Deluxe Reverb v. Tweed Deluxe

[MmmIlikemusic]

I have a Headstrong Royal Reverb (boutique Deluxe Reverb) and a Victoria 20112 (boutique 5e3 tweed deluxe). Both of these amps are amazing.

I need to thin the herd as I don’t have much space. I only play at home in a bedroom. Both amps are being played clean with pedals in front of them. I run a volume pedal after my effects and this allows me to turn the amp up to about 3.

I primarily play jazz and country.

I’m searching for validation. Which amp would you keep and why?

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

An interesting question - and one I´ve asked myself many times
"On paper" these amps are quite unlike, but they're really not so far apart in terms of sound and usefulness - with a slight nod for the DR because of the added headroom and features (of course).

The Tweed Deluxe has its own thing going - from great cleans to all-out ROAR, but the DR is right up there (or, say, really close) if you set the knobs right!
I'm lucky enough to have both, but if I had to choose I would go with the DR

cheers - 68.

 

[Bobbyoso]

Most of the differences between these two NMV amps will not be apparent at "bedroom only" volumes, in my experience.

The DR will be a bit more mid-scooped at low volume, but both amps' preamps, power amps, PIs, and speakers will all be well within the linear portions of their performance envelopes at lower SPLs, so differences will be muted, especially with a volume pedal before the amp input. No hidden benefits or drawbacks, so if it were me, I'd just trust my ears and go with whichever sounds best for the pedals I use and musical idioms I play.

IMO and YMMV, as always.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Jazz and Country? I'd keep the DR.

 

[telel6s]

As Bobbyoso said, at your bedroom volumes you won't tell that much difference. I'd stay with the Deluxe Reverb style because (1) it has the reverb and trem {I know you didn't mention using them} and, (2) it's easier to get a pedal to make a DR sound like a 5E3 than the other way around.

Of course the real correct answer is get rid of the microwave, toaster oven and instapot so you can store one of the amps in the kitchen.

 

[Lawdawg]

For what you're describing, DR all day everyday.

For me personally, 5E3 all day everyday. I have a Twin if I want nice big cleans.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

A lot of ampage for the bedroom.

From what you describe, the RR.

 

[King Fan]

Welcome to TDPRI... usually a terrible place to get advice about downsizing -- it hurts us, preciousss. But you're getting good insights. And your choice is more interesting than most.

If you must downsize for budget reasons, think about which one would sell faster for more money. I see your age (helpful here) and might say if this isn't for budget reasons, put one away for 6 months, then the other, and then decide which to sell, or after a year whether it was a bad idea.

An old strategy is to *pretend* mentally that you'd got rid of one; the next day pretend it was the other. Which scenario hurts you more?

Or this thought -- don't overthink. As folks are pointing out, these two very different amps aren't so different at clean low volumes. Unless you see your use case changing, it doesn't actually matter that much -- so don't sweat it.

Finally, for pure versatility, pedal acceptance, and eventual resale ('everybody' wants a DR, only some want a Deluxe) I understand why the majority vote is to keep the DR. As a fan of those elusive but magic low-volume 5E3 cleans, though, I personally might keep the Vicky.

 

[Robert H.]

DR's are too scooped for my taste. I love those mids, so for me, I'd keep the Tweed.

 

[Axean naexA]

.
Tough choice.

In my experience 5E3s have a smaller range of usability, meaning, the “glorious tones zone” is more concentrated in a sweetspot range that requires cranking it to a point that can make it difficult to use in a wide variety of situations, which is why I use a Fryette PS-100 with mine:

So, also in my experience, the Deluxe Reverb is comparatively more versatile, with having more wattage and expanded tone control, not to mention reverb and tremolo.

Anyway, that’s my take on it…

.

 

[Highway 49]

I’ve got tweed champs and a blackface Princeton Reverb here - my head says the Deluxe Reverb but my heart goes with the tweed, so I’d keep the tweed deluxe

 

[kuch]

Total fan of BF amps. personally, I would keep the DR. But.... it's a lot of amp for bedroom playing. If you're not playing out, I would sell both of them and get something like a VC Reverb or a TM Princeton.
The best amp I have for playing at home is a 75 SF Vibro Champ. It sounds great for both jazz and rock. I can get it to the "warm crunch" stage without rattling the walls and windows.
It's nice to have choices.
Good luck

 

[Trenchant63]

Both amps sound great but DR FTW.

 

[red57strat]

In a bedroom? The Deluxe Reverb is better for that (especially if it has a master volume control) than a tweed Deluxe, but a Princeton Reverb is even better than a DR. I recently bought a Cutthroat Down Brownie and it's better than all of them at low volume levels due to its master volume control.

 

[sax4blues]

Divided By 13 CJ11. Bridges both territories with mid-boost switch.

 

[Dukex]

I'd keep the Deluxe!

 

[ElvisNixon]

I think you need to make a trip and get a nice bookshelf so you can put one on top of the other to save space.

I would say that if you can afford to keep both amps, both are great but they do also need some sort of attenuation so you can run them where they are at their best.

 

[printer2]

Playing clean the DR can mimic the Tweed by turning the treble and bass pot all the way down. Use your guitar's tone control if you want some high cut.

 

[dreamingtele]

I'm biased as I'm a Tweed-guy.. for years though, I used BF tones, but I've found that I sound a little too scooped and thin in the mix.. and when I finally played a 59 Bassman, I went into the Tweed camp..

I love the 5E3.. they say its a one trick pony.. Its kinda is, but I can get my cleans and my dirt just by dialing the volume interaction right.. and it has the gorgeous tweed mids which dont sound thin or too chimey in the mix..

 

[tfarny]

Yeah I'd stack them if space is really the only issue. If you only really play one of them, then you know what to do. If you really do play them both regularly, then you have to keep them both. Sorry, them's the rules.

Edit: Also want to say that I would take no stock in anybody else's opinion in a case like this. Keep the one you like better, only you know which one that is.