Guys help, my Deluxe Reverb hates the pedals...

[fink]

I mean it hates ALL of them!

I recently switched from Marshall to this amp, and I've found that all my old tricks sound like garbage now:

1) Budda Bud-Wah is SO quacky and dynamic that it scares small children.

2) Boss SD-1 sounds wimpy and brittle. I turn the drive way down (50%) and the tone all the way down, but it still doth stinketh.

3) Boss DS-1 (which I tried with the amp in the store), I THOUGHT it sounded okay in the store, but now I am sure I was caught in the throes of GAS, because it is just a harsh mess, even with tone and distortion at ZERO.

So I am stuck!

I am told the TS9 (mine has a broken volume pot) sounds better with Fenders. Can anyone verify this or recommend at least some dirt pedals that would do the trick into this mercilessly unforgiving amp???

Or are there some Deluxe Reverb settings which might help with the problem?

thanks and Happy Halloween to all you Pagans,
-Dan

[bo]

Sounds like a job for Analogman! Send him your Tubescreamer to be fixed and have one or two of his mods done. I believe he's still at www.analogman.com. The mods help maintain some of the bass end often lost on stock Tubescreamers. They sound a bit smoother too. Good luck!

[TheGoodTexan]

I recently downsized from a Bassman 4x10 to a Deluxe Reverb RI, and I expereinced the same exact things. I finally landed on a SanAmp GT2, which sounded decent.

I got fed up with it, and went back with a 4x10 - but this time I got a HD DeVille 4x10.

I've come to the conclusion that my right hand style is not complimented by the DRRIs.

[BLACKCAT69]

I recently changed amps as well from a Fender Concert ('80's) to an Ampeg Reverberocket. All the old settings had to go out the window. My Marshall Jackhammer is actually a little too heavy with this amp. I'm still tweaking the settings to find the "sound". Work with it for a while before spending anymore dough or doing anything too drastic....Good luck!

[Reno Sepulveda]

TS-9 + aNALOG mAN Silver Mod + DRRI been very very good to me.

Reno

Originally Posted by bo

Sounds like a job for Analogman! Send him your Tubescreamer to be fixed and have one or two of his mods done. I believe he's still at www.analogman.com. The mods help maintain some of the bass end often lost on stock Tubescreamers. They sound a bit smoother too. Good luck!

[fink]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

I've come to the conclusion that my right hand style is not complimented by the DRRIs.

Dear Good Texan,

I am intrigued by this statement regarding right-hand technique and DRRI's. Do you think you are too aggressive, not aggressive enough or just generally not suited to blackface-ish amps? Cause I know SRV went at it like a buzzsaw through a Super Reverb. But I'm not sure how different the Deluxe Reverb is. My band hates it already is all I know.

-dan

[DADGAD]

Dan,

What kinda tubes are in your DRRI? Have you tried some EI's, JJ's or EH's in there? Have you tried the amp through a diifferent speaker?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by DADGAD

Dan,

What kinda tubes are in your DRRI? Have you tried some EI's, JJ's or EH's in there? Have you tried the amp through a diifferent speaker?

Welcome back DADGAD....Have not seen you for a while. Missed your posts!

[John Harrison]

Puzzling. Since many feel that the DR is one of the best sounding amps of all time, I'm curious if you might be asking it to be something it isn't.
I've got a '68 DR, with a Weber C12N and NOS RCA blackplate tubes. It's as good an amp as I've ever heard. However, there've also been times where I just wanted a different sound out of my amp.
Pedals can get me part of the way there (I use a silver-mod TS-9 and an 808-mod SD-9 for "grit and grind"), but won't transform my DR into a Marshall, Vox, or Bassman. Thus, I have also used a Marshall, and currently also use a Vox AC-30TBX and Dr.Z Carmen Ghia.
While you can try speaker and tube upgrades, I'd start with the question, "Is the Deluxe Reverb the amp you want?".

[fink]

Originally Posted by DADGAD

Dan,

What kinda tubes are in your DRRI? Have you tried some EI's, JJ's or EH's in there? Have you tried the amp through a diifferent speaker?

Fender "Groove Tubes" 6V6s and Weber "Alnico Classic" replacement speaker. I haven't fiddled with it yet, because I basically like the clean tone, but I'd like to get my dirt boxes to sound good through it somehow...

-dan

[fink]

Originally Posted by John Harrison

"Is the Deluxe Reverb the amp you want?".

Well it may be that it just won't work for Zeppelin covers.

