Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

[Zeppelinfan8790]

I was at GC Sat. and had the chance to play a DRRI. I thought it was pretty sweet. I didn't get to turn it up very loud tho. Does it stay pretty clean when turned up louder? It will have to be able to keep up with a drummer and bass player, and I'll also use it for a small jazz band. Are these amps not what I'm looking for? If not, what amp would you recommend, preferably Fender. My price limit is around 500. 1x12 and not heavy also a requirement.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Curly]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

a DRRI is not $500

certainly, not a new one

 

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

I know....I'd have to get it used

 

[hacker]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

I have seen small jazz bands play with the DRRI. I love that amp, real sweet tone and killer reverb.

 

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

Was it starting to get overdriven? I love the sound of the amp, but I'm starting to worry it wont stay clean at loud enough volumes for my needs. Then I would have to get a bigger amp, which defeats the purpose of getting a new amp, since I just want something easier to carry.

 

[Curly]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

the DRRI is a versatile amp, and the tone, like other tube amps is "tweakable" depending on how you have it set up - people have used it for jazz, blues, country and rock ...
when I got mine new, it started to break up at 4. A rebias could increase the headroom.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

I use one and in my opinion it'll definitely cut through your band's mix without a problem in a small to medium venue. The DRRI is notoriously bright, but there is a simple mod that can take care of that. I also put a set of JJ tubes in it that curbed the brittleness a little. I used to use my Blues DeVille exclusively with a volume box so I could get the tubes heated up enough to get some good tone. It's just too loud an amp for a small room, but the DRRI is just a great little versatile amp. It can work for just about any style of music. The DRRI can be loud if you want it to be, but containable and as Curly mentioned it does break up very nicely at about 4.
I'll never sell mine.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

I think I owned that amp, for like a day.

Actually, I had one for a while. I think the right speaker would do wonders for the entire volume thing, but it's going to break up on the earlyish side if you use humbuckers. I put Brimar 6V6's in mine and that did a lot of good. Something like a Vintage 30 is pretty efficient, so you ought to be able to raise the headroom slightly if you go that route.

Very sweet distortion and all tube.

 

[Zeppelinfan8790]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

Thanks for the reviews guys.

I found one used for $525. I contacted him a couple hours ago, but no response yet. The guy lives 80 miles away from me so I will tyr to drive out and try the amp.

Midnite man, IIRC, you have ts-5's modded by John. Do you use them with that amp? How does it sound? Any clips? Your review sold me on the amp BTW. I am not gonna have as much money as I once thought, so I will have to go cheap on the pedals. A new speaker would be out of the question. At least for a while. Maybe new tubes tho.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Curly]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

A new speaker would be out of the question. Maybe new tubes tho.

if you get new tubes, the JJ's are a great tube for current production

 

[Marqueax Moran]

Re: Fender DRRI vs. Blues Jr.

IMHO opinion the DRRI is a great amp, however it is not a supre clean amp at loud volumes (past 6). Could you run it at say 4 and mic it through the PA?