While I was trying to figure out how to explain the expenditure to my wife -- I'd just put a bunch of money into modding my Ampeg Reverberocket -- he sold it...
Oh well...

jonzer · March 31st, 2006, 12:37 PM

It's loud enough. Don't ever let that be a concern with a DRRI if you're doing the small bar tour.

I do crank mine and lower the guitars volume. I run a Boss DS1 and a Blues Driver (sometimes for boost, sometimes as my main overdrive) and on a really sweet night I don't run through anything but my tuner. Of course, I'm mostly playing a stock American tele through it mostly using the bridge pup. I do alternative rock and the guitar/amp combo can be aggressive.

Get a used one if you can find one locally. I bought a used one someone put legs on. It has the original tubes and Jensen speaker in it and I haven't changed anything. I am so glad I never bought new. I don't even think about it.

pc · March 31st, 2006, 01:05 PM

I got mine on Tuesday. :D

It's replacing a 1993 Fender Blues Dlx, and thus far I'm just loving it. It actually confused me for a whole day because I was hearing frequencies I'd been missing for 13 years and was saying, "Hey, what's that?"

I'm thrilled with it.

CancerLeoCam · March 31st, 2006, 03:19 PM

....are planningon having it miked I would switch gears and go buy a Princeton Reverb. Better amp for the money and lighter.

Sir Woodley · April 7th, 2006, 09:41 PM

Just wanted to thank you all for replieing & to let you know I bought it. Brand new one at the best price I've seen. It is all I hoped it would be. Great sound!!!!! Played it in a live situation last night (I was worried about 22wt. / enough volume) at a friends jam room that sucks up a good bit of sound & tone. It did great! Vol was just a hair past 4 on vibro chan. Took my pedals well, etc. I am very happy! :D Highly recomended amp. Thnx, MW

Rusty · April 8th, 2006, 04:46 AM

that's always good to hear :D

pc · April 8th, 2006, 11:32 AM

Cool. Several weeks later and I still love mine more every day.

zombywoof · April 8th, 2006, 08:14 PM

I know folks who would rather have the Ampeg. Great, great amps.

March 30th, 2006, 09:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sir Woodley TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: S.W.Louisiana U.S.A. Posts: 50	Pull trigger? DRRI "I need a push." I have a chance to buy a new DRRI. I've read all that I could about them. (Don't recall anything negative. ) But have not been able to play one yet. If I do get one, this will be the last amp I buy for years to come. Blues, classic rock, country, funk, ......... 2 teles, 2 strats, les paul, sg,..... I'm just looking for a "great" tube sound & I love it when they are juuusst breaking up.(tube distortion) I don't mind throwin' a sm57 in front of it if I have to. (But will I really need to mike it in a small gig situation??) I don't wanna have to much distortioin from cranking the 22watts just to get a good volumn. Is thiss a problem? I think I'm about 90% set on a DRRI. I want "magic tone"! Is this a good choice? I know I'm beating a dead horse, but this is a big decision for me. ($$$) Thank you all, M

March 30th, 2006, 09:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
shakedancer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: north of Boston Posts: 1,639	Do it!!!!! __________________ "If you don't like the Blues, you got to have a Hole in your Soul." Luther Allison JOE

March 30th, 2006, 11:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rusty Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 345 24 Photos	plenty of volume... as long as your stage volume isn't massive and besides you aren't looking for twin-type clean tones anyway. you can actually get more mileage out of a dr's limited headroom by running a compressor or something to tighten up the bottom end - along with something to push it a little into light crunch territory when needed. run the amp at around 4 with a rig like that (keeley compressor and sd-1 or a fulldrive) and it actually sounds more together than just running the amp at 7-8 all on its lonesome...the volume will still be there, but the flub won't...ymmv... ps...magic tone awaits, i promise :D __________________ Take it easy, Rusty www.myspace.com/1rusty www.rustyanderson.net

March 31st, 2006, 11:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	You'll really like it provided that it's a good one... Newer amps have that tendency to be hit or miss... I tried about a dozen DRRI's before I found a used one that just kicked the south side of a donkey heading north... Do it... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

March 31st, 2006, 12:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,174	MY tale of woe... A friend had one for sale not too long ago. He let me borrow it to check it out and well, I loved it. Classic Fender tone. Plenty loud. Broke up nicely. Great reverb. While I was trying to figure out how to explain the expenditure to my wife -- I'd just put a bunch of money into modding my Ampeg Reverberocket -- he sold it... Oh well...

March 30th, 2006, 10:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
CharlieO Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sarasota, FL Age: 56 Posts: 1,410 10 Photos	I think I might have a better idea. If you have even the slightest bit of uncertainty, try to buy a used DRRI. You'll save a couple of hundred dollars, and if it turns out that it isn't the perfect amp for you, you'll be able to re-sell it without losing money. Of course, as many guys will tell you, a used silverface Deluxe Reverb might cost about the same as the new DRRI that you are considering. This might be the smartest way to go. My guess is that a Deluxe Reverb is probably perfect for your needs.

March 31st, 2006, 12:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
jonzer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,116	It's loud enough. Don't ever let that be a concern with a DRRI if you're doing the small bar tour. I do crank mine and lower the guitars volume. I run a Boss DS1 and a Blues Driver (sometimes for boost, sometimes as my main overdrive) and on a really sweet night I don't run through anything but my tuner. Of course, I'm mostly playing a stock American tele through it mostly using the bridge pup. I do alternative rock and the guitar/amp combo can be aggressive. Get a used one if you can find one locally. I bought a used one someone put legs on. It has the original tubes and Jensen speaker in it and I haven't changed anything. I am so glad I never bought new. I don't even think about it. __________________ http://816rocks.com/

March 31st, 2006, 01:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
pc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, OH Age: 41 Posts: 515 3 Photos	I got mine on Tuesday. :D It's replacing a 1993 Fender Blues Dlx, and thus far I'm just loving it. It actually confused me for a whole day because I was hearing frequencies I'd been missing for 13 years and was saying, "Hey, what's that?" I'm thrilled with it. __________________ Me

March 31st, 2006, 03:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
CancerLeoCam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mule Deer-Mt. Lion Safari, CA Posts: 1,692 5 Photos	If you.... ....are planningon having it miked I would switch gears and go buy a Princeton Reverb. Better amp for the money and lighter. __________________ Everyone's your "buddy" or "friend" when they want you or something from you. If you're not willing to work for free why should somebody else?

April 7th, 2006, 09:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sir Woodley TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: S.W.Louisiana U.S.A. Posts: 50	Got it ! Just wanted to thank you all for replieing & to let you know I bought it. Brand new one at the best price I've seen. It is all I hoped it would be. Great sound!!!!! Played it in a live situation last night (I was worried about 22wt. / enough volume) at a friends jam room that sucks up a good bit of sound & tone. It did great! Vol was just a hair past 4 on vibro chan. Took my pedals well, etc. I am very happy! :D Highly recomended amp. Thnx, MW

April 8th, 2006, 04:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
Rusty Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 345 24 Photos	awesome!!! that's always good to hear :D __________________ Take it easy, Rusty www.myspace.com/1rusty www.rustyanderson.net

April 8th, 2006, 11:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
pc Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, OH Age: 41 Posts: 515 3 Photos	Cool. Several weeks later and I still love mine more every day. __________________ Me

April 8th, 2006, 08:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,923 17 Photos	FMA, Don't shed too many tears I know folks who would rather have the Ampeg. Great, great amps. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker