Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

[GLJazz]

Hey all,

Getting ready to head to school this fall and realizing that I won't (and shouldn't) be able to take all my nice gear to school.

For practice i have a vox ad50vt now, along with a boss gt-3, neither of which sound great (ha...)And both of which were going to follow me to school... But recently I decided that I might be able to get away with a small tube amp a la blues jr. Or classic 30 to bring to jams and just run the gt-3 in the room. Well, as usual the amp size began to grow and I spotted a blues deville USA in a pawn shop asking 499 plus 20% off. I think I could walk out with it for 375 no problem.

Long story short, I want it and I want you guys to tell me that it'll go great in the dorm and chicks will dig it and everything will be great... But really I want to know what all think about sound, and specifically benefits over a smaller tube or solid state. I dont necessarily have the money to blow, but it seems like a deal and in any event, It'll kill me to loose tube sound for a full year i think, but I suppose I gotta be realistic.

So let's hear some opinions!

Gracias!

 

[trevorus]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Sonically, they are pretty good amps for the money. Volume-wise, you might get beat, because they are SUPER loud on 2-3.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

good amps. The 2 x 12s sound great. More headroom and tons more bottom than a BJr.
CHicks couldn't care less about what sort of amp you have.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Thanks for the responses. It's actually a 410. I actually didn't crank it up in the store but I suppose it's a cheaper alt. to my hotrod devil. Since both are 60w sounds like both are going to be crazy loud. Guess I'll have to let it go...

Think I can get away with anything tube, or will it just be too loud across the board? I guess I was thinking less of playing amped in the the dorm and more sticking it in the closet ( thankfully nicely sized and enough room) then lugging it elsewhereto play out.

Oh and the chicks thing was a joke. Fantasy world...

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

I like the hot rod deville better, but sure, a lot of players use em and like em, you could very well be one of those

I have a hrd devil with a 15" weber cali and it owns

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Does your budget stretch to an attenuator device such as the THD Hot Plate? If so, use that with your existing 50w amp.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Yeah even a 5W tube amp is overkill if it doesn't have a master volume. An attenuator will bring that right in line, though. Some of em aren't cheap, but they work. Or,

If you get a chance to drag the amp out and play elsewhere occasionally, I'd say just use what amp you love most... just be prepared to run the volume on 1 or 2, and use a pedal for most or all of your dirt. Depending on the amp and the pedal, you could have some way decent sounds at acceptable volumes.

I know what you're going through... I bought a 50W head a few weeks ago, knowing that I'd be moving into a tiny apartment. Thank God that thing sounds good on "1" and with a pedal, through a small 1x12 cab. I've got people's houses I could drag it to where I can crank it up to 3 or 4.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Drew- I do love my HRD - and no way this would replace it - no matter what i go with it'll just be a backup that i'm less worried about.

Ay... the attenuator is a good plan but the THD actually costs more than any of the amps I'm considering :eyecrazy: Don't suppose there's any cheaper ones that are reliable also?

I do have pedals for dirt, etc so i might just look in to the littler tube amps w/ a master.

I guess something else to think about is i'll be picking up a $50 squier strat to play, so is there still a purpose to having a nice amp?

Fuse - Congrats on the DSL! ( I assume that's the new one) Those are incredible amps. Have the 100 love it!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Hot rods - deluxes and both types of devilles are prodigiously loud amps tho. Good amps, but probably no good for your dorm.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Okay, i'll have to give in on the DeVille. Anyone have a preference on the Blues Jr. Vs. Classic 30? Have a line on both used locally and i do like the sound of both, with the Peavey seeming a bit more versatile?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

I have a Valvetronix and a Hot Rod DeVille 212 --- and the VOX can be dialed in t o sound awesome. I'd use that.

I used to have a 5 watt EL84 head, and it was way too loud for my apartment. I got a Weber MiniMASS, brand new from Weber for $75 + $15 shipping = $90, which helped a lot. Their Mini MASS line goes up to 50 watts, depending on what you order, and are the best in the biz.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

You need to get over tone for a moment and start thinking about Dorm life.

I'm thinking Roland Cube Micro or maybe 20....something with headphones. There may be a footballer next door who really doesn't dig your music.

That said I took an all tube Peavey 50 watt Peavey Classic 2x12....

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

You need to get over tone for a moment and start thinking about Dorm life.

blasphemy!! LOL

 

[Aceman]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Well, let's not forget my other philosophy either:

It is important to have he capability to be the loudest mother on the block. You don't have to use it - but when the one a-hole who won't turn it down or be reasonable shows up, you'll be glad you have the capability.

But fiddy watts in 15x15 likely cinder block room? Ouch!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

before I bought my amp (on ebay, couldn't play it first) I made sure to ask in that HUGE Dsl appreciation thread wether or not the amp sounds good when turned down.

It's like a twin reverb... does it sound it's best at "1"? Duh, of course not. Does it still sound good?
Duh, of course it does.

When i get some cash later i may try and fine a BF or SF vibro-champ. Low wattage, low volume, great cleans, and I'd just run a pedal on it. Now THAT's a practice amp.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

You need to get over tone for a moment and start thinking about Dorm life.

I'm thinking Roland Cube Micro or maybe 20....something with headphones. There may be a footballer next door who really doesn't dig your music.

That said I took an all tube Peavey 50 watt Peavey Classic 2x12....

I'm thinking this also...Roland Micre Cube is perfect for a dorm.

For a gigging amp, I'd go PV Classic 30. They sound decent at low volumes too (I've owned one).

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

For the dorm... this will do nicely:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RP1000

Sounds damn good. And just run it through your stereo.

Oh, and it doubles as an FX unit for your HRD. It even has a stompbox loop so that you can still use your favorite pedals with it. How freakin' cool is that?

Problem solved.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

For the dorm... this will do nicely:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RP1000

Sounds damn good. And just run it through your stereo.

Oh, and it doubles as an FX unit for your HRD. It even has a stompbox loop so that you can still use your favorite pedals with it. How freakin' cool is that?

Problem solved.

yeah i was about to say,
"oh that'd be nice... In the FX Loop of my 50W marshall head!"

looks a lil better than a pod, somehow. really, could be a good option

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

yeah i was about to say,
"oh that'd be nice... In the FX Loop of my 50W marshall head!"

looks a lil better than a pod, somehow. really, could be a good option

It's WAY better than a POD. You can do the 4 cable method with it, as well as go direct in a couple different ways. Same modeling as the GSP1101.

Seriously, it has so many options... almost too many.

You're right. It works like a damn charm in the loop of a DSL.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: Fender Blues DeVille... For the dorm?

Ah man, the digitech looks sweet, but like i mentioned I have the gt-3 for headphone and stereo play and it does the job pretty well. Need something that makes noise on it's own. Aceman i do like your philosophy and am looking along those lines. How did the 50 work out, out of curiosity? Kookaburra- I really liked the classic 30 I played and passed up a local deal on one.... So now I have to wait on another used one since I cant justify the six bills the local shops want.... I guess I'll just keep my eyes open for deals on sub 50w tubes. Sounds like my best options are fender or peavey.

Honestly tone is the whole point of the amp as i'm well aware no matter what i get it'll probably just live in the closet when not played out, which is when you really want it. Crazy music town so with any luck I'll be playing out quite a bit. Rest of the time I'll run headphones or computer speakers through the gt-3. Does anyone have experience with the epi valve series combos?