Deluxe Reverb RI alternative?

racingsnail84

Joined: Aug 29, 2021
Posts: 84

Posted on Oct 18 2021 10:44 PM

I’m getting closer to pulling the trigger on getting a DRRI but wanted to check to see if there was a less expensive alternative….? (I’m not interested in getting one used)

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Top

WoodyJ

Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1532
Bethlehem, GA
United States

Posted on Oct 19 2021 09:22 AM

IMO any other amp you might choose will eventually make you wish that you had gone ahead with a DRRI. And also IMO, there is nothing wrong with a used one that has been properly taken care of. There are usually a few of those on reverb.com

And if you are as picky as I am, get the all-tube version.

With that said, the only comparable amp that I would buy if a DRRI was out of reach financially would be a Vox AC 15 with a 1x12, but like everything else lately, the price on those has skyrocketed, too.....$899.99 at Sweetwater now. They were $699.99 a couple months ago.

—

Jack
aka WoodyJ

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Last edited: Oct 19, 2021 09:31:48

Top

synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4124
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Oct 19 2021 09:41 AM

You could look into a Winfield Elizabeth, which is basically a single channel AB 763 variant. I have one with 6L6s, so it’s about 40 watts, but they are also available with 6V6s and run at about 22 watts. Great onboard reverb, too.

http://www.winfieldamps.com/elizabeth.html

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Top

theWoodhavens

Joined: Oct 17, 2021
Posts: 30
SEATTLE
United States

Posted on Oct 20 2021 12:17 AM

I second what Woody said. Properly taken care of Deluxe Reverb will do the job.

To really answer the question, what are you mainly using the amp for? Home? Possibility of playing out?

If just for bedroom playing, get a Princeton Reverb. Excellent recording amp and the cleans are great plus on board trem channel is awesome. If it’s the case of playing out, get the DRRI and call it a day. It will get drowned out by a loud drummer, but a good soundengineer running the board can fix that.

—

the Woodhavens
--seattle surf music--

on Youtube // on Insta // woodhavens.bandcamp.com

Double Crown Records'
The Continental Magazine #32

Top

RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2250
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Oct 20 2021 01:37 AM

Racingsnail84, you can't for wrong with a DRRI, a Princeton, or an AC15. As an alternative, check out the Quilter Aviator Cub. It's not a tube amp, but it is an all analog tone machine, with excellent Fender Blackface, Brownface, and tweed voicing. It weighs just 22 lbs, and is reasonably priced. https://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/product/aviator-cub/

—

Bob

Top

MasterFez

Joined: Jul 16, 2021
Posts: 17
Indianapolis
United States

Posted on Oct 20 2021 12:22 PM

I just pulled the trigger on a Quilter Aviator Cub and expect to have it next week. I’ll share some thoughts then.

Top

desert_surfer

Joined: Jun 29, 2020
Posts: 57

Posted on Oct 20 2021 11:47 PM

Get the 65 DRRI and be done with it, seriously. Just bought one 2 weeks ago (owned one years ago and sold, loved it so much I had to have it again). Tried the 65 Princeton Reverb RI, personally disliked it, sounded so tiny and the reverb/trem was a lot weaker, not my thing (and NOT a mini-deluxe either, like I thought). I play only at home, no band, and the Deluxe isn’t too loud for me (I even live in an apartment and play it on 2.5 and still sounds better than the Princeton, to me at least). There’s also the second input for lower volume of wanting to get quieter, which I use a lot.

You’ll never regret it and won’t need another amp. Reverb is plenty good. I have a Surfy Bear classic reverb unit which I love, but the onboard reverb is so good I often plug into the amp only and play.

Get the Deluxe, fall in love, take care of the amp forever and live happily ever after. Actually, get it before Fender decides to raise the price to $2k or even discontinues the tube version for the Tonemaster line (ooof). One day, a vintage collectible Fender amp may be a reissue (crazy but it seems to be going this way). Get it before it’s gone.

Last edited: Oct 20, 2021 23:55:55

Top

synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4124
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Oct 21 2021 12:10 AM

desert_surfer wrote:

Get the 65 DRRI and be done with it, seriously. Just bought one 2 weeks ago (owned one years ago and sold, loved it so much I had to have it again). Tried the 65 Princeton Reverb RI, personally disliked it, sounded so tiny and the reverb/trem was a lot weaker, not my thing (and NOT a mini-deluxe either, like I thought). I play only at home, no band, and the Deluxe isn’t too loud for me (I even live in an apartment and play it on 2.5 and still sounds better than the Princeton, to me at least). There’s also the second input for lower volume of wanting to get quieter, which I use a lot.

You’ll never regret it and won’t need another amp. Reverb is plenty good. I have a Surfy Bear classic reverb unit which I love, but the onboard reverb is so good I often plug into the amp only and play.

Get the Deluxe, fall in love, take care of the amp forever and live happily ever after. Actually, get it before Fender decides to raise the price to $2k or even discontinues the tube version for the Tonemaster line (ooof). One day, a vintage collectible Fender amp may be a reissue (crazy but it seems to be going this way). Get it before it’s gone.

I would definitely agree that the Princeton doesn’t sound much like a DRRI. IMO, both have their place, and both are good amps, but for quite different purposes. The DRRI is a powerful amp, but works well at low volumes. The Princeton has less gain and is not so much a DRRI’s little brother than it is a cousin with a faint family resemblance.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Top

CaptainSensible

Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 643
Leesburg, VA
United States

Posted on Sep 16 2023 11:45 PM

MasterPhez wrote:

I just pulled the trigger on a Quilter Aviator Cub and expect to have it next week. I’ll share some thoughts then.

Do you still have this amp? If so, how do you like it? If not, why did you sell it?

