Pucelle_Dabidjan « 65 deluxe reverb blackface Version 2.0 »
Published on 07/08/11 at 02:11
Value For Money :
Excellent
Audience:
Advanced Users
My meeting with VSA may sound stupid. Yet it is the most stupid stories that created the happiest accidents in the history of rock. In short, my test of fender 65 deluxe reverb combo impressed me. I could use these sounds. But the fact that Fender produced this amp only as a combo was a serious obstacle to any potential investment. I had cabs, plenty of, and wanted something small, to fit in the existing rig. So I traveled the net in search of viable alternatives and quickly discerned that some names reappear consistently. Victoria, Vintage Sound Amplification and Headstrong. But I noticed one detail: almost all users of real blackface amps used VSA too and where satisfied. Here I was already on a serious lead, when, suddenly, by chance, in a U.S. forum, a reknowned artist in the world of music, well known throug the world, came to give me the last advice about "why he used that, and in which situation". For me, if a guy of that caliber would take his valuable time to share with me about an amp he loves, then, it must be something around them. So I contacted Rick Hayes, the chief of this small brand. A friendly guy, like often with all those american fellows that are making a job they enjoy.
A well stocked book options
Unimaginable torture awaits you at this moment. Indeed, not happy to provide all possible finishes for the case, there are an incredible number of options and customizations available for this little amp. Master volume, dual independent reverb, tremolo deactivation * (saving even 3watts) tubes to choose from, reverb on both channels * Channel high gain * 6L6 upgrade for a 50w reaching amp, choice between blackface or brownface for each channel, a medium knob * and more... wow ... not obvious. You've got to know where you are going. I put a star on the options I chose.
No hurry
Oh yes ... take about nine months between order and time of delivery. When you have paid in advance, it is a long and insecure process. Especially the speed of response to emails is not the highlight of Rick Hayes. I think anyone else would have farted a cable (this was the original google translation, but I believe, in the US, we are more "snapping a cable" than farting). Anyway I had better things to do. I enjoyed, a little gesture from Rick for this.
Non-standard work
And I mean it. I'm used to seeing beautiful things move around me (also not so beautiful). But this vintage sound is in the upper portion of the amps on which I could lay my eyes on. Board in PTP well soldered and organized, intelligent mix of components for the circuit (predominantly orange drop), the input transformer over-sized, four mercury magnetics transformers, huge spring reverb for this little amp, full chromed chassis, mixed tubes (with some NOS material). We are very far into what is the best. Special mention for the case of this amp, which is probably the most cleanly finished that I have ever encountered. A solid pine with a substantial thickness, covered with a very very stable tolex and fixed/cutted, almost in an artistic way (see cutting the vinyl around the back vent, totally stylized) ... it blowned me !
However, I'm not used to make all "rosy" reviews, and I must still report the absence of instructions coming with this amp; what is not really practical when you remember that this amp is a little bit more complicated than a Marshall 1959. An power plug in U.S. format that will not work in europe ... it is ... smart, and RCA connectors for the footswitch.
[9] was close to the best. It is among the best in the world of amplification.
USE
In practice, no surprise to find all the advantages and disadvantages of a 65 deluxe reverb. No master and separate channels requesting a AB footswitch. However, the disadvantages of the fenders have been virtually erased here. Channel 1, normally the same as the channel two, is on this amp, a real alternative to a lead, making the addition of boost pedal useless. The stability of the grain at the end of the gain has been greatly improved, clarity and availability of good sound at low volume too. On channel two, the medium control can optimize the amp to the guitar that you want to connect. The headroom on channel 2 is better, allowing to operate cleans up at very high volumes. The progression of the settings are better than the original and you better feel what you are changing.
For live, I use, sometimes, one of his special abilites. Because it is possible that two guitarists play on this amp. The quality of the sound suffers a little bit from that, but it helps you out, when your other guitarist has a dramatic failure on a live event.
A well stocked book options
Unimaginable torture awaits you at this moment. Indeed, not happy to provide all possible finishes for the case, there are an incredible number of options and customizations available for this little amp. Master volume, dual independent reverb, tremolo deactivation * (saving even 3watts) tubes to choose from, reverb on both channels * Channel high gain * 6L6 upgrade for a 50w reaching amp, choice between blackface or brownface for each channel, a medium knob * and more... wow ... not obvious. You've got to know where you are going. I put a star on the options I chose.
No hurry
Oh yes ... take about nine months between order and time of delivery. When you have paid in advance, it is a long and insecure process. Especially the speed of response to emails is not the highlight of Rick Hayes. I think anyone else would have farted a cable (this was the original google translation, but I believe, in the US, we are more "snapping a cable" than farting). Anyway I had better things to do. I enjoyed, a little gesture from Rick for this.
Non-standard work
And I mean it. I'm used to seeing beautiful things move around me (also not so beautiful). But this vintage sound is in the upper portion of the amps on which I could lay my eyes on. Board in PTP well soldered and organized, intelligent mix of components for the circuit (predominantly orange drop), the input transformer over-sized, four mercury magnetics transformers, huge spring reverb for this little amp, full chromed chassis, mixed tubes (with some NOS material). We are very far into what is the best. Special mention for the case of this amp, which is probably the most cleanly finished that I have ever encountered. A solid pine with a substantial thickness, covered with a very very stable tolex and fixed/cutted, almost in an artistic way (see cutting the vinyl around the back vent, totally stylized) ... it blowned me !
However, I'm not used to make all "rosy" reviews, and I must still report the absence of instructions coming with this amp; what is not really practical when you remember that this amp is a little bit more complicated than a Marshall 1959. An power plug in U.S. format that will not work in europe ... it is ... smart, and RCA connectors for the footswitch.
[9] was close to the best. It is among the best in the world of amplification.
USE
In practice, no surprise to find all the advantages and disadvantages of a 65 deluxe reverb. No master and separate channels requesting a AB footswitch. However, the disadvantages of the fenders have been virtually erased here. Channel 1, normally the same as the channel two, is on this amp, a real alternative to a lead, making the addition of boost pedal useless. The stability of the grain at the end of the gain has been greatly improved, clarity and availability of good sound at low volume too. On channel two, the medium control can optimize the amp to the guitar that you want to connect. The headroom on channel 2 is better, allowing to operate cleans up at very high volumes. The progression of the settings are better than the original and you better feel what you are changing.
For live, I use, sometimes, one of his special abilites. Because it is possible that two guitarists play on this amp. The quality of the sound suffers a little bit from that, but it helps you out, when your other guitarist has a dramatic failure on a live event.