I bought it for two reasons though:

1) The bright, clean sound is kind of a "catalyst" for my hybrid picking. I think I'll develop quite a bit faster in that area with a good clean tone to hear the details.

2) It is smaller than my Marshall 2x12" combo.

Now so far, I don't think the band is digging it. Like I said, none of my old pedal tricks are working with it. But for me personally, I really enjoy sitting at home and noodling through the DR. So my answer is YES and NO... YES, it is the amp I want for the stuff I play for fun, but NO, I don't think it is the right amp for my band's material (funk, classic rock, modern rock, pop).

Still, I'd like to know, is it POSSIBLE to make it work?

For example, how do you set the tone knobs on your DR and the knobs on the TS9 ???

-dAn

[Ringo]

I also have a 68 DR, just had it in for some tuneup work last night.
Mine works great with all kinds of pedals, for years I've used a TS10, used to have a RAT and a DS1.
I mostly play Strats and Teles.
I don't know how the DRRI compares, I've got a Celestion G12H80 speaker in my DR and it made a lot of difference.
Also I hardly ever have the bass pot past 3/4 and treble around 7/8. At most I will I crank my DR to about 6/7 and ride the volume pot on my guitars.
Most of the time I use the TS10 as a boost or with the drive up 1/2 - 3/4 for more gain, tend to have the tone at 12 o clock or rolled off towards the bassier side.
Same with the DS1, I never liked too much treble with the DS1.

You should be able to cop some great tones, clean and overdrive with the DR.
Mine is a keeper !

[fink]

Thanks Ringo! I will endeavor to make it work...

maybe I just miss the Marshall midrange hump,
-Dan

[John Harrison]

DR:
Volume - 6
Treble - 6 to 8
Bass - 3 to 4
Reverb - 3 to 4

TS-9: (clean boost/low overdrive)
Drive - "10 o'clock"
Tone - "2 o'clock"
Level - "9 o'clock"

For more "grit", I go to up to 3 o'clock on the "Drive". I really like what the Analogman "silver mod" does to the TS-9. I'm still playing with it to really dial in my preferred settings.
The SD-9 ("Sonic Distortion") is like a Tubescreamer on steroids. I use it for grind and distortion (more Marshall-like).

[Cb]

While I've never owned a DRRI, I've got a BFDR & an SFDR, both back to 6V6's with Webers. I think your problem is lame pedals.

I didn't care for the Boss DS-1 at all, and think the SD-1 cuts bass excessively and has a fizzieness to the drive character that I don't really like. I prefer the Boss OD-3 (it has a bit too much bass and a bit less fizz) and think the Keeley-modded BD-2 is better still (more moderate bass than the OD-3 and even less of the signature Boss OD fizz). FWIW I don't think the modded BD-2 is $50 better than a stock OD-3.

Have you still got the Rat? If so, try it as an OD - set it 9:00, 3:00, 2:45. For a gritty pedal the Rats clean up remarkably when you lighten up your attack.

Your amp's treble setting is probably a bit higher than I'd use also - try 4-5 with DR's.

I play Fender Stratocaster guitars mostly, and I nearly always back the bridge pickup's tone pot back to about 6, especially when using dirt pedals. You might give that a shot as well.

If the wah is that bad I'd tweak the pot's range - you know how to adjust it's pinion on the rocker's toothed rack, don't you?

Cb

PS: Wanna borrow some dirt pedals? I've got a few spares.

[Tim Swartz]

Out of the factory, most Fender amps are biased ice cold. There is a bias adjustment accessible from the bottom of the chassis (just to the right of the power transformer when looking in the back). I would suggest turning it up a notch, but watch the tubes to make sure the plates (the big metal structure) don't glow red. If this helps, you should have the amp biased. If it doesn't help, you should still have the amp biased. I'm not sure which Groove Tubes are in it, but I suspect they are those horrible black Russians (not the cocktail). If they are these, get something better. IMO, all current production 6V6 are junk. NOS can be had for $30 or so per pair. I would also try pluging into a different speaker cab to see if you are dealing with a speaker issue.

[Ringo]

no not really, while it's true that the original black Sovtek 6V6's are crap.
I've been running some of the new Electro Harmonix 6V6's in my 68 DR for a couple of years with NO problems! and this amp eats bad 6V6's.
The EH were supposedly designed specifically to handle the high plate voltage of a vintage DR.

But Tim is right you can still get NOS 6V6's reasonable , Sylvania and RCA etc...

[Tim Swartz]

I've had a high failure rate with the EH 6V6s, plus, I get nervous when the screens glow when you lean into the amp.

