Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

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Westley

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Hello everyone, I have a question if I may. I'm looking for a home practice/studio/small gig amp. I have a semi-hollow body (Heritage Prospect) and an LP style guitar (Heritage 150), both with SD 59's. I play primarily blues and am in the process of learning jazz. I prefer a simple and sweet sounding tube sound, but am open to SS.

I know very little about the technical side of amps, probably just enough to get myself in trouble. Today, I'm going to test drive a Fender Deluxe Reverb Re-Issue, Blues Jr., Peavey Clasic 30 and the Marshall AVT 20.

Personally, I'm REALLY leaning towards the Fender Deluxe Reverb Re-Issue. Can anyone give me an experienced and enlightened perspective on how my two Heritage guitars (especially my 150) will sound through the Deluxe Reverb?

I very much welcome everyone's thoughts, suggesstions and comments regarding the amps already mentioned, along with any additonal recommendations.

Thank you very much.

Westley
 
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Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

The DRRI is a real nice amp. I'm sellin' mine for $600. It was my home amp for years, & still has the hag tags & all paperwork. Never out of the house. Let a seafoamer know if ur interested.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

I have a Fender Blue DeVille (very similar to fender Duluxe Reverb) and I love it. I mostly play a Gibson ES-137 and a Squeir strat through it and they sound great. Fender amps have great clean sounds and IMO take pedals very well. I would highly recomend Fender amps for blues and jazz.

The Peavey Classic is a great amp too. I played one a few weeks ago and was very impresseed.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Seafoamer usually has a funny one liner. He's all business now!! hahaha

Actually, his Deluxe Reverb is probably exactly what you need.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Gearjoneser said:
Seafoamer usually has a funny one liner. He's all business now!! hahaha

Actually, his Deluxe Reverb is probably exactly what you need.
Click to expand...


ditto.....


even though i have a classic 30 and love it, and its great for jazz and blues, i think the deluxe reverb reissue is more what u need....
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Most of the Jazz players I've seen in clubs and stuff generally have leaned towards the Fender DR, simply because it's got a great clean and is a good all around amp (from what I hear... never played one, only heard it in action). Go for it.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

A Princeton reverb makes a fine Blues amp and I've saw Jazz guy's useing
them to. :D
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

DRRI is a great amp, so is the Blues Jr. I wasn't a fan of the Hot Rod Deluxe or Deville, but like the others.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Depending what style blues you like is the direction I'd point you in. If you like the more overdriven blues sounds I'd recommend a Classic 30, and a speaker change. If you tend to gravitate more towards the old school blues I'd go with the DR. It has a great clean sound, takes pedals well, and can wail when you want it to.

For jazz the DR is a no-brainer.

For less $ I'd also look into the Blues Junior it's kind of a modern take on a DR, with EL84's instead of 6V6's, and a solid state rectifier. I'd recommend a speaker upgrade with it as well.

Luke
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Hello everyone and THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WISDOM AND INSIGHTS!!!

Luke Duke, most of my playing is older school blues, usually clean or with natural gain. As a result, I'll probably buy a DRRI. A close friend of mine has a very clean DRRI that he is willing to sell me for $500 (ONLY because he really needs the money ASAP and is willing to reduce the price). Assuming its in good condition, based on the price, it sounds like a great deal.

Can you guys recommend a pedal? My guitar instructer likes the Boss BD2. I've also heard great things about the Tube Screamer. I'm VERY open to suggesstions.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!

Sincerely,

Westley
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Pedal-wise, Boss are the Industry standard for OD pedals - that, and the green Ibanez tubescreamer. That's not to say there aren't any better ones for the money, but Boss pedals are hugely popular and influential. Blues driver sounds like a good choice, there's another dude on the boards who has an Epi 335 and one of them - I forget his name, actually. I have a yellow Boss SD-2 (now discontinued) which is pretty good for soft fuzz.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

I use a TS9 and would highly recomend it. It's a great over drive for blues and even rock in my opinion.

I don't have any experence with the boss BD-2, but i've heard good things about it.

I would recomend going and trying as many as you can and see witch one fits your tone.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

i briefly tried a DRRI cuz i'm also interested in one...i liked it and would like to get one...

i have the Fender Blues Deluxe (predecessor to the HRD) and it would be a good choice....great bluesy clean tones....40w 1x12 so it's not too big for the house and loud enuff for club gigs...used ones going for $350-$400...

i recently sold my modded TS-9 cuz i prefer the Digitech Bad Monkey (which is dirt cheap) and my Fulltone Fulldrive II which sounds great and is very versatile...

Seafoamer....trades for your DRRI?
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

id get a tubescreamer, far nicer than any of the boss OD pedals (imo) the fender DRRI seems to be the amp for you.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

On the tubescreamer note I would recommend a maxon overdrive. They made the original tubescreamer for ibanez. My maxon od808 was cheaper than an ibanez 808 if price is a factor for you. It sounds great in front of my blues junior; all the warmth and grit you need for the blues. Have fun with your new toys.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

If you want a "boutique" amp without the pricetag, check out the Valvetech vac.
Perfect for me in a 2X12 vintage 30's load. 22 watts very versatile.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

The DRRI would be great for the stuff you describe, as would the Tubescreamer.

If the DRRI doesn't work out, another option would be Musciman amps. A friend of mine owns a 2x10" 65 watt combo that wails for blues and rock when playing at the half power setting and has tons of headroom at the full power setting.

I like the Tubescreamer when goosing the front end of a pushed amp, but I like my Vox Valvetone pedal a bit more. It's basically a Tubescreamer clone with a British accent, and it costs a bi less to boot.
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

I'd say to go with the Tubescreamer too. Ain't speaking from experience but everyone seems to enjoy it or the OD1.

Maybe send it to be modded by "stratdeluxe?"
 
Re: Please help...blues player needs amp advice...thank you

Jeff_H said:
I wasn't a fan of the Hot Rod Deluxe or Deville, but like the others.
Click to expand...

I agree, the Hot Rods are a bit too edgy for my tastes. The DRRi would be a nice rig-a bit smoother sounding to my ears. I just love a shimmering tele through a Deluxe Reverb!
 
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