Too much treble fender blues deluxe

['57 guy]

Hey guys, my main setup is an american 57 re-issue strat into a fender blues deluxe. I just got this amp and theres way to much treble. With presence at 0 and theble at 0 theres still too much, basically any combination of setups i try still too much treble. Like i cant think about playing the g, , or e strings or my ears will bleed. Allways on neck pickup, doesnt help. This happens on my strat, my mexican strat, and my epiphone les paul. When i played this amp in guitar center it did not sound like this. Any suggestions?

 

[sonny wolf]

I own the same amp.The main problem is the overdrive channel.I stopped using master volumes on amps because all you are getting is that brittle,harsh pre amp distortion.The great classic blues and rock n roll tones were all created by pushing the power tubes...that is where you get all the warm,musical tone from.I only play on the normal channel cranked to about 7...then you get a real tube breakup combined with speaker distortion.I have the treble and mids set about on 6 and the bass on 2(otherwise is gets really farty...when you use the normal channel cranked,you get loads of bass).This is how I use it live and it sounds great like that.I place a gig bag in front of the amp if it is too loud for the audience.This way I have a real blues tone,no master volume non sense.Pre amp distortion is just too harsh...I'll never use it again in a live situation.It's only good for practising at bedroom levels.I like the Blues Deluxe because the normal channel breaks up really quickly(it starts at about 4),unlike other Fender amps.

 

[peskypesky]

hmm...take it back?

 

[amstratnut]

yeah take it back.

 

['57 guy]

Its been more than 30 days you think guitarcenter will let me take it back still?

 

[amstratnut]

I'd say so. C'mon its defective. You probably messed with it to make sure it really was the amp. If the sales guys won't, make a polite stink with the manager. I know GC has a rep. for not caring, but I have to think that any serious retailer would back their sales in an obvious case like this.

 

['57 guy]

Yea, i think im gonna try and take it back this weekend.

 

[srvwannab]

Hopefully it hasn't been much longer than 30 days, but I wouldn't wait until this weekend if you can help it... take it back ASAP.

Just tell them you don't understand it, the amp is just starting to sound very brittle and trebbly all the sudden... and it was warmer sounding before.

If you exchange for the same amp or something close in price I'm sure they'll probably work with you even though it's late, but it's important to let them know right away that you just want to exchange it; if you ask for a refund they will probably tell you to take it up with Fender since it's beyond 30 days.

It depends on the manager and sales rep... hopefully they're cool about it.

 

[phildobbin]

When I bought mine it sounded pretty much as you described: the problem is the Groove Tube 12AX7 pre-amp valves (tubes). They're notoriously bad sounding. If you're just going to use input one (the clean channel) just replace that one. I put in a '60s NOS Mullard but JJ's or a Tesla are fine.

It is a Class A amp so both input valves work all the time so, if you can afford it, replace both one & two (three is a phase inverter).

You'll be amazed at the difference...

 

['57 guy]

Just took it back, gettin a twin reverb

 

[amstratnut]

Well your young. Your back is strong.

 

['57 guy]

hahaha, well i can get some killer tones with it

 

[phildobbin]

Well, with you in the US & me in England, if you dime it, I'll be able to hear you ;-)...

 

['57 guy]

hahaha thats true. You know Jimi used to play throught a twin, before the marshalls

 

[amstratnut]

And Zappa played through a pignose.

 

[scotzoid]

When I bought mine it sounded pretty much as you described: the problem is the Groove Tube 12AX7 pre-amp valves (tubes). They're notoriously bad sounding. If you're just going to use input one (the clean channel) just replace that one. I put in a '60s NOS Mullard but JJ's or a Tesla are fine.

It is a Class A amp so both input valves work all the time so, if you can afford it, replace both one & two (three is a phase inverter).

You'll be amazed at the difference...

Suddenly, I think I might be onto something here...I have the same prob with my vintage Sunn Sceptre head, & I think it has all Groove Tubes in it. Maybe time to check out tubesandmore.com.

 

[amstratnut]

Check Eurotubes as well. They only carry JJ. But JJ has an excellent rep.

 

[scotzoid]

Suddenly, I think I might be onto something here...I have the same prob with my vintage Sunn Sceptre head, & I think it has all Groove Tubes in it. Maybe time to check out tubesandmore.com.

Check Eurotubes as well. They only carry JJ. But JJ has an excellent rep.

Checked them out today, I wuz wrong. The 6550's are GT, but the preamp tube is JJ. But I'm still thinking this is the kind of affordable & reversible mod I can make to relieve my GAS a little. Of course, a little GAS always leads to more GAS, so I had to stumble over this while comparing 12AX7s...looks like a slightly less affordable way to tame the mighty Sunn a little. Anybody have anything to say about it? How about this one?

 

[PeterGrant]

I had the similar problem... The deluxe has some good bottom end. I was playing one night and all a sudden no more balls just treble with no bass.. It was defective cause I took it back and played the floor one and it sounded awesome.. I returned it and got the twin reverb and love it....

 

[amstratnut]

There's no substitute for a Twin Reverb. Except anything lighter. I gig maybe once or twice every few months. I have a Hot Rod Deville 212 and its heavy enough!