Smaller Amp Choices

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 10 Sep 2003 1:24 pm

An update:

there have been some issues with this amp--the reverb tank was bad but the seller replaced it, unfortunately with the wrong tank--he sent me a 3 spring tank and I can't turn it past 2 before I'm Dick Dale on quaaludes. And the two channel reverb mod doesn't seem to be there and the tone stack mod in ch 1 really sounds like crap.
but....I just received and installed a Weber Cali speaker and it is night & day! The speaker was an EV SRO and it had a throaty sort of voice. Probably would sound good with a guitar. But the Weber just smoothed and punched up everything. The amp went from a maybe to a hell yeah for steel. Although the bottom certainly isn't there. But I mean what do you want from 2 6V6 tubes.
I've gotten a Gerald Weber book & video and I'm going to start mucking around with stuff. I'm going to upgrade this to 6L6, probably get the copper cap SS rectifier, do the reverb two channel mod, look into the tone stack in ch 1 and put a 4 slice toaster in the back. Amps are fun. Amps are our friends.[This message was edited by Jon Light on 10 September 2003 at 02:25 PM.]

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 10 Sep 2003 1:27 pm

Amps are fun. Amps are our friends.

Until you get across the B+ ... be careful

Bob Metzger · Post by **Bob Metzger** » 10 Sep 2003 2:14 pm

Jon,

Deluxe Reverb 'more bass' mod: 1st filter cap - 2x 100uf@350volt caps in series w/ 2x 220K bleeder resistors added (copy a later Twin reverb schematic for this 1st filter cap). You can also up the coupling cap value after the 1st stage. It's usually a .022 in the Vib channel. Try a .033uf or .047uf. Oddly enough, the PI input cap should be .001 (or maybe .005) but not .01, as the larger cap will bring up lots of mids and the small cap will reinforce the 'smile curve' actually favoring the bass and high end, making it sound 'sweeter' (how a Deluxe Reverb sounds best).

With fresh electrolytics and a full sounding, efficient speaker, you'll be well on your way to having an amp with enough lows. This amp is a great choice for NYC gigging.

Bob M.

Sam Minnitti · Post by **Sam Minnitti** » 10 Sep 2003 2:47 pm

Hi,

I also use a Fender Deluxe reissue for gigs where I don’t need extreme volume levels.

I just started using a pedal with my Deluxe that I would highly recommend to make the amp come alive. It tremendously boosts the lows without muddiness and gives a nice definition to the highs.

It is the Aphex Xciter pedal for Guitar… Here is a link to the website:
http://www.aphex.com

The going street price is $139.95

I use this pedal with an old boss analog delay pedal for slap back echo. On the Deluxe I set the treble all the way off, and the bass around 6.5, reverb around 2.5 to 3.

With this setup I can get pretty close to the sound of my larger rig which uses the power amp in on the back of the Nashville 400 with various TubeWorks products, a BBE sonic maximizer and an old Arion analog delay pedal.

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www.samminnitti.com

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 10 Sep 2003 6:00 pm

Jon, you must make sure that the reverb is driven by a 12AT7 and NOT a 12AX7 (that would be V3, or the third tube from the right). Sometimes that is the problem.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 10 Sep 2003 9:41 pm

Jon,

I'd say go with the Hot Rod Deluxe for small rooms. You'll need 40 watts minimum. I have a '66 blackface Deluxe Reverb that sounds spectacular for guitar... but terrible for steel, in my opinion. At a mere 22 watts and a single 12" speaker, my PSG sound is buried and lost in all but the quietest bands. Playing quietly at home it's fine. The Deluxe Reverb is a wonderful amp for recording, especially for guitar, but I don't think you'll be happy with it for bandstand use with your PSG. Just my opinion

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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories
[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 10 September 2003 at 11:27 PM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Sep 2003 11:13 am

I hear you, Doug, but the fact is, I have this SFDR and it's the last amp I'm ever going to buy. (snicker snicker) OK, enough funny stuff.

Bob, again, thanks. You are more than a little over my head but I'm excited knowing that I'm just starting to educate myself with some learning materials and enough amps here to experiment on. I'm really turned on at the thought of the little stuff that can be done such as your current suggestions and your previous ones, plus some of the tone stack mods from prior threads and the Major Healey stuff---I'll be visiting all these ideas with this DR, a BF Showman, a 70's Vibrosonic Reverb, and who knows what else I can find in the kitchen.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Sep 2003 11:26 am

I forgot to acknowledge your idea, Sam. Yours is the first review I've read of the Aphex pedals. I'm aware of their rackmount products and have been wondering if these pedals were worth anything. Most interesting.
I also note that this old Deluxe is wonderfully warm and really sounds good with the treble up a bit---I was playing yesterday with treb at 4, bass at 8. But considering some of the descriptions I've heard of the reissues, it sounds like there's plenty of high end there to start with.

Sam Minnitti · Post by **Sam Minnitti** » 11 Sep 2003 2:53 pm

Hi Jon, yea this Xciter pedal is like a 2 for 1..one function is what they call Big Bottom, which is an awesome bass booster, but not in an EQ kind of way, much better..and the other 1/2 of the pedal is an exciter, and that is where I dial in my highs.

Yes the RI's are very bright..but this pedal helps to bring it all together..just an idea. BTW..I got mine at Manny's for $139.00, they didn't have it out on display , but I asked for it and they had one.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 11 Sep 2003 3:26 pm

I agree with DVA about the Vibrolux Reverb.

Last year I picked up a 1967 BF Vibrolux Reverb (40 watts, 2 10" speakers) for my guitar gigs, and I have lately discovered that it works quite well for E9 PSG too. Last weekend I used it on 2 gigs for pedal steel and it cut through beautifully. The guys in the band told me on both nights that I was too loud... so the amp Must be adequate

I did replace the original speakers with new Weber vintage style speakers (the originals were blown). When I compare the amp side by side with my other '67 VR with original Fender speakers, the Webers sound fuller... more lows as well as highs. And I can push them further than the Fenders without much breakup.

Fender makes a Vibrolux Reverb Reissue, but it's about $900 or more. Original blackface ones are way high in price, but the silverface ones are still reasonably priced.

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