[Lance]

I've found the exact opposite...seems that all pedals like my '65 BFDR. Glass is JJ pre-amps and Visseux(sp?) 6V6s and a Jensen (sacralidge - but it works)

Vol: 3-5
Rev:2-2.5
Treb: 4-5 (6 is wayyyy to bright for me)
Bass: 3-4 (higher gets woofy)

I've used a Analogman modded TS9 and it's nice with the amp. Recently, that's been replaced by a Klon...also great. I also run a Zvex SHO all the time...but not for boost....just to add clarity.

Anyway, great amp....keep it forever.
L-

[Tim Bowen]

I hate to be a wet sock, but the DRRI is among the LEAST pedal-friendly amps I've ever owned, second only to the Carvin Bel Air. I don't expect it to compete with my friend's real '65 (which takes to pedals), but in my opinion, Fender just missed it with this amp. It's just harsh & brittle to my ears.

What DIDN'T I try with this amp... well let's see, there was Klon, FDII, Banzai Fireball, AnalogMan TS9/808, Distortion Pro, Barber Tone Pump, PedalworX Texas Two Step, a bunch of boost pedals, didn't care for any of my fuzzes... I tried stompers that I generally don't like with this type of amp - Z. Vex SHO, Hotcake, Prescripton Electronics Germ, man you name it - it hated it. Matching OD's to a Twin is a snap compared to the DRRI, as far as I'm concerned. I put in JJ's & a Celestion V30, still couldn't find it... I realize that's not an exhaustive trial of tube & speaker compliments, but I just got tired of struggling... I have amps that like pedals just fine...

[Tim Bowen]

~ *

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by fink

Dear Good Texan,

I am intrigued by this statement regarding right-hand technique and DRRI's. Do you think you are too aggressive, not aggressive enough or just generally not suited to blackface-ish amps? Cause I know SRV went at it like a buzzsaw through a Super Reverb. But I'm not sure how different the Deluxe Reverb is. My band hates it already is all I know.

-dan

Hey Dan,

I guess I am a fairly agressive player, and I do string up fairly heavy (11-48), and I used Clayton 1.52mm picks, but I still need an even, smooth, bottom end when playing full chords...and I almost always use single coils (although I do have a killer LP, which I never use).

When playing Strats and Teles thought my DRRI, the bottom end was just too muddy, too woofy. I could even make the speaker "honk" at certain frequencies. I thought "it's a Fender - and since I love my Fenders, I should love it". Didn't work out that way.

For me, I think it is a power issue...not that the DRRI is not loud enough, but I need an amp that doesn't breakup as fast...I need more headroom than the DRRI has. And someone in this thread nailed it - I was trying to make the DRRI something that it wasn't, and instead of modding, replacing the speaker, experimenting with tubes, etc...I just got rid of it.

Now I've got the HotRod Deville 4x10, and although it's still not quite a Bassman, it holds the bottom end together quite well, and it has reverb...and no I don't use the second channel (does anyone?).
-Bruce

[fink]

Thanks Guys (especially Cb for the Boss comments),

I think the amp is partially hosed. I've fixed two pots and one bad tube. The bad tube was in the normal channel but was somehow loading down the vibratto channel. I think I have to re-evaluate my pedals now that the amp is fixed (?) ...

-dan

[RKeeley]

The BOSS SD-1 and the Ibanez Ts9 wil soudn too similar, so maybe a full range BD-2 type pedal will sound nice. I have two FDR amps black/silver and the pedal responds really well to those inputs. Plus the suggestions on the amp controls above do work like a charm. Great job bro!
rk

[11 Gauge]

...humble, small, and mostly insignificant opinion, i just don't think of overdrive pedals too much when it comes to the Deluxe.

i've always thought of it as the kind of amp that you crank up to get the overdrive. if it's not the kind of OD you're looking for, it's probably not the amp for you.

and while the RI does not nec. equal the Deluxes of yesteryear, you can tune the amp pretty well with the right bias and speaker - i a/b'ed a before/after RI that was gutted, PTP wired, all parts replaced. while the redone RI sounded better, it still didn't sound remarkably different.

which brings me to the speaker - really alters the sound of this amp, depending on which one you use. most speakers i've heard thru a Deluxe tend to sound too bright or too farty on the low end. i would name models, but speakers are so subjective that you've gotta figure this out on your own.

one other thing - the mids on the Deluxe are "fixed". this has a very pronounced affect on what you can and cannot dial out with the bass and treble controls. if you are a Marshall guy this could be a real bone of contention for you and/or your band.

it sounds like a Deluxe (at least this one) may not be the amp for you.