—

Sean

Top

racingsnail84 Joined: Aug 29, 2021 Posts: 84	Posted on Oct 18 2021 10:44 PM I’m getting closer to pulling the trigger on getting a DRRI but wanted to check to see if there was a less expensive alternative….? (I’m not interested in getting one used) Any advice is greatly appreciated! Top
WoodyJ Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1532 Bethlehem, GA	Posted on Oct 19 2021 09:22 AM IMO any other amp you might choose will eventually make you wish that you had gone ahead with a DRRI. And also IMO, there is nothing wrong with a used one that has been properly taken care of. There are usually a few of those on reverb.com And if you are as picky as I am, get the all-tube version. With that said, the only comparable amp that I would buy if a DRRI was out of reach financially would be a Vox AC 15 with a 1x12, but like everything else lately, the price on those has skyrocketed, too.....$899.99 at Sweetwater now. They were $699.99 a couple months ago. — Jack aka WoodyJ The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005) The Hula Hounds (1996-current) The X-Rays (1997-2004) The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012) Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990) Last edited: Oct 19, 2021 09:31:48 Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4124 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Oct 19 2021 09:41 AM You could look into a Winfield Elizabeth, which is basically a single channel AB 763 variant. I have one with 6L6s, so it’s about 40 watts, but they are also available with 6V6s and run at about 22 watts. Great onboard reverb, too. http://www.winfieldamps.com/elizabeth.html — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
theWoodhavens Joined: Oct 17, 2021 Posts: 30 SEATTLE	Posted on Oct 20 2021 12:17 AM I second what Woody said. Properly taken care of Deluxe Reverb will do the job. To really answer the question, what are you mainly using the amp for? Home? Possibility of playing out? If just for bedroom playing, get a Princeton Reverb. Excellent recording amp and the cleans are great plus on board trem channel is awesome. If it’s the case of playing out, get the DRRI and call it a day. It will get drowned out by a loud drummer, but a good soundengineer running the board can fix that. — *the Woodhavens* --seattle surf music-- on Youtube // on Insta // woodhavens.bandcamp.com Double Crown Records' The Continental Magazine #32 Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2250 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Oct 20 2021 01:37 AM Racingsnail84, you can't for wrong with a DRRI, a Princeton, or an AC15. As an alternative, check out the Quilter Aviator Cub. It's not a tube amp, but it is an all analog tone machine, with excellent Fender Blackface, Brownface, and tweed voicing. It weighs just 22 lbs, and is reasonably priced. https://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/product/aviator-cub/ — Bob Top
MasterFez Joined: Jul 16, 2021 Posts: 17 Indianapolis	Posted on Oct 20 2021 12:22 PM I just pulled the trigger on a Quilter Aviator Cub and expect to have it next week. I’ll share some thoughts then. Top
desert_surfer Joined: Jun 29, 2020 Posts: 57	Posted on Oct 20 2021 11:47 PM Get the 65 DRRI and be done with it, seriously. Just bought one 2 weeks ago (owned one years ago and sold, loved it so much I had to have it again). Tried the 65 Princeton Reverb RI, personally disliked it, sounded so tiny and the reverb/trem was a lot weaker, not my thing (and NOT a mini-deluxe either, like I thought). I play only at home, no band, and the Deluxe isn’t too loud for me (I even live in an apartment and play it on 2.5 and still sounds better than the Princeton, to me at least). There’s also the second input for lower volume of wanting to get quieter, which I use a lot. You’ll never regret it and won’t need another amp. Reverb is plenty good. I have a Surfy Bear classic reverb unit which I love, but the onboard reverb is so good I often plug into the amp only and play. Get the Deluxe, fall in love, take care of the amp forever and live happily ever after. Actually, get it before Fender decides to raise the price to $2k or even discontinues the tube version for the Tonemaster line (ooof). One day, a vintage collectible Fender amp may be a reissue (crazy but it seems to be going this way). Get it before it’s gone. Last edited: Oct 20, 2021 23:55:55 Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4124 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Oct 21 2021 12:10 AM desert_surfer wrote: Get the 65 DRRI and be done with it, seriously. Just bought one 2 weeks ago (owned one years ago and sold, loved it so much I had to have it again). Tried the 65 Princeton Reverb RI, personally disliked it, sounded so tiny and the reverb/trem was a lot weaker, not my thing (and NOT a mini-deluxe either, like I thought). I play only at home, no band, and the Deluxe isn’t too loud for me (I even live in an apartment and play it on 2.5 and still sounds better than the Princeton, to me at least). There’s also the second input for lower volume of wanting to get quieter, which I use a lot. You’ll never regret it and won’t need another amp. Reverb is plenty good. I have a Surfy Bear classic reverb unit which I love, but the onboard reverb is so good I often plug into the amp only and play. Get the Deluxe, fall in love, take care of the amp forever and live happily ever after. Actually, get it before Fender decides to raise the price to $2k or even discontinues the tube version for the Tonemaster line (ooof). One day, a vintage collectible Fender amp may be a reissue (crazy but it seems to be going this way). Get it before it’s gone. I would definitely agree that the Princeton doesn’t sound much like a DRRI. IMO, both have their place, and both are good amps, but for quite different purposes. The DRRI is a powerful amp, but works well at low volumes. The Princeton has less gain and is not so much a DRRI’s little brother than it is a cousin with a faint family resemblance. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
CaptainSensible Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 643 Leesburg, VA	Posted on Sep 16 2023 11:45 PM MasterPhez wrote: I just pulled the trigger on a Quilter Aviator Cub and expect to have it next week. I’ll share some thoughts then. Do you still have this amp? If so, how do you like it? If not, why did you sell it? — Sean Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Deluxe Reverb RI alternative?